Shadowlight Henna

Mehndi, or henna, is one of the oldest forms of body art known. Its usage has been traced back over 8,000 years and has over 60 countries of origin- from Spain to Malaysia. 

Henna is actually a flowering plant called the Mignonette (Lawsonia inermis). This small tree's leaves are harvested, dried, then ground to form the henna powder. This powder is then added to lemon juice, sugar, and essential oils to form the paste we use.

In recent modern history, it was used for only women's palms and only sometimes for men. However, as time progressed, it was more common for men to  wear it. Haldi (staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as Mehndi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun. Vedic customs are centered on the idea of  "awakening the inner light". 

Practiced from North Africa all the way over to India, and most places in between. Henna, or Mehndi, is the application of a temporary form of skin decoration.  Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos.  

For centuries, the application of Henna has been linked with times of joyous celebration (wedding, birth, parties), leisure, and togetherness.