Perpetual state of TRANSFORMATION

Usually I don't share the process of these kinds of things publicly for a few different reasons. When I get a new tattoo I'm, of course, always so excited to share them and wear them proudly and openly. However, I generally wait till they're completely healed because I'm even more excited to sit in the process and the healing privately. My tattoos are always so meaningful to me and they're such a metaphor for my process. When I'm in a dark and painful place, the pain is excruciating and seemingly endless -- then at some point there's a little relief in the form of an ever-present deep ache that's very tender to the touch. Then it becomes a slow ache that's always there but is less noticeable and doesn't fluctuate as intensely. Eventually even the ache heals and I find myself simply sitting in a healed state -- remembering the pain, yes, and even more so remembering the great gift I found in such deep pain. Hope, healing, growth, goodness, transformation, rebirth.

The act of getting the tattoo is a physical manifestation of that emotional process. It's excruciating and seemingly never ending. I find some relief when the worst has passed and it morphs into a slow ache that's tender to the touch and even air for that matter! (if you know you know! 💁🏽‍♀️) Then it becomes just a slow dull ache that doesn't fluctuate. After that, the healing. And there I am with the beauty of a lesson learned, a life lived, a hope to continue on, a beautiful reminder that I am in a constant state of perpetual transformation. Simply by continuing to learn and live I experience a multitude of deaths and rebirths in the same life. This piece of art is here to always remind me of that.

The snake to me is such a beautiful representation of all this. They are constantly growing -- shedding the old skin slowly and lovingly and embracing their new skin honoring it until it's time to shed it once again and continuously transition and transform from the inside out. I have been doing a lot of growing, stretching, bending, breaking, learning, shedding, transitioning, and transforming the last few years and this piece of art is such a profound and stunning testament to the growth I've experienced thus far and will continue to experience. A testament to hope, to second chances, to rebirth, to unbecoming and becoming anew. For a long time I've wanted to get a tattoo encompassing all this and after a year and a half of sitting with this design and what it means to me -- I've finally done it!

The black snake facing down is the representation of my old selves and my old lives. Beautiful, honored, valid, complex yet fully seen. They red snake facing upward is a symbol of transcending my beautiful past. Red is the color of life, love, passion, fierceness, danger, and rawness. This is also my first color tattoo and that for me is such a huge risk! I've always loved color tattoos but for some reason I put myself in a box and told myself I wasn't brave enough to get one. This is me unbelieving that lie and stepping into a higher truth by releasing myself from the limitations set by me. Stepping out in fierce conviction even though it's dangerous territory for me and choosing the color that represents that. a.k.a. the color means a lot to me ya'll! 💋 Moving on! The roses are a representation that beauty can come from ashes even when I think it's impossible. God promises me beauty from ashes and it's a promise I cherish and cling to.

As I sit here literally in the middle of getting this piece imprinted upon me while I write about it (yes it hurts like no other! And yes, I strongly advise you to think long and hard before getting a tattoo on your shin!🤣 ) I am compelled to share with you what I've learned about how several different cultures view the symbol of the snake. After introspecting, first, on what the symbol of the snake means to me personally, I was interested to see how it was viewed in our worlds cultures and this is what I found:

Ancient Greece : viewed snakes as a symbol of good luck, a source of power to ward off evil (before medusa of course lol😬)

Medicine : has used the snake as a symbol of healing and wellness in many cultures for centuries as well as in the present time. In 1902 the medical corps adopted the symbol of the snake to represent wealth and the protection of that wealth.

Ancient Egypt : used the cobra as a symbol to embody protection over the realm and was often depicted on the crown or staffs of Egyptian royals. The royals were adorned with a snake headdress as a symbol of highest regards and power. A symbol of respect and authority.

The Hindu : have a goddess called Manasa Devi who is depicted with snakes and is prayed to for prosperity, fertility, and healing.

The Chinese : dedicate whole years to the zodiac symbol of the snake even down to a specific month, time of day, color and number that are all considered to be of the snake and represent luck.

The Aztecs : have a god that is half bird, half rattlesnake. The god of wind, rain, learning agriculture and science, and is said to have played a huge role in creation. Therefore, a symbol of power, knowledge, and creation.

The Hopi Native-American tribe: practice a ritual called the "Snake Dance" where they perform a ceremonial dance with live snakes of many kinds on sacred land daily to invoke rainfall and encourage land fertility.

How intriguing and stunning is it to broaden the horizons of our own personal, societal, and cultural perspectives to be able to see things in a new light? So incredible honestly! We live in an age of information! We have such easy access to so much of the knowledge and wisdom all the people of our world have experienced thus far in our existence and that is so amazing to me! I'm incredibly grateful to live in this time and appreciate the ages past. Anywayyyyssss that was a total tangent -- but still valid!💃🏽

Sharing this part of my journey with you is very raw. That rawness is a large part of the reasons behind this work of art. The sharing of that rawness is a step outside of my comfort zone in order to continue to grow and connect with myself and with you as well. We are all in a perpetual state of becoming and unbecoming. Learning a believing what others tell us, what we tell ourselves, what keeps us safe -- and then stepping into the danger zone, questioning, and unlearning the things that don't get to hold space in the new versions of the us we are transforming into. Giving birth to new ways of thinking, new ways of practicing wisdom, and becoming new versions of ourselves. In sharing this with you I am stepping into that new version of myself and if you're reading this, thank you for being a part of this chapter in my journey.🙏🏽 I invite you to step into the danger zone with me and discover its deliciousness! 😋

as always, stay spicy, stay wild, and be kind.

ps. the tattoo is finished now after about 2.5 hours and I could not be more elated with the results! I'm so in love with it! I would literally be jumping with joy if not for the pain! lol!💪🏽

pps. be sure to visit my ABOUT ME page or my CONTACT page to email me privately with questions, inquiries, or to simply share with me part of your own journey to transformation. And, feel free to comment and share your journey with other women as well -- always remembering that kindness is key! ❤