#unalome

I chose the Unalome: the path of life, with all its twists and turns, leading toward the stillness of enlightenment. Every dot, every curve etched into me is a reminder that struggle, growth, and peace are all part of the same journey.

The Unalome is a Buddhist symbol representing the journey to enlightenment.

The bottom swirl pattern represents our birth and the direction of the swirl denotes your sex at birth. It goes down setting our foundations in life and our trial and errors during our foundation years. Going up, the loops represent the path we now take with the lessons we learned, experiencing things but knowing now what not to do. The straight line up denotes the clear path we now have from our experience and continuing our journey to being enlightened which is represented by the dots on top separate from the material world.

The Unalome has been found to used as a TATTOO by many people, but practicing Eastern Buddhist are at times insulted by this for a couple reasons.

1. It’s in an obvious place. The journey to enlightenment is one’s own journey and seen as a private thing. Show casing that you’ve been “enlightened” is seen as just the opposite in their eyes, but they still love that you love the practice.

2. It being used the wrong way. The most common mistake is placement on the body. The Unalome shouldn’t be near any major chakra points, is seen as negative if placed near your feet, and must always be facing in the right direction. The journey to enlightenment is an upwards path not downwards.

“SAFE” PLACEMENTS

Inner arm/inner forearm: just remember to wear long sleeves if visiting any temples.

Side of your torso

Outer thigh

COMBINATIONS

If you’re set on getting an Unalome tattoo yourself just bare the top mentioned views by practicing Buddhist in mind should you ever plan a visit to Asia. Once you’re set on getting it and know where you want it though there are a few symbols when combined with the Unalome in a certain way means something.

🌒🌕🌘

When combined with a moon in someway the Unalome designates finding your truth in your journey.

☀️

When combined with the sun in someway the Unalome signifies bringing energy and clarification to your life.

❤️

When combined with a heart in someway in denotes a life of compassion, empathy and self-love.

When combined with a lotus flower in shows a pure spirit.

✨

When combined with a star or stars in someway in represents a found inner peace.

🏹

One of the most respectful symbols, the arrow incorporated someway with the Unalome signifies pleasure in pain, and is associated with the Buddhist view of life is suffering and separating yourself from worldly things. With the arrow it can be viewed as finding you peace in the world which is suffering and simply enjoying life wherever it takes you.

PERSONALIZATION

With all the symbol choices, your own Unalome marking (feel free to put in on something other than your body for personal meaning) could be very unique to you. The symbols listed are just common associations but if you have your own personal symbols feel free to incorporate them. My own Unalome drawing has a purple sunflower which has a special meaning to me with a crescent moon inside and my favorite short quote written vertically.

When combining the one thing to note is that the foundations are all viewed as the same, we all start out being born into a world we don’t understand, so the bottom swirl and loop pattern is a constant. The straight line for your clear path is also a constant. And remember it should always be facing upwards.

🪐 Teen through Elder

🪐 For Male and Female

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