~ Tarot tattoos

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kayne	04 Jul 2003
I did I quick search and I don't *think* this has been discussed for a while... and since I have been away so long with so many new people I just wanted to open this discussion up again. :D So! Does anyone have any tarot tattoos? What sort of tarot tattoos would you like? What designs inspired by the tarot would you wear on your body for the rest of your life? Please share! :D

SharonElizabeth	04 Jul 2003
I would love to see this as well. I've been wanting another tattoo and would love to use tarot as the inspiration, but I don't have any specific ideas. I once saw someone who had the rider waite three of swords tattooed on her ankle. I loved it. I have pondered using the moon from the Moon card in the Hanson Roberts deck. I think the Thoth deck would make for some good tattoos too.

Le_Corsair	04 Jul 2003
I imagine that Death would be popular with the guys, there are some stylish ones out there, Thoth being the one that immediately comes to mind. I hadn't considered RWS 3 of Swords, it's an obvious choice. I could see getting the Hermit from RWS or the BOTA deck, myself. Bob :THERM :WL :CL :OL :SL

Inana	05 Jul 2003
I like tattoos too, but never considered to use a tarot card to do one and im not sure i would like that. Im still designing the tattoo i want to wear. For some reason, i see a tattoo like something that blends with one, its on one's skin, becomes a part of you... Thats why it has to mean something important for myself, and better if the meaning is positive. Sure there are lot of tarot cards that can work in this sense, but i dont know why i cant see me with a tattoed card. In case i did someday it would be the Fool or the World i think, and for the deck... Toth or Marseilles. Talking about tattoos...is there anyone there who believes in magical meanings of tattoos or sees them in another concept, not just like an aesthetic thing?

LittleWing	05 Jul 2003
the thing is ....... you are likley to change your mind about the cards relvance to you in your lifetime?? no?? i've had many special cards ..... for example the fool was always 'my' card ....... but now it feels like a lesson learned rather than something special to me. i suppose using the artwork for inspiration is a good idea though.

SingingTarot	05 Jul 2003
I think I would stick to a card with a "positive" meaning for a tattoo. It seems to me that since I am wearing this image on my body for the rest of my life, I would want something uplifting or inspiring. No bloody skull or "momma" for me. I would probably go for Strength, The Star, Temperance or such. I think I would not quite get the actual card but probably redesign it keeping all the symbols (or actually have someone do it for me since I can't draw for the life of me). *longing for another tattoo* If it didn't hurt so bad, I'd be covered in tattoos ;) Alice

Sulis	05 Jul 2003
My husband is about to have The Hermit from the Light and Sadow Tarot tattooed on his leg. I reckon it`ll look lovely. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Ruby Red Slippers	05 Jul 2003
The hermit from the Cosmic tarot is awesome....BUT...... I'm to chicken to have a tattoo....:D Of course, if I wasn't, I'd have already had the ruby red slippers somewhere on my body :) Ruby Red Slippers

Rhiannon	05 Jul 2003
I've discussed this before too, but I LOVE tattoos! So I'm still waiting to see what I'll get next. It may be a tarot card. Inana and LittleWing, I think the time has to be right to get a tattoo. I can't imagine just walking into a tattoo parlor and pointing to something on the wall and saying, "Give me that one!" It has to mean something. It has to reflect a lesson in my life that I want to remember that I've learned. They are sort of like capturing moments in time and immortalizing them. So, even if the Fool doesn't mean as much to you as it did a year ago, you will look at that mark on your skin and be able to remember the lesson you learned with pride and a sense of accomplishment. And you can have them altered or covered up too, sometimes. I'm seriously considering Reiki symbols as my next tattoos... R :)

cricket	05 Jul 2003
I'm considering getting the sun as my next one, though I have no idea where it's going to go. Yet. Does anybody know if faunabay ever got hers done?

Rhiannon	05 Jul 2003
Cricket! You should definitely put the Sun on the "Moon", of course! }) R :)

jlbvt	05 Jul 2003
I've got a pretty cool lion with the moon rising behind him. he is standing with his front paws on a boulder, teeth exposed in what looks like a menacing growl. I like to think of it as strength combined with the moon, although I wasn't really learning tarot yet when I got it.

cricket	05 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon Cricket! You should definitely put the Sun on the "Moon", of course! }) R :) Will you get out of my mind? That's exactly what I was thinking when I posted that.:D})

Rhiannon	05 Jul 2003
I knowed that cuz I'm psycho! }) :D R :)

Cerulean	05 Jul 2003
is very pretty...some people get 'temporary' tattoos in the form of stickers. Maybe for a costume party you can ink a symbol on a sticky-back clear plastic and then if it's not too tacky, press it on your ankle or wrist. http://www.tarotpassages.com/a2.jpg I also like the little detail on the Moon card where the crab is hanging by the Moon. That beautiful henna-decorated hand for the Ace of Pentacles keeps haunting me on the Aeclectic II deck. What a pretty idea--that is, if it's not for keeps.

Inana	06 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon Inana and LittleWing, I think the time has to be right to get a tattoo. I can't imagine just walking into a tattoo parlor and pointing to something on the wall and saying, "Give me that one!" It has to mean something. It has to reflect a lesson in my life that I want to remember that I've learned. They are sort of like capturing moments in time and immortalizing them. So, even if the Fool doesn't mean as much to you as it did a year ago, you will look at that mark on your skin and be able to remember the lesson you learned with pride and a sense of accomplishment. And you can have them altered or covered up too, sometimes. Thats the point. If i wear a tattoo it has to mean something to me, an my mind changes with the time. Thats why still i dont have one... Always thinking "what if i dont like it later"? Never thought before in seeing it like an accomplished lesson. But is a good point. In fact its true, its a symbol of something important on a certain stage of your life. Well... i will wear one when i finish the design and find myself ready to go for it. :)

Le_Corsair	06 Jul 2003
Remember what Jimmy Buffett called a tattoo: A permanent reminder of a temporary feeling! Bob :THERM :WL :CL :OL :SL

jlbvt	06 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Inana Thats the point. If i wear a tattoo it has to mean something to me, an my mind changes with the time. Thats why still i dont have one... Always thinking "what if i dont like it later"? Never thought before in seeing it like an accomplished lesson. But is a good point. In fact its true, its a symbol of something important on a certain stage of your life. Well... i will wear one when i finish the design and find myself ready to go for it. :) Get something that has meant something to you all your life- I originally got the lion because I am a Leo. I was looking for either a Lion or a Dragon when I was ready for my tatoo. (I am a fire dragon in the Chinese zodiac) It took months of looking through the images in every tatoo shop I could find before I came to one that I REALLY liked. I got it on my back, so most of the time it's covered and sometimes even I forget about it. JOAN

Inana	07 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jlbvt Get something that has meant something to you all your life- I originally got the lion because I am a Leo. I was looking for either a Lion or a Dragon when I was ready for my tatoo. (I am a fire dragon in the Chinese zodiac) It took months of looking through the images in every tatoo shop I could find before I came to one that I REALLY liked. I got it on my back, so most of the time it's covered and sometimes even I forget about it. JOAN What im designing is something involving an egyptian eye (always have felt attraction for this symbol) and the rest some kind of tribals making the shape of a phoenix. Hope it will make sense if not for all my life at least for a long time. Sounds nice with the lion and dragon.

Baneemy	07 Jul 2003
I'm not a tattoo person myself, but I have a friend who had himself very extensively tattooed to look like the Devil from the Tarot de Marseille (face on belly, eyeballs on kneecaps, etc.). People always do a double-take when they see him shirtless or in shorts. Actually, I just made that up -- but it would be pretty cool, no? And does anyone remember that old "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip where Calvin's having his picture taken at school, so he paints a face on his stomach and uses crisco to mold his hair into a pair of horns? Clearly inspired by Le Diable. -Baneemy

Celtic_Dragon	07 Jul 2003
you know I've never really thought of tarot as a tattoo before. But now that I think about it I've got a pair of dragons on my back which could inadvertantly be the lovers in either dragons tarot or celtic dragon tarot. But I'm going to "not and say I did", because I've never really liked the lover's card in any of my decks, or those I've seen. But if I actually considered and purposly put a card on my body it'd have to be either the princess of wands (faery wicca deck) or the hermit from one of our member's creations. oh I forget I'll edit this later...... ~ ah, the hermit from the soul radiance deck by spunch. It's everything I've thought the hermit to be, or at least how it's been described to me. Not to mention it's my personality card so I have a pretty good feeling on what it's like.

Kitty	07 Jul 2003
Hi everyone - its been some time for me on the forum - glad to be back... What a great thread! I have been considering a cat tattoo for a long time now - still haven't got it done - might go do it soon though! Now if I was to get a tarot tattoo? hmmm its hard as different cards are important to me a different times in my life. So maybe the Queen of Wands? so I can have my kitty with me!

Tallarico	09 Jul 2003
Currently, I am having the :T3S from the Sacred Rose Deck drawn up for me by a tattoo artist. It is going to go on my right arm capping off to the shoulder. I cannot wait! Also love the :TAS from that deck.

Chronata	10 Jul 2003
I decided that the only way I would get a tattoo(since I'm not big on pain...) is to celebrate some big victory, or life-changing thing. And now, I have one comming up! I am (very soon, I hope!) going to get my Driver's Licence! Which may not seem like a big deal...but I have never really driven before, and I have just turned (the chronolgical age of) 34! So, to celebrate, I was considering a tattoo of a wheel, (to represent the driving thing...) Ah...but I was just thinking how absolutely appropriate it would be to have a Wheel of Fortune! (especially for me!) Now I just have to find one from a deck that I really like!

Blue Override	10 Jul 2003
I've always wanted the 2 of Discs from the Thoth deck somewhere on my back. . .

catti	16 Jul 2003
[quote]Originally posted by SharonElizabeth [b] I once saw someone who had the rider waite three of swords tattooed on her ankle. I knew a girl who had it on her right arm, she always complained about bad luck in love I always thought Hmmmm maybe a rainbow or something might help...

The ~ Tarot tattoos thread was originally posted on 04 Jul 2003 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.