It is a lotus flower with pink, purple, and light blue hues. The symbol in the middle of it is Ohm. The colors of the symbol are not as significant as the colors in the flower. Allow me to explain so that you can all know the deeper meaning and symbolism behind this tattoo.
The lotus flower is a common symbol among Buddhists and carries many different meanings depending on the sect of Buddhism you suscribe to. I, for one, have a belief melting pot in my heart so I choose to blend many different meanings together to make up what truly speaks my heart. The lotus, when closed, represents a being. As it blooms and opens up it begins to represent spiritual evolving and awareness of oneself in connection with the rest of the universe. The lotus also commonly represents the energy chakras of the human being.
Ohm is what most would commonly hear during meditative practices and is referred to as the universal sound for peace and balance. The symbol is used to represent what the audible version of it represents. Ohm does not "belong" to any one religion or spiritual belief but it is most commonly seen in eastern belief systems. You can find many diverse definitions or explanations regarding Ohm by researching it using any tool available.
Pink and Purple are not my usual choices for clothing let alone anything else so, many people would find it perplexing that I would use it in something as permanant as a tattoo. There is a simple explanation for this color scheme. Pink was my Grandma Sipes's favorite color and Purple (lavendar) was my Grandma Aalders' favorite color. I used those colors in honor of them.
Tie all of this together and it gives a whole other meaning to the tattoo than what you have read above. I chose the lotus flower because I'm moving and evolving through the grieving process and into a whole other realm of myself. I'm moving through difficult emotions, and life as I know it now versus what it used to be. The lotus opened gives way to peace and tranquility; a calm surrender to a lost form of innocence that I will never have back. Ohm represents coming into peace and awareness on a very personal level. The colors of pink and purple represent my two grandmothers but even moreso - they represent everything that has been lost and all that I've gained in the wake of all of those losses. Everyone loses something important to them several times in their lives. I wanted to remind myself that something positive arises out of it all.
That is my tattoo. This is what it means. A simple piece of artwork with so much symbolism attached to it really holds a lot of positive and complex energy for me. This is deeply personal or I would not have had it inked into my skin. It is a tribute to myself, the person I'm becoming, and the people that I love and continue to hold dear to me. It's about peace.
So, now you know!
C.L. Sipes
Absolutely beautiful! Love the symbology and your personal touch to it makes it even more unique and wonderful...if that's possible :) Very inspiring. I found you under google images and this is the one that stood out and now I just want to say thank you for being you. Beyond thank you my dear. Much love to you!
ReplyDeleteI am very flattered by your comments and your feedback of the tattoo as it obviously means a lot to me. Your kind words are very much appreciated and they made me smile. I hope your holiday season, regardless of how you celebrate it, has been a great one. :-)
ReplyDeleteNamaste,
C.L. Sipes
Thank you for the kind wishes. Right back at ya! This Osho tarot card was what got me searching for the symbology/meaning behind the Lotus. Just thought you might be interested :)
ReplyDelete27. Healing
Zen Tarot Card (The picture it shows is like a clear/see-through dude with lotus' all over his body)
Healing
You carry your wound. With the ego, your whole being is a wound. And you carry it around. Nobody is interested in hurting you, nobody is positively waiting to hurt you; everybody is engaged in safeguarding his own wound. Who has got the energy? But still it happens, because you are so ready to be wounded, so ready, just waiting on the brink for anything.
You cannot touch a man of Tao. Why? - because there is no one to be touched. There is no wound. He is healthy, healed, whole. This word whole is beautiful. The word heal comes from the whole, and the word holy also comes from the whole. He is whole, healed, holy.
Be aware of your wound. Don't help it to grow, let it be healed; and it will be healed only when you move to the roots. The less the head, the more the wound will heal; with no head there is no wound. Live a headless life. Move as a total being, and accept things.
Just for twenty-four hours, try it - total acceptance, whatsoever happens. Someone insults you, accept it; don't react, and see what happens. Suddenly you will feel an energy flowing in you that you have not felt before.
Osho The Empty Boat Chapter 10
Commentary:
It is a time when the deeply buried wounds of the past are coming to the surface, ready and available to be healed.
The figure in this card is naked, vulnerable, open to the loving touch of existence. The aura around his body is full of light, and the quality of relaxation, caring and love that surrounds him is dissolving his struggle and suffering. Lotuses of light appear on his physical body, and around the subtle energy bodies that healers say surround each of us. In each of these subtle layers appears a healing crystal or pattern.
When we are under the healing influence of the King of Water we are no longer hiding from ourselves or others. In this attitude of openness and acceptance we can be healed, and help others also to be healthy and whole.
Thank you for sharing this! I believe it is a good reminder to understand what it means to really allow healing in one's life. 2011 presented a lot of opportunities for practice in this regard. I just spoke to someone today about the empowerment that comes with emotion and vulnerability in that it fosters growth of compassion. Healing is important for us all not just on an individual level but on an altruistic level as well.
ReplyDeleteAs for the lotus and everything it represents for so many people; I truly believe that it is a great visual representation of blossoming in life and spiritual wisdom. We begin with the seed which is always there and then we grow until we blossom into a being that radiates to benefit others; and so the outward cycle goes. (I hope that made sense.)
That being said, I've experienced or I AM experiencing that healing and I suspect that I always will. It is a process of growth and this blog is my testimony to it - even in times of complete randomness and seemingly unrelated rambling.
Thank you, once again, for posting this. :-) I hope you have a happy first day of the new year.
Joy!