2/26/2009 ~ Finally finished the ink!! I’m so HAPPY!! It turned out sooooo beautiful!! Thank you for being on my life journey with me!!! It took 3 years (see below old blog) I learned the life lessons  that were my goals!!! TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!! NOW ONTO MY NEXT JOURNEY!! WHOO HOO!! Thank you www.spluisart.com the only tattoo artist I let touch my skin!!!

Peace and Blessings,

Mary L. Carter
www.mistressmary.net photography

___________________________________________________________________________

On June 23, 24, 25, 2006 My Good friend and tattoo Artist (The ONLY tattoo artist I will let touch my skin) Luis Vargas of www.spluisart.com visited from Los Angeles. we inked everyday all weekend a few of my friends and myself. Everyone LOVED his work and he brought deep parts of my soul out onto my skin to share with the world.  I have started my transformation into my true self that I have been suppressing for so long due to the pursuit of my acting career and now that I am going down a different and more enlightened path in life I can now be free to just "BE"

click photos for larger view

Moon ~ a symbol of the goddess. Protects and nourishes individuals along the path of growth and actualization.

The Orchid is a flower of magnificence that brings a universal message of love, beauty, wisdom, and thoughtfulness. In China it signifies refinement, and the innocence of children. A pink orchid conveys pure affection; the popular cattalya orchid denotes mature charm, and is used in corsages for Mother's Day. (INSIDE MY ORCHID IS also THE SYMBOL FOR THE FEMALE GENITALIA)

The Rose symbolizes Love,  Completion, Achievement, Perfection. Meanings vary depending on the color, shape and number of petals... an eight petal rose regeneration.

Good friend and Tattoo Artist
Luis Vargas
www.spluisart.com
MYSPACE PROFILE

Lotus ~ which is the symbol of the cosmos, embodies infinite potential. Symbolizes renewal, transformation, and new beginnings. A common symbol in Asian art, the lotus symbolizes birth and rebirth through the fact that the petals open when the sun comes out and close when the sun sets. Also a symbol for fertility, creation, and purity. The long stem symbolizes our connection to our origins, while the flower represents the enlightenment to which we aspire. the beautiful lotus is symbolic of the true soul of an individual. It represents the being, which lives in turbid waters yet rises up and blossoms to the point of enlightenment. The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies 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. (one section of my lotus flowers represents mother lotus then I as a seedling who grows and blossoms into one day a mother lotus)

Fruits & Leaves
The water in the Purnakumbha and the coconut have been objects of worship since the Vedic age. The coconut (Sanskrit: Sriphala = God's fruit) alone is also used to symbolize 'God'. While worshipping any deity, a coconut is almost always offered along with flowers and incense sticks. Other natural objects that symbolize divinity are the betel leaf, the areca-nut or betel-nut, banyan leaf and the leaf of 'bel' or vilva tree.

(LOCATED ON THE CENTER OF MY BACK ABOVE THE SYMBOL OF GROWTH IS...)

Om or Aum ~ sacred sound of the universe. Vibrates throughout all existence bringing inner peace and harmony.

As the cross is to Christians, the Om is to Hindus. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined, make the sound Aum or Om. The most important symbol in Hinduism, it occurs in every prayer and invocation to most deities begins with it. As the symbol of piety, Om is often found at the head of letters, pendants, enshrined in every Hindu temple and family shrines.

This symbol is actually a sacred syllable representing the Brahman or the Absolute -the source of all existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. The syllable Om occurs even in English words having a similar meaning, for instance, 'omniscience', 'omnipotent', 'omnipresent'. Thus Om is also used to signify divinity and authority. Its similarity with the Latin 'M' as also to the Greek letter 'Omega' is discernable. Even the word 'Amen' used by Christians to conclude a prayer seems to be akin to Om.

First Chakra - Kundalini or Root Chakra

The first chakra is known as a the Kundalini chakra, the root chakra or base chakra. It is situated at the base of or tail end of the spine. It is represented by the red Maladhara mandala (root support), the element of fire and it is also symbolized by a snake or a dragon. The first chakra is the foundation of the physical body; it stimulates vital forces throughout our body and assists in keeping us grounded to the earth. It influences our immune system, our energy, basic impulses, instincts, endurance and fight or flight reactions. This chakra is the base of the six other Chakras and it deals with the body's survival including food, shelter and protection. Relationships in our early life influence the wellbeing of this chakra. It helps to activate our energy and stimulates activity, exercise, action and vitality, if these early relationships were easy going and of good quality, later survival issues will be easy. If there was damage to this chakra caused in early life that has not been healed then there will be problems encountered in day to day life that prevent us from moving on though our development. The root chakra is relevant to achievements in the material world, permanence, strength of character, patience, endurance and safety.

When this chakra is balanced we feel healthy, alive free, optimistic, happy, steady and full of vitality. If the root chakra has too much energy flowing through it, this could cause selfishness, greed, an over powering manner, irritation, aggression and sadism. If there is too little energy flowing through it, this possibly will cause anxiety, lack of confidence, and a lack of ability to complete things. There may also be a leaning towards feeling unloved and masochistic. If this chakra is not working properly it negatively influence the legs, bones, adrenal glands, colon, kidneys and spinal column.

Unblocking & balancing aids to help realign the first, Kundalini or root chakra - We can help to balance this chakra by cooking and cleaning in the home, sitting on the ground, walking barefoot and dancing.

Related Herbs - Ashwangandha (Withanaia Somnifera, Physalis Flexuosa) and Haritaki Myrobalan (Terminalia Chebula, Terminalia Reticulata)

Related Incense - Cedar

Related Musical Note - C

a lot of people have been asking me if I am going to fill in my tattoos...
as of now I like them as henna type art.

I have decided that as I grow in spirit I will fill in the gaps along my path... or... I will continue to be a walking human coloring book ;o)

thank you for taking the time to read, share, and learn