Tattoos

[NovaStar]

First of all I'd like to apologise - I did find an older thread about tattoos but the forum wouldn't let me reply? That said, it was pretty old

My first tattoo is now a week old (and incredibly itchy).
I believe that tattoos are a very special and deeply personal form of artwork. I've wanted to have one for many years, but didn't, largely due to my concern over what other people (mother, my then-partner, friends etc etc) would think. My recent move towards 'being myself' and not living other people's ideals, meant that I went all-out and finally had my first tattoo at the end of 2011. It's placed at the top, centre of my back and about 8" long.

You can just about make out my design in my avatar; it's a rustic dreamcatcher, with barred feathers (as a nod to one of my beautiful chickens), an oak leaf (a nod to my new path and to nature), a blue butterfly (symbolic to me on many levels - the butterfly being my 'true', beautiful self with wings and the graded colour representing dawn and dusk). Within the web are a navigator star (for direction) and a heart (for love).
The whole is an artistic representation of my personal motto (in my signature), which for many years I had neglected to live by but am rediscovering, and the whole process was a personal reflection of how pain and pleasure often go hand in hand.

I'm absolutely thrilled with it and am already contemplating my next...

What are other people's views on tattos and body art, and what do you have (if any)?

[Bracken]

Get a tube of Bepanthen from Boots. Itching over.

[NovaStar]

Get a tube of Bepanthen from Boots. Itching over.

Thank you, that was what my partner used but i try to steer clear of unnecessary chemicals, so I am using the natural tattoo aftercare balm from THC - based on natural carrier oils, lavendar and calendula

[plaidcat]

Sorry I'm late to the party It's been a while since I've kicked around here...

I just got my first (but not last) tattoo late last summer, a thistle flower on my left shoulder blade. It itched for a while too, but plenty of Aquaphor and I was all set. For me tattoos are a deep personal expression of who I am. I'm working on getting an entire backpiece done, with a rampant lion on the right shoulder blade, a tree of life in the center, and knotwork interspersing them.

[Halen]

Have two tattoos both represent an awaking or coming into an awareness on my spiritual/life journey. My tattoos are special to me and my commitements and oaths I have taken. But they are not for everyone and much thought should be given to such an undertaking as they are costly to remove and it must be hard to live daily with a tattoo which you have regrets. Be sure this is what you want and then enjoy your creation!

[Equidae]

I always preferred using Lubriderm for my healing tatts, and that along with babying them until they're healed has worked really well for me. In addition to the lotion repeatedly lightly smacking the tattoo with my open hand also seemed to help. If it got really annoying while I was at home then I would scrub at it with a bar of soap which also helped. I never tried to completely eliminate the itching since to me it's reassurance that it was healing normally.

I don't like wearing jewelry or carrying nonessential items for safety reasons, but I do have a fair amount of tattoos of all sorts of things. My actual pagan ones include teiwaz and thurisaz runes tattooed on the back of my upper arms. My immediate family is well adjusted, but the extended family (who are predominately of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent) has had problems with mental illness and addiction. I've never had any issues, but I got a custom horse form kelpie tattoo on my calf complete with the hand of a victim reaching out above the water as a reminder that the prettiest things can be what drag you under (corny yes, but I appreciate the sentiment!) I'm a bit of a tattoo nut, and am planning on getting more Norse and Celtic imagery. I just make sure to follow my personal tattoo rules of: only get custom work, after you're sure about what you want then wait for at least a year before you get it, put them in areas that you can comfortably conceal in work clothes, and make sure the imagery and placement wouldn't be something you'd be embarrassed to show Grandma.

My other ones include The Thinker in black and white, an Ichthys fish, and a sea turtle with the initials of my best friends worked into the shell. My next one is going to be Odin's ravens Huginn and Muninn with one on each shoulder. Tattoos are wonderfully addicting!

[Ses]

I've got five so far with a plan to get a full sleve on my right arm when cost and time allows. What sort of chemicals does Bepantham contain?

I've got a celtic cross on the back on my neck, a claddagh on my right wrist, an Enjoy Panda on my ribs, a quote "I am who I am because of what I've done" on my left rib and a memorial tattoo to my Grandad jack.


Does anyone have pictures of theres?

[plaidcat]

I just got a second one two days ago. Here's my newest prize.
http://imgur.com/9q2ss

[Ses]

Looks good. I would upload mine but im not sure how

[samurai]

I've had one and keep toying with idea.But can never decide on design.I'd like one to celebrate Druidry or more emcompassing my feelings for Paganism.In someways an outing myself.

[SonicRed]

To me, tattoos can be a beautiful, original expression of individual self, art and the glory that is life.
They can also however, be a prominent indication of foolish ignorance, slovenly workmanship (by the tattooist) and outright human depravity (as in gang, cult and Klan tattoos) With a historical stigma of the darker, malignant and wild side of humanity, tattoos carry a stereotype hard to remove but with the continued increase of artistic and expressionist awareness more and more are seeing the beauty and art that is the tattoo.
As both an artist and a believer in the beauty of tattoo art I myself have ten tattoos (one of which is in the process of being finished) with plans for three more making a total of thirteen. Each holds a personal and symbolic meaning for me and expresses the triumphs, trials and glory of life that I have endured, experienced and enjoyed.
I received my first three tattoos at the age of seventeen (each with its own significance to me) and while I was in love with them, I did encounter a degree of resistance from family members who did not understand the importance of my body art. From that point on I have continued to expand the number of tattoos I possess with the progression of my life as well as due to a love of the art and the process receiving each piece entails.
As the purest form of emotion, art is quintessentially human and as such I find tattoo art to be especially intriguing, beautiful and inspiring when done well.

[cunning_murrell]

To me, tattoos can be a beautiful, original expression of individual self, art and the glory that is life.

I won't bore you with details but several months ago I realized that I needed to reinvent or should I say rediscover myself. I had the Berkana rune tattooed in red on my left wrist to symbolize my growth and rebirth.

http://www.ifate.com/rune_ex_full/ex18.html


I also have a tattoo of Karl Pilkington's round head on my forearm as well but that's not quite as thought provoking lol

[Aphritha]

Tattoos are a way for me to symbolize things that are a part of me. I've got the character 'Trent' from the show Daria(if anyone remembers that one anymore) on my back, a ring of thorns on my left hand ring finger, and the Libra sign on my right upper arm.