sistahvee
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« Reply #122 on: July 27, 2007, 09:04:24 PM » |
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Bless Up prophet
The tattoo issue has been a puzzle for so long within Rastafari. Here is what InI Know for certain. It's not much based on what still needs to be Overstood, but it is a beginning. Many look at the Old Law of Leviticus and Iverstand it as a series of prescriptions that were necessary for the time; but ones that have less relevance in our practices of today (such as “do not wear clothing made of two different kinds of material” or “do not clip off the edges of your beard”). They are viewed as lessons to learn from, not laws to follow.
Christians will generally tell you that the Old Testament provides the history of their faith, but the New Testament – and Christ’s teachings – brings a new law. Granted, the New Testament tells us that our bodies are temples (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), but that is referring to sexual promiscuity, and not tattoos. Some Christians justify their tattoos with the New Testament passage in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:17) where he says that he now bears “the brand marks of Jesus.” While no doubt referring to both the symbolic and physical scars he endured as a persecuted follower of Christ, it’s important to note that “brand marks” of the time were the tattoos that owners put on their slaves. To bear the brand marks of Christ could be interpreted as the tattooing of Christian symbols to show that Christ is one’s new master. As a form of witnessing,
For example, Bird tattoos are tied to some of the most profound meanings in the tattoo world. Since the dawn of time, and almost universally across all cultures worldwide, the bird has symbolized the human spirit or soul, and is frequently connected to the divine. Because birds travel in the air, they were thought to commune directly with the gods, and were often viewed as the guides which carried spirits of the dead to the heavens.
So marking or tattooing or printing any picture on your body is a sign of enslavement to this picture which you revere, like or worship.
"Pierce" means: to penetrate sharply and painfully to make a hole in something; to force into or through. (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary)
Exodus 21:5 says: "And if the servant shall plainly say 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free ' then his master shall bring him unto the judges. He shall also bring him to the door or unto the door post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever."
So piercing the ears was a sign of permanent enslavement. Lifelong enslavement of an Israelite could only happen at his own request. The economic factor as much as professed love for a master must often have driven the Israelite slave to seek the security of a permanent contract.
The ceremony of enslavement was associated with the master's home because the slave is being admitted as a permanent member of the household. Deuteronomy 15: 16, 17 has a bearing on the matter: "then take an awl, and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life."
In ancient lore, birds often accompanied Heroes on their quests to defeat villains, monsters, and dragons. The bird could fly on ahead and forewarn the hero of impending danger (giving rise to the popular phrase, “a little bird told me”). Birds are frequently associated with magic, the supernatural, or with religion. Images of birds have been found everywhere, from hovering over mummies in Egyptian crypts to adorning Arapaho Indian Ghost Dance costumes. It is no surprise that our Judeo- Christian depictions of angels and cherubs include bird-like wings. With rare exceptions, the image of the bird is a positive and uplifting symbol.
The answer is: we enslave ourselves willingly and happily to Jah, and chose to be completely dependent on, and obedient to HIM... the Eternal Word of God (Romans 1: 1). We love our Master, and will not go out free without Him (Exodus 21:5).
We belong to and worship the true Master. Our obedience to Him enables us to be useful and usable servants to do work that really matters.
A Distinction between the Seal of Jah and the mark of the Beast (Satan):
The Seal of Jah, based on Ezekiel 9:4, placed on the foreheads of His servants in the Book of Revelation chapter 7:3, is the exact opposite of the mark of the beast explained in Revelation 13:6.
These two marks place the people in two distinct categories:
The faithful owned by Jah have a mark put on their foreheads to safeguard them against the great day of divine wrath.
And those owned by Satan, refuse Jah'ss seal, and enslaved themselves to the Beast.
InI Ilieve the differences in Interpretations are based on the words '...FOR THE DEAD..'
The scripture Leviticus 19:28 says :"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] Jah." So marking or cutting the flesh for the DEAD is prohibted. In fact a Rastafari bredren made this statement concerning tattoos. " The Torah teaches not to tattoo or cut into the flesh for the dead. Leviticus 19-28: "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any markings on yourselves." This is only telling me to abstain from gashing or tattooing for the dead but if you look at the Beta Israel who have been practicing "First Temple Hebrewism" have tattoos not for the dead but for Yah/Jah!
Tattooing is a practice still common among the women of Beta Ysrael who are found to practice the oldest form of Hebrew traditions. These people are apparently related to the Qemant, another group with a culture that is clearly linked to Ancient Hebrew. Both peoples live in Ethiopia One of InI's Rasta Sistren explained it thus....
Ethiopian orthodox women will wear tattoos of a "religious/spiritual nature as exhibited by Empress Menen since she and His Majesty were members of the EOC.
I Samuel 16:7, Jah tells the prophet Samuel "for Jah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jah looketh on the heart."
Proverbs 8:35 - "For whoso findeth me (wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of Jah.
Africa
Body decoration has a very long and strong tradition for the african people dating back almost 6000 years to the pharaohs of egypt and many of the body painting and tatauing rituals have still survived over the centuries. On the one hand it survived in some regions because the natives were, and still are, making their living serving tourists as photo models. On the other hand because civilization didn't advanced to many parts of third world countries yet, especially in the southern regions. In those from civilization untouched regions it survived because the natives, bushmen and pygmies are still carrying out their rituals like their forefathers did thousands of years ago. In some tribes of norther africa the art of tatauing is still left from mothers to their daughters. The images on the skin, climbing work of points, straight lines, crosses and triangles, work as amulet. They illustrate the fertility of a woman, enure her health, wealth and repel transcendental forces. And because the natives believe those forces are entering the body through it's holes, the women mostly apply the patterns on their face and parts on the body that can not constantly protected with clothes.
The Scar tatau has survived until today with some tribes of black africa, the so called ethiopic race.
Adorning scars also characterize a certain age class. In some places the first incisions are already made after birth and more scars follow in continuous intervals. At women, for instance, scars are applied after the first menstruation, after child birth or after the breastfeeding period. At the same time the scarifications are considered as a beautification since they ensure success with the other sex. The scars show overcome diseases, physical qualities and awards of personal achievements and you only become a real men or women with the scars.
Scar designs also simply characterize a tribal designation. A simple sign of local and related groups but no matter which tribe or which region, people without any scars are treated as misfits and cowards.
To get an overview of the art of the body painting and tattooing in africa is an almost impossible venture. Each region had, and sometimes still has, their own motives which could vary from family to tribe. In the Republic of Niger, for instance, the man used to painted themselves for hours for the groom exhibition. In southern Ethiopia again, tribes would use body paintings as a designation of ancestry and affiliation when going to battle. In neighboring Kenya the men painted themselves according to their age group and in Tanzania young men painted themselves to enhance their health and abilities for the transition into adults. On the contrary in Sudan body paintings were applied for big, social occasions and in Zaire, to display the social elite of a tribe, especially red colors were used.
InI will ask around and do some research and get back to the I on this issue of tattoos and their meanings to the bearer.
Nuff Love
Sistah Vee
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