ENERGY RHYTHMS - HeNNa ARTistry

Mehndi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as by expatriate communities from those countries. The word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhika. The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Vedic ritual books. Haldi (staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as mehndi are important Vedic customs as a symbolic representation of the Outer and the Inner Sun. Vedic customs are meant to awaken the “inner light” and so the gold of the inner Sun has an important symbolic function.

Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos. Henna is typically applied during special occasions like weddings and Muslim Festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Similarly in Hindu festivals like Karva Chauth, Diwali, Bhaidooj and Teej.

In some Hindu festivals, every woman tries to have Henna done on her hands and feet. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna. Henna was originally used as a form of decoration mainly for brides.

In the modern age, usually people buy readymade Henna cones, which are ready to use and make painting easy. However, in rural areas in India, women grind fresh henna leaves on sil (grinding stone) with added oil, which though not as refined as professionally prepared henna cones, brings much darker colors. The term henna tattoo is figurative, because true tattoos are permanent surgical insertions of pigments underneath the skin, as opposed to pigments resting on the surface as is the case with mehndi.

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Henna has been used for hundreds of years and is a natural plant dye. When applied to the skin, the henna produces a temporary stain - it is similar to a tattoo, but not permanent. Henna is completely natural, perfectly safe and painless. 

Henna is from the plant Lawsonia Inermis which grows in hot climates and can be found in most Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt and India. The plant grows to around 10 feet and the leaves are harvested twice a year as soon as the flowers appear. The leaves of the plant are dried, crushed and ground into a powder. The powder is mixed with a mildly acidic liquid, such as lemon juice, which releases the dye and forms a brown-coloured paste. The paste can then be applied to the body, wood, fabric or untreated leather to leave a stain.

On the body, the brown-coloured paste can be applied to skin, hair and nails. On skin, henna gives a temporary red-brown stain that grows out as dead skin cells are shed.

Mehndi is the Hindi word used to describe the art of henna. Traditionally henna is applied on the hands and feet and is used for weddings and religious occasions such as Eid, Diwali and for the blessing on the birth of a child or to bring good fortune into one’s home. Today henna is also used to temporarily decorate your body, as a form of self expression and body art.

 

Henna Traditions and Symbolism

Because henna is part of many cultural traditions across many regions there are a number of symbols used within the art and each have various meanings and uses.
Here are some of the more popular symbols and blessings used within mehndi(Henna) art:

Palm decoration  ~  Designs invoke images of opening and offering (usually sun, flower, mandala)

Back of hand decoration  ~  Acts as a shield-closing, defending, clenching-symbolizing protection.

Right hand   ~     Male, Projective
Left hand  ~  Female, Receptive

 

Symbolism

Peacocks                        ~          Beauty
Swans                           ~          Success
Birds                             ~           Messengers (between heaven and earth)
Butterflies                      ~          Transformation
Parrots                         ~           Messengers of love
Dragonflies                  ~           Rebirth
Fishes                          ~           A woman's eyes

Scorpion                      ~           Love and romance, its sting is analogous to Cupid's    arrow while being stung produces the same effects as being in   love - glittering eyes, breathless, heat and feverish.

Flowers                        ~          Joy and happiness.
Vines and leaves           ~           Longevity, devotion, perseverance, entwined lives and vitality.

Lizards and snakes       ~          Seekers of enlightenment.
Tortoise                        ~          Protection and fertility .

Lotus Blossom              ~          The light within / the awakening of the human soul. Grace, beauty, creativity, sensuality, femininity, and purity.

Sahasrara                     ~          Thousand-petal lotus ~ uniting the soul with the 'Divine Source'.

Sun, Moon,and Stars    ~           Deep and lasting love between lovers/partners.
Paisleys                        ~          Represent fertility and good luck.
Eye                               ~         Said to mirror back the 'Evil Eye'.

The bud                        ~          Signifying new growth especially at the end of a drought, and thus represent new life, fertility and joy - or as a metaphor in bridal mehandi to symbolize the start of a new love and a new life.

Zigzag                           ~         This symbol means "rain" and represents fertility and abundance.

The game (chess board)~            An ancient symbol which, in different variants, represents happiness and joyful moments.

Ripples                           ~        Represent running water, which purifies and brings life. Also symbolizing human emotion.

Square                           ~         Ragical, used to heal and protect the sick.

   

Henna Ingredients

Henna Heaven only uses fresh organic Rajasthani or Jamila Indian henna powder for all henna work. The henna is professional grade Indian henna powder - USDA certified - and freshly imported from India's Rajasthani and Pakistan regions. These particular brands of henna are recommended for their beautifully dark reddish-brown stain. The following ingredients are added to make the paste:

                                                   

Rajasthani Henna Powder

>>>>>  Organic concentrated lemon juice
>>>>>  Sugar
>>>>>  Tea extract
>>>>>  Pure essential oils - Cajeput oil, Tea tree oil and Lavender oil.

For pregnant women and young children, only lavender oil is used in the mix.

All henna is freshly made for every appointment.

  

 

What Is The Difference Between Pre-Made Paste And Making Your Own Paste?

The difference between pre-made paste and making your own paste is that you don’t know how fresh the pre-made is, nor what is in it, and therefore it could have lost its ability to stain. When you mix your own and use FRESH henna powder, you know what is in your formula and that it is fresh. This makes the stain better and will last longer.

Skin tests

As with all cosmetics and body care products, test on an inconspicuous area of skin for any allergic reaction. Allergies can develop anytime, based on your health condition, so re-test before every application. Henna Heaven strives to maintain all safety standards within its limit. However, Henna Heaven is NOT responsible for any allergic reactions caused to its clients for use of its products and other 3rd party products.

Henna History

The different words for henna in ancient languages imply that henna had more than one point of discovery and origin, and different pathways of daily and ceremonial use. With its artistic application on the skin, henna has become an important expression of grand culture.

The earliest known evidence of henna being used was discovered on the hands of Egyptian mummies from 5,000 years ago. Henna was celebrated by most groups in the areas where henna grew naturally: Jews, Muslims, Hindus, among others, all celebrated marriages by adorning the bride, and often the groom, with henna.

                                               

Across the henna-growing region, Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations for centuries. Even favorite horses, donkeys, and salukis had their hooves, paws, and tails henna'ed. Battle victories, births, circumcision, birthdays, Zar, as well as weddings, usually included some henna as part of the celebration. Where there was joy, there was henna.

Henna was regarded as having "Barakah," blessings, and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Brides typically had the most henna, and the most complex patterns, to support their greatest joy, and wishes for luck. Some bridal traditions were very complex, such as those in Yemen, where the Jewish bridal henna process took four or five days to complete, with multiple applications and resist work.

Henna is now commercially cultivated in western India, Pakistan, Morocco, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and Banglades. Though henna has been used for body art and hair dye since the Bronze Age, henna has had a recent renaissance in body art due to improvements in cultivation, processing, and the emigration of people from traditional henna using regions.