Temple Illuminatus2024-03-28T09:13:11ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGAhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12220410273?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://templeilluminatus.ning.com/group/sacredadornment/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=224pjsuu7sjuh&feed=yes&xn_auth=noModern Tech Is Revealing Ancient Egyptian Tattooingtag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2019-12-19:6363372:Topic:34876102019-12-19T20:02:37.330ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<h2 class="ArticleHeader__subtitle"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One woman had 30 images or symbols adorning her body.</span></h2>
<div class="ArticleHeader__end-matter"><div class="ArticleHeader__byline-dateline"><span class="ArticleHeader__byline">BY<span> </span><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/isaacschultz?view=articles">ISAAC SCHULTZ </a></span><span class="ArticleHeader__pub-date">DECEMBER 17, 2019…</span></div>
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<h2 class="ArticleHeader__subtitle"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One woman had 30 images or symbols adorning her body.</span></h2>
<div class="ArticleHeader__end-matter"><div class="ArticleHeader__byline-dateline"><span class="ArticleHeader__byline">BY<span> </span><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/isaacschultz?view=articles">ISAAC SCHULTZ </a></span><span class="ArticleHeader__pub-date">DECEMBER 17, 2019</span></div>
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<div class="SocialLinks" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><strong>One of the mummies had more than 30 tattoos, including this wadjet on her neck. COURTESY ANNE AUSTIN</strong></em></span></div>
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<div class="SocialLinks"><p class="item-body-text-graf"><span class="section-start-text">EGYPT’S VALLEY OF THE KINGS<span> </span></span>is famous for its grave sites, hewn directly into the sedimentary rock on the bank of the Nile, from the grandiose burial chambers of Ramesses II to the imposing edifice of Hatshepsut’s tomb. Much is known about these pharaohs, but far less is known about the nameless thousands who hauled, carved, and painted their pharaonic legacies. Many of the valley’s workers lived in Deir el-Medina, a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site that has revealed extensive information about how the grand structures of ancient Egypt were made, mainly through the tens of thousands of scroll fragments that have been found on the site, alongside the mummies of some of those laborers and artisans. Now, infrared technology is being used to study those mummies, and add knowledge to a fairly obscure aspect of Egyptian culture: tattooing.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">“One complication with the textual record is it biases our understanding of the past to what was recorded,” says Anne Austin, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis who studied the Deir el-Medina mummies for three years while working with the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo. “These tattoos reveal new information that does not appear in the textual record and give us the potential to better understand women’s experiences in the village.”</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf"><span>Evidence of ancient tattooing appears around the world, but is mostly hard to come by. It’s difficult to understand how widespread the practice was because of how skin preserves in the archaeological record, though depictions of ancient tattoos abound in artworks from places as far flung as Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Romania. Nevertheless, some actual human remains have managed to make it to today with their ink intact. A Scythian woman with </span><a href="https://www.archaeology.org/issues/107-features/tattoos/1381-pazyryk-mummies-altay-mountains-siberia">elaborate animal tattoos</a><span> was found in a fifth-century BC burial mound in disputed land between Russia and China in 1993. The famous 5,000-year-old Italian “Iceman,” Ötzi, bears the world’s oldest tattoos, in the form of geometric patterns, the purposes of which are </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/02/mapping-61-ancient-tattoos-on-a-5300-year-old-mummy/385198/">still debated</a><span>. For ancient Egypt, where skin can often survive well because of mummification, and where </span><a href="https://www.archaeology.org/issues/107-features/tattoos/1352-faince-egypt-amunet-hathor-bes">many “tattooed” figurines have been excavated</a><span>, only three tattooed mummies from pharaonic Egypt had been found—at least until the latest discovery. The infrared work on Deir el-Medina has identified tattoos on seven mummies, all women.</span></p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf"><span>“The mummification process colors the skin and obscures the tattoos from being visible,” Austin says. “Infrared is a longer wavelength than visible light, so it can penetrate deeper into the skin than visible light and return information about what is under that surface.”</span></p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">The mummies date to the New Kingdom’s Ramesside period, about 3,000 years ago. The team found tattooed patterns and figures. Some depict animals such as cobras, cows, and baboons, and others resemble familiar Egyptian symbols such as the<span> </span><em>wadjet</em>, or Eye of Horus. Other tattoos appear to be hieroglyphs, perhaps reflecting the roles of these women in the community.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">“It seems that women were primarily being tattooed,” says Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist with the American University in Cairo who helped Austin scan the mummies. “The [tattoos] from Deir el-Medina are on women associated with temples as priestesses, who had roles in singing and dancing and performance.”</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">The most eye-opening find was a single mummy that bore at least 30 tattoos, based on the current analysis. Some of the tattoos, adorning the arms, chest, and neck, were visible with the naked eye—and sound more Brooklyn than Egypt. Many of the tattoos are thematically linked with the Egyptian goddess Hathor, a sort of predecessor to the goddess Isis, who is associated with fertility, motherhood, and love. Much is still unknown about the tattoos—how they were made, or what with—or the women who rocked them. In the world of tattooed mummies, this find is a bonanza, but in the world of science it’s what’s called a small sample size. And there’s a lot of Egyptian history out there.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">“Given how sparse the data currently are, it is hard to know how tattooing developed and changed over Egyptian history,” Austin says. “Predynastic mummies are thousands of years older than New Kingdom ones, so understanding the difference between the tattoo practices of the New Kingdom and the predynastic would be like understanding the difference in practices between today and the Romans.”</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Infrared imaging has proven to be a useful tool, but it doesn’t see all. Some resins used in mummification conceal tattoos from that technology as well, according to Renee Friedman, a research curator at the British Museum who found tattoos on predynastic mummies in 2018, 120 years after their arrival at the museum. “It is hoped that other technologies will be found that might provide better visibility,” she says. There could be many more ancient Egyptian tattoos out there, hiding in plain sight.<br/><br/>For now there’s a lot more work to be done with the mummies from Deir el-Medina, including looking for more tattoos, studying the ink used in them, and better understanding the significance of the body art.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf item-body-last">“I will continue working at Deir el-Medina in January to identify whether more tattoos are present. I anticipate we will continue to find more tattoos at the site,” Austin says. “My hope is that through a larger corpus, we can better understand what this tradition meant to the Egyptians.”</p>
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<p class="item-body-text-graf item-body-last" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tattooed-egyptian-mummies-infrared">https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tattooed-egyptian-mummies-infrared</a></em></span></p>
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</div> These Incredible Real Tattoos Change Colour as Biomarkers Like Glucose Levels Shifttag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2019-08-19:6363372:Topic:34775012019-08-19T13:53:56.700ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<div class="author-name-name floatstyle"><span>MICHELLE STARR</span></div>
<div class="author-name-date floatstyle"><span>22 JUL 2019</span></div>
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<div class="author-name-date floatstyle"><span>Enough of biosensor "tattoos" that are just a wearable sticker. Scientists in Germany have developed an actual, intradermal tattoo that can change colour in response to changing levels of glucose, albumin, or…</span></div>
<div class="author-name-name floatstyle"><span>MICHELLE STARR</span></div>
<div class="author-name-date floatstyle"><span>22 JUL 2019</span></div>
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<div class="author-name-date floatstyle"><span>Enough of biosensor "tattoos" that are just a wearable sticker. Scientists in Germany have developed an actual, intradermal tattoo that can change colour in response to changing levels of glucose, albumin, or pH.</span></div>
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<div class="author-name-date floatstyle"><p>They haven't yet been tested in humans, but on pieces of pig skin the tattoos shifted across a range of hues as scientists tweaked the concentrations of the key biomarkers.</p>
<p>It's an exciting first step that could lead to real tattoos that let patients and doctors monitor chronic diseases such as<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/diabetes" target="_blank" title="diabetes" rel="noopener">diabetes</a><span> </span>and kidney disease in real-time.</p>
<p>The team, led by chemical engineer Ali Yetisen of the Technical University of Munich, was then able to accurately estimate the concentrations based on smartphone photos of the tattoos.</p>
<p>While not all the dyes are yet reversible, this could be a transformative technology for personalised medicine - based on decorative body modification practices humans have been performing for thousands of years.</p>
<p>"Body modification by injecting pigments into the dermis layer is a custom<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/oldest-figural-tattoos-egyptian-gebelein-mummies-predynastic">more than 4000 years old</a>,"<span> </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/15213773/homepage/press/201917press.html">the researchers wrote in their paper</a>.</p>
<p>"Here, a functional cosmetic technology was developed by combining tattoo artistry and colorimetric biosensors… Dermal tattoo sensors functioned as diagnostic displays by exhibiting colour changes within the visible spectrum in response to variations in pH, glucose, and albumin concentrations."</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3434950252?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3434950252?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>The three biomarkers were chosen because they are often indicators that something is wrong.<span> </span><a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=albumin_blood">Albumin</a><span> </span>is a protein in blood plasma, and low levels can indicate kidney or liver problems, while high levels can indicate heart problems.</p>
<p>Glucose needs to be closely monitored for the management of diabetes, which impairs the body's ability to metabolise sugars. And changes in the pH level of your blood -<span> </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/acidosis#causes">acidosis</a><span> </span>for low pH,<span> </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/alkalosis">alkalosis</a><span> </span>for high - can be caused by a range of issues which should be investigated by medical professionals.</p>
<p>The team created a different colour-changing dye that could detect changes in each of these biomarkers in the<span> </span><a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/interstitial-fluid">interstitial fluid</a>. That's the stuff that leaks out of your capillaries and fills the spaces between the cells, transporting things like oxygen and glucose.</p>
<p>The albumin sensor is a yellow dye that turns green in the presence of albumin - the more albumin, the more green it becomes (although in these images it looks quite blue in colour).</p>
<p>The glucose sensor took advantage of the enzymatic reactions of glucose oxidase and peroxidase; the changing concentration of glucose produces a structural change in the pigment from yellow to dark green.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And the pH sensor consisted of the dyes methyl red, bromothymol blue, and phenolphthalein. At a pH range from 5 to 9 - normal human blood pH hovers around 7.4 - the sensor ranges from yellow to blue.</p>
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<p>When the levels of these biomarkers were changed in the interstitial fluid in the pieces of pig skin (which is a common medium for tattoo artists to practice on), the colours changed too.</p>
<p>It's not yet ready for human use; for one thing, as we mentioned earlier, it's only been tested on pig skin so far.</p>
<p>In addition, only the colour of the pH sensor was reversible - and it's not much help if the tattoo only works for one reading. The others could, the researchers said, be made reversible with synthetic receptors, but they've yet to test these out - that's for future research.</p>
<p>The next step, they said, is probably to test the tattoos in living animals, to see if the inks cause adverse reactions.</p>
<p>As researchers from MIT said when they developed<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/mit-is-working-on-colour-changing-tattoo-ink-that-can-monitor-your-health-in-real-time">similar colour-changing tattoo inks in 2017</a>, this process could take a while. But looking into it further could definitely be worth it.</p>
<p>"The applications of the sensors can be extended to the detection of electrolytes, proteins, pathogenic microorganisms, gases, and dehydration status,"<span> </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/15213773/homepage/press/201917press.html">the researchers wrote</a>.</p>
<p>"The developed dermal sensors may have an application in medical diagnostics to monitor a broad range of metabolite biomarkers."</p>
<p>All while looking badass as heck.</p>
<p>The research has been published in<span> </span><em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.201904416">Angewandte Chemie International Edition</a></em>.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/there-is-now-an-actual-tattoo-that-can-change-colour-based-on-glucose-levels">https://www.sciencealert.com/there-is-now-an-actual-tattoo-that-can-change-colour-based-on-glucose-levels</a></em></span></p>
</div> The Tattooed Priestesses of Hathortag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2019-07-03:6363372:Topic:34710802019-07-03T18:04:08.575ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She was known as the mother of god and the daughter of god, the eye of god, the creatrix of the rays of the sun, the embodiment of the circular essence of life. She was the Lady of the Limit or the one who spreads to the edge of the universe and the Lady of the West who welcomed souls to the afterlife. She was the goddess of fertility and assisted women in childbirth. She was Hathor the Celestial Cow whose…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She was known as the mother of god and the daughter of god, the eye of god, the creatrix of the rays of the sun, the embodiment of the circular essence of life. She was the Lady of the Limit or the one who spreads to the edge of the universe and the Lady of the West who welcomed souls to the afterlife. She was the goddess of fertility and assisted women in childbirth. She was Hathor the Celestial Cow whose legs formed the pillars of the sky and the Milky Way ran across her belly.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/hathor.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/hathor.jpg"/></a><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It is believed that the worship of Hathor dates to pre-dynastic times and in fact she may represent many of the earlier original female deities such as Bat, Sekhmet and others all combined into one figure. Female deities gradually became less important as complex agrarian society became predominate and the emergence of the ever increasing ownership of both goods and land exalted the male gods who represented power through physical strength. Male domination of society pushed the sacred feminine aside and began the systematic removal of the sacred feminine from virtually every religion on earth. When the gods are no longer female then human females have less power or no power, they are second to the male who is in the image of the divine but it was not always this way, once there was balance and many of the earliest deities were seen as having a dualistic nature embodying both the masculine and the feminine. The worship of Hathor paints a vivid picture of this type of transition, from the temple of the greatest god, the mother of all to the modern perception of a cult of tattooed prostitutes.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hathor was one of the most important gods in early Egypt and she remained important up until the middle kingdom when the significance of the female gods waned and with it the role of women in the priesthood. Hathors temple may have been one of the few that allowed women to hold equal positions as men but by the new kingdom only men seem to hold the title of priest and women are reduced to the role of <em>shemayet </em>or musicians.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It is this trend towards the marginalization of women within the temple that leads us all the way to the late 19th century when several tattooed female mummies were discovered. Before this discovery only pictures in tombs and on pottery were the best evidence that some Egyptians were tattooed. Previously tiny faience female figurines showing tattoo patterns on their thighs, wrists, abdomen, and upper body had been discovered in tombs and the tattoos on the newly discovered mummies were in many instances almost identical to the figurines. Suddenly it became obvious that the tiny figurines were actually depicting real tattoos and their meanings could be directly traced to the priestesses of Hathor.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The figurines were found in both male and female burials but only female tattooed mummies were found. The function of the faience figurines in the tombs has been theorized to serve as a fertility charm, an amulet to assure the dead a good sex ‘after life’, or to represent a feminine ideal but considering that Hathor was known as the Lady of the West, who welcomes the dead it seems that the figurines might represent Hathor herself or her earthly representatives and thus serve as a guide for the deceased.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When the tattooed women were discovered most academics dismissed them as women of low status, probably prostitutes, ‘dancing girls’ or maybe royal concubines because the area where the bodies were found, Deir el-Bahari, was the site of royal and high status burials. The most famous of these tattooed mummies is Amunet, Priestess of the Goddess Hathor. The mummy of Amunet was discovered in 1891 by the French Egyptologist Eugène Grébaut and from all accounts the tattoos were seen as quite sensual, of course at this time curved table legs were also considered sensual so one must view their reaction in context to their Victorian mores.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Not everyone however was swept up in visions of beautiful dancing girls, their tattooed bodies undulating in sensuous dances as they swirled through the smoke of incense, transported into trance-like states by the music of their sistrums (rattles); no, one man a prominent doctor who participated in the examination of the mummies saw more, a medical reason for the markings. Dr Daniel Fouquet suggested in 1898 that the markings were not ornamental but therapeutic and were probably for the treatment of chronic pelvic peritonitis and although I applaud his forward thinking the assumption of chronic pelvic infections does still suggest that he believed these women were prostitutes or at least very sexually active. The truth is many of the priestesses were the wives, sisters, and daughters of other priests, high officials and even pharaohs so even if sexual contact was a part of their worship, they should not be judged by current religious moral standards. To infer things about their life based on modern or in this case Victorian beliefs is not only unfair; it is bad science. Doctors, and I would imagine most men of the Victorian era, thought of the scary dark nether regions of a woman’s reproductive system as a mysterious, unclean place so primitive and primal that it was best left alone so they naturally brought these prejudices to bear on their “scholarly” descriptions of the priestesses.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Now if we can step back and view the priestesses not as temple whores but as persons of legitimate power in their own right and consider their sexuality as the manifestation of fertility and the instrument of new life then they are Hathors representatives on earth guiding and protecting women through the very dangerous process of childbirth, a process that requires both spiritual and medical assistance. The act of sex, pregnancy and childbirth are three parts of an inseparable cycle and the last part of the cycle, childbirth, was for ancient women a dance with death that quite often left them on the trip to the afterlife. The production of children is essential for the success of all cultures and the priestesses of Hathor may have been there to protect and assist women in this dangerous process.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amunet’s tattoos were located on her superior pubic region covering the lower part of her abdomen, on her mid frontal torso and directly inferior to her right breast. She also has tattoos superior to her elbow joint and on her left shoulder as well as on her thighs. Most of these tattoos are in the form of dashes, and dots and some form concentric circles on her abdomen. I think it is important to note that the more ‘carnal’ tattoos as they have been called do not draw attention to the genitalia but instead cover the reproductive organs…not really the sexy part.</span></p>
<p><br/> <a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/TattoosHathor.JPG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/TattoosHathor.JPG"/></a></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Do these tattoos represent more evidence of ancient peoples having sophisticated knowledge of acupressure and neural pathways in the human body? Were they used for pain management during labor and perhaps the induction of labor in an attempt to have safer deliveries? Were the priestess’ of Hathor the guardians of ancient medical knowledge to help women survive childbirth?</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Acupressure is still used today during labor and several modern medical studies have shown that it is useful in pain reduction. Sympathetic magic is also certainly part of the tattoos functions, protecting the areas symbolically but the nature of the designs is very similar to other ancient examples of medicinal tattoos such as those found on Otzi and the Scythian Chieftain and I believe further <strong><em>more objective</em></strong> study of the placement of tattoos on the mummies of the priestess could tell us much more about the priestesses' roles in the lives of the worshipers of Hathor.</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-1">By <a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/users/margaretmoose">Margaret Moose</a></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1"><strong>References</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Priestesses of Hathor Het Heru, Gillian Taber <a href="http://www.humanities360.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.humanities360.com</a></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Archeaology Magazine Nov-Dec 2013 Ancient Tattoos Body art has been a meaningful form of expression throughout the ages By JARRETT A. LOBELL and ERIC A. POWELL Wednesday, October 09,</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Tattoos the Ancient and Mysterious History · by Cate Lineberry · Smithsonian.com, January 01, 2007</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Daniel Fouquet, ‘Le Tatouage Medicale en Egypte dans l’Antiquite et a l’Epoque Actuelle’, in <em>Archives d’Anthropologie Criminelle</em>, Tome 13 (1898</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Robert Bianchi, ‘Tattooing and Skin Painting in the Ancient Nile Valley’, in Celenko, T. (ed.) <em>Egypt in Africa</em>, (1996), Indianapolis University Press</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">Acupressure to reduce labor pain: a randomized controlled trial. <a title="View more from this Journal" href="http://www.bioportfolio.com/resources/pubmed/?filterfield=journal_name&filterval=Acta+obstetricia+et+gynecologica+Scandinavica" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica</a> 12th December 2013 | <a href="http://www.bioportfolio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BioPortfolio</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br/> <br/> <span class="font-size-1"><em>Read more: <a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/tattooed-priestesses-hathor-001122#ixzz3XWlBR2od">http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/tattooed-priestesses-hathor-001122#ixzz3XWlBR2od</a> </em></span></p> 2,000-Year-Old Tattoo Needle Identified By Archaeologiststag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2019-06-28:6363372:Topic:34710032019-06-28T17:32:19.072ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Once dismissed as an “odd-looking little artifact,” the tool pushes back evidence for tattooing in the U.S. Southwest by a millennium.</span></h2>
<p><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3152936620?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3152936620?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500"></img></a></span></p>
<p><span>BY </span><span><span class="byline-component__contributors"><strong><span>KRISTA LANGLOIS</span></strong></span></span></p>
<p><span>PUBLISHED FEBRUARY…</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Once dismissed as an “odd-looking little artifact,” the tool pushes back evidence for tattooing in the U.S. Southwest by a millennium.</span></h2>
<p><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3152936620?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3152936620?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p><span>BY </span><span><span class="byline-component__contributors"><strong><span>KRISTA LANGLOIS</span></strong></span></span></p>
<p><span>PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 28, 2019</span></p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p><span class="smartbody__lead-in">THE TOOL IS</span><span> </span>made from a bundle of prickly pear cactus spines, their tips saturated with dark pigment, inserted into a handle carved from lemonade sumac and bound with yucca fiber.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>Some 2,000 years ago, a tattooist in what’s now southeast Utah used this tool to hand-poke a design into someone’s skin. After the point of one of the cactus spines broke off, the tool was likely tossed into a trash heap. It remained there for centuries, in a pile of bones, corncobs, and other discarded items.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>Now, in a<span> </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X18307508">new paper</a><span> </span>in<span> </span><i>Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports</i>, a team of archaeologists conclude that this cactus spine tool is the earliest evidence of tattooing in the Southwest.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>The tattooing tool has had an interesting journey since its disposal two millennia ago. In 1972, a team of archaeologists excavated the trash heap in<span> </span><a href="http://anasazihikes.com/Turkey_pen_ruin.php">Turkey Pen site</a><span> </span>in the<span> </span><a href="https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/state-and-federal-recreation-areas/southern/bears-ears-national-monument/greater-cedar-mesa/">Greater Cedar Mesa</a><span> </span>area. Without giving much thought to the “odd-looking little artifact,” as one archaeologist later called it, the team packed hundreds of objects from the site into boxes for storage at Washington State University.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Gillreath-Brown">Andrew Gillreath-Brown</a><span> </span>was inventorying the collection in 2017 when he came upon the cactus-spine tool. The Washington State PhD candidate had previously volunteered at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, and knew a prehistoric archaeologist there named<span> </span><a href="http://tdoa.academia.edu/AaronDeterWolf">Aaron Deter-Wolf</a>, who had pioneered research on the archaeology of tattooing. Gillreath-Brown dashed off a text to his old colleague: “I saw this thing, and think it might be a tattoo tool.”</p>
<p><span>Deter-Wolf was blown away. If the bundle of cactus spines had indeed been used for tattooing, it would push back the archaeological footprint of the practice in the western United States by a full thousand years, to about 79-130 A.D. (An even earlier tattooing kit from the eastern U.S. has also been identified by Deter-Wolf, but the research is not yet published.)</span></p>
<p><span>It would also help researchers stitch together an emerging picture of when—and why—cultures around the world adopted tattooing, a widely practiced art that was almost lost under European colonialism.</span></p>
<p><span>So Deter-Wolf, Gillreath-Brown, and a handful of other researchers embarked on a year-long effort to confirm the tool’s purpose. In addition to microscopy and X-ray analyses, Gillreath-Brown reconstructed exact replicas of the tool and used them to tattoo pig skin. When he compared wear patterns on the cactus spines of the replica tools with the original under a scanning electron microscope, they were remarkably similar.</span></p>
<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>Art from this era in the Southwest, known as the<span> </span><a href="https://www.crowcanyon.org/educationproducts/peoples_mesa_verde/basketmaker_II_overview.asp">Basketmaker II</a><span> </span>period, depicts people with body decoration, but until now it was unclear if the markings represented body paint, scarification, or tattooing.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>“This is an interesting find made important and significant by the systematic analysis that shows, convincingly, that it was used for tattooing almost two millennia ago,” says<span> </span><a href="https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/67344">Michelle Hegmon</a>, an archaeologist at Arizona State University who wasn’t involved in the study. “That understanding, in turn, is important for our understanding of social identity” among the Ancestral Puebloan people, whose descendants still live in Native American tribes across the Southwest.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>Here and elsewhere in the world, people seem to have embraced tattooing around the same time as they adopted agriculturally-based lifestyles. In the Southwest, Ancestral Puebloans were shifting from roaming patterns of hunting and gathering to settling into semi-permanent villages and cultivating maize. The climate was warming, and human populations were expanding. Deter-Wolf theorizes that tattoos may have helped coalesce a sense of identity in the face of so much upheaval.</p>
<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>“When you’re living cheek by jowl with these new people to whom you’re unrelated, you need to come up with things that will bond the group together,” he says. At the same time, tattoos may have been used to affirm individual identity, marking one’s ancestral lineage or specific achievements. “It’s kind of keeping your own personal history while simultaneously creating this overall group cohesiveness,” Deter-Wolf explains.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>When European colonialists and missionaries invaded indigenous lands in North American and beyond, they often forbade the practice of tattooing among native peoples. In many places around the world, traditional tattooing all but died out. Even Western archaeologists of the 20th century mostly ignored evidence of the practice, perhaps because of lingering misconceptions that tattooing was “savage” or practiced only by marginalized sub-cultures.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>The only evidence of traditional tattooing that seems to have survived among modern Puebloan people comes from anthropological surveys conducted in the mid-20th century. Among a laundry list of other queries, researchers asked tribal elders if their ancestors had practiced tattooing. Many, including from the Zuni, Acoma and Laguna Pueblos, said yes.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p><a href="https://the-journal.com/articles/23394">Dan Simplicio Jr</a>., a Zuni Pueblo member and cultural specialist at Colorado's Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, says the idea of his ancestors practicing tattooing isn’t surprising. There’s a word in the Zuni language—<i>dopdo’gna</i>—that translates as “poking with a needle”, and the word for needle can also connote cactus or yucca spines.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p>Simplicio cautions that a single tool doesn’t provide enough evidence to confirm how Ancestral Puebloans’ used tattooing, or what designs they might have drawn. Still, there are enough commonalities between other indigenous cultures on the continent to venture some guesses. Many Native American tribes incorporated tattoos into coming-of-age ceremonies or to harness spiritual power, especially among women. Chin tattoos, radiating in lines from a woman’s bottom lip, were once common across the Americas, and Deter-Wolf thinks there’s a decent chance Ancestral Puebloan women may also have worn them.</p>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text"><p class="article-controller__last-paragraph">As archaeologists pay more attention to tattooing, Deter-Wolf thinks more tools will turn up, painting a fuller picture of humans’ abiding inclination to ink our bodies. “My own personal thought is that tattooing is probably just about as old as humanity,” he says. “Probably, if we had the ability to chase this thing back, it would be one of those things like spoken language, or knowing how to make fire, that’s just incredibly deeply rooted in our symbolic being as humans.”</p>
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<p class="article-controller__last-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/02/ancient-tattoo-needle-southwest-archaeology/">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/02/ancient-tattoo-needle-southwest-archaeology/</a></em></span></p>
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<p></p> UV Tattoos With Artist Tukoi Oyatag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2018-10-19:6363372:Topic:34380412018-10-19T18:39:22.415ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127088?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127088?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710"></img></a></p>
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="https://inkpedia.org/post/177605318047/its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for-questions-about">ink-pedia</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>It’s finally here! I asked you for questions about UV tattoos and artist Tukoi Oya got them all answered. This interview is pretty awesome, I hope you guys like it. If you want to read the previous…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127088?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127088?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710"/></a></p>
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="https://inkpedia.org/post/177605318047/its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for-questions-about">ink-pedia</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>It’s finally here! I asked you for questions about UV tattoos and artist Tukoi Oya got them all answered. This interview is pretty awesome, I hope you guys like it. If you want to read the previous interviews, <strong><a href="https://inkpedia.org/tagged/interview">click here</a></strong>. ✨</p>
<p>Tukoi Oya is a 23 year old tattooist from Melbourne, Australia. Some of her hobbies include playing guitar, making clothes and <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUC755LPsa9MRBe50HHlofuGQ&t=Zjc1ZjQ5OTNjN2VhNjRiNzIzYjUyYzFlZTQ3MDExMWU5NDExZTY4ZCxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">youtube videos</a>. She got into the tattoo business when she was 19, as a friend suggested she should start tattooing because she was always into art and drawing. She then applied for a few apprenticeships and that’s how it all began. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127247?profile=RESIZE_930x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127247?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600"/></a></p>
<p><strong>How did you found out about UV tattoos? When did you start working with them?</strong><br/> <em>It came in 2014 when I started tattooing and had to buy all my equipment. I stubbed across UV ink when I was purchasing supplies from Protat. However, I’ve only been working with UV ink for about a year now. UV ink has been around since the 90′s though… </em></p>
<p><strong>Is UV ink FDA approved? Are there better brands than others out there? <br/></strong> It is not FDA approved, but the tattooing industry in general is not heavily regulated, so there are a lot of products tattooists use that aren’t approved by the FDA either. There are definitely better products than others as with everything. </p>
<p><strong>Does it causes any risks to health, side effects or allergies?<br/></strong> <em>I’ve done heaps of UV tattoos and no one has ever had a reaction to it. I think there’s just a massive stigma behind it because it’s a new thing. Most UV ink is really lightly pigmented and thin ink so if you’re trying to pack colour in, you need to be careful not to overwork the skin. I’m sure there are people that are allergic to it, just like there are people that can’t get red tattoos because some inks contain nickel. </em></p>
<p><strong>Can it be used over other ink/an already existing tattoo?</strong><br/> I’ve actually been meaning to try this out on myself because I only tattoo new pieces, so I don’t add to exciting tattoos or do coverups. <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127361?profile=RESIZE_930x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127361?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600"/></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>How well does it ages? Do they lose their luminescence over time? Does it need touch ups more often than regular tattoos?</strong><br/> <em>It will slowly start fading, but the UV will last for about 4 years. So it will need to be touched up. </em></p>
<p><strong>Does skin tone influence the tattoo? Or it has the same effect on pale or dark skin?</strong><br/> <em>Skin tone doesn’t affect the ‘glowing effect’, but because it’s so lightly pigmented it would be harder to see the colour under normal daylight for darker skin tones. I usually recommend to get either pink, orange or green, because the yellow is really similar to natural skin tones. </em></p>
<p><strong>Can you get a large, solid piece using UV ink?</strong><br/> I reccomend using either the pink, yellow, green, orange or ‘invisible’. I find the purple and blue UV colours don’t really have as much of a glowing effect, because they are darker pigments. </p>
<p><strong>Is the aftercare the same as any other tattoo? Is it more difficult to get them removed with laser?</strong><br/> <em>It’s the same aftercare as normal. I feel like they’d lift pretty easy with laser.</em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127422?profile=RESIZE_1200x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127422?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600"/></a></em></p>
<p><strong>I saw that you’re a very musical person, does that inspire you with your designs? <br/></strong> <em>I suppose so, I love John Lennon’s and John Frusciante’s artwork! </em></p>
<p><strong>Do you have plans for traveling and tattooing? Is there any country in particular you would love to do that?<br/></strong> <em>At the moment I’ve just been travelling around Australia because it’s easy. I’ve been dying to work at America, but Visa’s are a headache to get! </em></p>
<p><strong>Do you remember what was the first design you have ever tattooed? What was it?</strong><br/> <em>My first tattoo was the HIM symbol, I handpoked on my finger when I was 16, it’s terrible, but I like it.</em></p>
<p><strong>What are some of the artists you admire and inspire you?</strong><br/> <em>The artists I’m most inspired by are Gustav Klimt, Egon Shele, Basquait, King Krule, John Frusciante and John Lennon. My all time fav tattooist is @<a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2F_mick_hee_%2F&t=YWRjMjBiZjI2ZjQ5MjllM2ZlODVmMmZiMDU2MGJhOGExZGNlNTFlYixQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">_mick_hee_</a>. I also love <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fseanfromtexas%2F&t=MGJkMGY3M2M1OGI3MTA1OTNmYjljNjgxMjY5NTVhZTVlODU4NTVjOSxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">Sean from Texas</a>, <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ftaticompton%2F&t=YmFjMGM1YmVmZjdkODE0NGEzMGUxMWIwM2Q3NzUwODg1YmJiZTU4OSxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">Tati Compton</a> and @<a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2F_suzani%2F&t=YWFmZDE0NDgwMjNjMzBjMGEzYTdiYzI5NTE1M2E4OTFmMjc1YWNlZCxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">_suzani</a>.</em></p>
<p><strong>Did you have any tough moment during your tattoo career? How did you deal with it?</strong><br/> <em>YES!!!! I found learning how to tattoo is really disheartening, because whenever you’re learning something you’re bound to make mistakes. I mean, I pretty much have a mental breakdown if I feel like I’ve failed at something I want to succeed in, so I don’t deal with tough moments very well (haha). Also, being an apprentice was super tough, pretty much slaving away for free you know, but you have to just keep your mind on the bigger picture. Nowadays I just work by myself and it’s much better that way. </em></p>
<p> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127390?profile=RESIZE_1200x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/130127390?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600"/></a></p>
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<p>Thank you very much Mitch for helping and Tukoi for being lovely answering all the questions, this was one of the coolest and enlightening interviews I’ve done for the blog! Now go follow her everywhere and keep up with her great work: <br/> <em>instagram:</em> <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2F_____tukoi_____%2F&t=NWE5MDBhODY2MDY2NTVlMGMxZmRjN2NkMzM0NjQ2Nzc3YjFlOTNhZCxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1"><strong>@_____tukoi_____</strong></a><br/> <em>youtube:</em> <a href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUC755LPsa9MRBe50HHlofuGQ&t=Zjc1ZjQ5OTNjN2VhNjRiNzIzYjUyYzFlZTQ3MDExMWU5NDExZTY4ZCxQWXd4MlRZRg%3D%3D&b=t%3AW_JJf9Zgvmnvf0E0157Zvg&p=https%3A%2F%2Finkpedia.org%2Fpost%2F179163189902%2Fink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for&m=1">Tukoi</a><strong> </strong><br/> <em>email for bookings:</em><strong> tokyo69drift@gmail.com </strong><br/> <em>email for collabs:</em><strong> tukoicontact@gmail.com</strong></p>
<p>You can check out <strong><a href="https://inkpedia.org/search/tukoi">Tukoi’s tag</a></strong> here on the blog </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://inkpedia.org/post/179163189902/ink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for">https://inkpedia.org/post/179163189902/ink-pedia-its-finally-here-i-asked-you-for</a></em></span></p>
</blockquote> What is a Sak Yant Tattoo?tag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2018-09-19:6363372:Topic:34335312018-09-19T23:42:43.838ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>สักยันต์ - Sak Yant</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Sak</strong> - meaning "to tap" or, "to tattoo", and</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Yant -</strong> meaning "Yantra". Originally derived from the Sanskrit word "YANTRA".</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> …</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>สักยันต์ - Sak Yant</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Sak</strong> - meaning "to tap" or, "to tattoo", and</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Yant -</strong> meaning "Yantra". Originally derived from the Sanskrit word "YANTRA".</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Sak Yants the Thai name for the Tattooing of Sacred geometrical designs on the skin. Yant (or Yantra, as they are call them in the west), are normally tattooed by Buddhist monks, or Brahmin Holy men . The Yant tattoos have developed over the centuries under the influence of several different religious philosophies. The Yantra designs that already existed in Hindu India were adapted by the Thais as Buddhism arrived from neighboring India.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<h1>What is a Sak Yant Tattoo?</h1>
<p><strong>Thai Tattoo and Buddhism<br/></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Sak Yant is strictly not part of the original Buddhist traditions. As Buddhism influence expanded and spread across Asia and the world, local and pre-existing traditions and religions that had no direct contradiction with Buddhism were integrated into the style of local Buddhist teachings. Sak Yants came from these previously held traditions in Thai (and other Asian) cultures as part of the Shamanistic traditions that already existed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In today's Thailand, not all sects of Thai Buddhism incorporate the ancient art of mystical Sak Yant tradition and Monks from these schools of thought will seek out an Ajarn or Sak Yant Monk to obtain one for themselves. Generally almost all Thai Monks accept the validity of Sak Yants even if the tradition is not part of their particular school of thought. Monks with an interest in the Talismans magic of Sak Yant will externally learn the art and operate from a Sunnak (Sak Yant room) off location to the Temple and order they belong.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In city areas, the Sak Yant began to lose favor with the influx of Christian Missionaries and the social elite adapting to Western influence in the late 19th century. While still popular among the rural communities, and with people in dangerous jobs; the resurgence of the Sak Yant really took off when Angelina Jolie received her Sak Yant Tattoo. On very rare occasions you may run across a Monk from this era who has a personal opinion that the Sak Yant is not part of Buddhism. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/126566873?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/126566873?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710"/></a></p>
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<p><strong>Background of Bamboo Tattoo History</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Four Elements</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>All across the world in the past, cultures have developed magical systems based on the four elements they thought made up the physical properties of the world. They are, earth, air, fire and water.</p>
<p>Cultures such as the ancient Greeks, Romans and Incas, and later the Wiccans, and mystics of the West, the idea that these four elements - earth, water, air, and fire - made up all matter was the cornerstone of philosophy, science, and medicine. The elements were "pure" but could not be found in that state on earth.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Everything was made up of some combination of earth, water, air, and fire. Indian tradition follows this belief before the ancient Greeks and later influenced the Khmer empire. The empire was dissolved into what is now known as Thailand and Cambodia. As Buddhism made its way into the Khmer empire, a fifth element was added that of spirit or Buddha.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>For hundreds of years, Thai and Khmer warriors where renowned and feared for the magical markings tattooed on their skin. These markings were a mix of Buddhist psalms and prayers, and shamanistic spells and sorcery that had survived the Religious transition from the pre-Buddhist, Hindu era and had been incorporated in the belief system of the newly born Buddhist countries.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since the days of King Nareswon, in the golden era of Ayuttaya, Thai soldiers not only sought protection in the power of Sak Yant and also the wearing and praying of amulets. In World World 2, Korean and Vietnam war, Thai soldiers were nicknamed “Taharn Phee” (ghost soldiers) by the allied forces because of their Sak Yant tattoos and amulets. Many Muay Thai Boxers (”Nak Muay”) seek the magical powers said to be afforded them by Sak Yant tattoos.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What is a Sak Yant Tattoo in Today's World</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A Yant is a Sacred geometrical design that provide powers of protection and various blessings through Buddhist psalms and magical formulas. The Buddhist psalms written in Thai or Khmer script around the yant are know as “Khata”. A Khata is also known as “Mantra” in other meaning, the word Mantra is a Sanskrit word meaning “Prayer”.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Sak Yant Tattoo has become ingrained in the Thai culture as a way to provide protection and gain good luck through the mystical side of traditional philosophies and the Buddhist influence. Usually the Monk or Ajarn who preforms the Sak Yant has studied the magical side of the ancient traditions and incorporates charms and magical blessings in addition to the design of the Sak Yant itself.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The most common first Sak Yants to receive, and the ones the Monks will select for you .. are the<br/> <strong>1) Hah Taew</strong><br/> <strong>2) Gao Yord</strong><br/> <strong>3) Paed Tidt</strong></p>
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<p>Other, more complex and complicated Sak Yant designs such as animals and sacred geometry are seen as advanced talismans for more serious and dedicated believers. If you are a westerner who is looking for your first Sak Yant, 95% of the time it will be one of these designs.</p>
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<h1>What is a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand?</h1>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Learning the Art of Sak Yant<br/></strong></p>
<p>In Thailand the Sak Yant is associated with Buddhist Monks in Temples and Ajarns (learned Masters) who have usually served their time as a Sak Yant Monk before leaving to pursue the scared hermit magical life. There is years of training to become a Sak Yant practitioner and in-depth study of the magical arts is required.</p>
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<p>The Sak Yant Master must learn Pali, the sacred Buddhist language, the ancient Khmer alphabet, the yantra designs and the Blessing chants that go with each. In northern Thailand many also learn and use the ancient Lanna language and script, and many Sak Yant Tattoos in this region use this script over the Khmer.</p>
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<p>In addition they power of the Sak Yant is drawn from the Sak Yant Master and they must learn and practice throughout their lives meditation techniques, to harness the magic that is used in the scared blessing. Only after their masters feel they are ready, are they given the Ruesi mask, signifying they have gone from being a student to being a Master.</p>
<p>The years of study it requires to become an authentic Ajarn of Sak Yant Monk means that each <a href="https://www.sakyantchiangmai.com/sak-yant-designs-and-meanings/">Sak Yant Design </a>can be altered especially for the individual. It is also the reason a Tattoo Shop, is not the best place to obtain one as they are copying the text of a scared blessing meant for someone else. It is also the reason we at Sak Yant Chiang Mai, can not 100% tell you what a photograph of a Sak Yant means. While the designs used are similar, the ancient text and blessing is a deeply held trade secret among the Sak Yant Masters.</p>
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<p><strong>The Ruesi Connection</strong></p>
<p>In Thailand, before Buddhism became the predominate religion, the locals practiced a form of animism religion, that worshiped (and feared) the role of animal spirits and ghosts. Ruesi legend has it, was a hermit sage that was a master magician and held power and control over this world.</p>
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<p>Ruesi lived in the jungle, and since this animal worship has remained a part of the Thai culture and belief system was integrated into the magical side of Buddhism. When a Monk becomes an Ajarn, Ruesi often becomes the primary influence and teachings in relation to the Sak Yant Tattoo.</p>
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<p><strong>The Sak Yant Temples and Monks<br/></strong></p>
<p>Sak Yant magic and influence has always been a part of country aspects of life. So most of the Sak Yant Temples are located outside of the city. Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok is some 50 kilometers from Bangkok central, and the Temples used by us here at Sak Yant Chiang Mai are all 30 kilometers (and more) away. This also makes it easier for the Monks to go on jungle meditation retreats to increase their magical power.</p>
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<p>Usually a country Temple will call out for help to a Monk preforming Sak Yant Tattoos when they require funds to build and extend their Temple grounds. The Monk will relocate and provide Sak Yants until funds have been raised and extensions built. While this is wonderful for remote country Temples, it makes it somewhat difficult for a person unfamiliar with local knowledge, as Monks move on and blog-posts or internet resources of where to get a Sak Yant ... soon become irrelevant.</p>
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<p>Without exception all the Temple Monks used at Sak Yant Chiang Mai are in fundraising and building mode. We have even in the space of 2 years, lost 4 Sak Yant Monks to other regions and parts of Thailand.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sakyantchiangmai.com/what-is-a-sak-yant-tattoo/">https://www.sakyantchiangmai.com/what-is-a-sak-yant-tattoo/</a></p> 6 Things Tattoo Artists Wish You Knewtag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2018-08-15:6363372:Topic:34251062018-08-15T19:58:34.464ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
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<p>Tattoos have invaded your homes!</p>
<p>It’s true. I’m no anthropologist, but it would seem there has never been such a copious amount of people on the planet at one time and there is an incredibly vast host of tattooed yahoos to fill it. If you’ve done any homework on tattoos, you might be interested and a little uneasy about the fact that tattoos have been…</p>
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<p></p>
<p>Tattoos have invaded your homes!</p>
<p>It’s true. I’m no anthropologist, but it would seem there has never been such a copious amount of people on the planet at one time and there is an incredibly vast host of tattooed yahoos to fill it. If you’ve done any homework on tattoos, you might be interested and a little uneasy about the fact that tattoos have been around as long as humans have.</p>
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<p>Fast forward to today, with all of the prime-time shows, clothing lines, swag and merchandise out there, and the tattoo lifestyle is penetrating the general masses at an alarming rate and in ways that have never been seen before. Needless to say, the past stigmas and social dogmas hanging over tattoos,<span> </span><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/04/the-tattooed-yogini-amy-jirsa/" title="“Yoga teachers shouldn’t have tramp stamps.” ~ Amy Jirsa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and more importantly the people with tattoos,</a><span> </span>are being rapidly dissolved in these ways.</p>
<p>Now, there’s a price for everything. As tattoo artists are getting bombarded with a multitude of new demography of clientele, one should count themselves lucky to find a decent artist, who is professional, friendly, dependable and produces well. So for the average Joe Diddly walking into a shop off the street, there’s always a few things you should keep in mind while shopping around for an artist. See how I worded that? You shouldn’t be shopping for a shop? You should be searching out shops to invest in a specific artist. Did you notice that I said “invest”? More on that shortly…</p>
<p>So here we go. As relayed to you, the reader, straight from a licensed tattoo artist of over six years and reformed piercer, these are some things you should know and be thinking about when you walk into a tattoo shop. Blam!</p>
<h4>1. Don’t be a dick!</h4>
<p>Most of the time the tattoo artist can be a way bigger dick than you can. I understand that because you watch<span> </span><em>New York and L.A. Ink</em><span> </span>and<em><span> </span>Ink Master</em>and<span> </span><em>Tattoo SchoolBus,</em><span> </span>you think you have a handle on how the business works. Trust me, we’re all kind of sensitive artsy types, so we’re extremely particular. Do you think a police detective would appreciate you walking into a murder scene and voicing your theories based on a few episodes of C.S.I.? I think not.</p>
<p>Back on track, some tattoo artists out there are some of the most egotistical, self-absorbed ass-jacks you’ll ever meet. Part of the reason is that they’ve been dealing with the general public. Know that when you’re entering a tattoo shop, you’re in their element. So do yourself a favor and<span> </span><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/08/the-cost-of-kindness/" title="The Cost of Kindness.">be nice,</a><span> </span>and you’ll most likely get the same treatment. Sometimes you might have to put up with a sour environment to access the artist that you’ve chosen, so you’ll have to address that and weigh out the pros and cons. Some shops are a riot to hang out in, and some are just hell spawned pits of loathing and drama. You decide for yourself.</p>
<h4><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/6-things-tattoo-artists-wish-you-knew-ben-bray/tattooing1/" rel="attachment wp-att-433006"></a>2. Do not be hammered!</h4>
<p>Rude! You don’t go to your doctor three sheets to the wind. Or do you? If so, you might just want to find a different shop. As I stated earlier, we’re sensitive artsy types.<span> </span><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/liquor-lust-10-images-3-tips/" title="Liquor Lust: 10 Images & 3 Tips.">You think we haven’t had too much to drink once or twice?<span> </span></a>We can usually spot our own type of addictive personalities from a mile away, so don’t think you’re fooling anyone. Also, that brings up another point, If you’re planning on getting a tattoo, please bathe! Again,<em>rude!</em><span> </span>If I’m going to be all in your business, you’d better make sure you’re ready for someone to be all in your business. The tattoo artists should be on the same page, so if they smell like it’s been awhile since their last shower, you’d probably want to beware. Still with me?</p>
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<h4>3. Have at least a rough idea of what you want.</h4>
<p>I can put a tattoo on any amount of open skin I can get my hands on, and shave you to access the area if need be. A tattoo can be anything you want, with regard to how large and complicated the design may be. If I can get the needle in the skin, technically, it’s a tattoo. So when you say something like, “I want a tattoo,” it leaves room for interpretation. You’ll have to bear with us while we dig an idea out of your brain-pan.</p>
<p>On that note, don’t expect anyone to get excited over an idea that you haven’t come up with yet. It helps to expedite the situation if you at least have a slight idea of what you want and potential locations on your body that you want to use. You know, it’s really<span> </span><em>truly</em><span> </span>permanent and deserves effort in contemplating your design. Most shops that you go to, you’ll find they have what’s called “flash” sheets, or “porkchop sheets” all over the walls. (It pays the bills and puts food on the table, hence the term “porkchop” sheet.) These are really meant to help you communicate with your artist if you don’t have any reference material for your piece or you just have a hard time expressing what it is you want. We get it, words are hard sometimes. Some people don’t know what they want until they come into a tattoo shop and look around. It’s difficult to get motivated when someone hasn’t put forth the energy.</p>
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<h4>4. Trust your artist.</h4>
<p>If he or she says that something might not work or needs to be altered a bit, trust in what they say. If they have years of experience and a deep clientele, it’s probably worth it to let them control the situation. If you don’t like something, of course, feel free to state<span> </span><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/6-things-tattoo-artists-wish-you-knew-ben-bray/tattooing2/" rel="attachment wp-att-433007"></a>your opinions about how you want something to look, with the design or where it is located on your body. Please do!<a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/02/tattoos-scrapes-and-scars/" title="Tattoos, Scrapes and Scars."><span> </span>It’s your tattoo!<span> </span></a>You’re the one that’s going to have to walk around with it on your person for the rest of your natural or unnatural life. You do have a say, so don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.</p>
<p>And don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re getting a bad vibe. Trust your instincts. If some artist is giving you the run-around and you don’t feel good about the situation, don’t lie about it or make something up like, “ummm… I have to run to the ATM really fast. I’ll be back in a sec,” and never come back. Just be honest with yourself and your tattoo artist and you’ll feel better about it.</p>
<h4>5. Be informed!</h4>
<p>The more you know about it, the better. It makes our lives as artist a lot easier as well. Most people don’t really have a solid idea of how to go about getting a tattoo, or the processes that you have to go through to get a substantial piece, much less how to heal them. Some people don’t even know they have allergies to elements that can be found in everyday tattoo inks. Preservatives are a big one. Allergies to certain types of preservatives can make the affected (not infected) area of skin react horribly. And if you have latex allergies, skin conditions, topical hazards, etc. you’ll want to alert your tattoo artist about that as well (<em>before</em><span> </span>you get the tattoo!). The more we know, the more we can accommodate, the better your over-all experience will be.</p>
<h4>6. You get what you pay for.</h4>
<p>There’s an old saying that you may or may not have heard: “Good tattoos aren’t cheap, and cheap tattoos aren’t good.” You wouldn’t take your car to a “shade-tree” mechanic to get your transmission worked on, you take it to the guys that work on transmissions for a living. They know what they’re doing. This is our livelihood and it’s what we think about constantly and any artist that gives a damn will tell you the same thing. I’ve personally known some artists that are more expensive on-the-hour than other artists in the business, (this is usually regionally/city specific) but most of the time it’s because they’re really good at what they do, and they have a long waiting list.</p>
<p>Remember when I mentioned “investing” in your artist? That’s kind of what that’s about. You’re allowing someone to put their personal touch on your body that will last even longer than your waking life. So don’t be afraid to dote on your tattoo artist and tip them as well. We love that sort of thing. It’s sort of like going to a salon or drinking at a bar for a few hours; you want to show that you appreciate the work and the artist will remember that, I promise.</p>
<p>So there’s a few tips to think about when considering a new tattoo. Whether you’re a newbie or just an old salty dog, it can be a lot of fun to hang out at tattoo shops and get familiar with some of the art and artists that comprise your local tattoo community. Happy hunting, and just remember one more little thing when you finally get into the chair: hold still, breathe and it’ll be over with before you know it. (Shut up and bleed!)</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/6-things-tattoo-artists-wish-you-knew-ben-bray/">https://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/6-things-tattoo-artists-wish-you-knew-ben-bray/</a></em></span></p> Tattoos: Your Heart, Your Protection, Your Totemtag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2018-07-15:6363372:Topic:34144252018-07-15T18:37:28.837ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<p>JULY 7, 2018 BY <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/author/lwagoner/">LISA WAGONER</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>“Wear your heart on your skin in this life” ~Sylvia Plath</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Recently, I celebrated my tattoo-versary with a dear friend, sister, and fellow Priestess. We had both become ordained…</p>
<p>JULY 7, 2018 BY <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/author/lwagoner/">LISA WAGONER</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>“Wear your heart on your skin in this life” ~Sylvia Plath</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Recently, I celebrated my tattoo-versary with a dear friend, sister, and fellow Priestess. We had both become ordained as priestesses at Mother Grove Goddess Temple in Asheville, and we wanted to find a way to mark the occasion. We had been on this journey together, are kindred spirits, and consider each other family. We could’ve just done a Hallmark card, an evening of celebration and whiskey, or general jubilation, all of which we did. We needed more. So we chose to get matching tattoos.</p>
<p>Before moving to the magical town of Asheville, I had two tattoos to claim on my body. One of the first things I really registered when visiting my future home was “Whew, lots of different colored hair! And, “So MANY tattoos!” No judgment, just observation. I had two, which are full of meaning to me. I struggle with the whole tattoo thing, being Jewish. Tattoos, even for Reform people like me, can be a tricky subject. Concentration camps. Never forget. And I don’t, and for me, after much soul searching, decided that tattoos can be a defiant, we survived! So never again. Never. Ever. Again. I digress.</p>
<p>My first tattoo is in honor of my sons, and in the weird, magical way my life goes, ended up starting out as three green hearts intertwined. Three for them and me, always together. A few weeks after I got this tattoo, a person sitting next to me noticed that the three hearts on its side actually looked the initials of my two sons (both begin with the letter E) attached to a larger L (me). Coincidence? Methinks not. I had honestly never noticed that in the design, but it made sense, as I was so drawn to it. The second marks the beginning of my spiritual journey, when I knew I was meant for other things than the life I was living. To remind me daily, I needed something permanent. Being mildly (okay, hugely) obsessive about Sylvia Plath, I chose the words I am. I am. I am. In a copy of her handwriting. What was written on my heart was now visible on my skin.</p>
<p>My fellow priestess/friend/sister (there is no one word to contain our relationship) and I decided on a triskele. The Celtic symbol to represent the triple goddess, our love of all things Irish, the two of us tied to the bigger thing in our lives: our calling. We are similar yet not, each doing our own thing, and there for each other when needed. The location of tattoos is always the hardest thing for me to decide, but we instantly decided on our back. To show that we have each other’s back, and that we are behind in each other as we pursue our endeavors. It was a magical day when we each got our tattoos, enhanced by the fact that our tattoo artist Mike had decorated his work space with all things Green Man, of which we are both very fond. Was it a coincidence that we had Mike do our tattoos and he was attuned to our love of all things Celtic? Methinks not.</p>
<p>Since then, I have more than usually aware of other people’s tattoos. They usually have a story. Another friend recently shared her tattoos of the elements that decorate her legs. Another has the symbolism of his tradition on his arm in stark black, as a reminder of his calling. We each have our stories, and the words of Sylvia Plath echo when I see them: Wear your heart on your skin.</p>
<p>Tattoos are also protection magic, as some use symbols for protection against what they consider evil. Some honor their deities, some mark an occasion. One of my favorites is the Appalachian Trail symbol of someone who hiked it back in the 90s. Another person marks the longitude and the latitude of their favorite place in the world.</p>
<p>Totems are another theme I have noticed. Wikipedia notes that totems are “…a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe.” I have seen country flags, family crests, family names, sayings and mottoes. My next tattoo (yes, it is true. Once you have one, you think of the next one!) will incorporate elements of that which has been so prominent in my life these last few years: La Luna the moon, the Goddess, stars, and spirals. Life is not a straight line by any means, but a circular pattern of recurring themes at times.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>What about you? I’d like to know more about your tattoos, what they mean for you, which ones you are planning next. Are tattoos your story or your journal? Are they reminders? Please do share.</strong></em></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2018/07/tattoos-your-heart-your-protection-your-totem/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchindeed/2018/07/tattoos-your-heart-your-protection-your-totem/</a></em></span></p> You Can Now Get Vegan Tattoos That Help Support Ocean Protection Efforts!tag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2018-02-16:6363372:Topic:33758332018-02-16T19:04:27.765ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The marine conservation organization <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd</a> has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdTattoo/">opened a tattoo studio</a> in Amsterdam, Netherlands! The studio is offering tattoos that are completely <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/why-you-should-go-vegan-for-the-oceans-this-earth-day/">vegan</a> – that is, they do not use …</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The marine conservation organization <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd</a> has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdTattoo/">opened a tattoo studio</a> in Amsterdam, Netherlands! The studio is offering tattoos that are completely <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/why-you-should-go-vegan-for-the-oceans-this-earth-day/">vegan</a> – that is, they do not use <a href="https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/lifestyle/fashion/vegan-tattoos">ink that contains any animal products</a>. The idea came from Geert Vons, Artistic Director of Sea Shepherd Global and creator of the organization’s well-known Jolly Roger logo.</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The studio was created with the idea of opening a special place offering “official Sea Shepherd tattoos” from Vons himself. All proceeds go directly to <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/sea-shepherd-campaign-to-rebuild-puerto-rico-and-clean-up-plastic/">Sea Shepherd</a> and the organization’s <a href="https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/sea-shepherd-stops-illegal-trawl-fishing/">actions</a> for the environment.</strong></span></h2>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427904?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427904?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600"/></a></strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>“Sea Shepherd Tattoo is a creative way to raise funds for Sea Shepherd with all proceeds going to the campaigns,” states the <a href="https://www.seashepherd.nl/our-campaigns/tattoo/">project’s website</a>.</strong></span></h2>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427923?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427923?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600"/></a></strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>To make the dream of opening the studio reality, <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/captain-paul-watson-on-sustainable-seafood/">Sea Shepherd</a> got help arranging all the tattoo equipment and found several sponsors supporting the group’s <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-we-need-to-stop-masking-the-reality-of-animal-cruelty-with-language/">mission</a>.</strong></span></h2>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427967?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427967?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600"/></a></strong></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdTattoo/">Vons’s passion for marine life</a>, especially whales, dolphins, and turtles, is an important driving force behind his artworks. “Through his work, Geert seeks to focus attention upon the marine environment.”</strong></span></h2>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427984?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/427984?profile=original" width="600"/></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/vegan-tattoos-help-support-ocean-protection-efforts/">http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/vegan-tattoos-help-support-ocean-protection-efforts/</a></em></p> What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Tattoo Removaltag:templeilluminatus.ning.com,2017-09-29:6363372:Topic:33357122017-09-29T02:59:25.474ZMARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGAhttps://templeilluminatus.ning.com/profile/MARGARIDAMARIAMADRUGA
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<div class="article-content"><p>Are you the not-so-proud owner of some regrettable ink? Well, welcome to the club. I have four (five, if you count the one on my back as two) <a href="https://www.glamour.com/about/tattoos">tattoos</a> from my late teens and early twenties…</p>
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<div class="article-content"><p>Are you the not-so-proud owner of some regrettable ink? Well, welcome to the club. I have four (five, if you count the one on my back as two) <a href="https://www.glamour.com/about/tattoos">tattoos</a> from my late teens and early twenties that I could <del>probably</del> definitely do without. So, this year I set out to do just that: get them removed.</p>
<p>If you've heard anything about laser removal, it's probably that it's insanely painful. I mean, if I had a nickel for every time I've heard, "Doesn't that hurt even <em>more</em> than actually getting the tattoos?" I'd be rich. (OK, I would have enough money to buy a medium iced coffee at Pret.) But while there's plenty of info on what to consider before getting a tattoo (and pages on <a href="https://www.glamour.com/gallery/tiny-tattoos-by-bang-bang-celebrity-tattoo-artist-jonboy">pages of enticing inspo</a>), there still isn't a whole lot of discussion surrounding the dark side of ink jobs: What happens if you grow to no longer love that little shooting star or random Latin phrase (ahem, see below)? I'm only about halfway through the process, but I've picked up plenty of tips along the way. So to do you all a solid, I put together a list of everything I've learned.</p>
<p>Here's what you need to know about tattoo removal.</p>
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<div class="image-content"><source/><img alt="" src="https://media.glamour.com/photos/596d34e544ad924d82834997/master/w_1024,c_limit/LC-tattoo-action.jpg"/><div class="component-social-share image closed"><div class="share-item pinterest"></div>
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<p>Hi, that's me. Just getting my tatts lasered off.</p>
<p><span>1. Consider a doctor.</span> I'd previously had one tattoo zapped at a spa (I was living in small-town Canada where there weren't plastic surgery offices or dermatologists), where an aesthetician used an outdated heat laser that ended up burning and scarring my skin. This time around, I'm having treatments done by Dr. John F. Adams at the <a href="https://www.nydermatologygroup.com/">New York Dermatology Group</a>, where everything is done under medical supervision. I suggest you find your own doctor by asking friends, editors (shameless plug), and even by stopping people that you see with removal in process—which, yes, I have done.</p>
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<p><span>2. It will take months—if not a year or more.</span> Tattoos don't just disappear after a once-over with the laser. (I wish!) I've had six sessions, and I'd wager that I need about five more, despite the fact that my initial estimate was six to eight sessions. It takes a long time to complete because each time the tattoo is lasered, particles are broken down and digested by the body's immune system. The regeneration period is up to eight weeks, and the next time you go, the laser breaks down new particles of pigment. And so on and so forth.</p>
<p><span>3. It's expensive.</span> If you have your procedures done by a doctor, the bill for each visit can run you hundreds of dollars. Brace yourself: <a href="https://www.surgery.org/">The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery</a> (ASAPS) estimates the average cost per session at $463. But see point number one for why it's worth it.</p>
<p><span>4. All ink can be taken out.</span> Contrary to the old belief that light, colored ink was hard to remove, Dr. Adams assured me that all hues will now disappear. (FYI: The previous explanation was that, similar to laser hair removal, the laser would solely be attracted toward dark colors, like black.) With PicoSure technology, he says you can even get out yellows and greens, which were previously the most stubborn.</p>
<p><span>5. Get ready for needles.</span> Mentally prepare for visits to consist of more than just a quick and easy laser moment. Mine have been taking about 45 minutes because we take before photos, clean the areas, inject them with lidocaine for freezing, laser them, ice them, and then bandage them. Oh, and sometimes a weird thing happens where I taste metal when the laser hits my skin. Dr. Adams says it's a sensation that some people experience when the lidocaine is hit by the laser and [that it] is totally normal…but also, I <em>might</em> be superhuman.</p>
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<p><span>6. There's pain afterward.</span> And it doesn't stop when you leave the office. I would advise that you budget for discomfort for about a week. For me, the sites blister and need to be covered in a salve and bandaged for a few days; then, they start to de-puff, scab, peel, and regenerate. There is good news though: The more treatments you have, the less aftercare there is. (Since there's less ink reacting to the laser.)</p>
<p><span>7. You'll need things like Aquaphor, bandages, and even clothes that don't rest on the tattoo.</span> Yes, I <em>actually</em> bought shirts that didn't have material where my neck/back tattoo is. At first, I was cutting tags out, but when tagless cotton tees still made the spot hurt and itch, I figured keyhole backs were a good investment. If you have tattoos on your ribs or feet (and like to wear bras and shoes) it might be best to plan your sessions accordingly.</p>
<p><span>8. You could just lighten ink enough to go over it.</span> If you don't want to take your tattoos all the way off, you can simply lighten them enough to get some good cover-ups done. I have a friend who had a bird piece lightened enough to have a tattoo artist ink a light bulb over the top. I thought it was smart because it meant her new tattoo didn't have to be heavy-handed (which I'm sure you think is very 2000).</p>
<p><span>9. Or take it all off, but there might be white patches or scars.</span> If, like me, you want your ink completely removed, you should know that the skin that is left might not be flawless. I'm hoping that reading this post will prevent you from having a tattoo removal turn into scarring à la numero uno. And while the risks are nowhere near as big when you are treated by a medical professional, your skin pigment <em>can</em> be lightened.</p>
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<p><span>10. But there's another laser that can fix that.</span> We are living in 3017.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/tattoo-removal-cost-what-is-it-like?mbid=social_facebook_fanpage" target="_blank">Source</a></p>
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