The remarkable interest in tattoos over the past four decades led to Lindie Pankiv-Greene’s research question “Are Tattoos Symbols of Transformation?” In this presentation based on her research, she examines both current and historical literature on tattoos to understand their origins in today’s context. She will be sharing the understanding she gained through her research on tattoos of indigenous knowledge and why the current revival is important in today’s world.
The presenter will take us through her examination of the process of tattoo as a rite of passage. Through researching tattoos as transformative symbols between the mundane and transpersonal realms of existence, it became apparent to the presenter that tattoos are more than trendy body art, deeper than skin and could evoke transformation. Skin is the mediator between our inner and outer experiences, between the conscious and unconscious. Tattoo can be a soul language, the interconnecting symbol, expressing the unconscious materially in its search for individuation.