tattoo5

The tattoo, finished, cleaned and dried, before the first application of ointment. Tattoo by Mos Eisleys of Grand Rapids.

 

The tattoo is a rod of Asclepius, which, for me, has taken on a special significance in my past several years of studying mythology and, ultimately, tied into me the philosophy I've been building on all my life. To me, it doesn't just represent medicine, but the human spirit of creativity and ingenuity and that this spirit is something that should be feared by any who seek to control and rule men, like the gods feared Asclepius' medical ability. Effectively, if there are gods, that they ought to fear men, since our power, in reality, greater than their power over us. Some see the myth as a lesson than men cannot change the natural order of the world--I see it as saying that humans do have the ability to take complete control of our fate, and that no one should have a right to stand in our way.

 

The model, of course, is our snake, Augustus (he does have those skull patterns), who can also be seen on this Flickr.

Done