~ Tattoos ~

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kayne	10 Apr 2002
I am stealing All Is One's thunder here and starting this thread :p I'm really interested too!!! All Is One asked the following questions... Quote: Would you ever get a tattoo? Or do you have any? General Q for all? And if you did, would you use tarot design motifs? I have been thinking of getting a tattoo for ages and I think I have come up with what I want... but then I change my mind again... Hmmm... I think perhaps the Southern Cross on my shoulder blade is what I'll get... kinda' like an Aussie signature before travelling overseas :D

lunalafey	10 Apr 2002
It was a long time coming, but I JUST got mine. I knew what I wanted it to be, but I was not sure where, it just wasn't right. The design evolved, but still, where ? Through a series of events that started several years ago, it suddenly came to me. Again the design evolved, because it had to fit where it was going to go! DONE DEAL...

kayne	10 Apr 2002
Oh! Don't tease us all like that! What was the design and where did it go??? ;)

aeonx	10 Apr 2002
I've always wanted a tattoo, and I spent three years trying to draw it. Then one day, I sat down, and the second the pen touched the paper, I knew this was going to be it. I would have scanned it, but as always, our 'technical' stuff at home don't work... Anyway, the tattoo is not a image of something specific, it's lines going here and there. *l* Wow, what a good explanation... I would not get a tattoo that I hadn't made myself. It's too personal and special. The tattoo I'm planning on having, is going to be on my right upper arm/shoulder.

lunalafey	10 Apr 2002
Just like aeonx, I was suddenly inspired after many years, and on an arm, the left. Here is a poem that I just wrote yesterday about it. Little Lovely Dragon wrapped around my arm And even though you're new it's like you've been there all along Only five days since your birth You've begun to shed your skin peeling off the layer just like your lizard kin.

aeonx	10 Apr 2002
lunalafey: *l* That's a really cute and funny poem! Really liked it! :D

Pollux	10 Apr 2002
I really want a tattoo... I have always wanted one of those Celtic-bands tattoos (that's whow they're called here...), looking like an armlet, circling all around your arm, you understand? I haven't found a pattern I like enough yet... Maybe a geometric one, but I would also have the serpent eating its tail in it, and I want it composed of little tiny symbols and things, like a chalice and a cauldron inside, and a sword, and a howl, a wolf... and as borders some tribal lines... Maybe I'll just have to sit and design it for myself! ;) I will surely have it done... but not before I fly the nest, and get a shelter from my parents! :p I also think I'd love to have a piercing. I'm also interested in the physical effect of tattoos and piercing. I hear you sort of get more resistent to pain - I'll be a doctor, so I want to know! :) Some on the lobe of the Ear (both of them? Who knows...), and one of those on the eyebrow... *Pollux keeps fancying...*

Rhiannon	10 Apr 2002
Here's a link to an old thread where we talked about this exact subject: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=1453&highlight=tattoo Just in case anyone wants to check that out. I have one tattoo that I designed myself and finally got when I was 19. It's on my right shoulder blade and is about the size of a tennis ball.... It is a heart made out of the stem of a rose (it has thorns) and it has an opened red rose on one side and a yellow bud on the other. I used to have my nickname in the center, but I had that filled in last year so now the center of the heart looks like a cloudy sky. I have thought about getting a tattoo of a card. Still thinking about it. I'm still a bit concerned about the energies of the card I would choose. I'm also thinking of getting tattoos of my totem animals. *sigh* Tattoos are like tarot decks, one just isn't enough. Rhiannon :)

Kaz	10 Apr 2002
i have two, actually 3, tattoos. two butterflies on my leftshoulderblade, i designed those myself and i don't have them on paper anymore, so no scanning possible. they are flying in a dancing way, and their colors are opposite in the colorcircle. like yellow in the left one is purple in the right, etc. and i have a, what pollux calls a celtic band around my right upperarm, designed that myself as well. dunno if i can scan that, i'll try to keep my arm on the scanner and operate the pc at the same time... kaz

Pollux	10 Apr 2002
Oh PLease Kaz do!!! I want to see that... I want to see how it looks... LOL

Liliana	10 Apr 2002
I want at least 3 tattoos, probably more, but Im too poor for them :) I want a yellow rose on my wrist (painful hehe) A full color tree of life on my hip (expensive) and and anklet tattooof flowers and ivy Might consider the high priestess card, the queen of cups card, spirit animals, angels, animal guides, or something my mother designs for me, maybeI should become one of those entire body covered tattoo freaks lol, but if i did that i would like to cover myself in ivy and become the green woman lol, im not gutsy enough for that :) My husband has 2 tattoos, one of a wizard on his right arm and one i bought him while we were dating of a cross with a smaller cross and 2 black roses and an inri scroll on his left.

Kiama	10 Apr 2002
Although I love artwork, I don't think I'd get a Tattoo. I wonder what it'll look like when I'm 70, and my skin's all saggy and wrinkly? I'm also too much of a wimp! Kiama

Dragonfly	10 Apr 2002
I have always want one but not sure what to get and have to put it in a good hinding place. I like the idea of the tree of life on the small of my back. And maybe a small dragon under the tree.

Melvis	10 Apr 2002
I've always wanted one too, but I'm a big wuss...what's the least painful place to get one? I hope it's not the small of the back, because if I'm permanently altering my body, I want to be able to see it myself! ;) My ideal design? A celtic-style sun design around my belly button. :D I might also put a hint of a lion's head in it, so my Leo nature can shine! Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

mystic	11 Apr 2002
nice melvis......interesting. I got mine about 7 years ago and have never regretted it. Took a while to figure out what I wanted but once I did never looked back...... PS. It only hurts for a few minutes......(like 60) :-)) The dragon is on my left shoulder. It's about 5 inches head to tail......

cricket	11 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Melvis. what's the least painful place to get one? I hope it's not the small of the back, Ack! No! *LOL* The small of your back has LOTS of nerve endings, and would be rather painful. Anywhere over bones, or the creases between muscles hurts more than anywhere else (well, it did on me anyway), so actually on top of the muscle is the least painful.

.dc	11 Apr 2002
hehe, the one i got behind my right ear wasn't too painful. at all. it was a bit straining on my muscles because the artist had put a lot of his weight on my head/neck. then again, i am deaf in my right ear so i cannot hear or feel too much from that region. btw, i have a small dragon sitting there. blessed be, .dc

joya250	11 Apr 2002
hi. I have a wolf (just her face) on the small of my back, about 2.5 - 3 inches (depending how I'm sitting) now... I'm a wimp with pain... and this wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Melvis, there are charts out there showing you the most painful spots on the body. I can't remember off the top of my head where the small of the back was, but I want to say it was of the lesser painful areas - if not the least painful. I will try and find the chart for you and post it..... the only downfall about Wolf is that I can't ever see her!!! I forget she is there. Recently, for the past year, I've been wanting to get a small dragon.... thinking about on my hip bone area.... but I'm not too sure... I didn't want to throw off the symmetry of the single wolf... also, didn't want the animals to compete against each other. I dunno though.... a small little dragon on my body would be "kewl" (as .dc would say!) btw, I would love to see your dragon dc -- do you have any pictures? the other place I want a tattoo is on my foot, or rather lower ankle, right near that protruding bone thing -- but I heard this is MUCHO painful.... y no me gusta pain.

All Is One	12 Apr 2002
I just now found this thread, and Kayne- my long lost other half- how did you elude my grasp for all these years??? OK< my evil twin...the gathering is yours, and I'll catch the rest- but I saw your mischievious smile and I feel I can tell you this: I'd share thunder, skyblue pink. and frosted twinkies w/ salsa... anything you want, as long as you will always jump in and back me up for Rock Lobster (and a super terrifying Cher imitation, becuz I sometimes NEED to do it... ) so when I break into a thread singing "Dark Lady" (the absolute cheesiest Cher song I can coax out of my tired brain...would I do it? Just gimme a pinkie swear (that's a blood oath on my planet, Kayne, so think twice) that you'll be there in full white Cher indian feather headdress (to the floor) right next to me...we can work up to- I Got You, Babe... (I'll take the short persons part?) ME

kayne	12 Apr 2002
LOLOLOLOLOL Oh! All Is One: I am crying - I am laughing so much!!! LOLOLOLOL Oh :D :D :D So... ummmm... and waht does this have to do with tattoos??? (Just bringing us back on thread :p )

All Is One	12 Apr 2002
Well Kayne, since we are opening up like this ( my evil satellite!) I was trying to subtly work up to the idea of Cher ........... as your next tattoo! C'mon...? I will not do Sonny, but I would see you on the Cher and raise you a - HUGE motif of later day saint- Elvis? Love you, and I'm ready for the MAN...pick the spot (I trust ya) me

kayne	12 Apr 2002
You know All Is One... Sorry to break down steriotypes here... but I am really not a Cher fan... Too young I think... Perhaps a Meatloaf tattoo, somewhere that only a lover would see might be a good one for you! LOLOLOLOL :p

All Is One	16 Apr 2002
It's true- I'm finally back to the computer, and it's now moved to my own apartment, so I can enjoy the whole thing at once. I was not serious about tattooing Cher or Elvis on anybody- some of the brand names and cartoon pieces of flash work people wear so proudly just don't make sense to me. One reason I asked about other folks on the site's tattoo's was because I think the study of tarot helps broaden the understanding in all areas, and I would be very surprised to hear that a number of you all had various designs prominantly featuring the words "Harley Davidson" (LOL) (Nothing against the bikes, but why be a billboard on legs?) Kayne- let me clarify: the new and plastique (or embalmed...IMHO) version of Cher is not even real to me. I am a huge fan from her very early days when her teeth were crooked and nose large, and she was cool. There you go, I'm a stereotype of a kid who grew up watching her show, and ironing her hair. BTW- she had all her tattoos lasered off and I can't imagine the kind of scarring that must leave for tattoos as huge as she had (they were great designs, too) Alison

january	16 Apr 2002
Mine is all black and sits on top of my butt -right below the hip-hugger jeans line, so its pretty well-hidden. Its the Chinese character for the I-Ching trigram "Grace". I want another one, though. Maybe on the back of my neck.... or around my ankle. I used to want a flower around my belly button but I feared what it would look like if I ever became pregnant :) So I got it pierced instead... ~ january

All Is One	17 Apr 2002
I see that on the people passing by, the spots that often look most attractive w/a tattoo are the back of the neck and MOST of all, the low point over rear end. I wish I could picture myself with my current overdose of ink and those spots too. I want to do those, and if I ever come up with the subtle design I'd need, that is the two places for them. Wish I had thought of this earlier, but I always was a sucker for the bold and obvious over-the-top type of stuff... }) Alison

suzyspellbound	17 Apr 2002
I have a tiny one on my back, I got it two years ago as soon as I turned 18 (legal to get one here) its of four little stars in purple, blue and pink. It quite a bit for me and took about 15mins to do. I have a sad story attatched to it though as the two friends I went with (we all got tats) are now no longer my friends as we fell out in a really horrible way! I love my tat I think its cute, distinctive and sexy as its on my back low down. But I wish it didn't have such a bad memory attatched to it now!

All Is One	17 Apr 2002
susiespellbound: I think it's much more important that you chose to mark a permanent and graceful design in a place where you and prob most people think is beautiful and sexy, than the old and lost ties to the people mentioned. But, if you wanted to remove that "link" from the art you have, how 'bout adding a spiral of a cosmic star/ universe kind of theme or another type of border/ embellishment, or you could add a symbol w/in the stars of anything absolutely and only relating to you and your soul...sym of astrological or chinese characters, you must like ink in general, so I'm sure you will enjoy trying out tattoo shopping. I call it that when I visit new shops and discuss additions to my own tattoos- I respect their time, and usually they are bored, waiting for clients, and excited to draw up a new eye for my snake arm band, sometimes they are "too cool" and that's OK, but I've had a lot of local work done and it is a gossip mine like a hair salon... it is fun to look at new designs too. :) :)

suzyspellbound	17 Apr 2002
Those are great ideas. Ever since I got it I have been thinking about what my next one would be and where. But I was thinking of adding a 5th star to the design, to represent my fiance in some way. I met this man of my dreams just one one week after I fell out with my two friends. My best friend saw I was blue because of what had happened and took me out to drown my sorrows, it was this night that I met him. It does now in retrospective seam that I may have left those friends behind and the bad feelings that went with them to make room for a new light in my life. I have been thinking for some time now about having a mark to symbolise him, and what you've said has made my mind up. I might get it done in time for our two year aniversery in a couple of months!

All Is One	17 Apr 2002
I'm so happy for you, Suzy. Hope you can zip out and get it done easily...my local artist is always booked or out in some foreign country doing rescue work (Chris is also a paramedic on red cross duties- if there is an earthquake in Mexico next week, some of us in central ca are not gonna get our new ink yet.) If you can get a digital or scanned photo of your current design and post it on here, I'm sure there are lots of people who would love to suggest ideas for your alterations. I posted a picture of my largest tattoo on the thread I started earlier- it's under Chat and is called Tattoos and Tarot...I think (hard to remember- even I like Kayne's thread better... (Why would that be, I wonder?) (Suzyspellbound is a cool name, it should have been a character in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks")

suzyspellbound	18 Apr 2002
Thank you , your name is cool too! It makes a statement! My tat is small so it will be easy to add too, whether that is extra stars or a border or symbols. I've got a friend who is going out with a tatoo artist, actually they are getting married in Tailand this year! wow! So, yeah it shouldn't be a problem getting it done if I decide what I want soon. Yeah I remember looking at your snake on the other thread and my first reaction was owch! I don't no if I could handle getting one that big im a bit of a wus and I have a very low pain threshold. It's amazing though! It looks really neat and detailed and it looks clean and sharpe, just like a real snake!

cricket	18 Apr 2002
This is the second one I got, a tribal dragon... got turned around somehow. It's on my right thigh.

All Is One	24 Apr 2002
I took some time off from the computer, so I didn't keep up to date. . . . Cricket- I think that thigh piece is perfect. I can't remember where you live but here in California, esp. the sort of culturally confused central coast, everyone seems to get generic ink designs in the same places....I think the thigh piece is something I'd really love to do- a curvy tribal (no color) design if I didn't have the other two on my legs! (Darn my luck- I can't have it ALL, and I hate that) if I can get the digital camera and stuff hooked up tomorrow I'll post my other two tarot tatts- Ace of swrds and a cross w/ entwining circle of barbed wire (stolen/ borrowed / inspired by the back of Thoth deck)...one on outer side of each calf, because I spend alot of time running, so they feel like clothes or an ID or something when all you do is spend so much time in ripped up tank tops and running shorts- Piercing didn't work for me- the navel did not heal well (running may not have helped, plus it bugged me into fits) but I often get passingly serious urges to pierce nose- then I look around and 3 out of 5 females in the state have a nose stud. Quel dilemma.

cricket	24 Apr 2002
Awww... gee thanks! :D I saw that one in the shop I used to go to in Colorado, and thought it would be... different. *L* I'm like you. Don't want something generic and pretty and such in the same old places that everybody else was getting them. And why not get one on your thigh? I have one one the calf and one on the thigh of my left leg, and it doesn't look bad. Then again... look who's talking here. ;) Please do try and gets pics up. I want to seeeeee.... :D Make me jealous, huh?

All Is One	25 Apr 2002
In mid- feeding frenzy trying to buy some tarot decks on Amazon (hey- it helps the site!!!) I saw your reply, and I'll stake you to the claim , as the GoldRush era folk used to say. . . .(don't ask how I know- I know NOTHING- I make it up as I go) C'mon Circket, YOU have two more pieces of art work - you can post the pix and I'll work on it too. . . . .so we aren't actually "showing off" (heeheehhee) If it's a pinky swear kind of issue c'mere-. . .gimme your left pinkie finger. . . Now we are joining our left pinkies together this day to make a pinkie swear- An oathe that fairies, pixies, trolls, dragons (who have no pinkies, natch!) Gnomes, Hobbits and even Gollum would all know is not the kind of thing you'd be wanting to back out of. . .right nasty karmic consequences, don't cha know- If you can find a good reason to back out- I'll never even mention it again! So you and me, Cricket , are gonna really try and post our art on this thread, OK? Anything that means that much to us and cost alot more just dollars they cost a life of committment. {truth is -under my arm for 89 1/2 times -around and around , in 4 hr sessions, hurt so bad I wanted to say "could we just leave it as is- it looks so SUBTLE w/out the rest of it colored in. . . . .} Up to you my friend! {And yes, I am always gonna be jealous because beautiful artitic tattoos are limited to how much coverage you can handle- and I love the design you have (mystic's is great too!) but I can't HAVE it- so I admire it and scheme on a piece to put in lower back or back of neck. . . someday, *sigh*}

Tigerwings	25 Apr 2002
Hey all! Interesting subject happening here! Just gotta add my own ten cents worth! I have been considering a small triple moon symbol at the top of my right boob. However not sure about this, coz 1) it might strech when i have kids, and 2) is it risky to get a spiritual symbol, even if i am very devoted to wicca? like what if i convert to christianity (lol, dont see this happening but you never know!) and then i have to have it removed! Another idea is a small stylised black cat, sitting but kinda looking over its shoulder, with beautiul green eyes just like my cat Ruby. dunno where i would have this tho. My last idea is a vine/leaf design spiralling around mmy ankle, withkinda an elvish feel to it. Ifluenced of course by Tolkiens Elves. I will have to wait a bit longer, whatever i choose to do, coz i am not yet 18 and my P's would NEVER give me permission to do it before then. But thats cool, i am really only fantasisng at this stage. Anyway, I've enjoyed reading about your tattoos or ideas for tatts, and impressed at the number of original designs that have turned up, rather than the boring same old stuff everyone gets. Suzy, your stars sound so cool! -Love Erin

All Is One	25 Apr 2002
This may sound like a silly idea, but I sure wish my first tattoo artists had suggested it to me. . . Use the coloured marking pens- the huge "Marks A Lot" brand are okay for trying tribal, but look out, cause it is really hard to get the heavy black off! Best ones for trying a new shape and location are the large sets of the rather wide tippped , but tons of shades- that come in the sets of 50 and 100 (pricey, but really useful). . .you can also use eye pencils (tattoo artists use the Mabelline black/black - the cheap red ones that are two to a package- this stays on thru showers!) If you feel inspired to get intricate- this tattoo magazine explained how to make a stencil as the actual artist does, and applies to your skin to guide the needle- (a lot of fantastic work is done freehand, but I have had both, and I prefer to see it on me in the outline of what is gonna be there for life, before needle pierces flesh) It will take a bit of practice: get some old-fashioned carbon paper, trace the drawing you have scanned, drawn up or what have you- onto the reverse side (white side) of the carbon- (I've seen this done on me, but not tried it, so there are gaps here- get a doz. pkg. of carbon and test it out, if you get it down, I'd love to hear. . ) After the tracing, you cut it out, leaving an inch or so margin, and hopefully you pressed fairly hard w/ a #2 extra sharp pencil. . . (OOPS- forgot a step here) Place a piece of 20 lb white paper under the carbon. . .then trace or draw- Cut the design from the white paper, position on skin and run a wet sponge over it to transfer to your skin. (the reversal concept is more than I can grasp, and doesn't matter much at the pre- needle point stage) just play w/it! If adding or changing just a small part of the slencil pattern after it has dried on your body, they dip Q-tips in rubbing alcohol, "erase" just the error or delete a section, then repeat and add the replacement w/ a new stencil on to the design as is. . .takes practice- I can tell from watching- and they usually draw out an elaborate final version from my own sorry little sketch, and use a Xerox of it to remove detail enough for the stencil . (Whew-that was a long post-sorry, hope it is useful-) Alison *obviously a total wanna-be Tattoo Artist!!! }) :) *

All Is One	25 Apr 2002
Just noticed your new title. . :)

The ~ Tattoos ~ thread was originally posted on 10 Apr 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.