A Pretty Flower for Me
After getting my greyhound tattoo last week, I felt I needed something to balance it out. Something with a little color. There was no doubt what I wanted: a lotus. In Buddhism, the lotus is one of the eight auspicious symbols and represents many teachings:
The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment. (More info on the lotus in Buddhism).
Common in Buddhist art, the lotus appears in several colors each with their own meaning. I chose the pink lotus for my tattoo, the supreme lotus associated with The Buddha himself.
Whenever I look at my lotus tattoo, I am reminded of The Path and of my dear husband, who has been Buddhist for many years and helped open my heart and mind to the teachings. Kate at Monster Ink did another fantastic job. I emailed her an example of what I wanted and she created a version unique to me, even free-handing the water underneath.
