I did the  center of the sun on this palm was done with week-old paste ... and then washed it off after 15 minutes.  I did the  rest of the palm was then done with a fresh batch of henna, NS'ed down, wrapped and left overnight ... then steamed off the next morning.  There are many hennaes depicted in miniature paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries from Persia that seem to employ multiple applications of henna.  This creates more color variation than usual, and the effect can be very beautiful.

The pattern and verse for this piece is derived from art from Kurasan  in the 10th century, and is arranged as  henna was done during the Seljuq period.  The verse is Sufi: "In the atom, where is there stability?  You are a dancing sun in the sky." It was a metaphor for the swirling Sufi dance wherein the dancer whirls in contemplation of God.

the henna in this picture is JAMILA henna, available from Castle Art