Tattoos

The Body as a Sacred Text

In our modern, disembodied culture, we have come to see the body as a machine, as a thing to be used, to be objectified, to be judged. We have forgotten that the body is a sacred text, a living, breathing, and ever-changing story of our lives. Every scar, every wrinkle, every tattoo is a word, a sentence, a chapter in the epic poem of our own becoming.

Tattoos as a Spiritual Practice

For thousands of years, in cultures all over the world, tattoos have been used as a form of spiritual practice. They have been used to mark important life passages, to invoke the power of the gods, to protect against evil spirits, and to express a deep and abiding connection to the sacred. A tattoo is not just a decoration; it is a prayer, a vow, a commitment. It is a way of wearing your soul on your skin.

The Tao of Tattoos

In Taoism, the body is seen as a microcosm of the universe. It is a sacred scene, with its own mountains, its own rivers, its own constellations. A tattoo, in this context, is not a violation of the body, but a way of honoring it. It is a way of adding a new feature to the scene, of creating a new star in the constellation. It is a way of participating in the ongoing creation of the universe.

A Real-Life Example

I have a tattoo of a dragon on my back. I got it when I was in my early twenties, at a time when I was feeling lost and powerless. The dragon, for me, was a symbol of strength, of courage, of the untamed and fiery spirit that I felt was dormant within me. The process of getting the tattoo was a ritual, a ceremony, a rite of passage. It was painful, it was bloody, and it was life-changing. When I walked out of the tattoo parlor, I was a different person. I was no longer a victim of my circumstances; I was the dragon.

How to Embody This Teaching

• The Practice of Body Gratitude: Take some time each day to thank your body for all that it does for you. Thank it for its strength, for its resilience, for its wisdom. Thank it for being the vessel of your soul.
• The Practice of Adornment: Adorn your body in a way that feels sacred to you. It may be with a tattoo, with a piece of jewelry, with a beautiful piece of clothing. But whatever it is, do it with intention and with reverence.
• The Practice of Embodiment: Spend some time each day in your body. Dance, run, swim, do yoga. Feel the aliveness of your own flesh and blood. Remember that you are not just a mind; you are a body.

When This Card Appears

When the Tattoos card appears in a reading, it is a sign that you are being called to a deeper relationship with your body. It may be a sign that you are ready to heal your relationship with your body, to let go of the shame and the judgment, and to embrace your body as a sacred and beautiful expression of your soul. It can also be a sign that you are being called to mark a passage in your life, to create a new symbol for yourself, to wear your soul on your skin.