Continuation Tattoo

In general, our society views death as a negative experience. Here is a book that honors and celebrates life and death. The Continuation tattoo represents a permanent commitment to the idea that we can perceive death as a continuum, not an end.

R. Scott Brooks

The Taoist tradition recognizes that transformation can take place in many ways, not only through death, but through life. "New life," the tattoo [Larisa] chose to express continuity, was a way to ensure that the loss of her organic form in no way left a completely empty form. Each participant takes up Larisa's new life as part of their own, transforming her old life – the time she passed with them – into a new form. The Buddhist concept of reincarnation entered China and was filtered through existing philosophies concerning transformation, resulting in a different notion of life and life after death. In America, we welcome many philosophical and religious traditions. Whether they maintain a strong resemblance to the source is in many ways irrelevant, for once they are adopted they are necessarily adapted, knowingly or not. Larisa's transformation became, for her circle of people, continuity of life.

Cynthea J. Bogel, Ph.D.
Seattle, Washington

We would like to acknowledge Mike and Doris Chen for the Continuation calligraphy.

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