These pictures are all of the same tattoo. Reminder got this tattoo when just out of high school, living with dad, and about 19 years old. Reminder was accompanying a childhood friend to get a tattoo. Reminder ended up getting this tattoo at that time.

Reminder has always been interested in art and expression. At that time Reminder was very defiant towards their parents and used to lie a lot. Reminder’s parents were very strict Catholics. Reminder’s family is very segmented because there was a divorce which split up the family.

This tattoo was based off a pic. It is the kanji symbol meaning honesty and family, which are very important to Reminder.

Reminder doesn’t want to get any more tattoos – this is it!

The bearer of this tattoo, Odorato, lost more than 200 pounds. Odorato is not very spiritual, but there is something greater than the highest and lowest weight in this world. This tattoo indicates that God is greater than the ups and downs in life.

Odorato’s grandmother’s name was Violet. “She was the best grandmother there was.” The fact that this name is also a living organism makes it very meaningful. Violet loved flowers, and always cared for plants, so the name Violet fit her well.

This is a tattoo of Celtic knots. The bearer of this artwork, Coigreach, used to believe they had Scotch-Irish ancestry. This symbol was on the back of Coigreach’s wedding program. Coigreach has now come to find out they are only 6% Scotch-Irish, and also 9% Slovak, 19% Italian, and 66% Scandinavian. Coigreach next is planning to get a Scandinavian tattoo.

This is a “Tree Of Life” tattoo. Coigreach was a science teacher, and strongly believes in science, but also feels they are a part of nature. This all goes into Coigreach‘s philosophy of things that go beyond. Coigreach is not interested in “God,” but more interested in how we create our environment, and how we work with the environment to make ourselves better.

This tattoo represents both John Lennon and the Picasso Peace Dove. The bearer of this art, Tranqui, got the tattoo after graduating from a master’s program. Tranqui was working full time and had a dark cloud in their personal life. Once Tranqui finally graduated, this symbol represented that you can imagine, and do what ever you want to do, if you try hard enough. Tranqui tried hard enough, and achieved their goals.

This is an Argentinian design from the Pampas tribes. The bottom line is earth, and up above, mountains and valleys. The top line is heaven or the sky. This artwork symbolizes one’s journey through life. It represents a deep connection to roots in Argentina.

The bearer of this art, Lehrer, states that all of their tattoos are infused with woad.

Woad is a mineral extracted from flowers. An example of this would be in Brave Heart: the Celts had blue stuff on their face, which was woad mixed with lime. This was very important to the Celts.

Lehrer envisioned these tattoos in dreams before getting them engraved on their body. One tattoo involved going back in time and seeing an ancestor with the tattoo. Lehrer got the tattoo on the same spot.

Lehrer said their last will and testament states the tattoos will be preserved by a taxidermist.

This is a Celtic age iron sword with Celtic knot work wrapped. Lehrer was supposedly descended from Brain Bowery, who’s the king that defended Ireland from first Viking invasion.

The Valknut – Lehrer associates the meaning of this artwork with sacrifice. Lehrer got it even though they believed this symbol would screw them out of getting jobs.

Celtic Cross – This is a pre-Christian symbol. Its meaning is focusing male energy and fertility of female. Some people feel it’s a model of our galaxy. This symbol is found on Mayan ruins, and it’s very similar to the Norse Solar Cross.

This eye is tattoo magic. The eye used to have words in old Germanic script (piktick spelled wrong). The tattoo was done with blood, woad, mixed with ink. A previous girlfriend of many years has the same tattoo. When the relationship ended, the eye was filled in.

This tattoo is a big middle finger on heart. Here’s some history of the middle finger: In 1066 the Romans invaded the Saxons. When the Romans would capture the English bowmen, they would cut their middle fingers, ending their careers. When the Romans would approach, English would show them their bow finger. It’s a symbol of Lehrer’s wife’s hand.

Celtic Knot work tattoo

This is the first tattoo that Designer got. Designer has Irish ancestry. Designer wandered into the tattoo shop with sister, and this tattoo is an artistic composite of a couple of designs found in the shop.

Celtic Knot work tattoo

Designer designed this tattoo. It was created from a couple of different ring designs. This is the one Designer always wanted — it was like a placement.

Designer views tattoos more as a decoration than anything super meaningful. This tattoo allowed Designer ownership over their own skin.

Chains left the Jehovah’s Witnesses at age 22. Chains spent lots of time hiding in music. This tattoo was from the band Silverchair, which made an album called Frogstomp. Chains was hiding from problems, was unhappy, and did not agree with organized religion. The tattoo symbolized Chain’s attempt to stop running from problems and to confront them head on.

This tattoo is from the Judas Priest album, “Screaming for Vengeance.” It’s Chain’s all-time favorite album. It’s all about male bravado and machismo.

The 804 is the Virginia outline, which is where Chain was born. The 919 outline is where Chain became an adult after leaving the “cult” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Chain had a girlfriend who was a tattoo artist that designed this tattoo. They had really good sex, which made Chain a stronger person. She took a picture of herself and made it into a tattoo.

This is described as a hand holding cards and a Polaroid. Reminders of past loves.

“Shut Up Legs.” Chain used to be rickshaw and bicycle messenger. Jens Voigt won the Tour de France. At the end of the race, he yelled “Shut Up Legs” in German. This was because his muscles were depleted.  This tattoo reminds Chains of that.

Slaughterhouse five, written by Kurt Vonnegut, ends every chapter with “so it goes.” Shit happens in the world, and there’s only so much you can do about it.

This is Northern’s only tattoo. The dragon is the Chinese symbol  of power and wisdom. Northern spent 5 years in the Navy and did not get any tattoos. Northern tries to think long term. At the time of getting the tattoo Northern had thought to have figured things out. It was years ago and has now decided it is not the case. The tattoo artiest said it was the largest first tattoo she had ever done. The tattoo was done in San Fernando CA.