I'd like to make a note of my journey from being a person who strategically placed my mods to hide them to someone who places them where they best fit my body and the design. I live a vanilla lifestyle as a librarian and graduate student. None of my friends have any mods, nor do they understand why I am so attracted to them. Most recently, I have decided to get a sleeve done, and for me it has been a long-fought and hard-won victory over my concerns about other peoples' perceptions. No, a sleeve is no big deal to most of the people here, I understand. But for me, it represents truly breaking free
At A Glance Author WarMaiden Contact [email protected] IAM WarMaiden When N/A Artist Charlotta and Chris Studio Tattoo Charlie's Location Lexington, KY My modification journey began slowly. It was my first year at college, and I considered myself a blank canvas. What better way to reinvent the new, amazing, outspoken and fun loving me than to get a tattoo? I ended up with a four leaf clover over my right breast. Not much planning or thought went into it at the time, and I thought I had made my mark, and laid my tame side to rest in peace. A year and a half later I got a small butterfly on my right shoulder � it was the end of sophomore year, I was free and going wherever I wanted. It seemed sane and daring at the time. Over the past eight years I have collected a few more tattoos, including wolf paw prints on my shoulders, tiny hearts on each hip, a 'Made in USA' tag on my lower back, and a piece of a caged dragon on my mid back to honor my father's loss of his battle with addiction. Most recently, I added a leaping winged woman along my right side. I am also pierced � In addition to the many holes in each ear, I have my nostril pierced, both nipples done, a VCH, and am planning to get a Monroe in August. My work has been getting progressively more viewable to the public.
Every mod I've gotten made me feel more natural and in tune with my body. I came to the realization that while I decorated my home and office, I had never really seriously considered decorating myself, other than the clothes I wore to thwart public indecency charges. Thinking about it in this light, thinking of my body as a canvas and an available medium to communicate what is most important to me, came as an epiphany. Many in the modded community already knew and felt this...when I finally got around to it, it was like freedom! And I have a piece I know I want � a dragon, wrapped around a hoard of books, as guardian of the tomes. It reflects my deep and abiding love of books (I'm a university librarian by trade), and how fiercely I feel about them. I want it as a sleeve, rather than on my back, because it is something I want to be able to see, and the design of a stack of books lends itself beautifully to the arm. Sounds perfect, right? So what was I waiting for?
In the environment I'm in, this is a huge step. Having my coworkers know about my tattoos when they are covered most of the time is no big deal. But a sleeve is something that will be obvious, and I will not roast myself to death in long sleeves to hide it. I do not want to be self-conscious and constantly covering my arm in fear that someone will see the art. It is also a huge personal step, and one that will declare that I am the proud owner of this body, that I will decorate it as I choose, and that there are things important enough to me that I will carry them with me forever in a highly visible spot. And so, I've been on something of an internal journey for the past few months about it. My friends, bless them, are completely against any more work, but love me and accept that I'll do it. My family bemoans that I'll never be able to wear a proper wedding dress. And myself? My body is my own, and I love every curvy inch of it. As for the wedding dress...well, I think that whomever has the privilege of unwrapping me will be pleased at the detail they'll get to inspect.
I have given my ideas to my artist, Charlotta, who makes them come to life and look alive on my body. I have made the appointment for the work. I am getting a beautiful piece done. And I am proud to be able to stand and claim my place as a modified person. Not because I am better than someone unmodified, but because it is a personal battle I have won � against my fear of prejudice, against the fear of diminishing my worth as a person, and against the gut-wrenching sadness of being ashamed to show off my body art. The people and resources at BME have been wonderful inspiration, and thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to post. Someone does read them. Someone cares.
I do. And now I'm going public!