Blog and photos of tattoos and design by:
Katherine Lily Mae Harris
Tattoos are a deeply personal experience. They have long had cultural importance and significance. They also became a symbol of identification, protection or expression. At times their meaning is more sinister and can be an identification marker of ownership.
In certain cultures, tattoos are avoided in part, because of the desire to ‘blend in.’ Similar dress and no identifying markings, make it easier to exist in a World where some are targeted for unjust reasons.
I was born with an upside down heart on my left collarbone. A pretty significant tattoo given by God/Allah/Shiva.
I will talk about my tattoos.
The very first one happened unexpectedly and before I was 18. I went with a friend while she got hers. I wanted to see if without ID, I could get one, here you have to be 18 to get tattooed, even back then in 2003. I wasn’t expecting for them to allow it, so I didn’t plan on what to get.
When he said, sure, what do you want, I thought fast and pulled out my playboy bunny keychain, I said this, on my lower left hip.
He said he could make it look like gold. It did not look like gold. It was a strange coloring, sort of looked like an orange and pink bunny with 5 O’clock shadow.
The shape was good though.
My first tattoo…..
Meaningless. The place is closed now.
The second one I got when I was 18. Despite not speaking Latin, I loved the idea of it. So what did I do, I googled at the library the word for love, in Latin. I went home and I drew it out on paper. A-D-A-M-O Adamo, to ‘fall in love with’ for me, representing, to ‘fall in love with life and living.’ I went into a very well known tattoo studio, Atlantic, not the one that did my first tattoo, I asked if they had time, tattoos became a spontaneous event for me.
They did, so Adamo was placed on my right wrist.
The next year, 2005, I went in randomly and I said I wanted a tattoo, knew where I wanted it, and wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted. The caduceus is what he drew up. Absolutely beautiful. Two snakes wrapping into Celtic knots. This one; during healing I wore a lace top, which caused the ‘ghosts’ you see in it, a few years later, while in the bathroom at my waitressing/bartending job, that man’s ex saw me in the bathroom with her friend, she grabbed my arm, before I could pee, said, ‘see!’ To her friend and punched me in the stomach. I didn’t flinch…..she is also smaller than me, she immediately left. While I had no relations with her ex, that tattooed me, she evidently mistakingly thought, I did.
That same artist fixed up my playboy bunny in that time, into blue and pink. Then years later all black. Much better. An all black playboy bunny.
The next year at 20, my friend showed up on my birthday and said, if you got a tattoo today what would it be……my sign on my neck……Aries. I am a Vedic Pisces though. So her and I went. That day was special to me. She got an Ankh on her neck and said, when she left the earth, it would be on her, even if they took her ring off. She died a few months later.
Sometime in the next year, I went to get two more Latin words on my body. Fides, which is ‘faith’ in Latin, I had pre written out, to represent ‘ to have faith in higher powers, life and living, & the universe.’ The universe, is what I called God/allah/shiva at the time, & Cupido, which is ‘passion,’ in Latin, representing that ‘passion was the most important thing in life. From passionate emotions, to passion for your life, living and purpose.’
When I went to get those tattooed, I unfortunately forgot my pre drawn writings, this caused me to hand draw them quickly, while there, because the man had time spontaneously! I felt like my writing wasn’t as perfect as the ones I left at home.
The next tattoo I got at 22, in 2008, I went in to the same shop and asked if they would have time, I had an evening shift, waitressing, but because it was slow at work, I got let out early during lunch. This one was special. It was for my friend, who died. I got an ankh on my left foot. In blue, purple and black, With 7 dots placed around it. 7 being alchemical and lucky. The ankh representing higher life and learning. The ultimate light connection to God/allah/shiva/Ra. Also the symbol of ‘eye of God’ on earth. I LOVED this tattoo. It came out so well. I absolutely adore the man’s wife who gave it to me. I was so happy with his work! It was actually filmed while I got the tattoo. Random people there filming. My gypsy soul happy. I went to work that night. I don’t recommend working on your feet after a foot tattoo, but I didn’t have a choice and it all turned out okay. It’s a lovely tattoo.
The next time I went in for a tattoo, the front desk kid was new and sort of rude, he said they didn’t have time, it’s a popular place, I was lucky I got in so many times without appointment before.
So I went to a new place. Siren song. Ran by a couple with, Boston Terriers!!! Just like my baby Boston! Only theirs was brown. I adored them.
She did my Om on my lower right back and also the tattoo I got, in language D’oc or Occitan. A phrase I read from a book while I was in jail, for driving a car without a license. A necessity in midcoast Maine, especially to keep a job or to stay safe. I wasn’t a driving rebel or punk.
The book phrase was from ‘Labrynth’ by Kate Moss, ‘Res Contr Amor non es guirens, la en sos podura s atura’ or, translated ‘there is no protection from love, once it exerts its true power.’
I was deeply moved by this storyline. I thought this phrase beautiful. That was placed on my upper right inner arm.
I had told the wife, of the photographer I modeled for, that the jail had books, but could use more, she donated some books to the jail from the library she worked at. Very good happenings came from a not so great, situation.
The last tattoo I got was of the drawing I did in 2014, done with protection and elemental Magick in mind. Having this placed on my body in 2015 was special and alchemical. It needed an appointment and was with the husband of Siren Song, it took four hours. I adore it. He also had to make slight alterations to make it ‘inkable’ as my drawing is intricate.
I have others planned in the future, also of the drawings I designed. My dragon tree and the lady of the sea. For my back.
They will probably need to be altered as well slightly, because they are fine detail. Unless it can be expanded enough. That will be in the future.
I will get my face tattooed to stop the venom of the brown recluse bite from spreading. I would like to have those done by an Amazigh or Māori. Depending on which path spirit leads me. My ancestry is of the World.
I love all my tattoos. Someday I may have the playboy bunny done over, other than that, I really like them all.
Unfortunately in this time period, some people web trapping, tried to make people who were helping, confused by some of my tattoos, misleading them, usually because of their or their families involvement in this web trap time period. For example, one man, whose family is in major insurance and owns multiple houses in multiple countries. He decided to attempt to throw people off with my shoulder tattoo I designed, in which he hasn’t seen, because I was friends with his ex, not him.
These are the issues with making an area safer. Too many people covering it up, whether for themselves or others. Even some police intentionally threw people off, and why would they do that?? Mostly this was to cause everyone to have time to cover everything up.
I see clearly though.
Everything will be sorted whether people like it or not.
So tattoos are personal.
They are Magickal.
I really believe my alchemical tattoo I designed, has protected me.
When your tattoos are your design, and very personal, it’s important to know who can be trusted. I genuinely like both tattoo places I’ve gone to. I believe them to be honorable.
I believe the man misleading people, did so by hacking in my phone.
I guess others will figure that out someday though.
The last photo has a dandelion temporary tattoo, in it. I placed that there on my way home. I was in danger because of people HERE. I needed to have some random thing on me that was unique, identifying, because while I was gone, people used deception in the attempt to disappear me. Making me seem home while I was away. I don’t yet know who, but I will.
I placed that dandelion tattoo on me because I trusted it would somehow keep me safe. I trusted the woman who gave it to me.
In the past I have used fake tattoos on my body as well. I really like the way it looks when I have them over my hips. My friend said that would look good on me. I wanted to wait until after I had kids, someday. I haven’t had kids yet and may never now.
So, that’s my tattoo journey.
Random. Significant. Personal and I love them.
A word to the wise.
For everyone here, attempting to disturb the investigations ongoing, into human trafficking prevention, STOP it.
How would you feel if it was a loved one of
Yours???
Human trafficking is the 3rd most profitable industry in the World. It isn’t a game or a joke and I don’t appreciate it being made into one.
My ex crippled me & medical got covered up because of this. It’s no joke to me. It’s my life and my ONE and only body!!!!!
The first three photos showcase the dress I designed well and also the first photo has my beloved Boston terrier, Persaeus, so I added it because of her. She crossed the rainbow bridge February 2, 2023. May she rest in power.
That being said, all the three photos in the sunflower dress I designed, depict my arm tattoos very well.
The fourth photo is on my left arm. Caduceus. Two serpents wrapped around a post, or in this design, Celtic knots.
The Fifth photo depicting the Ankh on my foot, done at the age of 22 and in memory of my friend. With 7 dots surrounding, alchemical in nature, the number 7 is said to bestow good fortune.
The sixth photo is of my upper left shoulder, my design-and it also showcases the damage my ex did to my spine, with a little phrase ‘let me help people, see how far I’ve come’ pleading for my mri to be revealed, because if the damage is visible on the outside…….all I want is to help people with this strange injury I have, caused by domestic assault. Ambulatory spinal cord injury, many suffer from it. It also shows my Om Symbol; said to be the sound of creation, placed by the wife of the man who put my design, on my shoulder, I adore her. Plus they also had Boston terriers.
The seventh photo is of the drawing I created in 2014, then had placed on my back by a tattoo artist I trusted.
The eighth photo is of the same tattoo, another great depiction of the damage done to my spine after he hit me. As well as Cupido, (passion, in Latin) in might handwriting, as well as my western astrology sign, Aries. I am a Vedic Pisces.
The ninth photo, showcasing Fides, (faith in Latin) in my handwriting,-on my left wrist.
The tenth photo showcasing Adamo, (to fall in love with, in Latin) in my handwriting, on my right.
Along with a fake tattoo of dandelions, placed on me for luck during my travel home, as it was given to me, by a woman I trust. This was also for identification purposes, as I was in danger, read previous posts on human trafficking, for more information.