Originally Published: March 20th, 2025

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2026

My next tattoo?

I still want the snake around my wrist, and I want to add something else. I haven’t quite decided what that is.

Update – later this day…

Inspired by this blog – on impulse I went and got myself a snake tattoo!

Symbolism:

• In honour of a snake bracelet I loved as a child.
• In honour of an Indigo snake I loved as a child. I was fearless and loved this snake. I have a photo (bowl haircut and all!) with this large black snake hanging around my neck.
• In honour of our 2015 Cairo adventure in Khan el-Khalili trying to find a reputable vendor to buy a snake bracelet just like the snake bracelet I loved as a child.

S, 🌻

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2025

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My Next Tattoo – A Snake Wrapped Around My Left Wrist

I have three tattoos.

My first tattoo was June 21st, 1996 – a local artist designed for me. I asked him to create a symbol that describes me. Everyone who looks at this tattoo asks what it is. I ask them back, “What do you see?” Some see a swan, flamingo, ribbons or a treble clef. Very fitting, as I wore many masks – hiding my true self.

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My second tattoo was July 9th, 2020 – With the creative skills of the tattoo artist, she designed a Phoenix rising through two Eagle feathers in a restorative circle. One eagle feather is traditional, the other is First Nation – a culture I feel a deep connection with. This tattoo has many personal reasons, but I am running out of time this morning to articulate!

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My third tattoo was April 12th, 2023 – A tribute to our four years in Qatar, Michael and I had matching tattoos. The design is Arabic calligraphy of our first initials in a heart. The Red line is M for Michael. The Purple line is S for Stephanie.

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My fourth tattoo?

I’m thinking a snake, for a few personal reasons.

I’ve always wanted a snake bracelet that wraps around my wrist.

We bought one in Cairo, but it wasn’t silver – it was fake and broke apart within a few days.

In my childhood, my mother’s boyfriend owned a pet store. There were many snakes such as boa constrictors, ball pythons and my all time favourite – the Eastern Indigo Snake. This snake was almost as long as I was tall – at 10 years old.

The snake represents transition, healing energy, wisdom and knowledge, growth through fears, life/death and transformation, and deepening spiritual life.

I want the design to wrap around my left wrist, below our matching heart tattoo.

It will take a while to design the exact snake tattoo I’d like, the example below is a good start to it.

S, 🌻🐍

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