Zodiac Sign Tattoos

Zodiac signs have always been a powerful cause of fascination for people since constellations were created and named, since men used stars to navigate their way at sea. The notion that the heavens can somehow shape our personalities and influence our actions and even daily activities is alluring. This, more than anything else, is why zodiac symbols are among the most sought after tattoo designs today.

Zodiac characters are cross-cultural symbols; various cultures have their own versions of the zodiac system and provide different names for each sign. The widely known and commonly used Roman names of the symbols have been used for centuries, but the signs of the zodiac themselves had already existed and been used by ancient Babylonian astrologers for millenniums. Each sign has its own specific identity and meaning. According to astrology, people who are born under the same sign are believed share common characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The twelve Roman zodiac symbols are Aquarius, Capricorn, Pisces, Aries, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Scorpio, Virgo, and Taurus.

Many of us feel a profoundly personal spiritual connection with their personal Zodiac sign. 95% of people who choose to get a zodiac tattoo pick the sign they we born under, while the remaining percent pick the zodiac symbols of their family and loved ones. That means that choosing a zodiac sign as a tattoo is a very personal and spiritual statement, an extension of your own identity.

Are you wondering if a zodiac tattoo design would work for you? To answer that, you have to ask yourself whether you really take astrology to heart. For instance, do you always refer to your horoscope every day? Have you gone as far as having a personalized chart made for you? Are indicated zodiac sign compatibilities a guide for you in choosing a romantic partner? If your answer is yes to all questions, then it is clear that you seriously take astrology and that it is an integral part of your belief system. You should really get a zodiac tattoo then.

To make your zodiac tattoo more interesting, you might want to add in other styling items that are also symbolic by themselves. Here are some suggestions:

• You can choose black ink or colors, and bold tribal-style designs or lines with an Asian or Celtic flair. You can also incorporate zodiac symbols into larger or more intricate designs.
• Each zodiac sign has its own color, although astrologers still disagree about the matching of colors with the signs. For instance, Taurus is represented by pink, white, or blue, depending on what reference you use. You may want to use one or a combination of those colors to tattoo your design.
• You can also choose your tattoo's colors according to your birth stone. Birthstone charts vary according to the culture where they originated as well. But these charts give you a few color options while still being technically correct.
• Aside from gemstones, certain flowers are also connected to each sign. The Aries' flower is tiger lily. Cancers might choose a tattoo integrating honeysuckle and pomegranate. Astrologers may again have different lists on this, so be sure to research carefully on your own.
• You could also incorporate the element-earth, air, fire, or water-your sign is part of into your design.
• Zodiac signs are cross-cultural symbols. You may want to check out zodiac illustrations of other cultures, such as Chinese or Celtic images. These may appeal to your more aesthetically. Just be sure research well to find the right design, symbol, and meaning for you.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Zodiac-Signs-As-Tattoos&id=1562564

Chinese Zodiac Tattoo Symbols

Chinese zodiac tattoos are gaining attention among tattoo buffs - Westerners and Easterners alike - worldwide. While all are primarily used for divination, zodiac signs are distinctly unique and vary from one culture to another. What sets Chinese zodiac symbols apart from the others is that they do not match up to cycles within the year; neither do they correspond to constellations. Instead, Chinese zodiac signs correspond to a longer cycle of twelve years.

Furthermore, Chinese zodiac signs integrate the elements of metal, wood, fire, earth, and water. These five elements are associated with a zodiac sign, and as such, provide sixty possible personality variations for interpretation. This, above other reasons, makes Chinese zodiac tattoos more individualized and just the right thing for a very personal tattoo.

Aside from having elements and animals, the Chinese zodiac also assigns a different color for each year. The colors are sorted by the stems and relate to the elements. Metal is white, Water is black, Wood is green, Fire is red, and earth is brown.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the Chinese zodiac is that it refers to the lunar calendar cycle. It takes into account the monthly phases of the moon and incorporates them to further typify zodiac personalities, daily horoscope, and prediction of events. The only aspect that makes it similar with the more widely known Roman zodiac is its use of twelve animals as signs. They are, however, illustrated as Chinese characters.

The following are the twelve Chinese zodiac animals:

Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Ox - 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997

Tiger - 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

Rabbit - 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

Dragon - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Snake - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Horse - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Goat - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Monkey - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Rooster - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Dog - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Pig - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

However, very interestingly, some web sites assert that there is only one character for the term zodiac. This symbol is modified by the proper birth month of the person who wears it to reflect the true zodiac sign. The variation is likened to how an English pronoun is modified by a pronoun.

Choosing a Chinese zodiac tattoo gears more towards identity symbolism and expression, rather than a manifestation of what we value in life because it caters closely to an individual, leaving very little room for generalization. As a tattoo design choice, a Chinese zodiac symbol would represent your birth year, your element, and can mean nothing else. It does not matter if you are Chinese, Asian, or Caucasian. It also does not matter whether or not Chinese astrology is part of a personal belief system. All the same, choosing Chinese zodiac signs as tattoo designs can oftentimes be surprisingly revealing - it provides a vivid glimpse of how the bearer of the tattoo views his own personality.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?id=1425166

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