Even if you think you know shamrock tattoos, they are worth a second look. The shamrock is, perhaps, the most easily recognizable
symbol of Ireland. Sometimes thought of as a ‘lucky clover’, the shamrock symbolizes the luck of the Irish. It calls to mind the grassy slopes of its country of origin, and the soulful yet optimistic nature of the people that live there. Shamrock tattoos are a perfect symbol of that unique and beloved cultural identity.
For most of us living in North America, however, the shamrock image we are most familiar with is likely to be a bit ‘cartoonish’ – a bright, bold, Kelly green clover. Understandably, though these clover tattoo designs might appeal to some people, they aren’t to everyone’s taste. There’s a lot more to shamrock tattoos than this popular image, however; for instance, shamrock tattoo designs are often done in Celtic style, filled in with the classic triple spiral or Celtic knotwork. Alternatively, the shamrock design can form the center of a
Celtic cross, or Celtic designs fill it in.
Any way you choose to depict it, though, the shamrock is lucky. Shamrock tattoos, then, have a dual function – they promise the wearer good luck in all of his or her pursuits, while also being a subtle yet easily recognizable nod to one’s Irish heritage. Because they can be quite small, shamrock tattoos are quite versatile and easy to wear. They can go almost anywhere – on an ankle, shoulder, lower back or even on the hand or foot, though the latter can sometimes be problematic tattoo sites because of color migration. Nevertheless, a tiny shamrock on the hand or foot can be very chic.
The shamrock has been a sacred plant in Ireland since time immemorial. In pre-Christian times, the ancient Druids planted and cultivated shamrocks because of the resemblance between the shamrock’s leaves and the Celtic triple spiral image. Later, the shamrock motif was adopted by Christians, as were many other aspects of the indigenous Celtic religions.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, reportedly used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, in which there are three aspects of one god. Shamrock tattoos represent much more than the stylized, cartoon-ish shamrock we are accustomed to seeing in shop windows come St. Patrick’s day – rather, they are modern presentations of an ancient and powerful symbol. Of course, before deciding on this or any other tattoo image, you should do your research – do a search of shamrock tattoos to see which style resonates with your own tastes, beliefs and background.
Prison tattoos speak a language all their own – and it’s often a coded one. For example, various symbols and code words and numbers may indicate what a prisoner is in for.
An image of a cat indicates burglary; a group of cats mean that the thief was part of a gang. Spider webs across the shoulders speak of the amount of time spent in prison; tombstones mean a wasted life. These prison tattoos are worn as badges of honor, of a sort – though sometimes tattoo designs also propagate hate.
Currently, a controversy is arising with regard to a harm reduction program in American prisons. Professional tattooing is being offered as a service in some prisons, in recognition of the fact that prisoners are always going to acquire tattoos, so they might as well do it safely rather than with makeshift equipment. This is a contrast to the approach that was taken in previous years, when there were tattoo removal programs in place to help prisoners re-integrate into society.
Gang and prison tattoos often vary according to nationality, though a few symbols seem to be universal. Skulls usually mean murderers, for example, and barbed wire across the forehead denotes a life sentence.
Prison tattoos speak an intricate language, and they really have much more in common with tribal tattooing than with body art as most of us know it. And though the policy of providing safe tattooing in prisons is highly controversial, it does have merit on the basis of disease prevention. Prison tattoos are here to stay, and inmates have always found ways of tattooing with the most rudimentary of equipment.
Russian prison tattoos – many of which date back to the days of the Soviet Union – show the prisoner’s rank and position within the prison system, something which was often a source of pride rather than shame.
In fact, Russian prison tattoos are so complex that several books have been written on that subject alone.
If you don’t have tattoos yourself or are unfamiliar with the art, biker tattoos may spring foremost to mind when you think of tattooing. These bold, striking, rebellious designs are a symbol of the open road, and of the segment of society that enjoys it the most.
Biker tattoos are occasionally associated with underworld or prison tattooing – strictly against the rules, and done with handmade equipment and improvised inks. ‘Motorcycle gangs’ and the prison population do intersect, of course, but to a lesser degree than you might think. Many weekend bikers hold down conventional, even straight-laced jobs, and get their tattoos from a legitimate tattoo parlor or shop. The striking designs associated with biker tattoos are what
You know them when you see them, but what are the essential elements of biker tattoo designs? For one thing, you see loyalty to a certain type of bike – more than likely, Harley Davidson. Many biker tattoos feature the Harley Davidson name or logo, sometimes on its own, and sometimes as part of an intricate design. Picture an eagle perched on top of a ‘Harley Davidson’ banner, or epithet like ‘Ride Free’.
Biker tattoos vary greatly with regard to how much skin they cover, but generally speaking they are not small! A biker tattoo might be centered on a bicep or forearm, or the whole arm might be covered with a ‘sleeve’ of interlaced tattoo designs. Most biker tattoos are on the arm (motorcycle gear usually covers everything else) but that doesn’t mean they are limited to the arm – it’s not uncommon to see a biker sporting a ‘body shirt’ or sleeve that covers a large portion of his – or her – torso. What you probably won’t see are isolated tattoos on the shoulder or ankle.
In a sense, how many tattoos a biker has does indicate how committed he is to the lifestyle. Weekend bikers might have one or two, but a sleeve or body shirt of biker tattoos reveals a more hard-core commitment.
Keep in mind that the Hebrew language is written from right to left - and make sure to double check with a native speaker before getting any permanent ink. It is quite possible that many of the free designs available are actually backwards...how embarrassing! ecially for those of a more Orthodox nature, Hebrew is a sacred language.
The old guard frowns upon tattooing some words in Hebrew anywhere in the body (in fact, Leviticus 19:28 says, "You shall not make cuts in your body...nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."). As forbidding as the scripture might sound, Hebrew tattoos are still highly sought-after.
Madonna, in one of her more recent music videos for the "Die Another Day" James Bond film, displayed a Hebrew tattoo on her upper arm.
The Hebrew script she chose to display did cause some controversy. She has the letters "lamed", "alef" and "vav" tattooed on her shoulder, but those letters don't form a Hebrew word. At first, it looked as though it were simply stylish gibberish - and many dismissed it as such, another flagrantly displayed international spelling mistake.
As it turns out, however, Madonna's tattoo had deeper meaning. Rather than simply being a word in Hebrew, it was one of the many names for God as written in the Kabbalah. Legend has it that each name of God in the Hebrew language has an empowering effect, gracing the speaker (or in this case, the bearer) strength of mind, presence of faith, the will to subdue the ego, and so forth - another reason why Hebrew tattoos are so popular today.
There are various methods of cosmetic surgery tattoo removal. The mostly used one is the skin-grafting technique; it is the same as concealing the scar through cosmetic surgery tattoo removal.
