I'm Elise Hugh. You're listening to TED Talks Daily.

Today, a fresh way to think about tattoos and the possibilities they offer for connecting and reconnecting with our bodies.

In her 2021 talk from TEDx Malvern, Becky Barker makes a powerful case for tattoos as empowerment and healing.

Let's talk about tattoos, shall we?

I know some of you here tonight have probably got a sneaky little tattoo hidden away, which means you're in the call club.

Don't worry. The cool clip's not exclusive.

You can join at any time.

But what really springs into your mind when I say the word tattoo?

Is it artistic, expressive, beautiful, ugly, intimidating, just not for you?

There's no wrong answers, by the way. Have you ever considered

tattoos to be empowering or healing? Tattoos are actually steeped in a history of healing. Five thousand-year-old

Utsi the Iceman was discovered with markings tattooed on his limbs in areas that would have

been causing him chronic pain. In cultures and tribes throughout history, and even in modern

times, symbols are tattooed onto parts of the body to alleviate symptoms of chronic illness.

And it works. Now, whether you believe in Juju, a mind over matter healing, a placebo effect,

or whether you consider this may actually be a science not yet proven, there's something pretty

special about using tattooing for healing. In our culture, we focus more on aesthetics, don't we?

But tattoos can still be very healing.

If someone has a part of their body that they don't like to show off,

you put a tattoo that they really love on their,

they are first on the nudist beach in the summer every time.

People use decorative tattoos to cover scars or to signify a fresh start or even to commemorate a

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