Raccoon Tattoos: They are Pretty!

Posted on October 27, 2009
Filed Under Before You Decide, Tattoo Meanings | Leave a Comment

Raccoon Tattoos: They are Pretty! Raccoon tattoos are joyful and amusing and really stand out of the crowd of animal tattoos. Raccoons with their black facial masks, black and white striped tails and sensitive front paws and, can be ascribed different human qualities, namely those of being flaneur, bandit or an actor.

The nature has endowed Raccoons with beauty and wit and they can be taught simple actions like distinguishing objects or performing some movements.

There’s something mischievous in this animal’s nature, that’s why Raccoon is a frequent character of various cartoon and a permanent participant of funny situations. The animal is a nocturnal one, it is active at night and sees the dark sides of things we can’t see, or – symbolically – it knows what we don’t know about ourselves, reveals our hidden nature.

So a raccoon tattoo can symbolize a person’s “alter egos,” or perhaps the desire to make some hints about his or her character like “I’m not the one you take me for.” Such tattoo may as well suggest that the behavior of its wearer can be unpredictable and playful.

The very word “raccoon” derives from the Indian (Native American) word that means “one who rubs, scrubs and scratches with its hands.” This creature is often mentioned in American Indian legends and tales.

Raccoons now live on the European continent, in the Caucasus region and Japan as well as in North America. Their natural habitat is forests, but they can easily adapt to unfamiliar conditions and have already populated mountainous areas, marshlands, and even joined the rows of city dwellers. Some people have them as an exotic pet.

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Mystery of Mexican Aztec Tattoos

Posted on October 26, 2009
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Mystery of Mexican Aztec Tattoos

Mexican Aztec tattoos have the most peculiar designs around and are easily recognizable by their geometric patterns. They go back to the times of Mayan, Inca and Aztec civilizations who laid the foundations for present day Mexican tattoos.

The Aztecs were a tribe that lived in the area of what is now the city of Mexico between the 14th and 15th centuries. They were highly religious people and dedicated great deal of their daily time to please the severe gods. But at the same time Aztecs belong to the most advanced ancient civilizations, science and art forms were highly developed as well as the art of tattooing.

The practice of religion only encouraged the development of tattoo art. At those time tattoos were not a mere means of self expression, but as a part of a solemn rite. Tattoos were often done on the wrist, chest or stomach areas and were worn by both grown-ups and children. For instance, young boys and girls usually showed their devolution to some god, by their first tattoo.

Of course, not all tattoos were of religious background. Another function of Aztec tattooing was to differentiate – between tribes, between social classes. They also showed a person’s occupation and rank in society, e.g. warrior tattoos.

Mystery of Mexican Aztec Tattoos

Mexican Aztec tattoos are the collection of deep symbols and the display of versatility of their lives. Many of has lead to modern tribal tattoo designs, with the themes of the Sun, the freedom-loving Eagle, the Princess and the Warriors and the Aztec Calendar being the most popular and well-known.

The Sun tattoo was one of the most important ones for it stood for the Aztec main god and symbolized the heavens and the life after death, in which they believed.

Among other designs of Mexican Aztec tattoos are the symbols of the feathered serpent god and the god of weather and fertility as well as the god of warriors who was depicted as an eagle (courage is commonly ascribed to this bird). Less in quantity but still popular nowadays are sun & moon tattoos and tattoos of crosses.

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A Transmutation Circle Tattoo

Posted on October 23, 2009
Filed Under Tattoo Designs | Leave a Comment

There has recently appeared a new trend in tattoo art – a transmutation circle tattoo design, which is especially popular among the representatives of a younger generation, anime fans.

A transmutation circle is a fictional element of manga and anime series Fullmetal Alchemist. It is a combination of circles, lines and alchemical symbols, but text written on them, as well.

The main character of the series is an alchemist Edward Elric whose little brother Alphonse has nearly died in an accident but Edward managed to save his life by transmutation. At the same time - as in the process you can gain something only by sacrifice something equally valuable – Edward lost much. That’s why the two brothers went travelling in order to find the Philosophers Stone that cab compensate for the lost.

Transmutation circles are drawn on gloves, or tattooed on hands and when a person who wears them snaps his or her fingers a spark is created, which means that reaction is initiated. And the desired action can be performed. Some characters of the series have an ability to control fire with the help of their transmutation circle tattoo or can initiate explosions. At the same time an alchemist can simply put the thing he wants to transmute in the centre of the circle or can draw it in the place where transmutation will be performed.

A Transmutation Circle Tattoo

Transmutation circle is not a source of energy, it is only a catalyst. It acts as a medium through which energy circulates between the alchemical source and the alchemist’s body. As the energy of an only person is not enough, in the Fullmetal Alchemist series there is one more source of it, the parallel universe where warring action of World War I take place and dying people provide large supplies of energy.

In the original manga there’s not such kind of the parallel world and its characters use alchemy without transmutation circles at all –just by clapping their hands of without movements at all.

So a transmutation circle tattoo is some kind of a mythical tattoo that can show a person’s “identity,” namely manga or anime fun.

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Lion of Judea Tattoo and Its Religious Background

Posted on October 20, 2009
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Lion of Judea Tattoo and Its Religious Background The lion of Judea tattoo has a broad religious background. It is connected with the two widespread world religions: Judaism and Christianity.

The Biblical Judah (or in Hebrew: Yehuda) is the original name of the Tribe of Judah, the Lion itself being an emblem of that Israelite tribe in Old Testament in the Book of Genesis. It was also mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The winged Lion of Judea tattoo in is symbol of the South. Jews understand the lion as a symbol of power and cruelty. Lion is an emblem of the generation of Jehuda and the regal house of David, and it is also a zodiac sigh of a summer month of av, that carries an exceptional meaning to the fate of Hebrew people.

In Christian tradition, the Lion of Judah symbolizes Jesus. The lion of Judah is used as an emblem or even a name of many Christian ministries and organizations.

In Christianity the symbolism of the Lion is ambivalent: on the one hand it means the regal origin of King of Judea, on the other hand is signifies the ability of the Christ to rescue the Christians from the jaws of a roaring lion that is the devil. The lion is believed to sleep with open eyes and show vigilant surveillance, spiritual watchfulness and strength. The Lion acts as a sentry who maintains the principles of the Church.

Moreover, it is considered that lion cubs are born dead and its parents breathe life in it, that’s why lion also stands for Resurrection.

In addition, the lion of Judea has a close connection to the Rastafarian Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia who was crowned Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Rastas consider Selassie to be a direct descendant of the Israelite Tribe of Judah I mentioned above. They believe that he belongs to King David and Solomon lineage.

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