the love of Ink...

I had my first tattoo 10 years ago and since then, I now have 8 of them. 

The first one was Phoenix and it's quite a rush so I didn't have much time to choose through all designs. All I knew was I wanted Phoenix and I also didn't have enough time to do the bigger one. So there it was, my first tattoo as Phoenix. When I went home I didn't know how my mom would react because she always said that tattoo is only for those people who went to jail. Well, that's how Thais believe that people who has tattoo would probably come from prison. Anyway, I was surprised when she said why I didn't get a bigger if I already spent some times to have it done. So, I guess she didn't act overwhelming because I already had it so there's no point to argue about it. 

Mom also warn me not to have any sacred tattoo done by those famous Ajarn who did it for Angelina Joli. What you need to know is that, those sacred tattoo has to be well maintain and I didn't mean by taking care. There's rule and prohibition, for example; do not curse, believe in the Arjarn, believe in the sacred tattoo and believe that you can keep all the rules. Actually there's more to remember but that's just a sample of it. So, thinking about those rules and prohibitions, that's not for me...definitely. 

I would say, all of my tattoos has meaning to it and it always come to me at the right timing. It might sounds spooky but that how it was, the idea and design just popped up in my head and I just had to choose the right one that available from the Pinterest. My first one came right after I broke up with my ex and then I came to realize that it wasn't that bad after all. That's why it had to be Phoenix, just reborn. Alis volat propriis: Latin phrase meaning "She flies with her own wings.", I had this to accommodate my Phoenix and yes, I'm always independent one so it's nicely tribute to Phoenix and me. Another one that really suit the meaning is Feather. I didn't notice it until it happened. The idea came to me, again, at the right timing and I got it done before I broke up with my Filipino ex, so, Freedom indeed. 

Snowflakes represents me, mom and dad. But mom still argue with me about it, well, it's her job to find anything to complain anyway. She said it's meaningless. I told her that actually it's quite right. Snowflake represent uniqueness. If you know, that each of snowflakes has different pattern. Just like 3 of us, so different from each other. She still didn't get it, but I didn't see the point to keep arguing with her so I just let her nagging about it.

So, if you want to know what's the meaning of all of it then here it is....

- The Phoenix: renewal, rebirth and the beginning of a new life.

- Rising Sun: a new beginning of life.

- Alis volat propriis: Latin phrase meaning "She flies with her own wings."

- Feather: truth, courage, bravery, freedom

- Black Koi: successfully overcoming an obstacle. 

- Anchor: security, stability, and being grounded.

- Snowflakes: uniqueness

- Lotus: it represents rise from hardships and struggle. Awakening to reality or transformation to beauty. 

I just had my Phoenix retouch, cover up, last year. I had the idea to renew it long time ago but somehow last year was the right timing as I've just been through so many emotional breakdown state due to lockdown and then I happened to find the right artist to do it so yes, she reborn, beautifully.

For those who never have tattoo and been thinking to have one. Think about it carefully what do you want to have because it will be with you forever, unless you want to remove it later but that will double or triple the cost, that's why you have to think about it thoroughly.

2 years ago when I went home and finally mom just noticed my Koi fish so, of course, she started nagging about it again. She asked me if I would stop having new tattoos already. I know she was afraid that I would cover my whole body with tattoo but that's  not my plan. People with tattoo doesn't always need to cover their whole body with tattoos. I still like it as it is, different piece at different places. It never comes across my mind to cover all up with ink. She knew that she couldn't stop me anyway. 

I now have the next idea. Actually I never thought that it would come this soon since I just had my phoenix done but anyway, it might take a while because of this situation. And I will let you know later what it is....

Yosita V.