Scarification in Africa by Sarah Corbett Scarification is a permanent form of adornment which has been practised throughout history. Evidence from Saharan rock paintings suggest it’s use in 8000 – 5000 BC. By cutting the skin and manipulating the healing process or by branding, intricate designs can be created. Scarification in an indigenous context is … Continue reading "Scarification"

Berber Symbols and Their Meaning: First Amazighs, or Berbers, have developed a rich culture. They have infused their culture with music, symbols, and art.

The Ethnic Origins of Beauty highlights the ethnic diversity of mankind through gorgeous portraits of women of different ethnic groups across the world.

Les vikings sont fascinants. Choisir son tatouage viking n'est pas facile, car l'univers de leurs symboles est trop grande, mais on peut vous aider

We just love a last minute catch up with friends. Spontaneous get togethers, whiling away the hours enjoying delicious nibbles and refreshing drinks.

Vintage Portraits of the Ainu women of Japan with Tattooed lips

I have the pleasure of learning new things about Tattoos and those who wear them on a daily basis. Part of providing you all with the content that you enjoy is spending a lot of time doing researc…

Limbu woman from Nepal

Pregnancy sure is magical, isn’t it? With the possible exception of eating ethnic food just before bed, it’s the only time a person can feel like life is growing inside of them. Now, there are downsides, of course, from nausea to swollen limbs, but as always, the worst pains can only be inflicted on us by other people. These are the worst things ever said to pregnant women.

Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION. Wisdom. Healing. Shamanic Power. Protection ist ein fotografisches Meisterwerk in zwei Teilen, das den verborgenen Kosmos magischer Tätowierung und Skarifizierung (Narbenkunst) der indigenen Welt erkundet. Es entstand auf der Grundlage der jahrzehntelangen Feldforschung des Tattoo-Anthropologen Dr. Lars Krutak bei animistischen und schamanischen Gesellschaften in Asien, Afrika, Nord- und Südamerika sowie Melanesien. Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION ist eine Reise auf geheiligtem Territorium und enthüllt die Geheimnisse, wie Menschen rituelle Körpermodfikation benutzen, um sich Zugang zu übernatürlichen Kräften zu verschaffen. Der erste Teil befasst sich mit der uralten Kunst der Thai-Tätowierung (sak yant), die von heiligen Mönchen praktiziert wird, die ihre Energie und Macht von Buddha selbst beziehen. Ausgestattet mit unzähligen Bildern spektakulär tätowierter Körper hat der Tattoofan in diesem Abschnitt freien Zutritt zum esoterischen Universum der Sak-Yant-Symbolik und ihrer Bedeutungen. Darüber hinaus findet man eine detaillierte Studie der Tattoowelten Nord- und Südamerikas. Von den Kriegern der Woodlands bis hin zu den Schamanen Amazoniens wurden zauberkräftige Tätowierungen als symbolische Verkörperung der Macht von Schutzgeistern getragen. Ein genauer Blick auf die Schöpfer magischer Tattoos und die von ihnen benutzten Techniken rundet den Abschnitt über glückbringende Tätowierungen ab. Krutak beschreibt zahlreiche indigene Tattoomotive, die von unterschiedlichen Formen der Macht durchdrungen sind. Und er erklärt auch, was diese Körperzeichen für die Menschen bedeuten, die sie tragen. Der zweite Teil von Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION ist ein absolutes Muss für jeden, der mehr über die religiösen Bedeutungen indigener Skarifizierung erfahren möchte. Sensationell – das muss man gesehen haben! Die Rituale, Techniken und der spirituelle Bildkanon der Narbenmeister von Benin (Bétamarribé), Papua Neu-Guinea (Kaningara) und Äthiopien (Hamar) offenbaren eine bislang kaum bekannte Welt permanenter Körpersymbolik, geschaffen durch schmerzhafte und blutige Riten der Selbstaufopferung und Kasteiung. Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION. Wisdom. Healing. Shamanic Power. Protection is a photographic masterwork in two parts exploring the secret world of magical tattooing and scarification across the tribal world. Based on one decade of tattoo anthropologist Dr. Lars Krutak’s fieldwork among animistic and shamanic societies of Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Melanesia, Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION journeys into highly sacred territory to reveal how people utilize ritual body modification to enhance their access to the supernatural. The first part delves into the ancient art of Thai tattooing or sak yant that is administered by holy monks who harness the energy and power of the Buddha himself. Emblazoned with numerous images of dramatically tattooed bodies, this chapter provides tattoo enthusiasts with a passport into the esoteric world of sak yank symbols and their meanings. Also included is an in-depth study into the tattooing worlds of the Amerindians. From Woodlands warriors to Amazonian shamans, tattoos were worn as enchanted symbols embodied with tutelary and protective spirit power. The discussion of talismanic tattooing is concluded with a detailed look at the individuals who created magical tattoos and the various techniques they used. Krutak writes about many tribal tattoo designs permeated with various forms of power and explains what these marks mean for the people who wear them. Part two of Spiritual Skin: MAGICAL TATTOOS AND SCARIFICATION is an absolute must-read-and-see for anyone seeking knowledge about the religious meanings of tribal scarification. The rituals, techniques, and spiritual iconography of scarmasters in Benin (Bétamarribé), Papua New Guinea (Kaningara), and Ethiopia (Hamar) expose a relatively undocumented world of permanent body symbolism created through painful and bloody rites of self-sacrifice and restraint.

The 73 autochromes of Ireland that French academics Marguerite Mespoulet (1880-1965) and Madeleine Mignon (1882-1976) took in May and June 1913 are the first colour photographs of the island. Their Carnet d’Irlande was organised and sponsored by banker Albert Kahn (1860-1940) as part of his Archives de la Planète project. Launched in 1912, the … Continue reading "The First Colour Photographs of Ireland – 1913"

Gritty black and white photos of New York City in the 70s & 80s by street photographer Arlene Gottfried.

vintage everyday: Old Photos of Ainu People. The Ainu, also called Aynu, Aino, and in historical texts Ezo, are an indigenous people in Japan and Russia. Historically, they spoke Ainu and related v…