the death card, number thirteen in the tarot deck, rejects western conceptions of death & instead looks to it as a necessary component within the cycle of life, a symbol for transformation & rebirth. while there were specific motivations for originally getting this tattoo, in difficult times my ink has the ability to take on new meaning. there will always be turmoil, there will always be chaos. one must take hold of these experiences, however negative & detrimental - learn from them, grow from them. one must always be strong, for true identity is cultivated through the mountains we have conquered, the fears we have faced, & the battles we have won.
tattoo artist, stephanie tamez, of saved tattoo in brooklyn designed this for me two years ago come november. she is lovely & extraordinarily talented.
