Do your tatoos mean something?

jester77

I've always wanted to get a tatoo but I don't want to get one just for the sake of getting one. I would like to get one that meant something or represented my personality in some way.

Is it the same for you guys? And how did you go about finding your tatoo?
I know some do it for the love of the art and I repect that.
Others get it because they think it looks cool which I personally find stupid.

Fantasy_Suicide

Mine mean nothing other that 'Huh, I think that'd be cool'

I like random.

And it's not stupid. Mine all look mega awesome. And I love them. they are complete random things that I gave a week's thought into, tops and I have no regrets. And never will. I used to think the same thing, but, as you can see, I changed my mind.

Gillie

I have a picture of a Bull on one arm and a Scorpion on the other.
People ask if its something to do with Starsigns but its not. Just repesents my personality.

Also have my Wifes name done and will be getting by Daughter's name done also.

Owen

One of mine, the largest, means something to me. It means I shouldn't have drunk a coal bucket full of Whiskey in Bangkok at 2am and staggered into the Tattoo parlour at 4am. No recollection of it at all other than the photos on my phone.

jester77

Fantasy_Suicide wrote:

And it's not stupid. Mine all look mega awesome. And I love them. they are complete random things that I gave a week's thought into, tops and I have no regrets. And never will. I used to think the same thing, but, as you can see, I changed my mind.

Well, the reason I think some are stupid is I've seen alot of people with tatoos just for the sake of looking cool. Over here every 2nd girl is going round with the "hairdresser tatoo", or that's how it translates. They all think it looks cool, but I find it doesn't. Although nothing comes close to a lad I know who got a Nike swoosh on his shoulder!

You sound more like someone who appreciates it because of the art and like I said I respect that! I would love to get a sleeve but at the moment I don't know where to start but once I do I'll probably end up like you and getting lots of them, lol

Will

hairdresser tatoo
like one at the base of your back or something?

Fantasy_Suicide

Or on your shoulder, I assume.

jester77 wrote:

Well, the reason I think some are stupid is I've seen alot of people with tatoos just for the sake of looking cool. Over here every 2nd girl is going round with the "hairdresser tatoo", or that's how it translates. They all think it looks cool, but I find it doesn't. Although nothing comes close to a lad I know who got a Nike swoosh on his shoulder!

You sound more like someone who appreciates it because of the art and like I said I respect that! I would love to get a sleeve but at the moment I don't know where to start but once I do I'll probably end up like you and getting lots of them, lol

Yeah, that's true. i like the art side too. I guess you're right. I don't get inked to be 'cool' like alot of other idiots out there. 'I want a tattoo but I dunno wha' sorta job. I like my mods, so yeah. I guess it's the individuality side that drives me.

My sleeve is gunna be a huge pokemon one, as soon as my boy gets drawing!!

jester77

Wilburt wrote:

hairdresser tatoo
like one at the base of your back or something?

yep, that would be them. They all more or less look the same and are awful!

madson

i have three and none of them have any real meaning.

aoife2k

my 1st one is for my dad...the celtic tree of life...tree grows, leaves fall off die but help the tree to grow and the process starts over again...

2nd one was a random thought one saturday mornin in derry. its a star and some people think i got it done cuz ya no, stars, emo, all that but it's not. got the idea from the star above the celtic crest on the jersey (which i'm passionate about) and friendship.

The_Scary_Man

All of mine bar the first one were done at periods in my life when I was going through some big change and they all reflect a new beginning for me.

I have a celtic pheonix (re-birth) a large sun (aztec sacrificial symbol but also life giver), 'This Too Will Pass' in Arabic on my wrist (from a Sufi parable) and the one I'm getting next week (Woohoo!) which is a Sanskrit representation of the Ultimate Reality (Saccidananda).

I'm planning on getting a lotus and a Tibetan Buddhist mantra up the side of my torso later on in the year, as soon as I can get the money together. This will represent my own efforts to be more compassionate to myself and others.

petes

jester77 wrote:

yep, that would be them. They all more or less look the same and are awful!

Tramp stamp.

I have two and neither mean anythiing to me. I just like them.

garthv

It took me nearly two years to decide what tattoo I wanted. I was never a big fan of tattoos. I loved them on other people but never thought I would get one myself.

Then I came across a chap by the name of Alex Gray. He does all the cover art and microcosm art for the majority of TooL albums and with me being a huge tool fan, I knew a piece of his work was for me.

I love all his art pieces and I love TooL so I decided to go for a circle of eyes done by Alex. I havent looked back since!

Zapp Brannigan

My two mean something to me. I wouldn't get them otherwise.

mcauley

ned78 wrote:

One of mine means I shouldn't have drunk a coal bucket full of Whiskey in Bangkok at 2am and staggered into the Tattoo parlour at 4am. No recollection of it at all other than the photos on my phone.

Legend!

mcauley

To the OP, You may want to do some research into tattoo's before getting one for yourself....

Learning how to spell the word would be a good start

McFearless

My First piece,on my leg wont really mean anything,its all polynesian.Ive never really thought of a tattoo as a representaion of some part of my like,who knows though,that could change.....

Attol

I was brought up on Led Zep. Ever since I was a kid I've been listening to em. In school I'd draw the 4 symbols all over my books and one year I spent hours drawing them out on an A4 page each. I had always thought I'd be too fickle to get a tattoo so dismissed them thinking I'd never find somethingl I'd like forever. After having way too much time on my hands I realised I love the Zoso symbol and decided to get that done. 2 days later it was on my shoulder. I've only had it 2 days now but I couldn't be happier with my decision. I think it suits me. There's no deeper meaning to it other than I love Led Zep and I think it's a funky design and that having too much time on your hands can lead to unexpected decisions.

Crumble Froo

since the age of about 12 ive had this almost obsession with stars, and spent about 6 years drawing them on copies, books, my hand, my wrist, dust... they kinda came to have meaning attached to them, i went through a pretty rough and ****ed up time during my teens and i used to draw three stars in a specific design, initially interlocking,but later with a sort of exact space and sense of fitting together, but not *quite*... perfection in their imperfection, they came to represent hope, happiness and the future. id said since about age 14 that id get them tattood on my left wrist one day, to remind me of the times id spent dreaming of something better, of a life i *could* have one day...

so when i was 18 and moved out from home properly and could afford rent and bills nad **** (somewhat minimally, but that wasnt the point), i splashed out and got the tattoo. it's really significant to me, though most people wouldnt guess how much unless they asked (or knew me from the days when i was drawing them everywehre and would draw them after signing my name)...

working on another huge lifechanging representative one at the mo, a polar bear, title of a song that represents a huge change in my life... when i learnt to have confidence in myself, to get past all the huge issues in my life and come through in one piece, that i had support in doing this... it's a song whose lyrics my (now) boyfriend used to post on a board we were on a lot, and it meant a lot to me, and picked me up a lot as id read the lyrics. as it happens, the first two verses i associate with that having faith in myself and that..and initially they were the important verses to me... and the third verse is a love type one.. love, longing to be with that certain someone, offering them help and support and freedom, and as my relationship developed with my guy, that verse became more important to me...

so im getting the image of the title of the song tattoed onto me, with the first line of the first two verses (they both start on teh same line) written in an arch above the image in my handwriting, and the first line of the third verse written in my fella's handwriting :cool:

robs666

thats pretty cool!!! definately means something to you which is better than random pointless stuff...

Crumble Froo

oh, and forgot to mention, will be getting second one done in nz, as im moving there to be with my fella pretty soon (see sig:D )

dazftw

Ive 2 and they both meaning something! Ive been skateboarding about 6 years this summer and its just been something that I could always do and never get bored of and I dont plan on stopping!

So my two tattoos are about skateboarding, I want to get more all to do with things in my life I love or have been doing a long time like photography or computers lol

I lack drawing skills so its been awhile since my last one, if I could draw... jaysus lol

Crumble Froo

yeah, i wish so much i could draw the designs and stuffs in my head...

that said, i think my wallet's happier that i cant...:rolleyes:

dazftw

narco wrote:

yeah, i wish so much i could draw the designs and stuffs in my head...

that said, i think my wallet's happier that i cant...:rolleyes:

Yeah tattoos are expensive alright.. Then again you don't mind spending money on them

Crumble Froo

speak for yourself. im living on 12c noodles, a pan of bread fora week and tea at the moment

im horribly horribly broke and my nz fund, which includes money for my next tattoo is slowly dwindling away

Reku

Fantasy_Suicide wrote:

My sleeve is gunna be a huge pokemon one, as soon as my boy gets drawing!!

Well I doubt anyone would ever get a pokémon tattoo to seem cool so I think it's a safe bet that you have the sense to be your own person and not just one of the mindless masses.;)

I've 5; 4 are symbols that I just know (kinda complicated and very long winded story) but are definitely me, 5th is a song lyric which just sums me up in a way I could never articulate.
My family are only aware of some of them, but the simple fact that even my mum (of all people! She hates tattoos.) is actually ok with, & has even admitted to liking, the first two I got just confirms that it's not some tasteless piece of crap picked out of a book.
Since they're all custom work I also don't have to worry about coming across someone with the same ones (since the last one was done in UV ink it's even less likely), or if I do at least I'll know that they probably didn't just pick it from a catalogue.

spinandscribble

i always had a thing for stars. they reminded me of the better side of growing up, the carebears and even my twin sister whose name means star in turkish which i always found interesting. it just became a thing that reminded me im always a kid inside so i decided to get a star. it wasnt a flash even if it was a simple star but a zappy star is the only way of describing it. its on my foot which apart from being a place i find attractive, its also represents the amount of time i spent growing up with bare feet.

my next tattoo i had planned was meant to be about my family, home and the luck we need. which was why i was going to have honeysuckle, swallows and a ladybug across my ribs. i had it all planned but have now decided not to since it was going to be very large and althought i love large statement pieces i dont think i'd be happy with it in 50 years.

now i've had a henna tattoo on my wrist for a week and love the place so im thinking of getting a swallow there to represent home since i've have a tough few years with not feeling like anyways home anymore and dealing with depression for a year and i want to put it behind me with a constant reminder that "home" is me.

rain on

mine are mainly to do with family, friends and personal strength.. y'know all that trite stuff
my grandfather was a semi-famous artist and my first tattoo was of a sculpture by him. my second was a matching one with my best friend, third was to celebrate surviving a really horrible phase in my life, fourth was a complementary piece to the second, and fifth is part of Shelley Jackson's Ineradicable Stain project. next one will most likely be to do with TS Eliot, and I might get another of my grandfather's pieces done too because it's his centenary this year.

porn_star

two don't mean really have any specific meaning at all, but the thing I like about it is I can pretty much pin point and remember exactly what was going on around the time I got them, so in turn they have something attached to them that way.. but the actual tattoos themselves weren't done to have any specific meaning.
The third one I have was designed with meaning and took a while, but was done for the whole art side of it aswell.

amazingemmet

Just got reminded last time I replied to one of these threads I got Pm off some people wanting to interview me about my replies, Odd eh?

Star Lord

My tattoo, and indeed my second one, both mean a lot to me, as the qualities associated with the creatures are reflective to me of what I've come through i the past, health wise and my life in general.

Steve_o

I have a dragon tattoo on my leg, it doesn't mean a huge amount, i just love the design!!!

-TK^Creator

my friend got his idea of a tattoo off a chinese porn site from some lady's leg. I think it's to remind him of his love for the asians but its a great converastion starter for finding out he got it off some pornstarlet. But he gets very annoyed when i said it looks like a compass from one of those nautical maps

Gauge

I'm designing my tats right now and I'm going to get them because they look kickass.

edibility

Gauge wrote:

I'm designing my tats right now and I'm going to get them because they look kickass.

I have three different pieces and for that exact reason.

WalkswithDeath

jester77 wrote: »

I've always wanted to get a tattoo but I don't want to get one just for the sake of getting one. I would like to get one that meant something or represented my personality in some way.

Is it the same for you guys? And how did you go about finding your tattoo?

all my tattoos mean something to me
you can do what i did sit down think about what you like it could be a pic from a book u read or draw it your self or get some one to draw it for you.

then a lest you know no-one else has the same tattoo as u . yours is unique to you

marti101

Anyone got any ideas for a tattoo ive just had my 3rd son and wanted to get something to represent each of them .Normally i wouldnt ask but im really stuck as my other tattoos are all different so i dont follow one type of tattoo

Crumble Froo

maybe wait a little while, until his distinct personality begins to emerge, or you have a particularly strong association of him with something you can put into picture form, be it music, animals, whatever. alternatively, his name written prettily.

chin_grin

I've got two in total on both calves. One is a fleur de lys (don't laugh! ) I chose this as a result of the music I love (Crowbar, Down, southern metal) and yes I did a lot of research as to what it meant before I got it. (A French criminal? Moi?!)

The second was as a result of the tattooist not being able to do a full line curve so we compromised with a celtic-tribal piece. I originally wanted something like the spirals at Newgrange (the summer and winter solstices have a certain place in my heart as it's my anniversary with my better half).

Dave!

Think I'm gonna get inked for the first time this summer Gonna get one that just looks good (probs something like barbed wire around my arm...), and then thinking of getting a devil and angel type thing to represent my conscience Gonna get them real small and at the top of my back/near my neck. That has a bit more meaning, but I suppose ultimately it doesn't mean alot!

JangoFett

I have 3 tattoos

1st one is a band of stars around my left wrist, got it done the day before my leaving cert, but I'm right handed so its cool. I'm obsessed with stars and travelling and they're nautical stars, 4 of them, red, yellow, blue and green.

2nd one is a compass I got off a map drawn by Galileo, again with the travel but also its about sticking to what I know is right and being myself, and my brother has a Galileo compass on his right wrist as well

3rd one is Superman, probably get a lot of slack for this. Its cool, ge's in sihouette except for the crest, cape, belt and part of his boots with the sun behind him. First of all, I'm a huge comic book nerd and also he's a huge symbol of hope, he stands for a lot of good. Even though he's an Alien he strives to be as human as he can despite his powers. He tries to portray his morals as what humans should be, and I like that

I have loads more planned!

TestTransmission

I like to think that my tattoos are there to remind me of a time/achievement/moment in my life rather than have something that visually depicts something important to me.

Kastro

as fantasy suicide said, mine are all random, i have a few that have meaning, one is "bun" on my knee. a friend of mine died 3 years ago, his nickname was bunny.. bun-knee.
other than that ive always had a mad obsession about skulls and bones, so on my left leg i currentally have 23 skulls all ranging in size.. they were started by rochie in wildcat years ago before his apprenticeship ive since had them fixed, then ive got a garden shed tattooed on my leg, as do 2 other fellas in the shop where i work (Swineline Tattoo Waterford)

the sheds mean nothing really.. they have a scroll over them saying "tick****ers" its a bit of a in joke in the shop but it actually started over a tommy tiernan thing and exploded from there.

im planning my next one, a very good friend passed away at xmas, his nickname was the hippy. so im getting a large celtic knotwork "E" on my hip.. hip-e and im going to have the newgrange triscroll behind it, in total its going to be about 12 inches or so.. they are the only ones ive ever really thought about, other than that ive got a load of stuff.. its not a case of what will i get where, its a case of, its quite in the shop.. ya wanna tattoo me??

Quality

My favourite tatoo with the most meaning to me are the stars on my back(four in total), One for my husband, my two kids and one for me. It needs to be updated at the end of the year though, One for the new baby and a fallen star for the baby I lost last year...

Have to think of a nice design for the fallen one...

aido182

Hi all,

My first tattoo didnt really mean much, its just a small random tribal.
My second though, is for my kids. I wanted something a bit different for them so I went for their Celtic birth signs. Took a while to get what I wanted but it was worth the wait.

miss enzo

some of mine do
i have my mothers name in jap on my hip and a chinese symbol for mother on my stomach (in memory of)

i have a horse on my back to remimd me of my time workin in the US and of the course i did at uni (equine science!)

all my others (fairy, stars, barcode with name and dob all just cause i liked them!)

my next one will be to commemerate (sp) my mothers side of family as there is no living members left.

Jimmy Trigger

if mine dont mean something im ****ed.
Im destroyed.

Alot of thought i think shud be put into em, but that mite be just me.
I like knowing why its there, otherwise theres no point for me anyway.

Every1 is different i guess.

Jabcity

jester77 wrote: »

yep, that would be them. They all more or less look the same and are awful!

haha round here they're called tramp stamps, common as muck, imagine in 30 years there will be a clan of old women with the same tattoos over their craics. ridiculous

My own tattoo, a skull on my back, is a sketch by my fave artist, Luis Royo, i found on the net, had been looking for something by him for a long time. Loved his stuff for as long as I can remember, so i guess it means somethin

Reku

Well I'm up 2 tattoos since my last post in this thread so since I now have 3 text ones it'd be a little worrying if they didn't mean anything to me, I mean who'd be silly enough to get txtspk (i.e. meaningless gibberish:p) tattoos?

Jabcity

have to say i really dont understand the chinese symbol fad. why wud someone who isnt chinese or have any ties to chinese culture get something like that, isnt it sort of mocking ur own heritage? just dnt get it at all meself!

wheresmysheep

Yeah my collection so far each has its own meaning, all very personal and such:)
But with the stuff I'm considering theres not much meaning in them, but I may not get them and end up getting something else