I'm thinking about a tattoo...

[seXieleXie]

it is not an outright lie to talk about how the symbol is a variation on the yin-yang concept that they have probably seen before. it's about a balance between forces in your life, and how each part is not complete without the others.

 

[RisiaSkye]

I love tattoos and, as many know, other kinds of body mod. I have several brands and one largish tattoo of a baby dragon unfolding its wings, which I've had for seven years or so. I have two further tats planned, a honey bee on a flower (the literal translation of my sister's name) and a phoenix (the literal translation of my life).

cym--people raise good questions about the Chinese character, I think. Not only is it a kinda "trendy" thing that's looked down upon by many (kinda like tribal tattoos on Anglos), but if the tat's done by one not versed in Chinese pictoforms, you run the risk of a misplaced line changing the meaning. Or, worse, someone versed in Chinese could misproduce it just to be spiteful--kinda like a carnie shortchanging the marks just for being dumb enough to allow it. You know how inkers are, having done this a while now; you know I'm not out in left field with that one.

I just this weekend saw a gorgeous version of The Symbol, with each third a different flower, the dot its pollen. The outer perimeter was marked in a thorned tendril of green. It was perfect for you, and now I'm wishing I had a picture of it. If I find anything similar, I'll send it along to you, as I bet you'd like it.

BTW, my dad's an untattooed biker. Something of a rarity, at least here in Cali. He's a rebel.

Willow: the pain question and the placement question go hand in hand. The closer the site is to a bone, the more it hurts. So, the hip hurts a good deal more than the breast or buttock, an ankle's more painful than a bicep. I'm told that the spine and feet hurt the most. So, you might want to factor that into your considerations.

 

[cymbidia]

Good thought, lexie. I can definitely sell it to my 14 year old as a modified yin-yang kinda symbol. I've had one of the BDSM Symbols on my keyring for years; she'll recognize it as the same thing.

R? Yes! Exactly right for me, that flowery Symbol, and definitely true to the meaning behind all its parts, but...pretty. I need it to be pretty. (Remember when i bought that clear lucite and royal blue rubber toilet plunger because it was way prettier then the others. Turned out it didn't work, sadly, just went inside out when i needed to use it. Lesson learned about "pretty"?)(Nah!)

If you could get a pic or a really clear description, R? I wouldn't copy it directly, i'd change it a bit to retain the originality of the original, if they desired that.

 

[seXieleXie]

i really want a tatoo, but i'm such a wimp about pain.
*sigh*
and depressingly poor, too.


but some day

 

[Never]

I don't want to sound flip but...
What is the appeal of a tattoo?

 

[RisiaSkye]

For me, any tattoo I would choose must mean many things, reflect my life and self-knowledge, be placed in such a way as to be visible or invisible according to my style of dress and presentation, and be done by a person whose style and content meshes with what I wish the ink to express. Tattoos are, first and perhaps most primally, a way of choosing and ritualizing the scars that we wear--a way of marking your own body with the symbols that resonate with your own identity and the rites of passage in your life. Also, as a masochist, it gives me the chance to use that pain-impulse in a way that brings that part of my identity literally to the surface.

For example, the dragon I wear means several things to me. Its emergence and unfolding represents where I was in my life--a young adult, just emerging from a traumatic past and finding my own power and strength, much like the dragon finds its wings. Also, dragons are mythologically linked with the creation and preservation of knowledge, a role I hope to emulate. Further, the fire-breathing dragon is the force of change; the fire-breath destroys, but in the wake of its destruction comes a wave of new growth and knowledge. This too mirrors my life experience, in which I've learned the most from the situations which were the most dangerous and/or destructive. Finally, and most incidentally, the Dragon is the Chinese Zodiac symbol of my partner. The fact that my tattoo predates our union just means that I look upon that particular confluence with my life as a fortuitous coincidence.

I would never choose a tattoo or other body modification quickly or without thought, or have it done strictly off of the "flash" (the pictures on an inkers walls), as I want my tats to reflect my mental picture of the symbol, and the artistic style of the inker. Also, like my emotional scars, I want them visible, but only if and when I choose to show them. Inside and out, nobody gets the full "picture" of me unless I allow them to do so. Thus, placement is also very important to me.

Of course, that's just me. I don't know what the appeal is for others.

 

[seXieleXie]

no lie, i just think they look cool. it may not be a good enough answer for some, but that's why i would get one.

 

[seXieleXie]

I would never choose a tattoo or other body modification quickly or without thought, or have it done strictly off of the "flash" (the pictures on an inkers walls), as I want my tats to reflect my mental picture of the symbol, and the artistic style of the inker. Also, like my emotional scars, I want them visible, but only if and when I choose to show them. Inside and out, nobody gets the full "picture" of me unless I allow them to do so. Thus, placement is also very important to me.

this part too

 

[Etoile]

Just out of curiosity because it got linked to...has anybody ever been to Hellfire in NYC? It is very near my top's apartment and we have gone there together; I ended up putting on a show (because I was told to, of course) which was kind of interesting.

 

[NemoAlia]

All right -- I'm bumping a thread with a lot of nostalgic names on it for me to say: I've figured out what my tattoo would be if I ever got one!

Fingerprint ID confirmed. Hello (insert husband's name here).

 

[ammre]

My currant AV is a picture of the tattoo i have on my back. The original conception was that the top of the rose was to be at the nape of my neck and the vines were to end at the top of my rear. ALAS, i got this tattoo at the age of 17, my mother took me. She took me becasue she knew if she did she could have a say in how it looked instead of waited for me to go off to college and get anything i wanted in any way i wanted. So to compromise i made it smaller.. it's about 4inches high and 2 wide... at the base of my spine.
To me it actually means delicate but strong. It's from the trilogy by Jacqueline carey the first one called "Kushiel's dart". The main character is an "anguisette" which means that the gods have bledssed her to revice pleasure from any pain (even unwanted pain) granted she still felt the pain, but it was always accompanied by pleasure and most often an orgasm. She was also a spy and a courtsean. In her world being a Courtesean and havign patrons was a noteable job, not a sladerious profession. One of the book's sayings "That which yealds is not always weak". The tattoo design was on her "marque". Her tattoo upon her back that marked her as a legitimate courtesean skilled in the arts of nammah (their goddess of pleasure) and dedicated to nammah.

soo basically it means delicate but strong yeilding, but not weak, and beautiful.

I also have 5 white stars on my body. One on each wrist, one on each foot, and one ont he back of my neck. The 5 points i have them would makeup the five points of a star if i stood all outstreched. Those tattoos are sort of a "raising up" of myself. In grammer school i was the biggest outcast and i tried to kill myself and all that other bs that comes along with early puberty and school related trauma... but anyway, in highschool i rose above it all and became a well respected, nearly popular girl. There was once this quote, "Reach for the moon, so at least if you miss you'll still be amongst the stars" and while i'm not perfect and i never will be, if i keep reaching for it i'll keep staying amongst my stars... Their an everpresant reminder to try and better myself as best i can. I added a picture, you can see their White and barely visible unless you know you're looking for them. That was my intention as for the fact that i got them as a reminder to myself, not a fashion statement. ALSO, i hope to have a profeshional job and the areas i chose tend to be visible a lot of the time so i wanted them to be barely noticable.

as for pain... my feet hurt the most (i got them on the outside of my foot just below the ankle bone) the small of my back was the second in pain, but that one is also considerably larger and involved a lot more outline than the others so it would hurt more. the wrists are next in line, and last is my neck (the back of my neck just below the hairline) that actually barely hurt at all, my head kinda vibrated but it doidn't bother me.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

... but it certainly will not be this one:

chuckling ... i'd hope not WP.

i think your partner would bust out laughing every time you got undressed, but then humor is good for the soul.

Edited after contemplation.

she'd wear one of these two ...

or

 

[Etoile]

Wow, I don't remember this thread at all!

ammre, that is an awesome set of tats you have. I especially love the white ink concept. Truly beautiful.

 

[His Flower]

Re: I've got two tats, too.

I'm considering a third tat now.
It won't be another California poppy, though, for all that my daughter enthusiastically endorses the idea of a "scattered patch" of them in various places all over my body.

I need a good and ultimately trustworthy site for Chinese characters. Anyone?

I don't know what you're exactly looking for...but a good Chinese word is the word "crisis"..

It's pronounced "auy gay" - the first character means risk and the 2nd character means opportunity. So with risk comes opportunity.

And btw, if you need help with it, let me know....I've spent my whole life every weekend in chinese classes....

His Flower

 

[His Flower]

I'm just wondering guys...have anyone gotten a tattoo on the small of their back....and if you had....how much pain was involved?

Thanks

His Flower

 

[Texan Missy Jean]

I'm glad I found this thread. Lately I've been heavily considering getting a tattoo. It will be my first, and if I get it, most likely my only one. What I'd like to get is a tiny yellow rose bud right behind my inside ankle bone on my right foot. I'm hoping it will be back away from the bone enough that it won't hurt too badly.

Ammre, I love that rose tattoo. It's beautiful. Thank you for also sharing the meaning behind it.

 

[TwistaFate]

tattooing

yes indeed, get one, get three, just make sure whatever you get, you can live with, its going to be with you for a long while, make sure it has some meaning to you, that you will not regret getting one, and i have to say this, i know alot of you out there will not agree, but getting a name put on you is not the best thing to do, you never know whats going to happen from day to day, why have a reminder of a bad situation........

 

[ammre]

I'm just wondering guys...have anyone gotten a tattoo on the small of their back....and if you had....how much pain was involved?

Thanks

His Flower

heh... thanks etoile and texan missy...

as for pain.. my rose is at the small of my back... "it's about 4inches high and 2 wide... at the base of my spine." and "the small of my back was the second in pain, but that one is also considerably larger and involved a lot more outline than the others so it would hurt more." I mentioned that before... Since the area is bonier you'll probably feel it more... but when it comes down to it i'd rather spend the 45 min getting tattoo pain that stubbing my toe... The outline hurts the most becasue they take their time doing it. filling it in takes less time because they go over the areas quicker... There's worse (read: more painful) spots for a tat besides the small. of the back but it's pretty good up on the list...

If it helps.. my sister who used to passs out when my mom changed her earrings got a tattoo on the small of her back... she didn't even pass out...

 

[His Flower]

heh... thanks etoile and texan missy...

as for pain.. my rose is at the small of my back... "it's about 4inches high and 2 wide... at the base of my spine." and "the small of my back was the second in pain, but that one is also considerably larger and involved a lot more outline than the others so it would hurt more." I mentioned that before... Since the area is bonier you'll probably feel it more... but when it comes down to it i'd rather spend the 45 min getting tattoo pain that stubbing my toe... The outline hurts the most becasue they take their time doing it. filling it in takes less time because they go over the areas quicker... There's worse (read: more painful) spots for a tat besides the small. of the back but it's pretty good up on the list...

If it helps.. my sister who used to passs out when my mom changed her earrings got a tattoo on the small of her back... she didn't even pass out...

Thank you ammre. That certainty did help a lot and though i wasnt planning on getting a tattoo anytime soon, but eventually. The thought scares me....but I guess I'll survive

His Flower

 

[dragonlace]

I have a tat that too me a long time to finally get right.....I drew it myself because i wanted it to be something that was uniquely mine and if i was going to have it forever i wanted it to be a part of me.........i would love to get more but have to wait til Master agrees to allow me more but here is the tat i have.......its located on my shoulder and is about 4x6.

 

[eryka1981]

Hey i like that

perhaps

hey, why don't img tags work on this forum? *pouts*

That would be a great tat i am looking for new and original ones for me and my best freind to get on our necks any ideas? And yes we are that close!!

 

[Solitude]

I have a tat that too me a long time to finally get right.....I drew it myself because i wanted it to be something that was uniquely mine and if i was going to have it forever i wanted it to be a part of me.........i would love to get more but have to wait til Master agrees to allow me more but here is the tat i have.......its located on my shoulder and is about 4x6.

it's beautiful lacey. you're more talented than I even realized.

 

[Arden]

Solitude is right, it's absolutely beautiful!

 

[gypsy_wind101]

my tattoo

i am kinda jumping in the middle of this thread and admit i didnt read everyone's post...but with the original question about the tattoo...i have not regretted my tattoo at all...as far as the pain...yeah it does hurt but it isnt this unbearable pain...the first little shocks were the worse to me...i got mine low on my ankle and it is small so that may be why it didnt hurt too terribly...just make sure you take a look at the artist's work or ask around....getting a bad tattoo sucks....i have some friends who arent pleased with theirs...they were out and just walk in somewhere they didnt know ...and they are kinda disappointed...but as for me i love my tiny little butterfly...

 

[WillowPuss]

I finally did it ...

... and today I went and had a tattoo.

It is the initials of Master and myself, side by side. His is a capital letter, mine smaller case.

The pain ws bearable ... but I will not be running back to get another anytime soon - unless told to, of course.