The cyclical nature of everything

My tattoos are expression and Alzheimers precaution in one. Dementia runs in the family, tattoos not so much, I’m afraid. The inked lines on my body tell my personal story, but foremost remind me of what is essential.

‘Earth to earth, dust to dust’, that’s what my first big tattoo seems to say. We are all made of dusty rubble, and don’t you forget it. Tiny little skeletons peak their bony little heads out of a wild flower forest. Then two hands hold this forest bouquet, or is the other way around?

Tattoo Design
The design of the two tattoos covering my left and right under arm stem originally from one drawing. I had made it as a flyer for one of my workshops, and only later discovered that it absolutely represented what I found to be an essential truth at the time: we are of the earth- and as she holds us, we should hold and respect her.

Take note of the ‘should’. I can be a bit pushy at times, especially when it comes to earth and climate issues. I must admit, this form of activism is not as fruitful as say joining Extinction Rebellion or starting a community compost heap. But it has proven quite effective as a personal reminder of how to be an ‘earthling’.

Lessons for Depression
Ironically, the lessons of Mother Earth that are less puritanical or pushy I tend to forget the easiest. One important one is the cyclical nature of everything, that life always is a dance between Yin & Yang, between highs and lows. For years I’ve struggled with depression and loneliness, jumping and clinging to this ‘energy’ as a squirrel to a tree (but definitely way less elegant). The lows could feel as such an undeniable constant force, that life lost all it’s dimension, its colors, it’s vibrancy.

In depression you forget that one very important lesson: everything changes (always).
Even your deepest low will be recycled and transformed, eventually.

Tantric Practice
By no means I always feel happy flappy now - but when I do feel low, it helps to accept and let it be, and - very importantly - speak out towards friends and family. This tantric practice of embracing all that is, has proven to be very helpful in this respect. The energy that otherwise would get stuck, is able to free flow, cling to another tree, make another jump.

My low becomes a part of the natural ebb & flow of everything.

Is every tattoo story going to be so deep? No, definitely not. Once you ‘get into tattoo’s, things start to get less heavy and ‘meaningful’ quite quickly. The barrier lowers, so to say. No plans however to start inking other everyday essentials, like toothpicks. Although my dentist tells me that they are quite important in preventing dementia..

Inked Wisdom
Tattoo Story
Body Art

Life Lessons
Depression
Earth