Re: Henna & Tattooing

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on May 24, 2001 at 18:05:52:

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

Thanks Kree,

You know how much I hate the "t" word! ;)
Thanks for pointing out where these misconceptions about henna can
lead us (ppd, questions about needles, etc)
I would not have felt as special getting a tattoo to commemorate my
dead friend last summer. But when you did memorial henna on my hand I
was able to let the gentleness let me cry, and as the pain faded, the
henna faded too. Transitory, like life.
Again, not to dis on tattoos (I love Victor, my tattoo artist!) but
that tattoos and henna are NOT the same. Having more ink put in my
skin after being a henna artist has given me a different perspective
on body art. I found I was less tolerant of the macho "no pain no
gain" take on things and more into someone who'd give me the same
respect I give those I do henna on.
Having different forms of body art on your own body gives you
perspective on each of them.
I will continue to educate people about henna, and steer them away
from using the word tattoo!

Anne

: 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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: Thanks Kree, : : You know how much I hate the "t" word! ;) : Thanks for pointing out where these misconceptions about henna can : lead us (ppd, questions about needles, etc) : I would not have felt as special getting a tattoo to commemorate my : dead friend last summer. But when you did memorial henna on my hand I : was able to let the gentleness let me cry, and as the pain faded, the : henna faded too. Transitory, like life. : Again, not to dis on tattoos (I love Victor, my tattoo artist!) but : that tattoos and henna are NOT the same. Having more ink put in my : skin after being a henna artist has given me a different perspective : on body art. I found I was less tolerant of the macho "no pain no : gain" take on things and more into someone who'd give me the same : respect I give those I do henna on. : Having different forms of body art on your own body gives you : perspective on each of them. : I will continue to educate people about henna, and steer them away : from using the word tattoo! : : Anne : : : 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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