Getting Ink Done (Do You Have Tattoos?)

Hey yogis! Do you have tattoos? I'm a big fan of wearing my art on my sleeve. :)

I have six tattoos to date. They all have very specific meaning and represent important moments in my life.

The first is an "S" on my back. It's a tribute to my cousin, David Stroud, who lived his life to the fullest. David passed away from cancer a little over a year ago and we miss him. Thanks for teaching me what it means to be Stroud Strong, D. (Credit goes to Steady Tattoo in Minneapolis.)

My second tattoo is one of my favorite mantras, om namah shivaya, on my right ankle. I got this one at a time when I wanted a clear path in my life, and vibrating the mantra has helped me overcome obstacles. To me, the mantra translates to:"This path is clear. I'm on this path. I walk the path." I like that I can see it while I practice yoga, and that it points to my feet, which take me on my journey. This tattoo is about living in the moment. (Credit goes to Mike Dalton at Chicago Tattooing and Piercing).

My third tattoo is a tree branch inside an imperfect circle. This one has various and very personal memories associated with it. The artwork represents moving through pain, acceptance of self, and living in a natural way that's in tune with the earth. In many ways, it's a reminder to myself to live peacefully regardless of the crazy experiences I have, or the chaos that others may bring close to me. It's also a testament to children of divorced parents, victims of abuse, and broken families; you are stronger than you know and my heart goes out to you. (Credit goes to Mr. STUKA, Tattooer Extraordinare, over at Deluxe.)

I got the fourth tattoo in upstate New York. This one is my only color: a lotus flower on the upper right thigh. Definitely my sexiest tattoo yet, and one I placed strategically in a spot where only certain people can see it :) The lotus represents beauty, grace, and restraint. To me, it's a reminder to be patient and to place value on serenity and purity over instant gratification. (Credit goes to Emel at Ink Inc.)

The next tattoo I got is the word HOOK. This one holds various symbolism for me, and represents my love for wordplay. Hook: the beginning of a piece of writing you can't stop reading. The phrase "hook it up." And of course, there's Captain Hook and the pirate life (living as an outsider and producing your art fearlessly), being willing to throw the left hook if your life depends on it, the words "hoop" and "book"... the list goes on :) (Credit goes to Mike Dalton at Chicago Tattooing and Piercing).

My latest tattoo is an infinity sign. It represents my desire to keep creating art throughout my life and never to give up on artistic pursuits. (Credit goes to Jason from Chroma Tattoo in West Bloomfield, MI.)

So, that's my ink...and I'll be adding more soon. (I'd like to have a sleeve eventually!)

Do you have any tattoos?

If you'd be willing to share about them, shoot me an email at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com with photos and I'll post about you in an upcoming series. Namaste!