Pop, can I get a turtle? It's a symbol of creativity?According to archaeological evidence, tattooing came to New Zealand from Eastern Polynesian culture. The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word "tatau". Captain James Cook used the word "tattow" when he witnessed tattooing for the first time in Tahiti, in 1769.
The bone chisels used for tattooing can be found in archaeological sites of various ages in New Zealand, as well as in some early Eastern Polynesian sites.
In New Zealand, it is in the early sites that the widest chisel blades are found, and this lends evidence to the theory that there was possibly a preference towards rectilinear tattoo patterns in earlier times.
The head was considered the most sacred part of the body, and because tattooing caused blood to run, the tattoo craftsmen, or "tohunga-ta-oko", were very tapu persons. All high-ranking Māori were tattooed, and those who went without tattoos were seen as persons of no social status.
Tattooing commenced at puberty, accompanied by many rites and rituals. In addition to making a warrior attractive to women, the tattoo practice marked both rites of passage and important events in a person's life.
There were certain prohibitions during the tattooing process, and for the facial tattoo in particular sexual intimacy and the eating of solid foods were prohibited. In order to 
overcome this, liquid food and water was drained into a wooden funnel, to ensure that no contaminating product came into contact with the swollen skin. This was also the only way the tattooed person could eat until his or her wounds healed.
The full faced tattoo was very time consuming, and a good tattoo craftsman would carefully study a person's bone structure before commencing his art.
The tattoo instrument was a bone chisel, either with a serrated or an extremely sharp straight edge. The first stage of the tattoo commenced with the graving of deep cuts into the skin. Next, a chisel was dipped into a sooty type pigment such as burnt Kauri gum or burnt vegetable caterpillars, and then tapped into the skin.
It was an extremely painful and long process, and often leaves from the native Karaka tree were placed over the swollen tattoo cuts to hasten the healing process. Wars were frequent,
and the warriors had little time for recuperation. During the tattooing process, flute music and chant poems were performed to help soothe the pain.
SO why would I choose a turtle? The turtle is considered by some Native Americans to be one of their the oldest, most sacred symbols. They believed that North America was created on the back of The Great Mother, a turtle.
In the far east, turtle was carved and worn as a talisman for power over all forms of bad magic.
Earthy, grounded, longevity, protection, shelter, steady.
The turtle's shell resembled a dome and was seen as a symbol of the dome of heaven -hence heavenly virtue.
Generally turtle is seen to represent: self-containment, creative source, earthiness, b
eing grounded, longevity, protection, shelter, and a steady approach to life.
In dreams they are interpreted as patience, wisdom, or hiding something essential.
In Africa many wisdom stories are told of the tortoise and the hare. Fascinating how the various cultures of the world share stories and meaning.
I've chosen not to get a tattoo. I never know what culture I may live in next and do not know what how a tattoo might be received. If it would hinder relationships or communication, it would not then be an asset for me and my objectives. But if I did, it'd be a turtle.
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