Well said!!! n/t

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Posted by Rachael on May 24, 2001 at 14:43:03:

In reply to: Henna & Tattooing posted by Kree/Gilded Lilies on May 24, 2001 at 14:15:46:

: Tattoo comes from a polynesian word which I've seen
spelled "tautau"
: and "tattau."
: Besides the technical details of tattooing (whether its a tattoo if
: it pierces the skin or not), it would be interesting to contrast
the
: SOCIAL purposes of each craft. Separating henna from tattooing is
: not meant to trash tattooists, among whom are some of the finest
: artists I know. Its partially to counteract the attitude that I
: received from a tattooist of "oh, you're doing FAKE tattoos."
Which
: is a pretty common misconception on the part of the AMERICAN public
: (this type of misconception is non-existent in cultures who use and
: understand henna traditions). That's one of the reasons black henna
: is so popular.
: I believe that henna PROCESS of bonding between the giver and
: receiver and the social and ritual functions of henna in middle and
: far eastern countries is totally unique to henna. I would like to
: see more henna artists doing their homework and
studying/interviewing
: how people in other countries FEEL about henna. It is a
: deeplyintuitive craft when practiced traditionally. Tattooing has
its
: own rituals, but I believe they are very different, and not very
: comparable to henna ritual.
: To me the transitory nature of henna contributes to its sacredness -

: like a tankha or sand painting. This is especially obvious to me
: doing grief work and assisting at the letting go process. But it is
: also true for other ritual work, including making marks that
: commemorate a special event requiring effort and courage - like
: running a marathon, doing a dissertation, etc. You may not want to
: commemorate such an event with a permanent mark.
: Henna is not a tattoo, and a tattoo is not henna. I am slowly
: eliminating all references to tattooing in my lectures and
: literature. This is not to dis tattooing - which I think is a
: fabulous and worthy art deserving of utmost respect. It's just not
: what I do!

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: : Tattoo comes from a polynesian word which I've seen : spelled "tautau" : : and "tattau." : : Besides the technical details of tattooing (whether its a tattoo if : : it pierces the skin or not), it would be interesting to contrast : the : : SOCIAL purposes of each craft. Separating henna from tattooing is : : not meant to trash tattooists, among whom are some of the finest : : artists I know. Its partially to counteract the attitude that I : : received from a tattooist of "oh, you're doing FAKE tattoos." : Which : : is a pretty common misconception on the part of the AMERICAN public : : (this type of misconception is non-existent in cultures who use and : : understand henna traditions). That's one of the reasons black henna : : is so popular. : : I believe that henna PROCESS of bonding between the giver and : : receiver and the social and ritual functions of henna in middle and : : far eastern countries is totally unique to henna. I would like to : : see more henna artists doing their homework and : studying/interviewing : : how people in other countries FEEL about henna. It is a : : deeplyintuitive craft when practiced traditionally. Tattooing has : its : : own rituals, but I believe they are very different, and not very : : comparable to henna ritual. : : To me the transitory nature of henna contributes to its sacredness - : : : like a tankha or sand painting. This is especially obvious to me : : doing grief work and assisting at the letting go process. But it is : : also true for other ritual work, including making marks that : : commemorate a special event requiring effort and courage - like : : running a marathon, doing a dissertation, etc. You may not want to : : commemorate such an event with a permanent mark. : : Henna is not a tattoo, and a tattoo is not henna. I am slowly : : eliminating all references to tattooing in my lectures and : : literature. This is not to dis tattooing - which I think is a : : fabulous and worthy art deserving of utmost respect. It's just not : : what I do!
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