Tarot Tattoo

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Demonesse	02 Nov 2002
I'm interested in getting a tattoo, and I want it to be something Tarot-ish, perhaps a figure or symbol from the Tarot, like the lemniscate or something. Any suggestions, people?

Talisman	02 Nov 2002
'Lo Demonesse, Do you want a conversation piece tattoo? I once knew a guy who was in a motorcycle gang who had a very realistic fly tattooed on the end of his nose. I think the Tarot card he'd represent is the one you're itchin' to smack. Look at the tattoos you see on other people, and imagine them as a work of art hanging on your wall. How long would you want to look at one before you got tired of it? When I was in the Navy and sailed the watery rhelms of the world, there was an ancient superstitution that if you had an anchor tattooed below your knee you would never die by drowning, and I wanted to do that. You know, an old fashioned anchor, with a rope twirled 'round it. Never got around to do this. Then, this summer, in a small boat on Prince William Sound during a storm, kept thinkin', "Why didn't I get that blankety-blank tattoo." You could get a skull tattooed on your bicep, with the words "Death before dishonor" tattooed behind it, then, beneath that, "Born to lose." There are people posting on these boards who have had entire Tarot cards from their favorite decks tattooed on their hide. The Ace of Cups from the Tarot of the Electro-Shocked Cats is a popular choice. All in all, I think your idea of a lemniscate is a nice choice. Tarot influenced, and something profound to contemplate. But, I'm sure people will have other suggestions. Talisman

Jeannette	02 Nov 2002
Demonesse: What an interesting idea! There should be any number of tarot symbols that would work well for you. The card illustrations themselves are probably too elaborate for an actual tattoo, but you might want to check out the illustrations in Poppy Palin's Waking the Wild Spirit deck for some ideas or inspiration. According to the information I've received about Ms. Palin, she actually works as a professional tattoo artist in the U.K. The cards in her deck, IMO, definitely show that influence. Or, if you have a "favorite card," maybe using some of the primarily "classic symbology" from whatever that card is would make a good choice. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Joywalker	02 Nov 2002
I wanted to tattoo this special and beautiful abstract art of 'The Fool' from the David's Tarot deck.(http://10000things.com/index.php) Thought it will look cool on my back but later,I decided to keep a small printout in my wallet.That way,I can look at it everytime instead of standing in a mirror!! :D

Violet Gargoyle	02 Nov 2002
I guess one thing to consider is how big you want the tattoo and where. Little ones are easier to conceal at will and have that intimacy/secret thing going for them, but bigger ones will lend themselves to more details that might get lost or muddled in a tiny tattoo.....

Demonesse	02 Nov 2002
Thanks guys! I don't mind elaborate stuff, but I can't have it too big as it wouldn't be appropriate as a member of the corporate rat race. Yet I don't want it so small as to be dismissed as a large mole... :)

Phoenix	02 Nov 2002
I think that I am going to get the Three of Swords from either the Londa Tarot or the Robin Wood. Not the entire card, but the heart with the three swords piercing it. I am a guy...where should I place it. I was thinking either my right shoulder blade, or on my right ankle.

DeLani	03 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Phoenix I think that I am going to get the Three of Swords from either the Londa Tarot or the Robin Wood. Not the entire card, but the heart with the three swords piercing it. I am a guy...where should I place it. I was thinking either my right shoulder blade, or on my right ankle. Hey Phoenix, Since it is a broken heart, it ought to be on the left shoulder blade or pec! heehee One place that I think would be a good one for a card (since it is long and rectangular) would be on the forearm, on the inside, like where Kane in Kung Fu had the dragon/tiger scars. It can be concealed underneath long-sleeved shirts that way. I, for one, absolutely love the double-dragon on the back of the Fantastical Tarot. But I really like dragons - I have about a 9" tat of an oriental dragon on my right calf. Have fun! And beware- tatoos are addicting!

Thirteen	03 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse Thanks guys! I don't mind elaborate stuff, but I can't have it too big as it wouldn't be appropriate as a member of the corporate rat race. Yet I don't want it so small as to be dismissed as a large mole... :) Why not do the Magician emblems? I can't think of any other card more emblematic of all tarot cards, both majors and minors. You know, cup, sword, wand, disk with a lemniscate above. Check this out for inspiration: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/mandalaastrological/index.html Check out the magician in the Mandala deck. Not to copy, but as an idea--the mandala deck doesn't use any human figures, just symbols.

Demonesse	04 Nov 2002
I think that would be great, especially if I could come up with a design that intertwined the four suit emblems with the lemniscate floating above (so far I think that would be the best but I'd probably have to come up with a good design myself) - or perhaps a celestial emblem; Moon/Sun/Star. Also, I was thinking of a Phoenix and Sun to symbolize Judgement/Rebirth or the two different coloured horses of the Chariot arranged in a circular pattern like the yin and yang. I guess I have to consider firstly where I want the design, what the design would be, and lastly the colours! Should I have it all-black or with colour?

Thirteen	05 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse I think that would be great, especially if I could come up with a design that intertwined the four suit emblems with the lemniscate floating above (so far I think that would be the best but I'd probably have to come up with a good design myself) - or perhaps a celestial emblem; Moon/Sun/Star. Also, I was thinking of a Phoenix and Sun to symbolize Judgement/Rebirth or the two different coloured horses of the Chariot arranged in a circular pattern like the yin and yang. I think the phoenix & Sun are one tattoo, the Yin/yang horses another, and the suits with Leminscate and celestical emblem a third. Hey, why not think of three tattoos--you're getting one, you might want more. Hold two in reserve. Here's what I think. Make it a STAR--because THE STAR is a very memorable and potent tarot card--means hope and the FUTURE--which is what reading tarot is all about. Eight pointed star. Now either within each compass point in the star--or at the end of the star points, you put one of each suit (cup, wand--small wand or arrow maybe?--sword and disk--advise not using a pentacle in the disk as that would clash with the star symbol) and in the center you put the Leminscate? Or you could crowd the emblems together in the center of the star, making the Lemiscate at the middle very small, so the emblems encircle it. And yes, you should have some color, but not a lot. Emblems one color, star another and the lemiscate either a third color or black. Those are my thoughts. Hey, why not get Kayne, our avatar expert to create a few designs?

Demonesse	05 Nov 2002
Lol. Yes, they're different ideas - not all at once. The symbolism is very important too, and should augur well for the future - I agree with your views on the Star. I think I should have it on my back so I can do a more elaborate design without worrying about covering it every day. As for kayne, his avatars are gorgeous, but I wouldn't want to impose on him! :D

Keslynn	05 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse As for kayne, his avatars are gorgeous, but I wouldn't want to impose on him! :D Well... I hope he doesn't mind me telling, but kayne is designing a tattoo for me. I'm paying him though (in the form of a tarot deck probably). It never hurts to ask because you could probably work something out. And he does beautiful work, as we all know. :) Kes

cricket	05 Nov 2002
a rather ugly sketch, but...

kayne	05 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn Well... I hope he doesn't mind me telling, but kayne is designing a tattoo for me. LOL! I have been dobbed in! :P That's ok Keslynn... I am actually very busy right now (preparing a folio to be accepted into a Graphic Design course...) but if you want to trade a deck for a design I'm in :) This is a design I was *very* close to getting, made from the Knight of Cups from Thoth. I wanted it to be very simple and bold which is why I redesinged it in this style...

kayne	05 Nov 2002
This is the tattoo I ended up getting...

Joywalker	05 Nov 2002
Hi Kayne, I must say those avatars that you designed are awesome!! Really!! Wish I could draw/design stuff like you did. Do you have anything of 'The Fool'? If (and I have no idea when!) I can hit 500 posts,I would like to have an avatar of the fool. I love the David's Tarot's "The Fool",simple and yet beautiful. Have you seen his deck before? Think he only sell his deck at his website: http://10000things.com/index.php

Thirteen	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Joywalker I love the David's Tarot's "The Fool",simple and yet beautiful. Have you seen his deck before? Ah, yes, David's Tarot. Bought it soon as I saw it. Love that man's designs. Only problem is the deck's on card stock. I gotta find a way to laminate the cards so I can actually use them without fear of them tearing, bending or getting stained. Cricket--like the yin-yang horse heads but I wonder if they shouldn't be the whole horse--two horses galloping or, better, leaping, with mane's and tails trailing, fitting into that yin-yang shape would be just lovely. Or, if this is representing the chariot, you could go for sphinxes instead. Kayne--you can do up a tattoo for me anytime! Fact, I hadn't thought of ever getting a tattoo, but now that I consider one designed by you....hmmm. Perhaps. Love that knight of cups.

Demonesse	06 Nov 2002
Yes, my original idea was to have full horses in a yin-yang position, not just the heads; but sphinxes sound even better! Kayne; great tattoo, but I haven't any decks to trade.

Talisman	07 Nov 2002
"Little ones are easier to conceal and have that intimacy/secret thing going for them . . ." -- Violet Gargoyle 'Lo all, Here's an idea, Demonesse, although I haven't quite figured out the Tarot connection yet. You could have a small bear tattooed low down on your backside. That way, although perhaps we'd never see it, where ever you go you'd have a little bear behind. Talisman

Pollux	07 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse Kayne; great tattoo, but I haven't any decks to trade. Just buy one on purpose, as a gift then, in return for the design... ;) *just pushing luck for other people getting free decks LOL*

Everlearning	07 Nov 2002
Hi, Getting design input is a great idea, I hope you don't mind a little practical advice, too. I've worked in a tattoo studio for years as a body piercer, and am a tattoo apprentice a few months away from doing my first tattoo. Be absolutely sure that the design is one you'll want forever, once it's there, it's there. Laser removal is expensive and painful! Learn all you can about your artist, you'll want to see samples of work, preferably not just photos. Hang around the shop to get a feel of how work is done and how clean it is. It should remind you of a dentist's office, and should have an autoclave on the premises. If they don't openly show you that everything's sterile, and answer all your questions, find another shop. As for placement, the bottom line is of course, where will you want to have it for the rest of your life? Some folks consider the base of the spine to be a source of power. Least painful areas for most people are upper arm, back shoulder, lower back and ankle(not too close to the bone!) Hope this is helpful. ~Everlearning

kayne	07 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Everlearning It should remind you of a dentist's office, and should have an autoclave on the premises. Thanks for the info EverLearning but I was wondering what an autoclave is? The place I got my tat done, despite the artist being covered every square-centimetre in tattoos (he had 'zzz's on his eye lids) did remind me of a dentists... had that sterile smell too... :)

Kyrielle	07 Nov 2002
An autoclave is a sterilizing machine. At one of my old jobs we used them, and they looked like big microwaves. However, that was in a much different context than a tattoo place, and they were older models. More of a literary note than an actual idea: In Nicholas Christopher's book "Veronica" the title character has a full-back tattoo of the entire RWS Star card. The book has a little bit of tarot imagery in it as well, mostly foreshadowing the unveiling of the tattoo. It's the best book I've read in a while. -- Kyrielle

The Tarot Tattoo thread was originally posted on 02 Nov 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.