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Published: March 14th 2007
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Mine and Bradley's Tamoko
For some reason this is the only picture i have of it....it's on my right side right above my hip I got a TATTOO or a Tamoko rather (Maori for tattoo)!! I've worn my moon goddess necklace for about 5 or 6 years now, and some of you know that I've been tentatively planning to get a tattoo of her- but for some reason had never taken the intiative to find an artist that i could work with on the idea...and of course traveling around NZ i was led to one, and the story that goes along with the Tamoko can only describe why i was meant to wait to get this goddess tattooed on my body.
Bradley had recently gotten a tattoo and that kind of sparked my interest again in exploring the option of me getting one. So one night we pulled into Rotorua, went out for a beer and watched a man play the guitar beautifully. Later that night we ended up talking to this man whose name was Richard Cunnignham. He was Maori man and explained that he was in a way a "chief among his people", so we asked him if he knew of anyone who could give a meaningful Maori tamoko (tattoo), and that's when we began our search for Jason Phillips.
Bradley
Swimming in the thermal wonderland
Po watching her 3 children head towards the warm thermal water, the geyser just above wrote a section of this in my journal and i think he described the experience beautifully so i'm going to use a few of his words with some of my own inserts....
'Cruising into Rotorua following a map from a chance meeting with Richard Cunningham we stumbled upon Whaka Village, a Maori village set in a geothermal paradise. This was a set up village for toursits but was inhabitated by real Maoris, about 20 families. We found the shop where Jason Phillips (JP) lived and worked and inquired about a tamako. The guy looked at us with suspiscous apprehension- feeling nervous Kee showed him her design. He looked us up and down asked Kee some questions and told us to come back at 6 pm. As we drove around town we discussed the meeting with JP, and personally (Bradley) I felt a very strong connection with the guy, and i think Kee did as well. After several more coffees and a cake or two we returned to see what can only be described as a work of art.'
I had given JP some of my ideas and in a way left it up to him to come up
Miohia teaching me Maori performance
I hate i can't remember what it's called, but it's a performance the children learn at an early age with balls on the end of strings (puas)i think they are called- where they sing a song and twirl the puas around and hit their bodies with it....i found it similar to fire dancing- and this is one of JP and Po's daughters, Mioaha who was trying to teach me... with the design- it was one of those things, either you like it or you don't. But the Maori's take Tamoko's very seriously and it's a way to represent your ancestors and inner spirit. At first i was a little put off by his tentative nature, but i later learned it was his way of reading us- to see if i was really meant to get this tamoko, not just another tourist looking for a souvenier.
Bradley's description... ' come back in 30 minutes' he said, somewhat embarassed by his lack of readiness. So we did...and for Kee the anticipation was building as to when she would adorn such a beaufitul and personal symbol of herself.'
As JP drew the initial sketch on my side a friend was in his shop playing a flute and drums, with the local Maori tourist concert going on in the background. Once i laid down on the table,. JP recited an ancient Maori prayer and as the needle began to penetrate my skin i focused on my breathe and the Tibetan pslams that viberated in the background.
Bradley...' I dont believe that time has ever passed so slowly for Kee in
Angelina in the thermal lake
Another one of JP and Po's adorable daughters her life. But she endured the pain like a true Maori warrior, dismissing the pain as a minor annoyance in the pursuit of her spirit!' It was some of the most pain i've ever been in, but i got through it- and loved the result! We all hugged and JP extended us an offer to stay at his house with his family, which was a huge honor.
Po, JP's wife and their 4 adorable kids, Bradley and I all went swimming in a geyser we were admiring as toursits just hours before. Bradley's words.. ' We went bathing in the mineral rich thermal craters with a geyser blowing strong just above. Bathing in the blood of the earth and breathing her soul....JP and Po's children enchanted us as we danced under the shower of the earth's love as the geyser erupted it's life giving. Elicier all over our bodies and rainbows bellowed from her umbrella of extacy!'
It was amazing having the chance to be at the village after hours being welcomed into the Maori community and swimming in these natural hot springs with a geyser erupting right before us! We played with the kids, took a night
Frazier
A freaking cute little boy bath in their private hot spring baths, and gratefully speant the night under their humble roof, with a later visit enjoying a hangi meal- where they cook the food underground from the thermal heat- it was AMAZING to say the least!
My tamoko is of my moon goddess, abover her head is a symbol of the sun, and on the outside of her body are symbols for the waves and water. The three spirals in her body are called Koras (spelling?), and they symbolize two people coming together in a partnership, and in my case they are my parents, the root of me. Both of them connected and then the smaller one by the goddess' heart is me, their offspring. I also like to see them as shakra centers where all of the energies of the moon, sun, ocean, all of nature having access in and our of my body, through the goddess' body. The moon goddess grounding the earth and all of the natrual interactions and connections that are present through nature, that all have originated from the energies outside of this earth. A very special thing that i'm proud to wear on my body, and i'm bonding
JP
my tamoko artist with her more every day.
Bradley had also decided he wanted a tamoko from JP, and was growing closer and closer to JP as i was to the kids and Po, very wise and grounded people. We ended up traveling around the north island and going back to visit them 2 more times, both times they again extended their home in their village for us to stay at. Towards the end we felt at home entering the village, as the kids would run up to us and give us huge hugs yelling our names from afar. It was sad to leave them, but such a special moment to experience.....being able to get away from the tourist attractions and really experience the Maori culture that's still present in New Zealand today.
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Lala
non-member comment
Beautiful!
Kee, Alanna here, that is such a beautiful tatoo! You are REALLY making me want to be traveling again. Sounds like you've found some amazing people. Miss you :)