Tsering
Tsering - iPhone iOS 4 Camera
I got my first tattoo on the 11th May 2011. It's something I've contemplated ever since I was a teenager, but the idea of just getting a tattoo for the sake of it, never appealed to me. It just seemed pointless. I once heard a Psychologist say that "everything we do, we do for a reason". Since hearing that in late 2004, I've thought about it many, many times: often daily. Could she really be correct? Every single thing I've ever done, since the day I was born, I did for reason? It didn't take me long to realise that Katie was correct. I've tried to disprove it, looking through my past for evidence, but in that endeavour, I have failed miserably.
For me, this is my symbol of hope. A reminder of the fact that my time here on earth, just like yours, will not last forever. Everyday, we die just a little bit more. One of the most profound books I've ever read was written by a guy called Jon Kabat Zinn, entitled "Wherever You Go, There You Are". It made me realise how valuable time is, and how often we slip into auto-pilot mode, sleep-walking through life.
I approached an ex-Buddhist monk, Tashi Mannox after I was diagnosed with Cancer and shared with him what I was going through. He immediately suggested the first of four contemplations: "Precious Human Existence". I love the phrase but one important aspect of getting this tattoo was it's placement. I needed it where I could see it. It's not important for others to see it. To them it has no meaning, but to me it means everything. I wrestled back and forth and eventually decided to commit to the Buddhist blessing pronounced "Tsering". After Tashi drafted the blessing in several different Tibetan calligraphic styles, I chose to have it done in the Uchen style. It's often mistaken for Sanskrit because of the "header" line above each letter.
The last thing I wanted was for it to end up looking like someone had used a felt-tipped marker on my skin. I've also been fascinated with the traditional art of tattooing where, especially in Japan, a tattooist will use a bamboo stick as part of their implement to drive the ink under the skin. Flying to Japan really wasn't on my agenda (right now at least). Through Tashi, I discovered an extremely talented tattooist who's based in Barcelona. One of the friendliest people I've ever met, Jondix Mahashakti. You can see is incredible work on his website holytrauma.com. Apparently he studied as an architect in a previous life, and it really shows in his work. I opted to wait for Jondix to fly to London for a week in residence at Into You Tattoo. It was a smart move, because Jondix told me after tattooing me, that if I'd flown out to Barcelona just for this small script, he would have convinced me to get something much bigger!! No thanks! Where is the meaning in that?
