Celtic Tattoos

Tattoo Designs From Ancient Ireland
Celtic tattoos have experienced a massive revival in recent years. The history of the Celtic people goes back thousands of years. The early Celts displayed their skills in complex artwork particularly metal, jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans. Evidence of Celtic crosses and Celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.

Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and North Americans of Celtic descent often wear these symbols to show their Celtic origin. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn't keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining even though Celtic cross tattoos and Celtic know tattoos are very popular designs.

Intricate Celtic tattoo design © Robert - Ontario, Canada

Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts The Book of Kells, which is on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town. This is a much later time period than the height of Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic tattooing.

Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning symbolizing the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs are similar in construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads, tails. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.

Ancient Celtic symbol called a triskelle found at Newgrange © Oisín - San Antonio, USA

The intricacy of Celtic knotwork defies literal translation and its meaning is to be found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots. The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith and for these reason Celtic tattoos have become so popular.

For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or Welsh , getting a Celtic design can be a way of expressing pride in their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic style of their ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to do, and it is strongly recommended to anyone contemplating getting one to make sure that the artist they are considering has experience in designing Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artist such an eye for detail and exacting line placement required for the intricate patterns particular to Celtic tattoos.

Typical Celtic knotwork tattoo © Jessie Johnson - Austin, USA

http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/celtic-tattoos.html

Chinese Dragon Tattoos

Popular Chinese Tattoos & Chinese Dragons

Chinese Tattoos have always been hugely popular. At one stage they were the realm of criminals and the mafia. Now it seems even Hollywood celebrities seem to have caught on to the mystery and allure of the Far East. While it is undeniable that classic Chinese tattoos have an attraction which can easily be appreciated regardless of whether one can understand the often subtle meanings or not.

Aesthetics should be the primary consideration when getting tattooed, and Chinese characters are very well suited to this purpose. While tattoos have always been conversation pieces, Chinese tattoos add another element, since the typical viewer will probably ask you the meaning, which allows the wearer to not only translate the characters, but to explain the story behind the decision to make such a lasting statement.

Meaning is an important question however and for this reason can make Chinese tattoos date very quickly. Often it is not quite what the wearer was told by the tattooist at the tattoo shop or the meaning can become irrelevant after a few years.

Hopefully the person being tattooed has done his or her research and consulted with a native Chinese speaker about the meaning before being inked. Some non Chinese speakers have unwittingly tattooed their bodies with Chinese symbols which when translated become meaningless.

The most common Chinese tattoos are ones that are supposed to represent ideas and qualities like love or strength. Keep in mind that the concepts are aimed at English speakers, and on that level "peace, love and happiness" are easily understandable.

But before you run off to the studio to get one done you should do your research. Selecting a Chinese tattoos deserves careful study and attention. It should have less to do with style and more to do with your character, work, and values. It's permanent, so it's a pretty important decision in your life. In the end, it is important to choose something of lasting appeal not something faddish.

View 1000's of Tattoos in This Massive Collection of Tattoo Art!

For centuries, the Chinese dragon has been a symbol of power and mystery. Depicted in countless legends, both Eastern and Western, the dragon has provoked man to fear and worship it. In medieval Europe, it was a bloodthirsty, fire-breathing figure. Its malevolence and ferociousness struck terror in all. However, in Asia, it is the contrary. The mighty dragon is a mythical beast long celebrated for its benevolence, intelligence and good will. The Chinese dragon has been a common symbol of identity for Far Eastern cultures.

In fact, Chinese people all over the world are affectionately known as “lung de chuan ren”, or the "descendants of the dragon”. There are several distinct species of Chinese dragons. The Horned Dragon is considered to be the mightiest. The Celestial Dragon supports the heavens and protects the Gods. The Earth Dragon rules all of the earth. The Spiritual Dragon controls the wind and rain. The Treasure Dragon is the keeper of precious metals and gems. The Winged Dragon is the only dragon with wings. The Coiling Dragon dwells in the ocean. The Yellow Dragon is a hornless dragon known for its scholarly knowledge.

http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/chinese-tattoos.html

Erotic Tattoos Revealed

Why Tattoos are so Goddamed Hot!!
What is it that makes tattoos, particularly erotic tattoos, so intriguing to some people, and so off-putting to others? There are lots of associations and meanings assigned to them and those who have them, of course, with generally disreputable origins ranging from drunken sailors to biker gangs and prostitutes.

Then there is the closet tattoo enthusiast such as businessmen or lawyers who gets erotic tattoos on more hidden skin as a way of 'going against the grain' or expressing a hidden side without risking their professional respectability.

Tattoo Design by Mazin My Way Skin Art, Tokyo - © Tao of Tattoos

There is something empowering about claiming absolute ownership of our bodies, free of the judgment of others and the restrictions of a culture that is profoundly suspicious of the body, its desires, and its pleasures. The idea that our bodies are fully available to us to use however we choose -- to offer us pleasure, well-being, and identity (and babies only when we want them) -- is still a controversial one in this culture.

"Your body is like a house [you] live in," according to Fakir Musafar, one of the most outspoken proponents for body modification and erotic tattoos, in a brilliant interview published by ReSearch magazine. "It's your house, and you can do with it as you please. If you want it pink, you paint it pink. People like Australian aborigines know something that people here don't know, and that's the reason they can poke holes in the body, they can tattoo it, they can decorate it.

Fakir Musafar speaks of body modification as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood several people who have gotten tattoos have done so as a way of reclaiming their bodies from child traumas involving physical or sexual abuse. There is a definite sense of transition that comes from knowing you are making an unmistakable, permanent change in your body's appearance.

Aside from obvious aesthetics, the real significance of the tattoo process is the realisation of how much is possible once we overthrow the kind of cultural conservatism that would limit us to a tiny fraction of our full potential for life and personal expression.

Fakir Musafar says it well. "A whole part of life," he notes, "seems to be missing for people in modern cultures. Whole groups of people, socially, are alienated. They cannot get close or in touch with anything, including themselves. Why? What's going on here?

For a long time Western culture has dictated - don't f**k with the body; it's the temple of God. But finally people are starting to see things in a different way. People need these rituals so desperately. That's why piercing and erotic tattoos have blossomed.

http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/erotic-tattoos.html

Female Tattoo Gallery

Cool NEW Pictures Updated Constantly...

Welcome to the female tattoo gallery. Here you can post pictures of your tattoos and check out the most popular female tattoos are.

One of the most frequently repeated reasons a tattoo artist hears from female clientele when they come to get a tattoo is that they just broke up with their boyfriend. A lot of women visit a tattooist when their divorce papers are signed. The ratio of female to men in some studios can be as high as 60 percent women to 40 percent men.

It appears that women get tattoos when they've experienced some kind of major life change in a lot of cases. Those changes can range from the death of a loved one to marriage to childbirth or a new job. This is a practice that is thousands of years old amongst tribal cultures

So what are the most popular tattoos for women? It seems anything floral, tribal designs across the lower back, fairies, unicorns, butterflies, and sunflowers are the go for female tattoos. Dolphins were the most popular tattoos for women, in around 2003 but every year demand for a particular tattoo design changes.

A lot of women are starting to request larger customized tattoos on more visible parts of their bodies, like arms and legs. The ankle and lower back are common places for female tattoos, but the stigma towards women with tattoos seems to be disapearing so women are getting larger and more prominent tattoos.

Women are also putting tattoos on their ankles and shoulders more so now than in the past, when women would get ink on their breasts or thighs. Part of the artist's job is to help the client select a design or location that will accentuate a certain part or shape of the body.

Women are generally more style conscious than men so are more decerning about what tattoo they want and where on their body they want it. Men mostly pick out a tattoo, choose a spot on their body and thats it.

According to many tattoo artists - women are much better than men when getting tattooed. Men like to think they are tough can withstand the pain. But when the needle hits their skin they pass out in the chair. Women, on the other hand anticipate the pain and have a higher tolerance.

http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/female-tattoo-gallery.html