My tattoo is very well designed, but it is a lotus flower with the Om symbol in it because at the time I was practicing a lot of yoga, and I didn’t realize it looks kind of… culturally foolish, shall we say, especially now that I live in a city with a lot of South Asian folks, and some have asked me about it, I am white as the driven snow. I did not intend it in any cultural appropriation way and it isn’t offensive or anything, they all seem to like it, but it was a bit thoughtless ultimately.
Totally chill, it really is fine, they won’t take it seriously.
It’s not cultural appropriation to practice another’s religion, in whole or in part, belief and spirituality is one area where you should feel free of judgement, we’re all just finding our best path.
As a human being that shares this earth with the rest of us…I don’t see anything wrong with this. You were practicing lots of Yoga, and it was significant enough for you to outwardly mark yourself with it, you can back up the fact you studied and immersed in that (sub)culture.
You clearly didn’t just spot it on the wall and go “lol that looks cool.” While drunk or something lol.
I am white as the driven snow.
It sounds like this is where some perceived guilt is coming from. Contrary to what sections of the internet will tell you, there’s nothing wrong with consciously adopting a culture that meant something to you. Even if you’re “white.”
There’s this weird expectation that white folks should only be able to get tattoos of like, what, the Wonderbread logo, or Elvis or something LOL.
they all seem to like it
This speaks volumes in itself. It’s obvious to the people OF that culture that you’re not just some poseur ripping them off to self-aggrandize. They seem thrilled to meet someone who saw it and said “I want to learn from them!” This is why humanity is beautiful.
The world’s a smaller place now. People move. Cultures evolve now as they always have. That’s how traditions like Yoga or Kung Fu traveled across the world in the first place right?
I’m just some guy on the internet, but It sounds like a cool tattoo, and I hope maybe you can feel less burdened by it, especially when it doesn’t cause anybody else any harm.
Sounds like the opposite, actually! It seems like it gives you a connection to others and has started a lot of conversations, when you’d otherwise be seen as an outsider!
Thank you for saying this. I genuinely would never not take someone’s cultural practices and religion seriously. I just really like what it symbolizes to me.
And for what it’s worth, Hinduism is an open religion, and yoga is a cultural practice that is encouraged to be shared.
Respectfully partaking in other people’s cultures is a joy when you’re welcomed. The talk of cultural appropriation is really about disrespectful utilization of other cultures or taking part in cultural practices you aren’t welcome to.
My tattoo is very well designed, but it is a lotus flower with the Om symbol in it because at the time I was practicing a lot of yoga, and I didn’t realize it looks kind of… culturally foolish, shall we say, especially now that I live in a city with a lot of South Asian folks, and some have asked me about it, I am white as the driven snow. I did not intend it in any cultural appropriation way and it isn’t offensive or anything, they all seem to like it, but it was a bit thoughtless ultimately.
Totally chill, it really is fine, they won’t take it seriously.
It’s not cultural appropriation to practice another’s religion, in whole or in part, belief and spirituality is one area where you should feel free of judgement, we’re all just finding our best path.
Thank you. I just felt a little silly.
On the list of things to get tattooed, yours is pretty much at the top that I wouldn’t judge someone harshly for.
As a human being that shares this earth with the rest of us…I don’t see anything wrong with this. You were practicing lots of Yoga, and it was significant enough for you to outwardly mark yourself with it, you can back up the fact you studied and immersed in that (sub)culture.
You clearly didn’t just spot it on the wall and go “lol that looks cool.” While drunk or something lol.
It sounds like this is where some perceived guilt is coming from. Contrary to what sections of the internet will tell you, there’s nothing wrong with consciously adopting a culture that meant something to you. Even if you’re “white.”
There’s this weird expectation that white folks should only be able to get tattoos of like, what, the Wonderbread logo, or Elvis or something LOL.
This speaks volumes in itself. It’s obvious to the people OF that culture that you’re not just some poseur ripping them off to self-aggrandize. They seem thrilled to meet someone who saw it and said “I want to learn from them!” This is why humanity is beautiful.
The world’s a smaller place now. People move. Cultures evolve now as they always have. That’s how traditions like Yoga or Kung Fu traveled across the world in the first place right?
I’m just some guy on the internet, but It sounds like a cool tattoo, and I hope maybe you can feel less burdened by it, especially when it doesn’t cause anybody else any harm.
Sounds like the opposite, actually! It seems like it gives you a connection to others and has started a lot of conversations, when you’d otherwise be seen as an outsider!
Thank you for saying this. I genuinely would never not take someone’s cultural practices and religion seriously. I just really like what it symbolizes to me.
And for what it’s worth, Hinduism is an open religion, and yoga is a cultural practice that is encouraged to be shared.
Respectfully partaking in other people’s cultures is a joy when you’re welcomed. The talk of cultural appropriation is really about disrespectful utilization of other cultures or taking part in cultural practices you aren’t welcome to.
Nobody owns culture, don’t stress about it.