Feet of the Guru
The Feet of the Guru comes from the guru-devotee relationship whose tradition grew out of India. The energy of the true Spiritual teacher is most potent at the feet, and is a place of adoration and worship.

Tahitian Images
The word tattoo has its roots from Tahiti. " To prick or mark the skin with coloring matter to form indelible marks," and also can vary from the traditional meaning "to drum on, beat rhythmically." Tahitian tattoo designs are applied head to toe and are common on the hands and face.

American Colonial Images
Colonial American design amazingly parallels the floral designs from India and Africa. It shows that we are all using the same image vocabulary regardless of where or when we live.

Star Tetrahedron
This geometrical form corresponds to the drawing done freehand by the artists of Rajasthan.

Cannonical Proportions of the Buddha
These proportions are a metaphor for the buddhas bliss and hopefully will help in understanding drawing proportions.

Belly Button Ornaments
This design was taken from a statue of a 16th century statue of a Bhodissathva from a Himalayan temple. Yes, the belly was adorned on this beautiful lady. Today many girls and women have their bellybuttons adorned with henna... and it wouldnt hurt the world one bit if they imagined they were Bhodissathva goddesses themselves.

Scarab
Description coming soon

Eyes of Ra
Egyptian... Right eye represents the sun, or male energy. The left eye represents the moon, female energy. The eyes are designs from the coffin of Priest Amenhotep, placed there to protect and guide the dead over to the underworld.

Himalayan Art / Drumskins
It is not unusual to find historical references to drum being adorned for ceremony - and no doubt mehndi has thousands of years of use as a way to stain the drum skin or animal skins in general. The color of mehndi is quickly absorbed into the skin and will not wear off such as paint does. Symbols and patterns should be designed to best represent the spirit of the drum and drummer.

Himalayan Art
These drawings are symbols taken from the sacred temple art of the Tibetan Buddhists.

Himalayan Devotional
The conch shell is used as to announce the beginning of sacred ceremony. Its sounding can intensify an already estatic puja. It is used as a symbol in Himalayan temple art.

Indian Design
The mehdni designs from India vary tremendously. Full palm henna, fingertips, and endless combinations of lacy rhythmical design work prevail, along with the integration of pictures dipicting paislies, bride and groom, peacocks, elephants, hearts and sacred urns. It is used for weddings, holydays, festivals, births and parties.

Rajasthani
The art from the area of India known as Rajasthan is extremely integrated into daily life. Traditionally the women have created complex geometric drawings daily at the entrance of their homes, all of which was handed down from generation to generation. The star tetrahedron is used here to compare the freehand Rajastani design.

Rajastani Mehndi
In this region of India the women lived very closely to the spirited world of pattern and design. Their vocabulary of design work has been handed down generation to generation. It is a gift that still manifests today. Several days before weddings and festivals they first prepare themselves by indulging in a night of henna painting . It is something that the women look forward to as part of the celebration and it acts as a meditatation on the coming event.

Classical Indian Dance Feet
Have you ever noticed the designs worn by the rhythmical feet and heart expressive hands of a classical Indian dancer? Sacred dance includes henna as part of the preparation to transform oneself into the dance offering. Henna is applied around the base of the foot, usually with a medallion at the center. The finger tips are dipped and a solid circle is placed at the center of the palm. It purifies the dancer's hands and feet, through which much of her sacred dance offering will be communicated.

Om
The om has many meanings, mainly implying peace, the universal sound of that TAKES US beyond our mere egoic activity... that place that resides in our hearts as god. It is believed that om was the beginning of the universe, and remains the sound of the universe. This symbol is woven into Hinduism and is used in a most reverently prayerful manner since ancient Sanskrit time. It is seen in sacred art and graffiti throughout India. Today in America it has become known for wishes of peace, happiness and oneness. Let it be.

Hand of Fatima
Mehndi was known to be popular around the days of Mohammed, 570-632 AD. It was known to be loved by his daughter Fatima. She was a beautiful and virtuous woman who, also known as the "lady of light" came to be recognized by the Muslims as a source of protection, as symbolized with the Khamsa or Hand of Fatima.

Yin Yang
Tao symbol representing the balancing forces of the universe. It can be applied to the god and the goddess, male and female, light and dark, day and night ... united together in one circle thusly noting wholeness.