Life took over again, computer died, no access to software, absolute nightmare.  Been on hold for weeks, which, is just as well as my focus has had to turn within and towards my family for the moment.  Still, there is new work coming, and uploads of old work that is still worth a mention.  Half term looms, so time will be limited again for the next couple of weeks.

Hope you are enjoying watching this site grow and change as much as I am!

More good stuff to come...

Peace xx

I finally feel like i'm getting somewhere with the site.

The Mandala's page is so far, complete, and new pictures have been added.

The successful re-direction of the official site name is up an running.

www.chaoticat.com

Just need more hours without children in the day!

Before I went to Amsterdam (which was the best weekend I've had in a LONG while), I checked out some Tattoo studios in Amsterdam.  With the idea in mind of getting cherry blossom on my neck, or a star on my wrist.  In my searching I found this http://www.sakuratattoo.com/

Sakura is the japanese word for cherry blossom.  A studio, in Amsterdam, named after the very thing I wanted tattooed!  I thought how perfectly strange it would be if that actually happened, then let the thought go, deciding that it's just a bit of madness. 

We booked into the Hotel on friday evening.  The first thing I saw on the counter was a business card, for custom tattoos.  I picked one up, turned it over and there she was.  The woman I had read about on the Sakura website, Dermadonna (Rosana).  I stuck the card in my pocket.

Then on Saturday, after a visit to the fabulous Baba Coffeeshop, we decided to look for Sakura Tattoo.  It was only a couple of streets away!  We found it no problem.  I spoke to Rosana as she inked some cherry blossom around a sacral tribal piece.

I went to clear my head and eat and prepare.  Rosana named our hotel as soon as I said I'd picked up her business card!!  That made me even more sure this was meant to be!

An hour later, and I am now the proud owner of this:

I turn 30 tomorrow, so saw it fitting to have 3 cherry blossom flowers behind my right ear.

The tattoo was done on 03/03/07 for 70 euros. 

It was also a Full Moon and a Lunar eclipse.

go figure...

For the Chinese the cherry blossom is a very significant symbol of power. Typically it represent a feminine beauty and sexuality and often holds an idea of power or feminine dominance. Within the language of herbs and herbal lore of the Chinese the cherry blossom is often the symbol of love.

For the Japanese the cherry blossom holds very different meaning. The cherry blossom is a very delicate flower that blooms for a very short time. For the Japanese this represents the transience of life. This concept ties in very deeply with the fundamental teachings of Buddhism that state all life is suffering and transitory. The Japanese have long held strong to the Buddhist belief of the transitory nature of life and it is very noble to not get too attached to a particular outcome or not become emotional because it will all pass in time.

Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life.