Can You Balance Life or Does Life Balance You?
Song Of The Week
Buckle up, cosmic travelers! The Oracle Sisters have dropped a cosmic bombshell with their latest track, Asc. Scorpio, and it's more than just a catchy tune; it’s an atmospheric dive deep into the celestial waters of intrigue and transformation.
From the very first note, you’re swept away into a universe where each beat feels like a heartbeat of the cosmos itself. The ethereal harmonies spiral around like twinkling stars, wrapping around you in whispers of secrets and mysteries yet to unfold. It’s as if the band took a glittery, soulful tapestry and wove it together with
Balancing Act Part I
Welcome back to The Unfinished Times, I am your writer here ready to dive into this week’s 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 week’s 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 …permanently. A lot of people have them, it is actually weird if you don’t 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. They’re like little windows in a person’s 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Luckily, the stigma that was once associated with tattoos has now become an outdated point of view in America.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 “waterproof”. 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 it’s like I got an epiphany as to how many I have and how big they are. It’s 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 – 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 life’s tapestry. By the time I reach 50, I will be inked up!
And the Yang
But what about the brave souls who still rockin’ 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. It’s a commitment, a one-way ticket with no refunds. I mean, it better be perfect, right? After all, it’s 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.
I’ll 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 “forever and forever” or “permanent” do you think you’re 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 ain’t 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 “regret” 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 doesn’t 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 ‘who in the hell, came up with these lyrics?’. 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 it’s not fair, but honey, neither is life.
Enjoy This Journey With Me
° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO
