The need to be recognised - Tattoos

[Ayla]

As a MAAB non binary I am the happiest that I have ever been.  However I have an increasing need to be recognised for who I am.  I have an increasing need to assert my identity and my journey.  A more andro presentation helps but, as yet, it isn't really enough.

Many times I have thought about symbols - jewellery and tattoos.  Both have efficacy but tattoos seem to make the most powerful self-affirming statements.

Keen to get your thoughts and suggestions.  Is this unusual, what have you done, what have you thought of, or plan to do?

To kick this off I am contemplating the following tattoos to assert my identity. Thinking about my birth name on the inside of my right inner arm and Aisla on the inside of the inside of my upper left arm, both written in Tolkien's elvish (quenyan). But also thinking about the Chinese dragon (male symbol) and Phoenix (female and rebirth symbol) in the same respective positions (female being closest to my heart), perhaps in non binary colours and accents (green and lavender)   Alternatively I could combine them directly in a yin-yang form to represent my non binary balance and duality.  The inner upper arm is discreet but other positions may be better ..  my sense of increasing gender fluidity may impact this.

safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

I like tats on other's, not so much on myself though. You never know when you may want to disappear and I don't want any distiguishing marks.() Plus the whole needled thing. Getting my ears peirced wasn't so bad, it was quick. I don't know if I could sit for so long for a tattoo. But I do like tats on other people though. 

[Deleted]

Back when I was a teenager I got into a little mischief due to the fact, according to the judge, I had too much time on my hands so I spent a week in jail where i learned how to roll cigarettes. The first thing the jailer asked me was, "Do you have any tattoos or identifying marks?" This chilled me on the idea of ever getting a tattoo. The fellows in my military unit were forever getting tattoos and encouraged me to but it was no dice, not my cup of tea! I've had my ears pierced and though I think some of the piercings I've seen on some people are excessive at least they aren't permanent and the holes heal. Since those days I've developed a mindset that tells me that putting drawings and artwork on my body would be somehow disrespecting myself. Just my thoughts so don't let what I think dissuade you from what you want to do.

One other thing, if ever you want to wear little black dress with some skin exposure, tattoos would be tasteless. Ok, said my piece and I'll shut up.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 4:47:03 GMT 8 @julieblair said:

Ink done well is art. Ink done poorly is .... well an embarrassment. A thoughtful consideration, a skilled practitioner, and a tube of lidocaine are the essentials. Aisla, what you choose to do will be exquisite. I still think twining the dragon and phoenix is an interesting idea. Jamie I have clean skin too, but one day I will doubtless follow my daughter into something colorful. Let me know when you are ready, I'll come down and we can get crazy and colorful together. 

I think Shan and me kind of think alike. But I can't get that song out of my head by Motley Crue, "Tattoo, crawling up her leg so sexy..." from A Little Peice of You.

I wouldn't mind having a trampstamp though and maybe a little something tasteful around the ankle like a rose or something. Even a little badass girly butterfly on my butt where the only one that sees is my lover. But sleeves, I like but not on me. Anyone else it looks badass, girl or guy.

But like Nazareth said, "Love Hurts" so definately no names. I thought at one time a long time ago and thankfully didn't. It would have been somewhere that a bikini couldn't cover all the way. But a butterfly on the "cheek" even wearing a thong wouldn't raise any suspicions.

[Ayla]

Julie

Poor tattoos are an embarrassment.

Shan

If I were to ever to crave a LBD then ould need to keep the tattoos feminine and appropriately placed .. but non binary means that it needs to balance the yin and yang elements in an appropriate way.

Jamie

I think tattoos can be tastefully done so am doing my homework.

Tattoos were frowned on in the Navy unless you didn't plan on promotion. Similarly in Japan and Korea they are associated with the Yakusa (criminal elements). With the crackdown on bikie gangs in Oz, the police are also looking to arrest those with colors on their jackets and it is only a matter of time before they start on gang members who tattoo their badges onto their skin.

Having said this the upper inner arm is almost undetectable in most situations. Elsewhere on the body may be a little problematic and lead to a whole range of assumptions re the person sporting the tattoo.

This decision and then procedure is not one that I will rush into .... but I have thought about this for some time and the symbolism of rebirth (phoenix and the yin-yang of this when combined with the dragon is very powerful in relation to my identity and life experience. Combining my birth and forum name in elvish (therefore understandable to only a very few) with these symbols etc in some way (perhaps my birth name next to the dragon and Aisla next to the phoenix, would be a powerful statement in the appropriate non binary colors. In this way I can keep them under my arms and closest to my chest and, in the case of the phoenix, my heart. Alternatively the dragon and phoenix in a yin yang statement under my left arm and my names interlaced on the other. ... so many options, so little skin, conflicting feelings and life time presence.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

I have many and plan on many more in the future.

i'd like to get this done



I want a Neil Gaimen inspired sleeve on my right arm (already have delerium of the endless on that arm) starting with the following text:

She seems so cool, so focused, so quiet, yet her eyes remain fixed upon the horizon.

You think you know all there is to know about her immediately upon meeting her, but everything you think you know is wrong. Passion flows through her like a river of blood.


hello kitty versions of death and delirum of the endless on my feet, death on my right foot delirum on my left - it's a balance thing

a hell boy tattoo that I will get round to designing

a dragon scale mandala behind my right ear

more work on my back piece

yes... lots of tattoos. I like tattoos

[Ayla]

DF

Love this. Absolutely brilliant. Your tattoos seem to capture and express your spirit and identity. I know some folk choose tats because they are pretty, they remind them of a person or of a place, or make a political statement but for me, personal symbolism is key. It feels like choosing a name. This will be in the face of some family push back and it is important to me which is sort of surprising given my fairly conservative life.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Whisper]

most of my kin have tattoos. i am sorta the odd one, that doesn't have any. i do have single pierced both ears.
kinda boring for body art i know.
whisper

[Kelly]

I have just the one.. It's a memorial to my late GF.

And I still miss her every day.

[Deleted]

Some of mine are personal, some I just had done because the are pretty, all of them reflect a part of who I am.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 5:33:45 GMT 8 Ayla said:

Julie

Poor tattoos are an embarrassment.

Shan

If I were to ever to crave a LBD then ould need to keep the tattoos feminine and appropriately placed .. but non binary means that it needs to balance the yin and yang elements in an appropriate way.

Jamie

I think tattoos can be tastefully done so am doing my homework.

Tattoos were frowned on in the Navy unless you didn't plan on promotion. Similarly in Japan and Korea they are associated with the Yakusa (criminal elements). With the crackdown on bikie gangs in Oz, the police are also looking to arrest those with colors on their jackets and it is only a matter of time before they start on gang members who tattoo their badges onto their skin.

Having said this the upper inner arm is almost undetectable in most situations. Elsewhere on the body may be a little problematic and lead to a whole range of assumptions re the person sporting the tattoo.

This decision and then procedure is not one that I will rush into .... but I have thought about this for some time and the symbolism of rebirth (phoenix and the yin-yang of this when combined with the dragon is very powerful in relation to my identity and life experience. Combining my birth and forum name in elvish (therefore understandable to only a very few) with these symbols etc in some way (perhaps my birth name next to the dragon and Aisla next to the phoenix, would be a powerful statement in the appropriate non binary colors. In this way I can keep them under my arms and closest to my chest and, in the case of the phoenix, my heart. Alternatively the dragon and phoenix in a yin yang statement under my left arm and my names interlaced on the other. ... so many options, so little skin, conflicting feelings and life time presence.

Safe travels

Aisla

Well here in the states if you are biker and have a 1%er patch on your jacket then you are a target for the cops. But colors are usually limited to the gangs. Tats here, I think everyone has them. Except me.  Maybe something girly and cute. Yeah I know. I am such a girl and one reason I never got any tats. OMG can you imagine something masculine on me. I can't. So I wait until I make a decision but I am thinking more girly. Maybe on the cheek and not the one on top. But tats, I love 'em. But back and forth isn't a good position to be in if I want something cute or want something badass.

Kelly, I am so sorry. That is sweet though.

[Deleted]

The most beautiful tattoo I ever...partially..saw was of a peacock with the tail curling around a breast.

Never saw all of it.

I'd have to flash mine to see theirs I guess, and it ain't going to happen.

Fuzzy tattooed my wife and my birthday on her shoulder. Close family, ours.

Blessings

Trinity

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 6:41:05 GMT 8 Kelly said:

I have just the one.. It's a memorial to my late GF.

And I still miss her every day.

Oh you poor dear.

I am so sorry.

[Kelly]

And here it is.. It's on my left upper arm. Her initials were AT.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 7:53:30 GMT 8 Kelly said:

And here it is.. It's on my left upper arm. Her initials were AT.

OMG Kelly. I gave a thumbs up but am also shedding a few tears. That is so sweet.