While today it is possible to find some incredibly breathtaking tribal tattoo designs, you'll be hard pressed to experience the full, authentic art of the tribal tattoo experience in commercial America. Now, electric tattoo machines and high tech and high quality inks have replaced sticks, styluses, bone needles and plant dyes of the modern tattoos ancient ancestors. Modern tattoo artists have replaced the shaman and medicine folk of old.
The History of the Tribal Tattoo Design
Most likely, the very first tattoo happened on accident. All it takes is a few rowdy primitives playing around the fire. It wouldn't take long for someone to fall in, get poked with a charred stick and later heal before they realized that they were on to something. The news probably spread as fast as the fires that prompted the invention. As a matter of fact, it is rumored that the first tattoos were of the sun or flames in honor of the sun god(s).
There were three major factors that took the practice of tribal tattooing from the realm of art and into the plane of the spiritual: Pain, Permanence and Loss of the Life Source (blood). This mystical trio elevated the tattoo from mere art and transformed it into a chance to draw people into a relationship with God, a god, magic powers, or a trance or vision state.
Because body and soul were generally thought to be identical to one another, your tattoos then existed on two planes: the physical and spiritual realms. Many of the tribes from Borneo believed that tattoos would not only be enough to get them to the proper spirit world, but that their tattoos also offered them special qualifications for advantageous occupations upon their arrival.
It has been found that most (if not all) primitive tribes used some form of body marking, be they tattoos, scarifications or the use of plain, temporary body paints. This art prevailed worldwide until the arrival of civilization as we know it, when the tattoo fell into a temporary loss of popularity.
Times May Change, But The Reasons Stay the Same
In ancient times, tribal tattoo art was popular for many of the same reasons it is so alluring today. Tribal tattoos were employed for many motives.
To Identify Clans, Tribes and Families
Originally (and hence the name) tribal tattoos were employed to identify and group tribes, clans and families together. Not only did this enable you to easily identify one another, or recognize distant relatives, but it was generally believed that your tattoos would allow you to find your tribe and join it again in the afterlife. Today, fraternal orders, gangs, members of the military and other organizations also have designed tattoos that are recognizable to their fellow brothers and sisters.
Marriage Tattoos
In addition to a tribal tattoo, ancient men and women may also wear a marriage tattoo. Not only would this serve the same function as the modern day wedding ring (as a witness to your commitment to another), but again, would allow you to find your spouse in the afterlife. This was understandably important when husbands and wives would cross the veil several years apart from one another. In modern times, this form of tribal tattoo is still prevalent, and you will often see spouses and life-mates with matching tattooed armbands, rings, initials, and hearts as a permanent witness to their love and fidelity.
Rites of Passage
Ancient adolescents approaching maturity would often come under the prick of the tribal tattoo point before being socially accepted as an adult. A woman who couldn't bear the pain of a tattoo would be unfit for the impending pain of childbirth making her unacceptable for marriage. A young man who couldn't take it would be seen as unfit for battle or hunting, often dooming him to the role of outcast. Today, many teenagers eagerly await (or don't wait) their eighteenth birthday and celebrate their entrance to adulthood by getting a tattoo.
Totem Animal Guardianship
Many tribal tattoos were administered as proof of the power of certain totem animals over the lives of those they chose to guard and bless. This was especially true amongst Pacific Northwest Native American tribes and the Druids and Celtic people of the British Isles. Being bestowed with a totem animal guardian was a two-fold blessing- not only would you gain the strengths and abilities of the totem animal, but the tattoo also served as a mysterious link between the animal spirit and the bearer of its marks. Different animals provided different strengths and virtues to their receiver. Today, animal tattoos are wildly popular. Lower backs, upper backs, shoulders and arms abound which have been decorated with gentle butterflies, fearsome dragons, and deadly scorpions in hopes that these creatures merits will take hold.
Magical Reasons
Probably the most documented and understood of the magically charged tribal tattoos was for the purpose of love spells and charms. These tattoo magicians would mix special herbs and potent concoctions to their dyes and would apply the tattoo to a small, generally hidden area to activate the magic. Generally, these tattoos were kept hidden because it would be foolish for an old married woman to go around wearing the marks of a foolish youth. Today, who doesn't know someone who knows someone with an ex's name tattooed somewhere, whether they've covered it or removed now or not?
You can find a tribal style fairy, Hawaiian themed designs, African inspired prints, and Celtic crosses (both pagan and Christian), and even Maori facial tribal art. But it appears that the ancient superstition still prevails.
Why are Tribal Designs so Popular?
The popularity of tribal tattoos lies in the meaning behind them. In ancient times, tattoos were used for two primary reasons: to mark a person as a member (or nonmember) of the local group or to express religious, magical or spiritual beliefs and convictions. Those same reasons a prompting more and more men and women to seek out tribal art tattoos.
The appeal lies in the fact that having this tribal art, regardless of the symbol or the country of origin, is that it helps us to reinforce our positive feelings about ourselves, and allows us to connect in some way to an element of mysterious ancient activity. By simply limiting the number of colors you use and the way your lines are drawn and suddenly, a simple dragon, butterfly or eagle has transformed itself into a totem to be worn proudly and permanently.
The Final Destination for Your Tribal Design
Fortunately for tribal art enthusiasts, there is hardly any place where a tribal tattoo CANT go!
Probably the most popular of all is the armband, be they flames, barbed wire or intricate knot work. Tribal suns are great for chests and shoulders. There are tons of tribal designs that are ideal circling places like navels and nipples. There is also some really amazing tribal art designed for the upper back, and some very seductive pieces fashioned to adorn the lower back or tailbone area.
The fact remains that when it comes to tribal tattooing, it can work for anyone- male or female, young or old. All you need is a little creativity and a great design!!
