My long time customer who is in progress of completing her blackwork sleeve, came in today to do another potion. I was given the green light to do what I feel like and that is every tattoo artist's dream come true.
Most times, its the customers who want to have certain kind of design on them, but on rare occasions, the tattoo artist gets to choose and do something they feel which is right for that individual.
I decided to mix 2 flavours into one - Polynesian and a Mandala to signify "wholeness" and used for ritual purposes.
Even though their beginnings may be linked to specific religious purposes, mandalas are popular with tattoo connoiseurs of all faiths.
I modified the Dharma Wheel: the eight hubs are a symbol of the Eightfold Path*, leading to perfection -
1. Right Belief
2. Right Resolution
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Living
6. Right Effort
7. Right Thinking
8. Peace of Mind through Meditation
Mandalas are particularly popular in henna tattoos. By definition, a mandala is any one of a variety of geometric designs that symobilize the universe. These designs are ritualistically used by Hindi and Buddist during to aid in meditation.