Illustration Friday: Tattoo

This lotus is part of a yantra I painted in a class on Ganesha, the Hindu God.  Its a small part of a much larger image, but it spoke volumes to me.  Each part of the yantra symbolizes a part of Ganesha's existence, or a Deity that dances around Ganesha.  And while we as a class went through painting each segment of the Yantra there was a corresponding mantra that went with it.  So throughout the day there would be these soft low sounds of a group of people chanting in unison to each color and image being created on canvas.  It was truly and enchanting way to create.

There is so much symbolism attributed to the Lotus.  In this instance it represents the Goddess Lakshmi.  The mantra that accompanied the lotus describes Her as,"She whose radiance is like the dawn."

I think that if I were to ever get another tattoo it would be of a lotus.  I would either place it over my sacrum or if I were truly brave I would place it over my heart.  The symbolism is potent, and during any one of my mini transformations each and every day, I think of the unfolding of a blossom, opening fully to the sky in one big and glorious YES!  Yes to being Seen, Yes to Receiving, Yes to being Received, Yes to being Experienced, Yes to softness that is enduring and strong.

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