“My art on someone else’s body.” It’s a strange thing to say.

I never thought that the babaylan mandala would become a tatak, so meaningful that others would want it tattooed on their own skin. (In the Philippines tattoo is “tatak.”)

I observe. I give my blessings to the bearer. I know the ancestors are pleased.

After a total of 13 painful hours, my biggest piece so far is finally done. Thanks to Maam Perla Paredes Daly of Center for Babaylan Studies for letting me use your masterpiece and to Lorez Foja for patiently putting it under my skin. Thanks to those two wonderful artists who made it possible for me to connect with #nature , #roots , #SupremeBeing , and to my #InnerSelf as it strengthen my beliefs that all things and elements around us are connected. #babaylan #mandala #filipino #visayan #tribu #tattoo #pinoy #PinoyPride #ugat #TreeOfLife

A photo posted by Third Garcia (@thirdgarcia) on Jan 1, 2015 at 4:51pm PST

To the bearers: May you grow and blossom as the Tree of Life does. Grow roots deep into the earth… raise your branches high to the sky… may your flowers bloom and your fruits nourish others. May the seeds of your fruits bless generations to come—those you know and those who are not yet born. The ancestors are pleased. Bahala na.