So 13 years after getting my first tattoo, I decided to get another one. So what made me decide this was a good time to get one…a mid-life crisis? Something “missing” in my life? The need to stand out from the crowd?….bzzzzzz…wrong….none of the above! Honestly, my decision was soley based on it was now or never. At 35 and a manager in a highly visible role with a prominent company, the average person would assume that I am the typical cookie cutter conservative that would frown upon such a “nonsensical” whim and “disecrate” my body. Fooled ya! I had been considering it for quite some time now, but wanted to be very selective about what I wanted on my body. After all, if I am putting something that permanent on my body, I want to make sure it was something I could live with. I did quite a bit of research over the years and more during the last 2 to 3 months. I wanted to make sure it was meaningful, as well as represented me and my culture. Being biracial (chinese and black), it was very important that it had some cultural aspects. I chose a phoenix because of it’s blended connotations; elements of my Asian, African and American roots. In Asia the Fenghuang has very positive connotations. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace. The Fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang. It appears in peaceful and prosperous times but hides when trouble is near. Shan Hai Jing – chapter 1 Nanshan jing records each part of Fenghuang’s body symbolizes a word, the head represents virtue (德), the wing represents duty (義)，the back represents propriety (禮) the abdomen says belief (信) and the chest represents mercy (仁). Interestingly enough, the ancient Egyptians referred to the phoenix as Bennu and was thought to be the soul of the Sun-God Ra, representing creation and renewal. Both certainly describe the constant evolution of me as a person and of my life.
As I researched, I learned some fascinating information. Did you now that Asian culture regards any image of a dragon tattooed on your body is bad luck, but it is okay to represent a dragon in Chinese script?
They say tattoos have an “addictive” nature too them…and I have started scoping out tribal tattoos for a leg sleeve. I also plan to get more work done to my newest tattoo and have my old one touched up…maybe even give it a new look.
