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I agree with the scarification being very troubling but it is becoming very popular evidently. I even know people who have them but it is definitely not for me!I'm fascinated with both of your commentaries, but also a bit concerned that the minutia of religious texts could form the basis for some current practices.
Therefore, I think I will remain free of tattoos, but delighted with others' tattoos--as they can be fascinating--but will also steer clear of "scarification," as all I could think of with your picture, Pattii, was "why would that beautiful young woman do that to her skin?" That said, however, it is her skin, and she is welcome to destroy it as she sees fit.
Buen "looking the other way" Camino! (as you-know-who would say at this point).
If I were on the road the same time as you I would be asking for a tattoo to be certain. As it is I do have tattoo's and they are very important to me. They mark significant times in my life and each one was inked for a distinct purpose. I would love to have a tattoo to mark my having completed my first Camino as I am sure it will be one of if not the most important time(s) of my life and will have a significant impact on me. Good on you. I hope you get the information and research you need to complete your project!I love this project because of the discussion this inspires. I totally understand this is a outlying (sometimes controversial) topic of history but I am ready for your questions and opinions! This project also isn't looking at whether religious pilgrims should have got tattoos in relation to important text but rather responding to the fact that they did. The discussion about Leviticus would be important if the book was solely about religious doctrines but instead its about the pilgrim condition and whether or not sentiments of the peregrino's that came before us a shared in such a different time.
Also, I should state here that the historical pilgrim tattoos I am referring to aren't related to the Camino de Santiago but to pilgrimages to Jerusalem. I explain why in my kickstarter, but basically the Camino is the most populated pilgrimage which is necessary for this project.
Here we go!
1. Recently there has been research and discussion about this both in publications and public discussions about other tattoo histories that are less general knowledge. The different words for 'mark' 'poke' 'stigmata' means that (like a lot of things) the meaning comes down to interpretation. However there are a few places I can reference about tattoos as we identify them, as ink being inserted into the skin. Firstly, there was a conference 'Into the Skin', which was a forum about identity, symbols and the history of permanent body marks lead by Israel's ambassador to the Holy See. (Its a pretty long / dry 20 minutes but you can watch it here.) There is a TL;DW article that summarises it here.
There are massive histories of all sorts of Christians taking on tattoos for a multitude of reasons (and sins, haha.) Though not pilgrim tattoos, there is a long history of Coptic Christians taking on traditional cross tattoos usually on their wrists. You will also find in Jerusalem century-old wooden stamp blocks that would act as a tattoo stencil. When pressed upon the skin it would leave a religious symbol indented on the body for a tattoo artist to then mark.
There is also documentation of 'tattoo flash' designs recorded from Pilgrim shrines in Italy such as the ones below. (Pilgrim tattoos from the shrine Loreto, Italy, from Catherine Pigorini-Beri, ‘Le Tatouage religieux et amoureux au pelerinage de N.D. de Lorette’, Archives e l’anthropologie criminel et das sciences penales, XVI)
2. This point is totally fair enough and the only response I can give is: you don't have to get one, haha. I have been tattooing solo for 4 years, I have experience tattooing in some pretty rugged places with no hiccups and have had many discussions with more experienced tattoo artists on safety, particularly in less orthodox spaces. Also, I clearly won't be resorting to ancient methods and there will be modern comforts like second skin products (such as tegaderm) to keep the tattoo protected in such unusual conditions. I also have aftercare available as well as instruction cards and contact information just in case.
Haha, this may be true but like I stated above, this book isn't about the moral correctness of pilgrims but rather responding to the evidence that shows that people did do this. I am finding this so interesting to research, because even if these Pilgrims were Leviticus-believing pilgrims then what reasons would they have to feel so strongly as to mark their own body? (Especially in a time where you didn't have the luxury of single-use, sterile equipment!)
Awesome! I will have to look this up, do you happen to know the title of the documentary? Yeah I feel I should have mentioned earlier that I haven't come across any accounts of Camino de Santiago pilgrim tattooing in antiquity. This route was chosen because it is somewhat familiar and has such a great community around it. Because the book is about ideas and people and mindsets rather than particular routes or geography I felt that this would work better, call it artistic license if you will, haha.
You raise some good points about Early Romans recognising tattoos(/tattooing) with negative connotations including ownership and punishment, but BEFORE the Romans there are many case studies of society regarding them in quite a different manner. In one of the links that I reference earlier in this post there is a quote by Guido Guerzoni, a professor at Milan's Bocconi University saying that 'Christians, particularly in the Middle Ages, were not wholeheartedly opposed to tattooing. A Christian pilgrimage tattoo was "a small martyrdom -- a public shedding of blood for one's faith... A devotional tattoo was a sign of unshakable, immovable faith."
And really, what the hell do any of us know! It's the finding out that is the fun part.
Pattii and Flacon296 super interesting contributions.
I have come prepared and done my research so if anyone else has any questions I would be more than glad to give you a response!
Its fuzzy in the pic but actually very crisp on my skin. I had it done after a very painful time in my life when I was struggling with my self esteem. I was told by my Priest that I needed to tell myself every day that I loved myself and that I am beautiful so that I could see myself the way God sees me. I decided to have this done to remind me. I love this tattoo and would never think of having it taken off by laser which is how they do it now. This is just one of my tats and it is an example that not all tattoo's are gaudy and ugly or in bad or poor taste. For those of you who can't tell its on my inner wrist, left arm. Just thought I would share.
Mark, no disrespect to Scruffy's comment, but I don't think either of us are dealing with the "issue concerning drunken sailors." My tattoo will never have to be removed.I had a lady once upon noticing my tattoos while she was smoking a cigarette ask me how I could disrespect my body like that. I chuckled to myself, because she could not see the irony of the question.
Yeah, mine are with me till the end.Mark, no disrespect to Scruffy's comment, but I don't think either of us are dealing with the "issue concerning drunken sailors." My tattoo will never have to be removed.
I had a lady once upon noticing my tattoos while she was smoking a cigarette ask me how I could disrespect my body like that. I chuckled to myself, because she could not see the irony of the question.
Hey peregrinos!
Myself and two friends from Down Under will be running a research project whilst on the Camino this walking season.
I'm a tattoo artist writing a book about pilgrims in the Middle Ages who would tattoo themselves on /after their pilgrimages as penance and proof of their extraordinary feat. I'll be travelling with my (stripped back / non-machine) tattoo equipment to tattoo pilgrims who are keen as part II of the book!
If you are walking from SJPdP - Santiago around late June and July 2015 and are interested in helping out with the project or have any questions feel free to contact me.
[edited out by Ivar, should be posted in the Resource section.]
Buen Camino!
Jes
Thank you...so are you! Big hugs!And you are, indeed, beautiful!
Thank you...so are you! Big hugs!
you absolutely made my day....big hugs...thanks so much!Honestly, I don't really care about "beautiful" appearances, but a person's soul is always shining through his or her eyes, and yours are remarkable!
Wow...thanks.Patti, I really enjoyed reading your insights - it's rare we get a true expert here!
Here is the full link for the discussion Falcon referenced: http://hermeneutics.stackexchange.c...l-text-instruct-not-to-tattoo-for-the-dead-or
It's good to see your interpretation but I disagree. I have often heard preachers and teachers pull specific parts of verses out of the bible to back up what they believe, but the context of the verse has to be taken into account. Usually when the verse starts it is a new thought. So the fact it is two sentences doesn't mean it is not about the same thing. I will not argue the point but I will point out that at that time it was common for people to cut or brand themselves to show allegiance to a certain god or deity and as a mark of mourning the dead. It was also common to brand or cut slaves and livestock as belonging to a certain person. There were also times when women who were harlots were branded or cut to show who they were. Cain was marked by God when he was banished. I think there are many interpretations dating back thousands of years on this verse because it is a word only used once in the Torah. I have my own views about it based on my years at Bible School and my studies of the Bible and so do many others down through the centuries. Looking at why God was saying it is as important as what God was saying. I think just taking the word and figuring out what it means according to a concordance is not doing justice to the entire command nor does it explain why God would only mention TATOO once in the entire bible whereas marking/cutting and branding were mentioned many more times in the Torah and in the modern bible. So I am inclined to keep to my opinion and not debate it as honestly it causes too much strife which in the new testament is referring to a negative or demonic spirit.
I don't think that our interpretations of the word of God can be forced on anyone and if that is what it means to you then you have to live by that belief. For myself having tattoo's does not inhibit my strong love or my belief in God the Trinity nor does it affect my ability to be a good and faithful servant.
Oh and I might mention that there are ways of removing tattoo's now a days and God being in the past present and future might know that I think. Also when someone has a piercing it can heal but there is still a scar and they still put holes in the skin, usually if it is done the less modern way, with a needle. I guess we will have to wait to ask God when we see Him to find out what He really meant.
I had a lady once upon noticing my tattoos while she was smoking a cigarette ask me how I could disrespect my body like that. I chuckled to myself, because she could not see the irony of the question.
I think I remember in Michael Portillo's Great Continental Rail Journeys that tattooing of pilgrims was an old tradition but it may have been somewhere else.
Sure. Even if its a hotel room turned into studio. How else were you going to do it? Certainly not on the side walk or on top of a bunk bed?So, would the project be more attractive if I had a studio space in Santiago at the end of people's pilgrimages?
My guess is that it isn't your 'personal preferences' that are insulting. It's the way you said it that was insulting (I also found it insulting as an objective 3rd party to this conversation). Whether I want a tattoo like this or not, I do see incredible similarities in Jes's method and in those she displayed of the Italian pilgrim tattoos. I think it is a very interesting project and shows a real depth of character and thoughtfulness and I wish her well. Jes, may you have many 'blessed' encounters as you engage is this unique pilgrimmage and interact with other pilgrims in this deep and intimate way.Why my personal preferences should be insulting to you? I like flamboyancy. I never said yours is not art or its bad art or anything like that. I would have one as non permanent. But you certainly see that the works in the link and the examples of Italian pilgrims tattoos are as different as day and night?
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