Before the Ink Touches the Skin — When a Tattoo Becomes a Ritual
A Monstera, the lines of an oak tree, and an encounter with a woman who sees nature through different eyes. The story of a tattoo that inspired something new
Why Have Humans Been Marking Their Skin for Thousands of Years?
Long before tattoos became a contemporary art form, a fashion statement, or an aesthetic choice, they were already part of human history
We began marking our bodies with symbols long before smartphones, social media, and even many of the writing systems we know today
One of the most fascinating examples is Ötzi, the man who lived more than 5,000 years ago and was discovered preserved in the ice of the Alps
Researchers have identified 61 tattoos on his body, mainly lines and crosses
Their exact meaning remains uncertain. Some researchers have suggested a connection with therapeutic practices, as several markings appear in areas of the body that may have been associated with physical discomfort
Across different cultures and historical periods, tattoos have expressed belonging, identity, protection, social status, memory, and important transitions in life
There is no single universal meaning behind tattooing
But there is a question that has followed humanity through the centuries
Why do we feel the desire to make something visible on our bodies that we carry deep within ourselves?
Perhaps because our body is not simply the place we inhabit
It is also where our story unfolds
The Tattoo as a Ritual The Difference Lies in Intention
When I speak about rituals, I don't necessarily mean something religious, mysterious, or supernatural
A ritual can simply be an action to which we consciously give a special meaning
Think about lighting a candle to remember someone, keeping an object that belonged to a loved one, or planting a tree to celebrate a new life
These are simple gestures, yet our intention transforms them into meaningful experiences
A tattoo has an additional quality: the chosen symbol becomes part of our body
It isn't something we can simply put away in a drawer
It accompanies us as we change, grow older, and move through new experiences
That is why I believe the process of choosing a tattoo deserves just as much attention as the final design
Not only what we want to tattoo, but why, at which moment in our lives, and with what intention
This reflection became the beginning of my own experience
But before choosing a symbol, I met Nathalie
Nathalie A Woman Who Sees Nature Differently
Some people look at a leaf and simply see a leaf
And then there are people like Nathalie
She notices its veins, proportions, curves, movement, and the seemingly imperfect geometry that makes nature so extraordinary
Nathalie has been drawing for as long as she can remember
She has a deep love for plants, animals, and everything belonging to the natural world
I affectionately call her my master of plants
Not simply because she knows their names, but because she possesses a remarkable sensitivity to their forms
Her talent goes far beyond drawing beautifully
It lies in her ability to transform what she observes into a personal visual language
Her lines are delicate, minimal, and yet full of character
This sensitivity is at the heart of QUERCUS LINE, her artistic brand, where nature, drawing, and Fine Line Tattoo Art come together
When we met, we recognised something we shared
I work with intuition, attentive listening, and the language of symbols
She works with images, shapes, and the precision of her drawings
Two different ways of expressing something that initially has no words
And that is exactly where an idea began
The Monstera A Plant in Which I Recognise Myself
I didn't want a tattoo simply because it looked beautiful
I wanted something that spoke about me, without necessarily revealing everything about me
And so we arrived at the Monstera
A tropical plant that fascinates me for one particular reason: the way it grows
Young Monstera leaves are generally whole, while mature leaves, under favourable conditions, develop their characteristic splits and openings, known as fenestrations
These structures are thought to offer the plant various advantages in its natural environment, although their precise functions are still being studied
What interests me most is their symbolic meaning
The Monstera doesn't grow by becoming increasingly uniform
Quite the opposite: as it matures, openings, divisions, and empty spaces begin to appear
And yet, it remains whole
How beautiful is the idea that we can open ourselves without losing ourselves?
For me, this plant represents exactly that
The possibility of moving through experiences that transform us without giving up our identity
The freedom to take on new shapes
The ability to welcome something new into our lives
I don't see the openings in its leaves as wounds, but as part of its maturity
And in this image, I recognise something of my own journey
I don't want to become a perfect version of myself
I want to keep growing while preserving the freedom to be who I am
The Lines of the Oak — What Remains While Everything Changes
But something was still missing from the Monstera
The roots
Or rather, what roots represent to me
And so the lines of the oak tree became part of the design
A tree that, in many European traditions, has been associated with strength, longevity, resilience, and endurance
The oak grows slowly
It moves through seasons, storms, and periods of rest
It doesn't need to be constantly blooming to prove that it is alive
This image speaks to me of memory, belonging, and stability
Of everything we have received, learned, and transformed throughout our lives
Our roots are not only the place we come from
They are also the experiences that have taught us how to stand tall
And this is where I recognised the meaning of my tattoo
The Monstera represents the freedom to become. The oak represents the strength to remain true to myself
One opens itself to the world
The other reaches deep into the earth
One changes its shape
The other preserves continuity
They are not opposites
They complement one another
And this is exactly the balance I wanted to carry on my skin
When a Drawing Comes to Life
One of the most beautiful parts of this experience was watching Nathalie work
Seeing an intuition become a line, then a composition, and finally a tattoo
Her way of drawing reminded me how important it is to leave space for an artist's sensitivity
A personalised tattoo doesn't necessarily begin with an image found on the internet
It can begin with a conversation
A word
A plant
A memory
Or something we cannot yet fully explain
In my case, the creative process became just as meaningful as the final result
Not because every gesture needed a spiritual explanation
But because I was fully present in the decision I was making
I understood the meaning of those symbols
I trusted the person who was drawing them
And I wanted to remember that moment
The tattoo became a kind of visible reminder
Not of who I should be
But of what I never want to forget
What If Your Next Tattoo Began with a Question?
After living this experience, Nathalie and I began imagining something
What if we could offer other people the opportunity to approach tattooing in the same way?
Not necessarily starting from a catalogue of ready-made designs
But from a personal story
An intention
A symbol that has not yet found its shape
This is how our collaboration for Tattoo Ritual was born, an experience combining intuitive guidance, Tarot, personal symbolism, and Fine Line Tattoo Art
In this context, Tarot is not used to predict someone's future or decide which tattoo they should choose
We use the cards as a tool for self-reflection, through images and archetypes that can inspire questions and new perspectives
A symbol might remind you of an important moment
An animal might represent a quality you wish to cultivate
A plant might symbolise a transformation
A line might hold a memory
There are no right or wrong answers
There is the meaning you choose to give to the symbol you will carry on your skin
Nathalie then translates this process into an original design through her artistic language and sensitivity
Because a tattoo can be beautiful even without a particular meaning
But when beauty meets a personal story, something truly unique can emerge
November 21 in Bern Four Stories, Four Tattoos
On November 21, 2026, we are opening this experience to just four people
This won't be an event with dozens of participants, nor a day dedicated to quickly choosing a design from a catalogue
It will be an intimate space where each person has the time to be heard and personally guided
Each session lasts approximately two hours and includes:
A personal conversation and intuitive guidance
A Tarot reading as a tool for symbolic self-reflection
The exploration of personal images and meanings
The creation of an individual design together with Nathalie
The Fine Line tattoo within the agreed format
Guidance on tattoo aftercare
Saturday, November 21, 2026 — Bern, Switzerland
Only 4 places available
CHF 360 per person
For adults aged 18 and over
You don't need to arrive with a specific tattoo idea
You can come with a thought, a feeling, a memory, or simply the curiosity to discover which symbol might tell something about you
Your tattoo will always be consciously chosen and agreed upon with Nathalie before it is created
Perhaps the Question Isn't “What Should I Get Tattooed?”
Perhaps the more interesting question is:
“Is there something in my story that I would like to make visible?”
If this question sparks your curiosity, we invite you to discover our Tattoo Ritual
Because sometimes a tattoo is simply a beautiful image
And sometimes it is a story that finally finds its own language
Marilü
In collaboration with Nathalie — QUERCUS LINE
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