𝙑𝙄𝙎𝙐𝘼𝙇 𝘼𝙄𝘿 — 𝘽𝙊𝘿𝙔 𝘼𝙍𝙏 ( 𝟮 / ? ) (previous entry can be found here)
piercing(s): as previously stated, gaia has always wanted more body jewelry; it is sort of a dream come true since even piercing her ears in ancient times was seen as something not fit for a goddess. is it an act of rebellion? maybe. but it's mostly just gaia being finally able to express herself; she strives to set herself free from those divine restraints & just do whatever she wants. new addition to her piercings is a bellybutton piercing!
tattoo(s): first the smaller tattoos: a branch of lilies of the valley drawn into a half-circle can be found behind her right ear. i've read that a tattoo behind one's ear is often associated with loss & since lillies of the valley are the flowers associated with gaia's grief, this is sort of a memorial piece to all the people that she's lost over the years. it's to symbolize that she'll always carry their memory within her mind. the next one is a bow (with flower ornaments) & arrow on the inner side of her left bicep; because of her being a hunter & having grown quite fond of using her bow, this was a no-brainer. it is also sort of a nod to her favorite bow 'rosa vena'.
onto the bigger sternum piece: the tattoo was inked onto her skin in a way that it would touch the silver scar across her sternum as little as possible. this was mostly done out of comfort since the tissue of the scar never properly heals & thus, is extremely sensitive. this piece had to be done over three days due to excessive bleeding & the pain being too great to do it in one setting.
the symbolism of the sternum piece: since the incident around this scar was the first time she came close to actual death, the small butterflies at the sides are supposed to represent 'rebirth'. through the near-death experience, gaia was reborn — for better or for worse. the flowers are not quite right in the visual aid, because they're supposed to be chrysanthemums instead of roses, so please just imagine them. why chrysanthemums? because they're usually associated with death, tying right into the meaning of the overall tattoo. at last, the snake that ties around the scar: snakes are representative of many things; healing, change, death & rebirth, immortality & eternity but also protection. it all ties into the experience of receiving her scar; how it would heal but also be stuck to her for an eternity, how it was representative of her own immortality, how she's still healing from the past but also how she'll continue to protect herself who mean harm.
