Body Art...is it the best indicator of your devotion?

[Satírico]

Hola and Greetings,

I've posted, I think, on the subjects of souvenirs and memorabilia before, but maybe because I have camino itchings or just don't want to get on with my day, I have another pondering to put forward.

In an era when people march hundreds of miles with a scallop shell on their backpack, is a camino tattoo in Santiago the best marker of your achievement, your belonging to the Way of St James?

Now I know what you're thinking, the compostela and the credencial, not forgetting a sack full of photos and memories, these are the exemplars, and you're right.

Actually, it was Eurovision which stirred this thought up from the murky depths of my mental caldo. (see Eurovision thread - Portugal won). Quite a number of people performing had tatts, and they can make a person look a bit iffy, like an ex-con. That said, I've seen tattooing that was both discreet and tastefully intriguing: an inky fascinator. One of my peregrina amigas got a scallop shell tattoo in SdC and it looked great. Small and simple and highly effective. I'm starting to think, if I was ever going to get one...

On my first camino I collected a decorative tile with the scallop design, pleasingly tactile. Last time, the next best thing was a mounted camino coaster. If I manage to make it a hat trick of hiking adventures, and the pattern dictates that the next will be more epic than the last, whatever my knees have to say, well, I think I'll have earned my scarring.

Buen camino

(Post edited by moderator)

 

[HeidiL]

I'm sorry, there's a reply missing:

HELL NO!!!

I worked at a geriatric ward and have seen what tattoos look like on aged skin.

 

[cher99840]

Another controversial subject that is nobody's business except the person/s who seek the art.

 

[James Borden]

My Camino tattoo:

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Another controversial subject that is nobody's business except the person/s who seek the art.

Why controversial?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

FYI, there is a FB page about Camino tattoos.

 

[Purky]

I'd like to bypass the whole discussion that surrounds tattoos: age, taste, prejudice, cultural stigma, whatever. A good reason for getting a tattoo is you want one. A good reason for not getting a tattoo is you don't want one.
Just a couple of tips: if you want it, do it right. Get a design that won't bore you within a year (so take your time designing or looking for it), and get it done right by a good artist for the best result. That's pretty much it. Have fun deciding!

 

[cher99840]

Why controversial?

"Indicator of your devotion?" That's controversial in my book and no ones business. There are pro people and there are con people. We all know that. We can discuss it, but why?

 

[Rebekah Scott]

that started out strange and got downright weird pretty quick.

 

[whariwharangi]

I think attending the botofumiero ceremony is sufficient.

Organizing a tattoo would be overboard.

 

[Suzanne S.]

I think attending the botofumiero ceremony is sufficient.

Organizing a tattoo would be overboard.

Ok...that's pretty funny!

 

[James Borden]

I think attending the botofumiero ceremony is sufficient.

Organizing a tattoo would be overboard.

Reminds me of the Royal Canadian Yaksmen from Ren and Stimpy.

 

[MichaelB10398]

There is as many ways to demonstrate one's connection to the Camino as there are people with opinions; it is an unending, smorgasbord of options and certainly not of universal preference.

For me personally I appreciate understanding the motivations for my choices and actions. Is it intrinsically motivated or is it more extrinsically motivated? Do I do things to feed my ego by being seen of others or does it reflect the thoughts of my heart, head, and spirit? For goodness' sake I don't need to feed my ego and those motivations I strive to deny. Let me build the chambers within to hold those things most precious and dear.

Your choice, pilgrim, is to choose based on the best motivation. Understand that this does not deny either choice - it is the motivation that is most important and not the choice made in this topic.

 

[James Borden]

There is as many ways to demonstrate one's connection to the Camino as there are people with opinions; it is an unending, smorgasbord of options and certainly not of universal preference.

For me personally I appreciate understanding the motivations for my choices and actions. Is it intrinsically motivated or is it more extrinsically motivated? Do I do things to feed my ego by being seen of others or does it reflect the thoughts of my heart, head, and spirit? For goodness' sake I don't need to feed my ego and those motivations I strive to deny. Let me build the chambers within to hold those things most precious and dear.

Your choice, pilgrim, is to choose based on the best motivation. Understand that this does not deny either choice - it is the motivation that is most important and not the choice made in this topic.

I have over 50 tattoos and not one of them is to feed my ego.I take it that you also think when someone lists all of the Caminos they've been on is feeding their ego or showing off.

 

[Katie Brown]

Another controversial subject that is nobody's business except the person/s who seek the art.

yes yes yes x100

 

[Anemone del Camino]

"Indicator of your devotion?" That's controversial in my book and no ones business. There are pro people and there are con people. We all know that. We can discuss it, but why?

I'm sorry, where do you read "indicator of your devotion"? I thought you were saying tattoos are controversial.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Now, if the tattoo is another souvenir of a trip, a vacation, of something we did that may have required we push ourselves physically, and perhaps also mentally, then it is that, but not a belonging to "the Way of Saint-James".

 

[natefaith]

I'm sorry, where do you read "indicator of your devotion"? I thought you were saying tattoos are controversial.

It's in the title of the thread

 

[grayland]

Closing the thread for now.