Look what I did this weekend!
I’ve wanted to have my hands decorated with henna, sometimes called mehndi, for a long time – about 12 years, since a colleague had hers elaborately done for her wedding (this was Joanna of the Embroidered Coif Kit, who will be joining us for the 9/26 embroidery session – yay!). I finally got a chance this weekend, at my twin nieces’ six-year-old birthday party, oddly enough. My brother had a magician/balloon artist for the children’s entertainment but also booked a henna artist, on a whim, and because he thought the girls and their guests would enjoy it. We certainly did – all the children (except the smallest and wiggliest) and most of the grown-ups got a design.
After all those years you might think the reality wouldn’t match my anticipation, but actually I am delighted beyond all reason. For the past couple of years I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how and why human beings decorate themselves (did you spot the massive understatement?), with clothes and jewelry and make-up. I think the impulse to adorn the important and special, to highlight attractive characteristics and hide the rest, is universal to human societies, or very nearly so. Personally, hands have always been special to me, more than special, almost magical.
You may have seen the photos of the embroiderers’ hands at work that I frequently post here. I love to watch skilled hands manipulate tools and materials. The urge to create, the ability to create, the process of creation even more than the end result is fascinating to me. I was captivated by the symbolism of decorating the hands, to call attention, to accentuate, to honor.
For a full 10 – 15 minutes each, the time it took Heather to decorate them, my hands were forced to be idle. I spent the time admiring her skilled hands as she drew the design free-form. Then for about 30 minutes, I waited, still with idle hands (pretty unusual for me) while the henna dried. It took hours for it to flake off, and Heather says the designs will last a couple of weeks. I think, as long as they last, I will be spending some time contemplating and appreciating my hands.