Song of the Week:
Asc. Scorpio by: Oracle Sisters
Balancing Act Part I
Welcome back to The Unfinished Times, I am your writer here ready to dive into this weekās topic. If you’re new here, welcome! I am so happy that you came to hangout. But if you are a regular, I apologize for last weekās ending. In hindsight it was really corny but welcome to my mind. I love corny jokes and funny sayings and this week we are going to talk about something I love to get ā¦permanently. A lot of people have them, it is actually weird if you donāt have them.
The Ying
When I turned 18, I really thought I was a fully-fledged adult and like many of us, we make the decision to design our bodies. I was a rebellious child so, of course, I decided that I would go crazy with tattoos and piercings because my body was this empty canvas that needed art. Because why not turn my skin into a living masterpiece? I believe tattoos are an art form – call me a terrible art critic, but I see beauty in all tattoos. Theyāre like little windows in a personās soul revealing their style, passions, memories, and the stories they carry with them. Tattoos are filled with information about a person and not in a bad way.
Luckily, the stigma that was once associated with tattoos has now become an outdated point of view in America. I feel very comfortable showing my tattoos without anyone looking at me funny or sparking any disrespect. However, this is not always the case. My dear mother still wrinkles her nose when my sister and I get a new big tattoo LOL! Just in my past trip, thank God, it was winter because it was so easy to cover them up. On my recent trip to Japan, I was lucky to have gone during winter. My winter wardrobe only consists of jackets and long sleeves, so it never came across my mind. However, when I did have to purposefully cover them up was when I wanted to take a dip in the onsens- as a sign of respect. I bought three packs of brown skin patches that basically acted like stickers that were āwaterproofā. Think of it like a big band-aid that helped block the ink. The worst part of it, I had to put them on joints, leaving me to walk and move funny. But I did it anyway and it was then I really thought about the effect of getting tattoos. Traditional onsens do not allow tattoos because of the thought of association with gangs in Japan. Each night I would put these stickers on to hide my tattoos, and I used about 9 patches every night. Which is not a lot, but itās like I got an epiphany as to how many I have and how big they are. Itās like I forgot, but this put in a much-needed perspective. The blessing is to express myself freely.
It was during those sticker-filled nights that I pondered the true impact of tattoos. Still vividly remember the exhilaration of getting my first tattoo. It was only days after my birthday that I decided to get my first tattoo. Matching hibiscus flowers with my sister, designed by none other than our dear mother. Pain? Oh, it was there alright, securing the second most painful tattoo. But despite the stinging pain, I was hooked. It felt like a rite of passage, a declaration of self-expression. And so, I made a promise to myself ā for every year I orbited the sun, a new tattoo would be added. Surprisingly, I have managed to keep it, each piece adding to my lifeās tapestry. By the time I reach 50, I will be inked up!
And the Yang
But what about the brave souls who still rockinā bare skin? I always hear one common reason as to why. The fear of permanence; the idea of something that lasts forever and ever. There are literally companies banking off this fear, creating temporary tattoos. The idea that a decision made in the blink of an eye will last a lifetime. Itās a commitment, a one-way ticket with no refunds. I mean, it better be perfect, right? After all, itās gonna be on your skin forever. Although there is a laser removal or cover ups, if you end up not loving your tattoos. But they never quite completely disappear plus they continue to damage the skin.
Iāll admit, the thought of permanence sometimes sends shivers down my spine. Aaaaahhhhh, I said sometimes. Sometimes I regret having tattoos and other times I am beyond delighted. Like in the case of the onsens, I was just lucky they were not really strict about it. On the other hand, when people ask me what my tattoos mean, I am so happy to share. See, tattoos can also be great conversation starters. Sometimes I want the option to keep or get rid of them to have bare skin.
What brings me back down to Earth, is the realization that tattoos are actually not permanent. Yes, that is true. Tattoos are not forever.
And this might be a bit pessimistic or maybe a morbid view about tattoos. But when I say āforever and foreverā or āpermanentā do you think youāre gonna live that long? No! For something to be truly permanent it would have to stand the test of time. And there is a short list that qualify as permanent. Humans aināt one of them. The ocean is permanent, the sun is permanent, clouds maybe, I am not sure, are permanent. You get the gist. When our bodies give way, so do our tattoos. Nothing truly lasts forever; life ends and so does the āregretā of getting inked.
Speaking for myself, death brings a sort of comfort, knowing life and all the chaos and light have an end. My end. As scary as it sounds, it is also peaceful. Our bodies are temporary vessels and how I decorate it doesnāt affect the grand scheme of life. We are all just stardust in the cosmic wind fleeting every second of every hour, of every day. Life has a delicate balance of the two; light and dark. For me, tattoos highlight my mortality and remind me that I merely am a mortal being with a beginning and end. The beauty of art being displayed while having the lingering morbid questions of regret makes life dramatic.
Make the Balance
If all that gave you some food for thought, let me exit with the song of the week, Asc. Scorpio by Oracle Sisters. Which also is a double enTendre this week. This song has such a nice ring to it and if you listen to the lyrics, it makes you think āwho in the hell, came up with these lyrics?ā. I actually had to look up the lyrics because I was just as confused. As I was reading, getting the full picture, it made complete sense. This song is a simple reminder of the balance. Life is all about balance, it is not always easy to spot and sometimes it shows itself in funny ways. When you find moments in life that have you questioning the purpose, just remember the answer will always be balance. Life is balancing. So let it.
They even cleverly named Asc. (which is short for ascendant which is also known as your rising sign) Scorpio. This song beautifully lays out the meaning of rising in Scorpio. The balance of soft and grudge, light and dark. I can semi-relate since my rise is a Pisces and I think about my feelings damn near all the time. Clearly. That’s why I have this blog to talk about them and break down my existential crises every Wednesday. Also, the band name Oracle Sisters reminds me of my tattoo bestie, my sister. So, this song is a perfect match to this week, and I hope you enjoy it. If you have an ascendant in Scorpio, let me know in the comments. I want to hear about your experience and what that means to you. With that let me go ahead and tell you all to save your excitement about astrology for next week. There we can discuss if you discriminate, or maybe I discriminate, against certain signs. I know itās not fair, but honey, neither is life.
Thank you for joining me on this journey at The Unfinished Times! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! See you in the next post~XOXO
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