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My Intuitive Tattoo
As a professional dancer my body has always been a vehicle for storytelling but I never knew that getting an “Intuitive Tattoo” could take my body as a storytelling device to whole new dimensions.
Tattoos have been around since the frozen Iceman was discovered and have been known to adorn bodies in every culture across history. An article in the Smithsonian tells us that tattoos “have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religions beliefs, adornments, and even forms of punishment.” Further research shows tattoos used for ceremonial purposes, tribal identifications, and healing.
I had wanted a tattoo for over 20 years but never knew what to get. I’d get one idea then it’d be replaced by another. I’d Google options but nothing felt right. Since most of my life had been spent on the road as a professional dancer and choreographer — I’d wait for flights all over the world and tattoo-gaze. Not only did I admire the tattoos for their artistry, but I admired the tattoo-ees for their bravery. I found that some tattoos moved me and made me want to get to know the person. I’d wonder things like: How long did they have them? What made them decide? What was their relationship to commitment?
The common thread was that their tattoos told a story.
