The Spring Equinox is a significant event in the world of paganism, marked by the celebration of Ostara or the Spring Solstice. This festival represents the rebirth and renewal of nature after the long, dark winter months. The Spring Equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are roughly equal in length. This moment is seen as a delicate balance between light and darkness, symbolizing the harmonious relationship between light and dark, masculine and feminine energies. During Ostara, pagans celebrate the return of spring and the increasing power of the sun. It is a time of hope, growth, and new beginnings.
Tattooing in this unique style got Panda a serious amount of attention. His skillset, approach and impeccable attention to detail made him a stand-out artist in the highly competitive Miami tattoo scene. His staggering Instagram following, combined with word of mouth from the arts and music community, elevated Panda’s work to a must-have for any high roller eager to turn heads. Panda has tattooed some of the biggest stars in the world, from Lil Uzi Vert to Jake Paul to Marc Anthony. Panda’s meeting with Anthony was an especially significant one for both artists, as they bonded over their mutual love for salsa music legend Héctor Lavoe.
I feel like it s a reflection of us and the kind of people we attract, Panda says, referencing the walls covered in murals and nods to the music and films that have inspired them. Tatu Panda has seen the world from the balconies and backyards of the titans of sports, music and film, and he s invited them into his studio the House of a Thousand Roses.
It is a time of hope, growth, and new beginnings. The earth starts to awaken from its slumber, and signs of life can be seen all around. Trees begin to bud, flowers bloom, and animals start to breed.
Spike TV Ink Master star makes her mark in Wilkes-Barre
WILKES-BARRE — Whether it’s in the name of artistic expression, commemoration or impulse, hundreds of folks are marking themselves up this weekend at the NEPA Tattoo Arts Festival.
Inside Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, Donna Gibbs of Hamlin sat stoically still as Rob Castaldo of House of Ink in Exeter applied ink to her skin.
Castaldo, a 14-year veteran tattoo artist, wiped a little blood and ink from Gibbs’ right shoulder to reveal a compass and three old-fashioned keys set against a map.
The keys represent her husband and her two kids, she explained. “Because they’re the only ones who can open my heart.”
The festival, a collaboration between 570 Tattooing Co. and Marc’s Tattooing now in its second year, continues today with 50 tattooers from around the country. Nationally known artists include Dan Henk, Megan Massacre and Jon Mesa. Last year the festival brought more than 1,000 people to peruse the artists’ and vendors’ stands at Genetti’s.
Tattoo artist Sarah Miller, known for her appearance on Spike TV’s series Ink Master in 2012, was taking her first client of the day Saturday. On a piece of stencil paper, she outlined the likeness of a child that would soon become a back tattoo.
Miller’s portfolio includes strikingly realistic portraiture, but also whimsical fantasy.
She owns Wyld Chyld Tattoo in Pittsburgh, the home shop of five other artists. But since her appearance on Spike, she’s spent most of the last year and a half on the road hitting festivals, she said.
“I didn’t go on the show because I wanted to be famous,” Miller said. “I just wanted to see how far I could go.”
Miller, 29, never aspired to become a tattoo artist. She studied fine art in college and hoped to one day illustrate comic books. Tattooing has been a means, at times, to pay the bills, but also a way to advance artistically, Miller said.
Her fascination with portraits grew in college while studying Renaissance-era greats.
She reveled that the old masters had an uncanny way to capture human expression with their medium, sometimes spending years to complete a single work. She wanted to reproduce that expression with a tattoo.
She wanted to try tattooing a portrait, but she was nervous to throw herself out there for the first time, at least until a friend volunteered as a test dummy.
What resulted was incredible, she said. “It was the same feeling I felt when I first picked up the tattoo machine,” Miller said.
Since then, her tattoos have been featured in magazines and earned awards across the country.
Tattoo artists stand to make a good deal of money, charging a few hundred bucks for three or four hours worth of work. But Castaldo described his profession as a lifestyle, one accompanied by great responsibility (there’s no magic eraser for tattoo ink), but also great reward.
“There’s nothing more gratifying than somebody letting you put your art on them forever,” Castaldo said.
“I don’t know what this is like anywhere else, but in Miami there’s a handful of these flea markets, and there was actually this whole flea market tattoo culture,” Panda says. “You could buy anything in there—bootleg DVDs, weed, grills, fake gold. Legal, illegal, it was all there inside these flea markets, so a lot of tattoo shops popped up. I was tattooing there when I was 15. Legitimately, I had a job, but I had to tell people that I was 22 and I’d been tattooing for four years. I was tattooing flames, dice, money bags. That was the flea market special. You could come in for a $300 tap-out session and leave with a whole sleeve.”
This is a time of fertility and abundance. Many pagan rituals and traditions are associated with Ostara. One common practice is the creation of an Ostara altar, decorated with symbols of the season such as fresh flowers, colorful eggs, and sprouting plants. These symbols represent fertility, growth, and the renewal of life. Egg decorating is a popular activity during this time, as eggs have long been seen as a potent symbol of fertility and new life. Pagan traditions often include the use of natural dyes made from plants to color the eggs, further connecting them to the cycles of nature. Another common tradition during Ostara is the lighting of bonfires. These fires represent the returning light and warmth of the sun. People gather around the fire, dancing, singing, and making offerings to the gods and goddesses of spring and fertility. Overall, the Spring Equinox is a time of celebration and joy in paganism. It is a time to honor and connect with the cycles of nature, to embrace the energy of new beginnings, and to welcome the return of light and life after the darkness of winter..
Reviews for "Dancing with the Elements: Pagan Celebrations of the Spring Equinox"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I attended the Spring Solstice Pagan event last weekend and I have to say, it was a huge disappointment. The organization was chaotic and there was a lack of clear communication about the schedule and activities. The vendors were limited and their products were overpriced. The workshops were poorly organized and lacked depth. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time and money attending this event.
2. Michael - 1 star - The Spring Solstice Pagan gathering was a complete letdown. The event seemed disorganized from the beginning, with long lines and a lack of clearly marked directions. The workshops were shallow and didn't offer any new insights or knowledge. The main ritual felt rushed and lacked the spiritual connection I was hoping for. Additionally, the event lacked diversity and inclusivity, making it feel exclusive instead of welcoming. I wouldn't recommend attending this event if you're looking for a meaningful and well-organized Pagan gathering.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high expectations for the Spring Solstice Pagan festival, but unfortunately, it fell short. The event felt crowded and chaotic, making it difficult to fully immerse in the experience. The workshops were overcrowded and it was hard to hear and participate. The food vendors were limited and the quality was mediocre. The organizers need to reevaluate their approach and make improvements for future events if they want to attract a wider audience.
4. Jason - 1 star - The Spring Solstice Pagan gathering was a complete disaster. The location was poorly chosen, with limited parking and no proper facilities. The event was unstructured, with a lack of clear schedules or information provided. The only positive aspect was the live music, but it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. The organizers need to revisit their planning and execution if they want to have a successful Pagan event in the future.