SO BELOW

Wayne Simmons continues his pilgrimage, going deep

into the hills to unearth tattoo artists with a penchant for

the mystical. This month he meets Aries Rhysing

Tattoos with Higher Purpose

Aries Rhysing @ariesrhysing • All Sacred @allsacredtattoo

All Sacred Foundation: allsacred.com/foundation/about-the-foundation • Ritualcravt @ritualcravt

D

enver-based artist, Aries Rhysing, has a mis-

sion and it’s an ambitious one.

His mission, along with the rest of the crew

at All Sacred Tattoo, is to preserve and pro-

tect the history of tattooing and tattooing culture. Or, as

is stated on the All Sacred website, to honour ‘as a collec-

tive to tattoo in a style that embraces ornamental design,

dot work, geometric, and all forms of culturally inspired

tattooing ’. It’s not just the aesthetics of these art forms,

I hasten to add, it’s about what drives them – in fact, it’s

about what breathed life into them in the first place. “I

have immense respect for all the cultural traditions that

have survived in art, tattooing and spiritual practice,” Ar-

ies explains. “So, I do what I can to honour these tradi-

tions with authenticity and in a way that represents my

personal experiences in life. I stand by what has been

perfected in tattooing by the masters who forged the path

before me: strong lines, bold designs, balance of black/

grey /skin, and flow with the body.” Finally—and most

important to him—Aries seeks to “hold space and em-

body an experience that allows for rites of passage, heal-

ing and empowerment for the person getting tattooed.”

This is not about being some kind of spirit guide or guru,

he points out, but rather being of service in a very real

and genuine way – and, according to Aries, it certainly

bears fruit. “I witness the most amazing transcendence

through the work I do.”

This series was written for a guy like Aries, an artist

who, in a very real and profound way, captures the spirit-

ual or metaphysical within their work. It isn’t something

to be done quietly, either – no, it’s the very essence of his

craft, driving everything he does both inside and outside

the studio. “I make my entire life my spiritual path and

the world around me my temple,” he tells me. And it’s

clear he means every word of that.

There’s no exclusivity going on either, no ‘one true en-

lightenment’ kind of thinking. For Aries, it’s up to every

artist to find their own path and be true to it. In fact,

there’s a role for us lay people, too, those of us receiving—

or indeed viewing—a tattoo to engage with such fully, to

take the time needed to commune with it in our own way.

“Khalil Gibran said it best,” Aries points out, quoting the

20th Century Lebanese-American poet, “Say not, ‘I have

found the truth,’ but rather, ‘I have found a truth.’’”

Aries’ own spiritual journey began early in life. “I was

given absolute freedom as a child,” he tells me, “which

led me to seek my own understanding.” Today, he finds

i have immense respect for all

the cultural traditions that

have survived in art, tattooing

and spiritual practice