Blog posts of '2015' 'June'

In Irish mythology, a leprechaun is a type of male fairy that is said to inhabit the island of Ireland. They usually take the form of tiny old men who enjoy partaking in mischief. Usually their trade is a cobbler or shoemaker and they are said to be very rich, having many pots of god hidden all over. According to legend, if you keep your eye on a leprechaun, he cannot escape but the moment you take your eyes off him, he vanishes.

Leprechauns rarely appear in what would be classed as a folk tale. In almost all cases, the interest of these stories centers round a human hero. Stories about leprechauns are generally very brief and generally have local names and scenery attached to them. The tales are usually told conversationally as any other occurrence might be told, whereas there is a certain solemnity about the repetition of a folk-tale proper.

In most tales and stories, leprechauns are depicted as generally harmless creatures that enjoy solitude and live in remote locations. Opinion is divided as to if they ever enjoy the company of other spirits. Although rarely seen in social situations, leprechauns are supposedly very well spoken and, if ever spoken to, could make good conversation.

Among the most popular of beliefs about leprechauns is that they are extremely wealthy and like to hide their gold in secret locations, which can only be revealed if a person were to actually capture and interrogate a leprechaun for its money. By nature, leprechauns are said to be ill natured and mischievous, with a mind for cunning.

Leprechaun tattoos are a distinctly Irish and are usually found on those with some sort of Irish background. Leprechauns may also be grouped with other Irish themed tattoo elements like shamrocks and the color green.

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As far as symbols go, the heart abounds in America. In our Western world, it has come to symbolize togetherness and love, especially love of the romantic or erotic variety. However, this is hardly a universal interpretation. The heart tattoo design has many different meanings and for those of us who choose to wear one the personal meaning is as varied as the personality of the individual who makes it their choice for a tattoo. A heart with a dagger, knife or sword can represent betrayal but can also represent courage in the face of misfortune. A heart design with wings (which looks great on a lower back) represents a joyful, optimistic and free spirit. A heart with a rose usually represents romantic love while a tribal heart rendered in black can represent emotions under control. Hearts take on new meanings when they are combined with other symbols. For example a cute heart design formed from dolphins could represent a love for dolphins and the ocean. An angel heart or a heart with a halo can represent purity of spirit.

What would the heart tattoo be without the well-known broken or bleeding heart? Sometimes pictured as half a heart, this is the symbol of lost love, primarily unrequited love, and we all know the term 'heartbroken' is used for extreme sadness and grief. Remember though, before you dash out and have a broken heart inscribed over your left breast, feelings, like all of life change. What you feel today about your lover's scorn may change quicker than you think. Heart tattoo designs can represent the warmth of spring and summer seasons and the power of light. They are the center of life and the world. In the Tarot, hearts can also symbolize knowledge, love, life from water, and fertility, and a fortune of joy. There are abundant choices for the heart tattoo design. Whichever one you choose will give you something to think about every time you look upon it.

The Heart: A Symbol Reaching to the Roots of Human History

Historians have been able to trace the heart symbol as far back as the time just prior to the last Ice Age. However, there isn't any general consensus as to what it was supposed to mean.

Later, between 600 and 400 B.C., the people of Greece used the heart symbol to designate the musical instrument known as the lyre. It also became closely associated with Eros, the god of erotic love.

The most likely reason for our own Western association between the heart symbol and romantic love can be traced back to the North African city of Cyrene in the seventh century B.C. This city had become a major (and incredibly profitable) destination on the world trade routes because of a now extinct, heart-shaped seed that was a part of the fennel family.

But why were they harvested to the point of extinction; and what does that have to do with love?

Well, this amazing little seed (which was, quite literally, worth its weight in gold) had a very beneficial side effect, it aided as an all-natural, rather easily obtainable method of birth control. It can easily be assumed that armed against the risk of yet another mouth to feed, amorous attentions could more readily be shared between couples. It's easy to understand, then, the ready connection between both the shape and its modern interpretation.

Upon the arrival of Christianity, the heart shape also began to take on a new religious significance. Early Christians, who were all fairly reliant upon using symbols to codify their then heretical faith, used the heart to symbolize the virtue of charity, a word that most biblical translations have changed to love, in the brotherly fashion. Later, there would be the Sacred Heart, an image of a wounded heart, shining with a heavenly light which came to represent Jesus Christ & His love. It became very popular during the Middle Ages, but is still used prevalently today. It can also represent unity, salvation and peace.

But Christians didn't in any sense have a monopoly on this sign. Aztecs, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Celts and Taoists all give the heart symbol its own special significance. The symbol also shows up in the Voodoo arts, where it represents Erzuli, the loa (which loosely translates to spirit of love, beauty and purity. It also prevails in the cultural arts of the Asante people of Ghana, Africa. Adinkra, a hand-stitched and embroidered cloth that represented their cultural and spiritual beliefs, often used the heart symbol to show love. Whether done intentionally or not, the heart also closely resembles the Asante sign for wisdom.

From 1000 to 1400 A.D., the heart icon comes to the forefront of medieval heraldry (the insignias, crests, Coats-of-Arms and genealogical emblems) where it signifies both sincerity and clarity. It is also during this era that the heart symbol becomes intertwined with the myth and legend surrounding the Holy Grail. Believe it or not, the two items became so intertwined with one another that the earliest decks of playing cards substituted the symbol of the grail for the suit of hearts!

The Human Heart

The heart symbol didn't come to represent the human heart by ignorance. Ancient people fought bloody battles, and many had seen the throbbing, wounded organs many times across many wars. As a matter of fact, this symbol has also closely been associated with our human organ, the heart. (Remember the game Operation?) Then again, there are times when we speak of the heart, but what we mean is a mystical aura more akin to spirit than to flesh and blood. It is the abode of feelings, emotions and morals, a deeply personal and fragile being.

The ancient Egyptians believed that your heart would decide the fate of your eternal soul. Upon death, your heart is delivered to the Hall of Maat, who is the goddess of justice. It is then weighed against the goddess's tool, the Feather of Maat. If your heart was found to be as light as a feather (or, preferably lighter), you would proceed on to the afterlife with Osiris. On the other hand, if your heart was found to be too heavy, it was fated to be eaten up by the demon Ammut, causing the existence of your soul to suddenly, and forever, cease.

Across the world, in what is today Mexico, existed the Teotihuacan people; a culture that believed each human was filled with several different spiritual forces if you will, some of which were able to leave the body. Instances might include when you dreamt, or had visions. However, the teyolia, which was associated with the heart, was fated to remain inside of the body at all times, the consequence for disobedience being death.

The Marriage of Heart and Tattoo

The tattoo has matured greatly from the stereotype of the symbol on a sailor's upper arm with the word “Mom” etched across it. It would probably even be safe to say that the heart is one of the most popular tattoo designs around. They are now showing up, pink and demure, on hips and hind-ends. Or, wrapped in barbed wire across rippling muscles; or integrated with a Celtic or Tribal design.

More Heart Tattoo Ideas:

Heart shaped American Flags

Hearts & Banners

Religious & Sacred Hearts

Heart Locks & Keys

Hearts With Eyes

Show me more Heart Tattoo Designs

Tattoo machines are used to inject ink under the skin so that once the site of the tattoo heals, you have a permanent piece of art on your skin. Tattoo machines generally made of a series of needles that are powered by a coil that quickly drives the needles up and down while forcing ink into the tiny perforations those needles create in the skin. Historically, the best and most reliable way to get a steady, fast motion for the needles has been to power the coil with electricity, a generator or a battery. As a result, while tattoo machines are incredibly finely tuned and capable of photorealistic detail, even the best can be a bit cumbersome and heavy. This has several problematic ramifications. Even the most stalwart tattoo artists generally can only tattoo for a maximum of one to three hours at a time because holding a tattoo machine for that long can cause serious hand, arm and muscle fatigue. Some artists actually develop severe tendonitis in their wrists and shoulders over time due to this issue. Another issue with traditional tattoo machines is that they can be difficult to clean because they must be disassembled before being autoclaved. While this is a necessary task that all good tattoo artists and responsible tattoo studios take seriously, it can be time consuming and wearisome. 

The pneumatic tattoo machine was developed to resolve these two issues. A pneumatic tattoo machine is powered by an air compressor, and they are extremely lightweight. Pneumatic tattoo machines use pressurized air to power the tattoo machine and drive the needles up and down. These tattoo machines are very lightweight and entirely autoclavable, so that the entire tattoo machine can be placed in the autoclave and sterilized fully without any major disassembly. As a result of their extremely light weight, these tattoo machines are ideal for tattoo artists who have serious issues with hand fatigue or shoulder problems.  Pneumatic tattoo machines operate on the same principles as conventional machines; they just use a different power source. They still pound needles very quickly in and out of the top layers of the skin and force ink into the tiny perforations, but instead of being powered by electricity they are powered by compressed air. They also come with foot pedals like a regular tattoo machine, and need disposable air hoses and a small air compressor, such as a portable airbrush compressor. The main thing that an artist must become accustomed to when using these machines is how lightweight they are. 

Pneumatic tattoo machines have been patented in the United States, and they have an international patent pending. They can be ordered online, but they have certainly not replaced conventional tattoo machines. The tattoo artist community is of mixed opinions about this groundbreaking new machine. Many are very enthusiastic, particularly if they have had to limit their tattooing due to shoulder or hand fatigue. However, others are a bit more reticent with their praise, preferring to wait and see how the pneumatic tattoo machines fare over time. While tattoo machines have certainly evolved over time, up to now the basic concept behind them has not altered significantly since they were first modeled on Thomas Edison's embroidery machine, which propelled a powdered dye onto a cloth in much the same way that early tattoo machines propelled liquid ink into skin. As a result of this relative continuity in technology, many traditionalists are somewhat skeptical of the new pneumatic tattoo machine and are hesitant to invest in the new technology. 

Pneumatic tattoo machines come in several models. There are different types to fit different styles of tattooing and that hold different needle formations, just as with conventional tattoo machines. However, pneumatic tattoo machines also come in a hybrid version, which can use electricity to power the gun or compressed air. These have potential to become extremely popular because they would enable artists to tattoo anywhere, and while they may be slightly heavier than the original pneumatic tattoo machine, they are still substantially lighter than an electric machine in nearly all cases. If you want to be tattooed by a tattoo artist using a pneumatic tattoo machine, then you may have to do some looking since they are certainly not yet a common tool in the tattoo industry. However, they are just as safe as regular tattoo machines (assuming that they have been properly autoclaved, of course) and will result in a permanent tattoo. If you are going to get tattooed with a pneumatic tattoo machine, be sure that your tattoo artist has some experience using the machine since they handle differently than a traditional tattoo machine.

Just a few decades ago, it was considered extreme to have more than two piercings in each woman's ear. Then came the guys, with one hole in the right or left lobe, depending. It was quickly followed by nose and navel piercings. But what's the scoop on the real history of piercing - the ancient history?

No one has been able to pin point an exact date for the emergence of body piercing, but its thought to be several millennia old.

Ear piercing is by far the oldest recorded method of body piercing, and the evidence of it had been frozen in time, quite literally. The oldest mummified body in the world (which has been dated back over 5,000 years) was found in an Austrian glacier in 1991. Not only was this man pierced, but he was also tattooed, making him an important discovery in the history and culture of most all forms of body modification.

Next in popularity throughout the ages is the piercing of the septum. Believe it or not, throughout history, septum piercing has been even more popular than piercing the nostrils. Septum piercing was most popular among warrior tribes, and more than likely was used to enhance the image of the strong, martial men. It was certainly used to intimidate others, which is easy to understand. Armed with a pierced septum, a man can take on the appearance of tusks not dissimilar to those of a wild boar.

Nose piercing dates back to about 4000 years ago in the Middle East. In fact, a direct reference to nose piercing can be found in the book of Genesis, when Abraham is seeking out a wife for his son Isaac. He provided his oldest and most trusted servant with gifts for his son's bride-to-be, one of which was a golden Shanf. In some biblical translations, the word has been simply translated to "golden earring." However, the actual translation is nose-ring.

Tongue piercing, which is so wildly popular now, was first popularized by the early Meso american tribes. It was popular among the Aztec and Maya, and also among native tribes of the Pacific Northwest. These tribes used the craft of tongue piercing in order to draw their own blood as propitiation to their gods. It was also used to take the pierced person (in this case, usually a priest or shaman) into an altered state, making them better able to communicate with their gods.

Belly-button, or navel piercing, dates back to the ancient Egyptians. In their culture, this, along with eyebrow piercing was a body modification restricted only to royalty.

Piercing of the genitals also bears a long and culturally diverse history in places like China, Borneo, Samoa and Roman, to name a few. Some have used this method to curb the sexual appetite, while others have chosen it as a way to enhance their erotic pleasure. Women can choose to have their labia pierced, or they can opt for a clitoral hood piercing. However, if you're a woman considering a genital piercing to enhance the power of your orgasms, be warned there is no scientific proof that it has any effect on the power or frequency of orgasm, and should the procedure somehow go wrong, you can be left frigid and impotent! Men have over 7 different methods available to pierce their genitals, and along with the motivation to enhance their own sexual enjoyment, many of them have opted for this procedure to enhance the intimate enjoyment of their partners. Prince Albert is a famous member of the royal family who opted for erotic piercings. In addition to the actual genitals, nipples are also a popular erotic piercing, favored by both men and women.

It is important to follow your piercing artists directions prior to and after getting a piercing. Body piercing runs a risk of infection, a risk that grows or lessens depending on what type of piercing you choose to get. Make sure to ask lots of questions, carefully follow any and all directions, and check out the piercing artist you'll visit. Insure that they supply you with all of the information you'll need, and also that they are clean, sterile and legitimate. Resist any and all urges to perform a piercing yourself, or to rely on your friends to handle it for you, as there can be some very serious health risks. As with any type of body modification, use extreme caution and common sense before you run headlong into a lot of misery and doctor's visits.

It should also be noted that while your piercing is new, you'll want to opt for gold piercing jewelry. Oftentimes, many people who have gone under the piercing needle have sensitive skin and allergic reactions that can be triggered by other materials, like silver, nickel, etc.