#as a tattooed person I have so much love for Whang-od | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

alissacorreadelrosario · 1 year

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2022 Highlights and Message

My life is like a movie. I know that I will be telling a different story very soon. A story filled with success and inspiration about how I overcame every battle and still came out on reaching my dreams.

Happy New Year everyone. 2023 is fast approaching. Thank You Lord for this year 2022. I am so thankful Lord for the gift of life and the gift to serve my dear patients. Thank You Lord for reminding me that this is the life that I’ve prayed for when I was in college. Let me enjoy this season by serving other people through my chosen career path. Lord please use my hand to alleviate the pain of people in their oral cavity, restore their smiles and help them to build their self-esteem through dental treatments that I can offer. Thank You Lord for letting me see the world in my naked eyes. The world is such a beautiful place to experience and I want to create so many memories all over the world.

Meanwhile, I’ve read this post while I was just scrolling in my facebook newsfeed. I think this is God’s message of affirmation to everyone, I would like to share this to you my dear readers: “God is so good to give us new days and years, since He knows we need so many times to start over”. Indeed, we all need a fresh start and a new beginning.

Dear readers, let us TRUST the Lord in the next chapter of our life. Turn the page and don’t ever look back in the bad chapter. Always remember that the PAST DOESN’T DEFINE OUR FUTURE. It’s just like driving a four wheel vehicle: Kapag papunta sa lugar na pupuntahan natin, ang driver ay dapat sa harap nakatingin at hindi sa likuran, kasi kung sa likod nakatingin ang driver, mababangga at maaksidente tayo. Focus in the present and just trust the Lord in our future. There are times that we will look in the rear view mirror of the car while driving but those times are just to remember the lesson that it taught us. We will never reach the destination God wants us if we will keep on going BACKWARDS.

Allow God to write the story of our year 2023. Love yourself more because you cannot share the love if you don’t truly love yourself so I think first love is always the first step. I have so much realizations this year and I have no regrets with all of my experiences and decisions this year 2022

For now, let’s look back in my wonderful year of 2022. I’m welcoming 2023 with a grateful heart and just pure intentions.

Dear reader, just click the keep reading link below if you want to continue reading because it’s gonna be a loooooooooooooooooong ride. Haha!

January

Almost everyday of duty in the clinic is boring so I planned an out of town trip with my Uncle Edwin and his girlfriend. I’m the driver. We've visited the Highland Bali around Nueva Ecija.

Maybe, someday, I can also visit Bali, Indonesia.

February

This month goes to another adventure . It was a very loooong journey and a lot of zigzag roads upon reaching Buscalan. Nakakahilo 'yung byahe! Ayoko na bumalik dun! Haha. It was actually nice to finally meet the living legend, Apo Whang Od. I don’t want to have a tattoo in my body. I just want to meet Apo Whang Od in person and have a photo opportunity with her.

I've joined the group tour named Juan Explorer together with my Uncle Edwin, Ate Honey and Ate Ann and we've gained new friends in this trip.

To be honest, climbing the top of Buscalan needs a lot of patience. I am not into climbing mountains. I got so tired during the trip and I need to stop for a bit a little while because I feel shortness of breath during the climb. Thank you to all who gave me moral support that I can reach the top.

We spent our night in Buscalan Homestay. Sabi ko ayoko na umulit haha. The trip was so memorable and it was indeed fulfilling but I have to admit that I need to have a good stamina in my next mountain climb. Sabi beginners lang daw 'yun Buscalan, e bakit ganun hirap na hirap ako haha. Pagbaba nga ng bundok nagbayad na lang ako sa magdadala ng bag ko haha

Actually, I want to climb Mt. Pulag. E paano ako aakyat ng Mt. Pulag kung sa Buscalan pa lang na beginners pasuko na ako?! ahaha

I want to reach the summit of Mt. Pulag. I added that already in my bucket list but I have fear of heights.

March

This month is when I have a scheduled removal of Torus Palatinus under intravenous sedation in the clinic! I am the oral surgeon in the said case. I have to schedule an appointment with Nurse Jeff and the anesthesiologist, Dr. Tecson. If the patient wants to have an anesthesiologist so that he or she will feel more relax during the oral surgery, I usually suggest it but the patient will pay additional fee for that.

Thank you to my dear patient for trusting my hands in doing the procedure. Still, God is the best surgeon and I always ask for the Lord's guidance everytime I do complicated surgical cases.

After 1 week, I've asked the patient to visit the clinic again for suture removal and recall. Thankful that my patient is satisfied with the oral surgery procedure that I've done when I asked her and I've also asked her consent if we can take pictures for some documentations

Next, I went to Dingalan Aurora with my friends: Jasmine and Daniella. It was fun to get some Vitamin Sea after all the stressful work.

Dingalan is so beautiful. It was like a paradise on earth.

April

It was just a month full of clinic duty. I need to work hard to save for my future trips next month. I will be out of the country for the month of May for two reasons: my birthday celebration and I need to study abroad. It was self-funded so I really need to work hard. I have to pay all the bills--- my tuition fee, my allowance, plane tickets and hotel bookings for the Advance Course in Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry (ACARD) at Phomn Penh, Cambodia. All of the countries in South East Asia are already advanced when it comes to dental technology. Napag iiwanan na ang Pinas! According to my colleagues, dental practice in Cambodia is rising because of the advanced technologies.

May

It’s my birth month and my only wish is to be able to travel internationally again. I am so glad that the travel and aviation industry is back after almost two years. To be honest, I really want to fly internationally since the pandemic started but there are so many restrictions so I am so glad that SIngapore is open for international travel with no hassle. There’s no quarantine and it is very convenient for a travel for leisure. I’ve celebrated my birthday in Singapore with my dentist friend, Doc Kathreen and it was fun!

As I grow older, I also learned to invest in those that will increase value in the future like land properties and gold investments. So, here's a little gift for myself during my SG trip.

First time flying business class! A gift for myself for working so hard, a business class flight from SG to Cambodia via Singapore Airlines.

I need to fly to Cambodia for my further studies in dentistry. I believe that an investment in knowledge so that I could treat my patients BETTER is a good investment.

I've stayed in Sunway Hotel Phomn Penh together with Doc Stephanie as my roommate. I have a roommate so that I could save a little money from the trip. I would join someone in a room as long as she is female. :) I am so conservative and old fashioned by the way. I don't regret it at all.

After studying the intensive course, I am so lucky that I got my certificate. It was my first international studies certificate to be honest. Looking forward for more international post graduate studies in the future that was sponsored by myself or maybe if I am lucky, somebody will sponsor my tuition fee. Haha!

After the program, my dear colleagues stayed for more days in Cambodia so that we could travel and explore the city. Doc Stephanie and I booked a night sleeper bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. It was actually 5 hour long drive. I just sleep the whole trip and thankful that we are safe.

Siem Reap is where we can visit the famous Angkor Wat. Ang init! Kumbaga natusta ako dun! haha

Sawadee Ka, Thailand! From Cambodia, I took a solo flight to Bangkok, Thailand. I need to unwind and pray because there are so many things that are happening in my life despite the fact that it is my birth month. My mom is a little worried because I don't have a companion in Bangkok, Thailand. I told her that it was just a very very short trip and I am very adventurous, I don't think that I will get lost.

I love the airplane's window seat and I always request that seat as much as possible. The world is a beautiful place to explore and see and I can't help falling in love with the view in the airplane window seat.

June

This is a month of full of life learnings and life realization, plus a month of discovering more of myself and life's purpose.

July

This is a month of moving forward, never digging and looking back in the past. I went to Pampanga and booked a solo room for myself in Hilton Clark. After all, solo adventure sounds fun right! Haha

On the last week of July, my brother and I visited Qatar and UAE. It was my brother’s vacation and we only have a very little time before his class resume on the first week of August 2022. Thankful that we got to travel internationally after all. It was siblings bonding time.

Welcome to Doha, Qatar! So I've learned that the Qatar is the host for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Thank You Lord for this breakthrough moment of my life.

Then, my brother and I catch a flight from Qatar to UAE. Hello, Dubai after more than an one hour travel time.

Dubai, UAE is so underrated. Thank You so much Dubai for helping me to become a better person. I release all my stress in this Dubai trip by taking once in a lifetime adventures like:

HeliDubai (First time riding a helicopter. I saw how beautiful is Dubai aloft!)

Desert Safari (It was so hot in the desert but I am glad to experience dune buggy and camel ride with my brother.) P.S. Ang mahal ng binayaran ko sa DUNE BUGGY, request kasi ng magaling kong kapatid na magdrive daw sya sa Sharjah. Haha. Super enjoy pero butas bulsa. Haha

Flyboard Experience (Another adventure! I've rented Jet Ski and Flyboard in Nemo Water Sports Complex during our Dubai vacay. My Ethiopian instructor is so patient to teach me. Haha, puro ako failed 'di ko naman maperform ng mabuti yun flyboard.)

Ski Dubai (One of the best experiences because I got to see actual penguins in person. They are so cute. I want to take them home. Too bad, the Philippines is a tropical country so the penguins will die here in my country. I love the penguins. Also, I love the thrilling adventure that I've experience in Ski Dubai. Who would have thought that we could experience a touch of frost even in the desert, right?!)

I drink a girly drink during my Dubai trip. I've ordered one mojito because I think I need to change my lifestyle and try new activities to forget. I honestly want to have amnesia during this trip. I promise to myself that I will never look back.

August

From Dubai, my brother and I took a flight to Turkey. We've visited Istanbul, Turkey this month. Actually, it was only a glimpse of Turkey.

Loving also the quote that I saw in Istanbul, it says that "Behind every cloud, there is happiness".

I hope and I pray I will visit Cappadocia in God’s time. (Or, maybe if it is God’s will, I want to visit Cappadocia and ride the hot air balloon there with my future man after our wedding… hehehe)

I am full of dreams!!!

September

This is the first time in our parish to celebrate the Feast Day of the blessed Mary Untier of Knots that I've owned and being taken care of. Thank You so much Mama Mary. After I’ve finished the blessed image of Mary Untier of Knots this year, it seems that God use the image to remove all my problems and my stress. September 28 is the Feast Day of Mary Untier of Knots.

Alam nyo pangarap ko lang dati noong college na magkaroon ako ng isang malaking blessed image na pwedeng pangprusisyon na Mama Mary since Marian Devotee ako. Kaya naman sobrang laking pasasalamat ko sa Panginoon dahil eto na 'yun katuparan ng pangarap ko na iyon.

Looking back this is one of God's answered prayer in my life.

Meanwhile, I also got the result of my Schengen visa application during the last week of this month. Truly, the Divine providence is easing all my worries and fears away. I got a short term Multiple Entry Visa from the German Embassy.

Did you know that the original image or painting of Mary Untier of Knots is in Augsburg, Germany? I truly believe that this was God's answer to my prayers. For me, it seems that all my stress are gone when I saw my visa. Salamat po Panginoon. Napakabuti po Ninyo. Nakakaiyak sa tuwa!

October

I've booked a tri-country trip and the last week of October 2022 is the departure date. This month, I will be back in UAE not to forget but to celebrate because I am stress free and happy. My friends saw how I am glowing when I visited UAE again together with the two Eurasia countries: Georgia and Armenia. Sairah is my travel buddy in this trip and we enjoyed it so much.

We've visited so many beautiful place around Georgia like Gudauri and Tbilisi. If I were to choose between Gudauri or Tbilisi, I would pick Gudauri. Gudauri is truly a food for the soul. It has breathtaking view and the people are so nice like Japan. Tbilisi is also good but I feel safer and I find Guduari much more peaceful than Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The only thing that I don't like about Gudauri is the sheep, cows and other animals are causing too much traffic around the paradise called Gudauri.

November

New month and I am not physically present to celebrate the All Souls and Saint's day in the Philippines but I offer a lot of prayers during my trip. Traveling is my therapy.

Sairah and I were still in Eurasia during the first week of the month. To be honest, it was a very long drive from Georgia to the Armenia border but it was worth it. After immigration and passport control, welcome to the beautiful country of Armenia. I like Yerevan the most and the Tumanyan's crepe is one of the best crepes that I've ever tasted. We also visited provinces in Armenia like Ararat, Dilijan, Goght, Tsaghkadzor and so much more.

I am also very fond of eating ice cream despite the cold weather.

I'll try to blog in detail my Eurasia experience in the future once I have time.

I also have 11 hours layover around Dubai on November 6 before going back to my country. I got 30 days multiple entry UAE visa because I want to try doing skydive during my layover but the Klook cancelled my booking because they want me to be in the skydiving area around 8am. I showed them my tickets that I will be arriving 10 am from my Tbilisi flight. Good thing is I got my money back since the Klook team was the one who cancelled the said activity. Maybe, someday I can experience skydiving.

I've spent those long layover hours by taking a trip outside the airport and by doing food trip around UAE. I love kebabs and shawarma. I have to admit I love the dates flavored gelato in the Gold Souk area. Dubai is known to have good deals when it comes to gold and they have also rare and unique piece so I bought some because I truly believe in the value of fine jewelries. I think buying gold jewelries is better than buying a latest gadget. Likewise, there's a discount there and tax refund for tourist if you are planning to buy gold. Good deal, right? :)

November 18 to 29, 2022 is truly remarkable for me because I got to achieve my European dream. I wanted to visit this beautiful continent. I look back at my life and know that I am living a manifestation of God's unconditional love and faithfulness.

Back then, I always had plans and I got disappointed everytime my plans did not take place. After my Japan trip on 2019, I want to go to Europe on 2020. My original plan is to visit Europe during autumn season on 2020 but this European dream did not happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are so many restrictions and I don't think that it is a good idea to travel that year.

The year 2022 is the year God answered one of my prayer requests ---my EUROPEAN DREAM since there are no more restrictions for leisure travel. When I was in Europe on November 2022, I have a simple prayer in my heart that I can go back to the Philippines safely after this trip. Truly everything is God's grace.

Thankful also that I've meet this wonderful people.

I am the only solo traveler but I've gained so many new friends. We've visited 7 countries to be exact in the Schengen region:

Italy

Switzerland

Germany

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Belgium

France

I'll try to summarize my Europe experience.

I love Italy because of its Milan Cathedral. It was my first time visiting there and as usual I light a candle and pray there. One euro is the price for one candle. Can you imagine the price difference of the candle in Italy and the candle in the Philippines? Haha. Another thing is I've read in blog that when you are in Italy, you should try their gelato, so I just ticked off that bucket list---to be able to eat a genuine Italian gelato.

Next, Switzerland, my fave place here on earth. For me, there is no place like Switzerland.

Freiburg, Germany is a must see place. I got 30 percent off in Drubba. It seems that I just went to Germany just for a shopping experience. LOL

I love the Christmas market of Luxembourg. Someday, in God's time, maybe I can also visit European Christmas market together with my family.

So much fun and once in a lifetime experience during the night life in Amsterdam. You should try this when you visit Netherlands.

In Belguim, I got to try eating authentic Belgian waffles and it was so tasty.

I cannot described that wonderful feeling the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower. It was really magical and surreal feeling. I love you so much Eiffel Tower! You were just a dream that I once knew... Ooopsss sorry naLSS lang sa kanta.

I want to be back. I want to visit Vatican City, the heart of the Catholic church. I have so many plans to be honest. I will blog and tell you in detail my European experience once I have a time in the future. Haha.

December

Oh, I love attending weddings. I've attended 2 weddings this month and I am so happy for the couple. My prayer is a long and lasting love for them that the couple will be strong enough to fight for their love inspite of difficult times. I think that’s important when it comes to marriage. I pray that God will be the center of their relationship. I hope that respect, trust, love and faithfulness will always be present in their relationship.

Someday, I will also experience the joy of finding my genuine love like my friends. I just want to love ONE man for the rest of my life ---through the good and bad times. Simple lang pangarap ko. Gusto kong maabot mga pangarap naming dalawa ng magkasama at gusto ko syang makasamang tumanda.

For now, I am definitely investing in self-love and never ending spiritual, and emotional maturity for myself. I think if I love myself, I could love my future partner and bring the BEST in our future relationship. To my future love, hang in there, because I am trying my best to be the BEST version of myself so when God will collide our paths, I could offer you a LOVE THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. I can’t wait to see you whoever you are because I’ve been praying for you since I was a kid.

Trust that everything that is happening and all the people that are entering and exiting our life is a part of God’s plan. Give thanks to the Lord. Thank you for reading. I wish and I pray you all a peaceful heart and mind this 2023.

Hello 2023! Off to more adventures pleaseee!

Love lots, A 💞

#happynewyear2023 #LifeRealization

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lailanihan · 4 years

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Hello! I was wondering if you'd be willing to answer a question about the use of Filipino tattoos? I wanted to use some for my d&d npc but I don't want to be insensitive to the culture. The character is a dragon of south east asian descent, and she has a humaonid form that would have the tattoos. I thought it might be nice to have the tattoos to hint she is a dragon, but also for the traditional warrior purpose. Would that be offensive to Filipino culture? I love your art btw, Lailani is cool!

Hey!! This is an awesome question, thanks so much for coming to me about it! Apologies in advance for the really long-ass post, but this is a really important topic to me.

On the topic of Filipino tattooing as a whole:

It’s a practice that was once widespread among many ethnic groups in the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization, each group having their own patterns, meanings, and reasons for tattooing. Post-Spanish contact, much of the practices have since been erased and the idea vilified in modern Filipino society. There are still groups of indigenous Filipinos today who have tattoos and continue to practice, though the art is in danger of dying out due to lack of interest, knowledge, etc. One of the most famed practitioners alive today is Apo Whang-Od, of the Kalinga tribe in the Cordilleras. Many tourists (both local and international) make trips to see her specifically to receive batok (tatoo) from her, so in recent days, its not uncommon anymore for people outside of the culture to wear these marks (though they still are not without meaning and should be held and worn with respect to the history that they hold, much like any cultural tattoo).

Regarding whether or not it is appropriate for a character to have them: I think it is perfectly acceptable to put the tattoos on your character! BUT there are some very important things to keep in mind when doing so.

1. The Philippines, like many places in the world, is not a mono-culture. There are 7,461 islands, and over 120 or so distinct languages (calling them dialects is a disservice, as often times said languages are not mutually intelligible). Do some research into ethnic group influences, figure out what their tattoos looked like specifically and what they mean. Even when tattoos are practiced for beauty reasons alone, certain symbols are commonly used to do said things, and can mean various things even down to where and how they are placed on the body.

2. Much knowledge about pre-colonial tattooing in the Philippines specifically is hard to come by, and a LOT of what we know today about pre-colonial Filipinos is specifically through a colonial lens based on how the Spanish perceived us. Modern Filipinos have done a lot of work at analyzing and reconstructing our own history from this in tandem with oral historical accounts from indigenous groups. Honestly, the interest in the revival of these tattoos has been relatively recent to my understanding, so information changes and is added to regularly!

3. This I think should go without saying, but please please please, take the time to design said tattoos specifically to fit your character, and do not copy the tattoos of someone else 1 for 1! Recurring patterns and pattern placement is fine, but historically, these tattoos across the board have been ways that Filipinos have documented their personal life history + story, and those things show through in their tattoos. You wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s story on your own skin.

Using Lailani as an example: I’ve changed her tattoos a LOT (and they still continue to change a little bit b/c what is consistency lol) but the primary reason for this is b/c I’m making decisions about what markings I have found fit her that I feel are appropriate for her character’s story, as they don’t exist purely for aesthetic. However, the actual LOOKS of her tattoos are inspired primarily by two groups - the Kalinga, and pre-colonial Visayans. Practically all tattooing practices done in the Visayas have been eradicated thanks to the Spanish, so a lot of it has been guess work + reinterpretation on my end founded on my own research.

TL;DR, it’s perfectly fine to use Filipino tattoos on your character, so long as you are mindful and do your research! I celebrate at the idea of it, because it is a step forward I feel in terms of visibility and I think it helps us in our work to preserve a history that has been all but stolen from us.

that being said, I would love to see the designs that you come up with! I also encourage you to be adventurous with your designs, don’t be afraid to change up placement/flow or break out of what seems to be the bounds of the aesthetics. Lots of cool things can come from that!

#asks #dnd #character design #filipino

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tristancreed · 4 years

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My Relationship With Tattoos

Art as we know it comes in any medium. It could be a portrait, a scuplture, a dish, a film or even a fighting style. The canvas and the medium may change, but one thing remains constant. It represents something. One's feelings, identity, code, maybe even culture. Tattoos are not far from this. They are pieces of art etched on a living canvas. Just like any piece of art can be viewed differently by the artist, the wearer as well as the mere spectator. The same perception could also be rooted from a personal interpretation/bias, cultural influence, and etc.

The Philippines, while still attempting to develop have yet to change its view on tattooing. To some, it is in fact seen at an artistic light whereas most view them with negative connotations. Some even view tattooed individuals as nothing but bottom dwellers, drug addicts, criminals, anything synonymous with the word undesirable. We even have a senator that says exactly these words about tattooed individuals, as do most conservative folks. Which is ironic considering that tattoos once played a significant role in the pre-colonial history. It often dsiplayed one's role, accomplishments, clan, and even social status. One of our most well-reputed national artists happen to be Whang-Od. To the uninitiated, she is currently the last living traditional tattoo artist around these parts. She is well sought out by visitors both domestic and foreign. In all sincerity, I'd like to see that senator try and publicly call her a drug addict to her face. Like I said, The Philippines has yet to be anywhere near ready to adapt to a modern society. And with it, more progressive views.

I for one had a neutral stance on them. I should know, I have four of them and have gone through five sessions all in all. But before that, I remember wanting to get one as far as when I was in college and even intending to get two particular pieces. One being WWE Superstar Edge's Rise Above wrist piece and Toryn Green's sinner and saint ambigram. This what happens when you grow up being a fan of hard rock music, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Although what kept me from getting tattooed was the fear of being an ineligible blood donor, as well as the fear of being unemployable in the future.

That however changed after I graduated. Turns out, most corporate environments won't even bat an eye at an upper management figure sporting full sleeves and stretched earlobes. Others may not be as lenient. But it hardly impacted how they're received in the company. I even had a chance to get a session done in 2013 but it kept falling apart.

It didn't cross my mind until 2017 and that's that I finally decided to go for it. I remembered seeing a simple but perfectly symmetrical geometric arrow design. The design was perfect. I also happen to love archery. So I literally had no other issue with it. I later ended up getting referred by my cousin to her artist who did her wrist piece months prior. The three weeks leading up to that session, I let my folks know in advance that I am getting a tattoo. I didn't wait for their approval or anything. I made it clear that I’m getting inked. Furthermore, I’d like to point out that I am a regular subscriber to Aaron Marino’s YouTube Channel (you may know him as Alpha M). I then took some crucial tips regarding tattoos. I had the certainty down as long as I follow one crucial tip. You have a whole sea of skin all over you. So out of all that, just avoid having one on your hands, neck, and face. If you can hide it with a dress shirt, it’s completely fine.

On the day of my appointment, I literally just slapped on a sleeveless Avenged Sevenfold cut-off top, some shorts, with only my phone and wallet in hand before heading out for my session. It happened in a small studio just next to a small school in Pacita. Fortunately, I got there in time and I happened to be his only scheduled client for the day. What happened next was pivotal. I literally watched as the needle first touched my skin and slowly covered my birthmark. The session itself took over five hours. And what turned out to be the final product was an entirely different design. One which was inspired by the concept I sent, but also deviated from it. My parents despite having already been warned in advance were still initially shocked by it. They didn’t think I was actually going ahead with it. So this is the part where I retroactively followed what Jaiden Dittfach (of Jaiden Animations) said when she got her bird Ari. If you want really want something and your parents said no, get it anyway and trick them into loving it. Now that it’s on my skin, there really wasn’t much they could do about it. But at least they know its meaning and that it isn’t anything negative. I did have some issues with the product though and it took three more years before I finally got it fixed. For good this time. At least before the pandemic happened and it was done by a trusted friend. In her defense, she made the best of what she could work with then and even remarked how deep the first needle went. Fortunately, she managed to even out some places that needed to be polished.

The (first) finished product.

Finally fixed.

In between all of this, I also managed to get three more pieces. It was November 12, 2018, a news shocked Marvel fans the world over. Stan Lee tragically passed away just six weeks shy of what would have been his 96th birthday. It was such a devastating loss of a figure who helped mold the childhoods of many. I wrote about it and posted it here shortly after. During those events, I remembered having come across the Wakandan alphabet before it hit me. But first, I had to consult a few friends in order to make sure that I wouldn’t be committing any act of cultural appropriation. After finally clearing that up, I sent my own design to a friend of mine (Who went on to do all of my ink from that point on) and booked the session. Thanksgiving day later came and I realized that we had no work that day. So I later called her up to see if she was free. Fortunately, she was and I finally had it etched on my right forearm. It was the Latin word “Excelsior” that literally translates to ever upward. It was also Stan’s catchphrase. The feeling of getting that piece was a lot more different than the previous one. This came with a wave of emotion. Because the significance could even be traced from my childhood and I grew up around this fandom and it meant more to me than just entertainment. It helped shape part of my identity. It’s literally the one piece I wish I could have flashed on a camera next to Stan himself. One thing’s for sure both Stan Lee and Chadwick Boseman would have thought it was a wise choice for a piece of ink on one’s skin.

“Excelsior”

- Stan Lee

Upon having gone through a tattoo session, you can only describe the feel of a needle as a sting. But you wouldn’t exactly call it pain. That isn’t an opinion, that is a fact. Another thing one must know upon getting a tattoo is that you will later want additional pieces. Your skin will want the feel of that needle again. And while my parents said that would be my last piece, I simply couldn’t promise that. This time around, I’ve been looking to get a Cthulhu tattoo since December 2018. Of course, being busy as always, I couldn’t find a time to arrange it. I would only do so once I’m sure I’m completely free for that day. I live two lives. Both as a corporate guy and a public figure. Spare time and sleep are luxuries I can’t always afford. And after all the planning, I finally booked it. I literally went to my friend’s place right away to have it done. The session was of reasonable length and it felt different. Both of my previous tattoos were done on my right forearm. Both of which had uplifting personal meanings. A darker piece like that would be completely out of place in that part of my body. So I opted for my left bicep. It was surreal. I’m a man invested into multiple fandoms and H.P. Lovecraft’s universe is definitely in that list. There’s just something about the occult and the unknown horrors of the cosmos that piqued my interest since my formative years. This was me finally marking that on my skin. If there’s one of Lovecraft’s most iconic creations that deserved that spot, it was the famed Dreamer of R’lyeh himself. If the excelsior tattoo gave a rush of innocence that I hadn’t felt in ages, this was different. It had that enigmatic aura around it which made it all the more perfect. The piece came together so well and it was on an arm that a needle had yet to kiss. After the session, you could say I probably found out how the Sam Raimi Peter Parker felt when he first put on the black symbiote suit. Minus the dance when he exited that tailor shop. I also ended up getting a freehand bonus on my right wrist again. Just something Roxy threw in. It was the Latin phrase “Sic Parvis Magna.” which literally translates to “Thus great things come from small things.” or better yet, greatness from small beginnings. Which is another phrase I hold dear considering my humble origins.

“Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn”

“In his house at R’lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”

“Thus great things come from small things.”

That certainly wouldn’t be the end of it. Again, while my folks insisted that I got my last pieces, I still can’t promise that. One thing’s for sure, I wouldn’t get any piece that either stands for something that abridges the rights of another human being, nor would any of my upcoming pieces ever wrongly appropriate a culture. Ultimately, I would always advise everyone to at least take Aaron Marino’s advise to heart. Don’t get one that you wouldn’t want to show your folks. You also have a whole sea of skin around you, so avoid having one on your hands, neck and face. I’m definitely not done stepping next to a needle. I still have plans on some pieces. But I always see to their significance. It’s always wise to do exactly that. Getting a tattoo isn’t a joke. It’s a commitment. One that can even outlive a marriage. So it pays to take every choice into consideration. Some of us choose to wear our hearts on our sleeve and some do so literally.

#tattoos #tattoostories #excelsior #cthulhu #lovecraft #inkedlife

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