Religious tattoos, what are your thoughts?

[KylalaKitty]

I been thinking about getting a tattoo of a pentacle for awhile but I have to wonder if religious tattoos are even a good idea period. What if your Christian, get a tattoo of a cross and then years down the road decide not to be Christian anymore? Your kinda stuck with tattoos for life. What are your opinions on religious tattoos? Do you have one? (pics would be awesome) What made you decide on getting one if you do have one? Have you ever thought of getting one and why did you not? If I do decide on getting my pentacle it'd just be something small, with maybe a small moon and a small sun on both sides on my back where the heart chakra is.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

[Caitlin.ann]

I think if you're going to get one it better have more meaning to you than what your religion is now, because religion can so easily change.

I have zero tattoos by the way. Mainly out of respect for my parents because I still live at home, but also because I'm indecisive.

[Isabel]

I'm torn on tattoos, religious or not.

I have been Pagan for 10 years, but my path has changed at least five times. As I learn and grow, my beliefs change. So, if I were to get a religious tattoo, I would make sure that it was something that could change with me. If that makes any sense...

[Zibblsnrt]

I'm generally indifferent on tattoos as a concept, though there's several on other people that I can appreciate usually for aesthetic reasons. Religious ones could be as much a sign of devotion as anything else, and I generally have the opinion that people can do what they want in that regard, seeing as it's their body. (Of course it gets fuzzier if a religion forbids them, as some do.) I have no interest in getting any myself, and on the religious angle it's probably hard to properly illustrate being an agnostic anyway.

I reserve the right to continue being amused at people who get tattoos in languages they aren't literate in, though. That goes so very, very wrong so very, very often...

[[V]]

I wouldnt do it. I've watched myself tear down my dearest beliefs so many times, no way would I want to commit to something like that.

However, I do have a chaos star tattoo on my wrist. But, that represents my single ultimate philosophy in which all my spiritual views are built under. Not really a religious mark.

[Chicory_Witch]

I have a horse tattoo and I'm considering getting the celtic triple spiral for spiritual reasons, not necessarily religious ones.

[new_hope]

I wouldn't get a tattoo that is specific to a religious path, but rather, a tattoo that represents my basic beleifs. For example, I wouldn't get a pentagram, but I would consider getting a leaf.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

Angel on one shoulder , devil on the other...:hi5:

Mischevious Faery in middle of back...:bigredgri

That should cover my bases...:smileroll

[Æon Flux]

Most symbols work on many different levels. I have a tattoo based of a Japanese sea dragon. (in black ink though, I don't like colored ink on myself)
It can be seen as purely symbolic, in connection to Buddhism and can be tied to tradition as well.

Crosses aren't exclusively a Christian symbol just like pentagrams aren't exclusively a Wiccan symbol.

My tattoo has many different meanings to me. I have a strong fascination with Buddhism, I have a strong fascination with Japanese culture, but more than anything else the imagery, the feeling and the connection to the sea that this particular symbol holds for me is the reason I acquired it.
It also serves as a reminder that I made my way through difficult times and came out a stronger human being. That I have conquered mental illness, years of bullying, eating disorders and come out of it on top.

I am an atheist. However I could definitely see myself getting more tattoos that might seem religious to others but to me have a purely symbolic value.

[indigo rain]

i have a tat on my lower back of a palm tree representing the tree of life with two elephants, my totems, flanking it, and a sigil for my craft name at the base of the tree. like most people, my path changed several times when i first got into witchcraft and wicca, but when i got to the point that was "right" for me, i knew there was going to be growth still, but that i had the direction right. so i got my tat done. you have to be sure. if you're questioning it... you don't have that "right" feeling and you shouldn't do it.

[Toby Stimpson]

I think it really depends on the person. Ultimately different symbols mean more to people than simple religious expression. I think the same thing can be said with any tattoo you get, years down the road you may look at it and regret having it.

But, that being said, a tattoo can be a sign of identity and it can reinforce identity. A friend o mine whom I miss very much got a tattoo and it was from her religion. She got a stylized Farovahar (she's Parsee) with the Zoroastrian creed written around it in Avestan. Now for her, being Zoroastrian is a lot more than a religion, it's a culture and ethnicity. Her parents freaked out... but she did a clever thing. It's against the religion to deface something which has a religious significance, so she couldn't get it removed if her parents really disagreed with it.

[Tanya]

if you believe something, its in you, its who you are and I don't see why you shouldn't have it on your skin. and if you change... well.. then its just a mark of where you have been like every other mark on your body.... don't worry about it

I have my totem on me
here it is:

[DracoJesi]

Edit: I second what Tanya said, and to quote REO Speedwagon, You are everything you know, everyone you feel, all you revel, all that you hide..... everything you cant with without, all you leave behind, you are everything you feel"

I love tattoos and am looking to get some but I wouldn't get just anything.

I am and always will be on the path that I am now, I know this, it may seem to change but will not. I have a very universal outlook and made sure that before I committed to any spiritual tradition that it would let be freely explore and practice aspects of others... And I just don't see myself becoming a follower of any religion that claims to be the only way, so far spiritual or religious tattoos go I think I'm pretty safe here.

Any mindset powerful enough to abandon my universal approach would surely be strong enough for me to use any means to get them removed, no matter how painful.... not at all worried about it... I know what forces move me and how they manifest on all paths in some way or another.

But again, I have a universal outlook that makes me comfortable combining traditions and reconciling differences and that nature will never go away, it's who I am. so this isn't that hard of a question for me, maybe I'm a fool, we'll see.

That said, the following is quoting a note from my facebook:

1. The Golden Rule, I want a list of the various forms this universal law has taken among various cultures and religions. Many different paths, same message. I'm thinking it will be on one of my arms...

2. The 7 Hermetic Principals, another list, will probably be on the opposite arm the first one is on....

3. Religious Tolerance, some design, such as the well known Coexist sign, to promote tolerance, it will most likely incorporate the ideal of all paths leading to the same place, all gods being one God.....

4. Tree of Life, I want to get the tree of life on my back (this is a huge one and is doubtful to be the first), both as the Occult diagram and symbolic tree, a Willow tree.... with the top sphere not just being white, but a yin/yang sign to show Divine duality, and perhaps I will also have the Chakra's aligned accordingly along the tree.... I will also include two Dragons most likely, one light, one dark,again to represent duality... They may very well be Eastern Dragons, to better represent flowing of Divine energy...
(I prefer the look of Western Dragons but don't think they are the best choice for this one)

5. A Pentacle, yes, you knew it was coming, it will be on one of my shoulders, and it may have a Western Dragon on it, not to cover up the Pentacle much at all, but I don't want to Dragon to look scrawny either..... but then, I may incorporate my Western Dragon somewhere else...

6. A Seal, much like a Pentacle, but with other symbols, that I'm designing, it will have the Pentacle, Triquetra, Yin/Yang, Divine Knot and others as part of a unified seal....

7. I'm still thinking about other ones, but if I ever find a Blue Star Coven, (I've been interested in this tradition for some time because of it's eclectic nature) you can be sure I'm going to get that initiatory tattoo on my left wrist, it's not required, but it's tradition, and sign of the commitment one puts forth to learn any spiritual tradition.

[thought_on_a_wind]

I been thinking about getting a tattoo of a pentacle for awhile but I have to wonder if religious tattoos are even a good idea period. What if your Christian, get a tattoo of a cross and then years down the road decide not to be Christian anymore? Your kinda stuck with tattoos for life. What are your opinions on religious tattoos? Do you have one? (pics would be awesome) What made you decide on getting one if you do have one? Have you ever thought of getting one and why did you not? If I do decide on getting my pentacle it'd just be something small, with maybe a small moon and a small sun on both sides on my back where the heart chakra is.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?
Well, I'd never get the cross... and going from christianity may very well allow one to regret the first... but, I've had friends that went from paganism strictly, back into Christianity, and because of their realization that the pentagram or pentacle is not evil, they could still appreciate that symbol.

If you ask me, the pentacle or pentagram is universal...

[patch]

I have one tattoo planned, with religious significance. I want the word 'excellence' written on my wrist in greek. It will be a small, unassuming tattoo; but it will be in a place that I can see and it will represent several different things to me.

Even if my practices vary greatly in future (which is unlikely), this will always have significance to me no matter what.

If you're worried that your practices or beliefs will change in future and that the tattoo will not mean anything to you; then maybe the concept it represents isn't meaningful enough now for you merge it with your skin? :)

[Lupabitch]

Here's my thought on my tattoos: they mark a specific important point in my life. Therefore even if I change, which I inevitably will, I still have that tangible and visible connection to the person I was before at those varying points.

I recently had a divorce from Taylor; a very amicable divorce, but a divorce nonetheless. When we got married, we each got a tattoo that symbolized the other person to us. Neither one of us is going to remove or alter those tattoos, because even if the marriage no longer exists, it was an incredibly important part of both of our lives.

I do make sure that all my ink is very personal to me. I wouldn't do something nearly so generic as a pentacle because, quite honestly, if that's all I can think of, then I haven't thought about it long enough. Yes, two of my tattoos involve wolves, but they're very specific designs with a lot of personal meaning that has nothing to do with stuff in your average totem dictionary, and there's more to them than just the wolves.

[Caelestis ♥ Raven]

If you're worried that your practices or beliefs will change in future and that the tattoo will not mean anything to you; then maybe the concept it represents isn't meaningful enough now for you merge it with your skin? :)

I agree.

Personally I am confident that my own beliefs will not change. I will grow and redefine some aspects but this is what I believe and know. That won't change.

I think if you were not there that it might not be a good idea, but at the same time I agree with Lupabitch. This part isn't erased from your life just because you change. You can always look back and see how it affected you and made you who you are then.

I know I will get more tattoos and very likely that one will be a symbol of my spirituality. Though I have to find that most perfect image for it lol

[TuathaSidhe]

You need to think if the tattoo is still going to mean something to you years down the road, even if its not exactly the same thing as when you first got it.

Tats should mean something to you, not just on a religious level but others as well. Most religions also have symbols that are universal, so you could also find something that has more than one meaning.

And some good advice from other posters to!

Good luck.

[Nuadu]

I think it really depends on the person. Ultimately different symbols mean more to people than simple religious expression. I think the same thing can be said with any tattoo you get, years down the road you may look at it and regret having it.

But, that being said, a tattoo can be a sign of identity and it can reinforce identity.

Id agree with that I have a few tattoo's that I still like as much as the day I got them done and they are as important to my sense of cultural identity as they are to my religious belief. I have others that were that arent as cool anymore cos as the beliefs themselves stopped being as significant the image stopped being cool.

That said I still dig them as designs and thats all tattoos are. Cool looking designs. No one but me looks at my favorite tattoos and thinks 'religion' they just think 'cool' or 'crap' or 'I dont like tattoos'.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4160039719_81be9fc785_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4160039715_31cf8cee78_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4160039711_f35dd81489_m.jpg

[brymble]

For those of us who aren't "The Religion of the Month Club", for whom religion and spirituality is more than something you're "into" as a trendy hobby or a fashion accessory, and who live, embrace, and grow through the challenges of spirit, rather than running sulkily away from a system that makes us face things we are uncomfortable with, can't control, or don't like, I can't really see why religious tattoos would be a problem.

Coming from the perspective of someone who's serious about tattoo, most people who get religious tattoos aren't generally planning on changing their religion to match their outfits, have seriously considered both the tattoo and its significance, and genuinely want the symbol permanently marked on their body.

If something as important and basic to one's core identity as religion is something that you can't foresee committing to, then you probably shouldn't be considering something as permanent as a tattoo at all, be it religious or otherwise. They're not just fashion statements, and no, you can't "just have it removed" or get a quick-and-easy cover-up.

[KylalaKitty]

Everyone had some pretty good points. I really dont think my path will change much because I had to fight for so long to stay on it (my mother was so angry with me and would tell me all the time that I'm going to hell and dragging her with me, and that everything was my fault because of my devil worshiping religion, and ppl at school would mess with me about it) but sh*t happens and ppl change, thats why I'm kinda concerned. But I've been thinking about getting a pentacle tat on and off for years now, not for days or weeks. I had an ex boyfriend who changed religions as often as he changed his socks and ended up getting spiritual and religions tattoos that I'm sure means nothing to him now.

For all those against pentacle tattoos, I agree with thought_on_a_wind (http://mysticwicks.com/member.php?u=9313), that the pentacle or pentagram is kinda universal.

[skilly-nilly]

I agree with Lupa-- a classical 'religious symbol' probably isn't personal enough to remain meaningful over time or even as a 'point-of-time' marker. When my son was younger I used the rule that he had to want the same tattoo for 6 months before considering getting it.

I have all religious tattoos but none are actually religious symbols:

maple leaf with an eye in it

woad-coloured knotwork wristband

the 5 phases of the moon with an acorn and oak leaf wristband

circular point of shoulder new moon with a birch leaf and catkin

elaborate knotwork crow along one collarbone

next I want to get the three rabbits:

[brymble]

I've had my pentacle tat for 16 or 17 years.

[Cloaked Raven]

I have an ankh on my upper left arm... Although that could be considered a "religious" tattoo by some, to me it just represents life and rebirth... Which could be carried over into almost any path that I may follow in the future.

Personally, I would never get anything overtly symbolic of any religion tattooed on my body just in case my path evolves into something else. But that's just me. :weirdsmil

[Lupabitch]

Here's another thing--I don't assume that my religion will never change. Assuming I have another 4-5 decades left, and I've been pagan for a decade and change (with detours into stuff like chaos magic), there's no telling what may happen. My paganism now is certainly very little like my paganism 12 years ago.

I think sometimes people assume that when a person changes their religion, they were never really serious about their previous religion. Which is utter bullhockey. It's an annoyingly all-or-nothing dichotomy that I hate. Truth: people change and evolve. Sometimes that means we change religions over time, and there's nothing wrong with it. It doesn't mean you were never really into something for the time you were there, and for other people to judge you from the outside is short-sighted on their part.

IMO, the only consideration with a religious tattoo is that you can look at your past without shame and say "Hey, that's where I was then, and this was important to the person I was then". Again, why I'm not changing any of my existing tats, to include the one from a now-defunct marriage.

[Pagan's Sword]

At last count I have 13 tattoos, including 4 that are what can be called pagan oriented. I even have a couple that I sorta regret, but I would never change them or cover them up. My reasoning is they remind me of a certain place and time in my life. I've had them so long they are a part of who I am. Even the stupid ones serve a purpose, they remind me not to get tattoos on impulse. As far as my religious path goes, if it changes in the future that would be OK as well. Why? NEW TATTOOS, of course! Yup, bottom line is I'm addicted to the ink. :thumbsup:

[Erebos]

I don't like tattoos much in general. They make women look butch (which is okay I guess if that's the look she's going for), and they make guys look weird unless they're muscular. Of course, that's just my personal taste :cutie:

I would say that if a person is going to get a tattoo, it should be something they can live with. Maybe instead of a religious symbol, it would be good to get a tattoo of something related to a particular deity, like a type of flower, animal, or the sun or moon.

[Meadhbh]

If thats what you want to do, then go for it. But if your worried about changing religions later on maybe making it something general rather than a pentacle or something like that. I don't have any tattos myself I like the way they look. But when I'm eighty years old I think they would look a little odd.

[Lupabitch]

I don't like tattoos much in general. They make women look butch (which is okay I guess if that's the look she's going for)

Wait, seriously? You mean every model on Suicide Girls is butch? And I look butch for having ink? I think you and I have very different opinions of what constitutes "butch".

[GoldenOak]

I have 4 tattoos that are reminders of my spirituality and dedications of my devotion, one of which is a shamrock blossom with it's 5 petals spaced evenly out, which could form a pentagram if one looked at it with that thought in mind, but it looks to be just a flower blossom to most people. (BTW, my avatar is of purple shamrock blossoms.) If one decides to get a religious or spiritual tattoo, I would suggest getting it in a place that can be covered up easily, if needed. Especially a pentagram. A lot of fundie christians believe that the pentagram is evil and will have nothing to do with people who have a pentagram tattoo. Which may be all fine and dandy until one needs to do business with one of those same fundies.

[DracoJesi]

I agree with Lupa-- a classical 'religious symbol' probably isn't personal enough to remain meaningful over time or even as a 'point-of-time' marker. When my son was younger I used the rule that he had to want the same tattoo for 6 months before considering getting it.

I have all religious tattoos but none are actually religious symbols:

maple leaf with an eye in it

woad-coloured knotwork wristband

the 5 phases of the moon with an acorn and oak leaf wristband

circular point of shoulder new moon with a birch leaf and catkin

elaborate knotwork crow along one collarbone

next I want to get the three rabbits:

Now that is clever! :)

[Élistariel]

I'll have to read the other replies later.

If I did get one it would have to be for me and me alone. Not in a place readily visible to the world.
My thought about tattoos that show the world things about yourself, be it your own name or your religion is this:
If you cannot take a few seconds to ask me yourself, then you don't deserve to know.

On a side note, why do some people get their own name tattooed on themselves? Are they afraid they'll forget?

[Tanya]

Wait, seriously? You mean every model on Suicide Girls is butch? And I look butch for having ink? I think you and I have very different opinions of what constitutes "butch".

I like that it makes me look butch...lol.. even though I'm straight.

[Cunae]

I like tattoos so much that I thought about opening a tattoo shop (I would hire an artist or artists). I wanted to call it "Faith Tattoos" a place for Christians to get spiritual tattoos without feeling condemned.

[Pagan's Sword]

On a side note, why do some people get their own name tattooed on themselves? Are they afraid they'll forget?

Are you kidding? If it wasn't for the fact that as an apartment dweller, I tend to move from place to place every 3-5 years, I'd get my address tattooed on me! Or something like, "If found please return to....." :crazyman:

[Caelestis ♥ Raven]

I don't like tattoos much in general. They make women look butch

lol yeah my tiny pink butterfly is so butch :T

[PepperMintFairy]

Personally i cant wait to get a tattoo. But you should definately think about it seriously before getting one. you could try doing henna first to see if you are happy with it. that way if your not, it will just fade away.
when i'm old enough i would like to get tons of tattoos. some small ones i want to get are symbols of strength and protection behind my ears. very small and subtle.

[parallax]

I been thinking about getting a tattoo of a pentacle for awhile but I have to wonder if religious tattoos are even a good idea period. What if your Christian, get a tattoo of a cross and then years down the road decide not to be Christian anymore? Your kinda stuck with tattoos for life. What are your opinions on religious tattoos? Do you have one? (pics would be awesome) What made you decide on getting one if you do have one? Have you ever thought of getting one and why did you not? If I do decide on getting my pentacle it'd just be something small, with maybe a small moon and a small sun on both sides on my back where the heart chakra is.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

I have a tattoo that is spiritually inspiring to me but not explicitly religious. I don't think I'd ever get something that is too specific because my beliefs have changed over the years but my search has not.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4379294079_c6fcbd1b2d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/parallax/4379294079/)

[parallax]

Here's my thought on my tattoos: they mark a specific important point in my life. Therefore even if I change, which I inevitably will, I still have that tangible and visible connection to the person I was before at those varying points.



Yes, that is exactly how I feel as well.

[BryonMorrigan]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4379294079_c6fcbd1b2d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/parallax/4379294079/)

Uh-oh! A member of the monotheist terrorist group, Soldiers of the One!

Sorry...Caprica joke..

http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Soldiers_of_the_One

[sidhe]

I have a heptagram at the base of my spine. That's it for religious tattoos. All the other tattoos are purely for amusement. :D

[HecticEclectic]

I have an OM symbol on my back. I gave it much thought over the course of a year before I had it done; I wanted something with great personal significance to me. I've had it for 6 years now, and still love it!

[SilverNightShade]

i have a tattoo of a religious symbol. I have an ankh and within te top oval i have a yin-yang inside. I thought i had a pic but i don't. I chose it for what i feel it means to me rather than the religion connotation. The yin-yang is a symbol of balance to remind me there is light within the dark and dark within the light. I got the ankh part for the symbolism of fertility and eternity and i have always loved ankhs.

i think if you're christian and you really believe in what he cross stand for, that if you do decide to change over the cross will still have a special meaning for you, whether or not you belong to the religion.
But then, i have a very holistic look on religion.

[BlackSwan]

Personally I want to get a black swan (no religious ties) because of what it symbolizes (my soul mate is music). Second, I wanted to get the eye of horus-- a symbol I've loved since I was a little girl, also because i've always loved Egyptian history.

The last isn't purely religious, but it does have religious ties. As far as other symbols go, if I were to get a triquetra tattoo, I feel that it would be alright if you were very connected with your religion. Even if it does change later on, that religion will have always been a part of you and has partially made you the person you will be when/if you were to have change of thoughts. I feel that the tattoo would be representative of your journey, for lack of a better word.

[Solya]

To each their own. I am also thinking about getting a tattoo done within a few years from now, but it won't be something other people will recognise as religious in nature. It is, however, something of high spiritual meaning to me as a person. It represents what I have stood for in the past 21 years of my life and what I hope to continue carrying with me in this world. To me, it is a symbol of my strength and my belief in what's good and right. Whether or not I will have the same in the future does not matter to me. What matters is this given moment on which I feel that this is what makes me the powerful person I am. That is something I will carry with me always.

[aponi]

I am literred with tattoos. Good and bad. From ones I've done myself that mimic emoticons with who-ville hair to the one that meets your description. Even though my ink may not be the caliber of "Miami Ink" they all mean a tremendous amount to me. Yes, even the smiley face on my ankle. I have a half sleeve for the egyptian God Thoth that represents the story of him saving the eye of Ra. It means more to me than any tattoo I've ever gotten! But I also have to explain it every time I meet someone, and I have to grin and bear it when the occassional conservative southerner wants to spit bible all over it. It's the price you pay for literally putting your heart on your sleeve.

I never suggest getting a tattoo to anyone who hasn't seriously considered it's permanent nature and emotional value. Not saying you haven't considered that, I'm just a snob when it comes to the one of the most ancient forms of spiritual art. I can't stand it when people get "tribal" tattoos or tramp stamps just to say they have ink. It's not cute and it's not hardcore.

[Twinkle]

I love the idea of religious tattoos, and I love to see them on other people.

The idea of me getting one makes me anxious, though. I am constantly learning and adapting my views to the facts, and I'd hate to get a tattoo that is not appropriate to what I practice.

So I think I'll just wait until I'm done learning...which means I'll never get a tattoo. :(

[StormVixen]

I have "cernunnos" on my right wrist, when inspireation comes to me will get a goddess on my left...

i have 2 of my "totems" as tattoos, a Vixen on my right hip, which was recently redone a million times better by Ben Boston (Bristol UK), Ben also covered a heartagram and my ex's name with a Blackbird pirched on Hawthorne which is on my ankle but not fully healed yet.

I love my tats and i hope i always will... but i dont think i could trust anyone but Ben to ink me now... he is just awesome (better than miami ink IMHO).

[Invidosa]

Actually, all my tattoos are spiritual in nature, the most obviously so I suppose would be my triple moon on my ankle http://www.mysticwicks.com/picture.php?albumid=615&pictureid=6280

I also have a tattoo (my first actually) of a figure representing the Babylonian God Marduko on my shoulder
http://www.mysticwicks.com/picture.php?albumid=615&pictureid=6278 Actually, this was interesting, I choose the image because I felt drawn to it in my art history studies, over the years I realized that I was drawn to the Babylonian pantheon as well!

Both (to me) represent spiritual beliefs I have held for all my life, beliefs I held before I even knew what "Pagan" meant, so I don't think those core values will ever change.

That said, I spend at least a year contemplating tattoo design before I put my butt in the artists chair. I don't think I could personally ever get a tattoo that did not have significant spiritual meaning. Its a marking, a brand, a promise that you are forced to keep and as such I want to be sure that the message I am sending out into the universe by making that choice is one that is meaningful enough that I want to continusly ring that bell for all my living days.

Forgive me for sounding melodramatic, but tattoos are extremely strong juju to me, I love every one of mine dearly!

My brother is also a big fan of religious body art, he got this: http://mysticwicks.com/album.php?albumid=913&pictureid=9452

and now that Im done babbling about my ink, I think there is nothing wrong with getting religious tattoos (obviously!) as long as you realize that doing so is making a promise of spirit to honor those ideals (even if you dont' follow them) for always. And I would hope that anyone getting any tattoo would take it seriously. . . I mean you dont' want to be the old lady in the nursing home with an foot long evil clown inked onto your wrinkly arm cause you thought it looked bad ass when you were 20. . . right?

so choose carefully!

[VioletJadeWolf]

My opinion on religious tattoos: do whatever makes you happy. I plan to get the following:

-Pentacle on the back of my neck
-Buddhist chant "Om mani padme hum" on my left forearm
-Wolf (my totem animal) on my chest.

[Sionnach le Fey]

I love tattoos, especially spiritual ones.

I have an ankh tattooed between my shoulders. I plan on getting a few more, too.

[Catiana]

I have 8 tats all together, and 2 of the are religious. For me, I felt that if down the road I would happen to change religions, they would be a reminder of an important time in my life when I held those beliefs.

[KylalaKitty]

I never suggest getting a tattoo to anyone who hasn't seriously considered it's permanent nature and emotional value. Not saying you haven't considered that, I'm just a snob when it comes to the one of the most ancient forms of spiritual art. I can't stand it when people get "tribal" tattoos or tramp stamps just to say they have ink. It's not cute and it's not hardcore.

No joke. Anyway, I had a ex bf, while we were dating, get Know Thy Self in greek on his back and this was a man that pretty much been through every world religion and still couldn't make up his mind. He changed religions as often as his socks, so yeah, he regretted the tattoo shortly after he got it. Then after we broke up he got some German rune on one of his upper arms, since we dont talk I dont know if he ended up regretting that one too but I'm betting money he did/does.

[Ladysadefairy]

its kewl that people like to do that ...

but i wouldnt..as if i were to suddenly stop with religion all together ..I'd wouldnt want a tattoo stating my religion in a way....( no offence to anyone )

[rawrTigress]

Here is my pentacle tattoo. I got it when I was 19 and have been very happy with it <3http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs187.snc1/6280_1102569408353_1350248986_30251059_1087609_n.jpg

[fay]

You should definately think about it seriously before getting one. you could try doing henna first to see if you are happy with it. that way if your not, it will just fade away.

I totally agree with this. I think that if you are considering getting a tattoo, religious or otherwise, then you should really think about it and make sure that it is definitely what you want. Do you want a tattoo in that place, do you want a tattoo about that particular thing, do you definitely want that particular design? It is important that you understand that you are marking your body in a permanent way. I think that tattoos should mean something to the person who has them. If you want something for a long time before you get it then chances are you will still want it for a long time after.

[minimuse]

I would say get one that represented your spirituality and not religion. I have five tattoos and my most recent is a moon over my heart (it might look like a banana later in life, but I'm prepared for that). I have decided that all mine will follow a nature theme, though (for the future ones :))
Regardless of what you choose to do, make sure it is something that is special to you. You could go back and do a cover-up, but even those are limited based on what you're trying to cover.

[tapestry]

I have some very visible spiritual ink. I don't any of my ink makes me butch, that's funny! I completely agree with the people who stated that if you move on to another path, it will always be a reminder of a time in your life. I love hearing ink stories and meanings from people.

[Secretsofthesoul]

If you are absolutely sure of your path then sure, but who knows? I say the same thing as the others mostly, if you get one make sure it can change meanings as you change. Or you could get a new tattoo to cover the old.
Personally, I think a Pentacle tattoo would be fine, since it has multiple meanings:

http://www.freetattoodesigns.org/star-tattoos.html

[Wandering Bear]

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

I have been in a similar predicament. I've always been a fan of tattoos, so, of course, I've always wanted one, and religious tattoos always have a special meaning for the individual getting the tat.

However, my religious/spiritual beliefs have changed over the years a couple of times. If I would've gotten a tattoo each time that I wanted one, I would have Thor's hammer, the Baphomet sigil, a pentagram, and a crucifix, at the very least. An odd collection, indeed, hahaha.

That being said, I have noticed a few symbols that have stuck with me throughout my life, no matter my spiritual beliefs. These symbols are the ones that I plan on getting permanently inked onto my body.

So, my advice is to wait for a few years, and see if any symbols seem to stick with you even if your path changes.

[Cassie]

That being said, I have noticed a few symbols that have stuck with me throughout my life, no matter my spiritual beliefs. These symbols are the ones that I plan on getting permanently inked onto my body.

So, my advice is to wait for a few years, and see if any symbols seem to stick with you even if your path changes.
I agree with that. It is worth waiting until certain images become fixed in your mind. However you may also be comfortable with designs that reflect what was important to you at a certain point in time even if your thoughts and beliefs change or develop as time goes by. The symbols you have tattooed on you then represent important landmarks in your life and while your beliefs may change those "landmarks" are permanently part of what makes you, you.

I have several tattoos and all of them have some form of spiritual significance to me and I am still comfortable with all of them, but I do think it is worth waiting until you are sure you can live with a permanent symbol on your body.

[Wandering Bear]

The symbols you have tattooed on you then represent important landmarks in your life and while your beliefs may change those "landmarks" are permanently part of what makes you, you.


Hmm, I never thought about it like that before. You make a very good point there.