ink ideas

I'm thinking about getting a new tattoo. I already have 5. A word advice to those who don't have tattoos yet - they are an addiction. But for me, tattoos are no light matter. All five of my current tattoos have a significant meaning to me, so that when I'm 85 and that fairy looks like a dead body I won't regret it.

This tattoo will be no different. I had several ideas, including, a gerbera daisy (they are my favorite flower, even before everyone and their sister was using them for their weddings), a quote of some sort (most of the quotes I like are far too long to be a respectable tattoo), and a Harry Potter inspired tattoo (yes, I know that is the dorkiest idea ever... but Harry Potter literally changed my life. But that's a story for another post).

I finally settled on an option. I've always thought that Hinduism is a beautiful religion, mostly because one of their chief beliefs is that no one religion is right or wrong, but that every religion has its merits and nobody can know for sure who is right. If a Jew, Muslim, or Christian wanted to go and worship at a Hindu temple they would be welcome with open arms. I think that is beautiful.

That said, one of my favorite Hindu gods is Ganesh. This is the story of Ganesh:

"Lord Shiva, the Hindu God of death and destruction was away at a war. His wife Pavarti, who was a goddess in her own right, wished to bathe. Having no-one to guard the door to her apartments she conceived of the idea of giving birth to a son who could provide this service for her. Thus Ganesh was created, since goddesses have the power to do such things.

Pavarti gave Ganesh instructions that he was to stand guard at the entrance of her apartments and that he was to admit no-one until she gave word that it was OK to do so. Ganesh took up his post and undertook his assignment enthusiastically.

In due course the Lord Shiva returned from his war and went to enter. Ganesh, according to his instructions, forbade him entry. Shiva was enraged by Ganesh’s impudence and drew his sword and cut off Ganesh's head.

Pavarti emerged to find Ganesh decapitated and flew into a rage. Even though he was immensely powerful Shiva was upset with Pavarti’s rage. He swore to make amends by taking the head of the first living thing he found to replace Ganesh’s head. The first animal he came across was an elephant. Accordingly he took the head from the elephant an placed it on Ganesh’s body."

Ganesh is believed to be the remover of obsticles and the god of success and knowledge. This has significance to me and I have decided to get some sort of Ganesh tattoo in the next couple of months. Where, will be the next decision. My current idea is either on my right shoulder blade or in between my shoulder blades.

Here are some images that I will give to the tattoo artist to make up a design for me: