Phoenix's Sleeve is Out of This World

Back on August, I met a man named Phoenix in Penn Station who shared the sleeve on his right arm.<br /><br />The work starts near his shoulder, with a traditional-style pin-up girl straddling a rocket in an outer space motif:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiDlArQN8yIfnukJYPUi4VBNWdtKXURms1Scf-xzwlsqPJY2dWau_DLuXblFatPTjR3V0kyY-zGnkRLjEpFVHko2kuBKCg6xtl7B5s3S8r2gP2eFDXIuwC3DTM0AtyHzUjYABMBIBipE/s1600/Astrological.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiDlArQN8yIfnukJYPUi4VBNWdtKXURms1Scf-xzwlsqPJY2dWau_DLuXblFatPTjR3V0kyY-zGnkRLjEpFVHko2kuBKCg6xtl7B5s3S8r2gP2eFDXIuwC3DTM0AtyHzUjYABMBIBipE/s640/Astrological.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />The cat perched on the rocket in front of the woman represents Phoenix's love of animals.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglebUOfu5D4dHoDgy7oa5JXkNQTFI34Rv7Gvbrihih7t8Kx-YyvCClerttSVxHXvZNSfjP9aonS66Bm7qpQTsqIHKGag6ah39Ot9XaRHy0WmT_sMkbx8aZ8qKjH7PadixAwA2SJlJjB9g/s1600/Astrological+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglebUOfu5D4dHoDgy7oa5JXkNQTFI34Rv7Gvbrihih7t8Kx-YyvCClerttSVxHXvZNSfjP9aonS66Bm7qpQTsqIHKGag6ah39Ot9XaRHy0WmT_sMkbx8aZ8qKjH7PadixAwA2SJlJjB9g/s640/Astrological+detail.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><br />The centerpiece of the sleeve, however, is lower on the arm and represents his love of astrology:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_HyXTE2ruOQbcDHHfI3QQ5-iHTArQkCv2d3mo8IyifYbshVikhvig8kkj2ExLdsGPghi37q6GQP-Jm0LJFAxMZqGjp3Bpcr4sXuEi3Vu9ZtZnobuI-Fo7nh3HaQixGLnMr2Smos8z8c/s1600/atro+chart+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_HyXTE2ruOQbcDHHfI3QQ5-iHTArQkCv2d3mo8IyifYbshVikhvig8kkj2ExLdsGPghi37q6GQP-Jm0LJFAxMZqGjp3Bpcr4sXuEi3Vu9ZtZnobuI-Fo7nh3HaQixGLnMr2Smos8z8c/s640/atro+chart+1.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br /><br />From a practical purpose, he had his natal astrological chart wrapping around his limb. In theory, he told me, anyone who knows astrology could come up and read his arm and gain insight into his astrological makeup.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9U1UMqbdUR0uTxlyYTsehl12-vMFVhyphenhyphenpMN-qC7B5cCPfBjoQaIN2urn46F1GF1XFt6RzOeCkz1kaT9lSZKq0MfvrWDCVm5hegfhf2i3Fdcb2m1ipsTB_Q1jBq4ioFjPpz1xjjOvMTyqU/s1600/astro+chart+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9U1UMqbdUR0uTxlyYTsehl12-vMFVhyphenhyphenpMN-qC7B5cCPfBjoQaIN2urn46F1GF1XFt6RzOeCkz1kaT9lSZKq0MfvrWDCVm5hegfhf2i3Fdcb2m1ipsTB_Q1jBq4ioFjPpz1xjjOvMTyqU/s640/astro+chart+2.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />Phoenix was born with the Sun in Aries rising in Leo and with his moon in Gemini.<br /><br />This work was done by Lou at <a href="http://www.thirdeyetattoo.com/">Third Eye Tattoo</a> in Park Slope, Brooklyn, about six years ago. Lou's handiwork has been featured many times over the years here on the site and can be seen <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Third%20Eye%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Phoenix for sharing his spectacular sleeve with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Phoenix's Sleeve is Out of This World

Back on August, I met a man named Phoenix in Penn Station who shared the sleeve on his right arm. The work starts near his shoulder, with a ...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Erica Rivera

Today's tattooed poet is <a href="http://www.ericarivera.net/">Erica Rivera</a> from Minneapolis. She sent along this lovely photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m9N-2mc64v_98sZhjKe3Bnp2ffahx8aY8QcfLtcEoxW7LXfY1mjmYudTUw1Nv28qo3l3gknR5hCgrgwiOgbjANie-wNfKDx4oWRbKDvZTDE9C8ZlhyGeAqJWsjYcz9rdXxF9hVtm/s1600/Gemini_Tat_Sepia_Back.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456591299794058226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m9N-2mc64v_98sZhjKe3Bnp2ffahx8aY8QcfLtcEoxW7LXfY1mjmYudTUw1Nv28qo3l3gknR5hCgrgwiOgbjANie-wNfKDx4oWRbKDvZTDE9C8ZlhyGeAqJWsjYcz9rdXxF9hVtm/s400/Gemini_Tat_Sepia_Back.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Erica explains:<br /><blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">"This tattoo was both a 24th birthday present to myself (and perhaps a mini-rebellion after my divorce as well). It is the astrological symbol for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_%28astrology%29">Gemini</a>, which I chose because I embody the twin personalities Geminis are infamous for.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeMafHCD5GoBzZGjNw9rSwwsY3KPJK6cEUoQj1eTXereaY1FJqPQdBeM_jEptrvTvd3FgbqqYKLi066HLoIIK4XYuqZJYZlsHjbddwe9TzM5OmAsMzcy4mvj835J_yu-dCvaaWqJr/s1600/Gemini_Tat_Sepia_Back+%28detail%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456591061549143778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeMafHCD5GoBzZGjNw9rSwwsY3KPJK6cEUoQj1eTXereaY1FJqPQdBeM_jEptrvTvd3FgbqqYKLi066HLoIIK4XYuqZJYZlsHjbddwe9TzM5OmAsMzcy4mvj835J_yu-dCvaaWqJr/s400/Gemini_Tat_Sepia_Back+%28detail%29.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" /></a>The tattoo was done at <a href="http://inklab.com/home.html">the Ink Lab</a> in Minneapolis by a man whose name I know longer remember but recall as being very gentle, especially since this was my first time. I’ve since gone on to get four more tattoos: another astrological symbol on my forearm and three emblems from the marathons I’ve completed on my ankles."</div></blockquote> Erica Rivera is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425229874/ref=cm_sw_su_dp">Insatiable: A Young Mother’s Struggle with Anorexia</a> (Berkley, 2009). She is the former first-place winner of the <a href="http://loonfoot.com/pwf/default.htm">Powderhorn Writer’s Festival</a> and her poetry has appeared in <span style="font-style: italic;">Moon Journal</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mirage</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Writer’s Journal</span>. She blogs at <a href="http://www.maneaterbook.com/blog.htm">http://www.maneaterbook.com/blog.htm</a>.<br /><br />Head on over to BillyBlog to read one of Erica's poems <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-erica-rivera.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0425229874" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Erica Rivera

Today's tattooed poet is Erica Rivera from Minneapolis. She sent along this lovely photo: Erica explains: "This tattoo was both a ...

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Danielle's Stars and Signs Forever

Despite great inkspotting weather earlier this week, I found myself walking in Chelsea at lunch, marveling at the absence of tattoos.<br /><br />I like to remind myself from time to time that Tattoosday is 70% tattoos and 30% about finding them.<br /><br />So, I had walked down to one of our vendor's offices at lunch (13 blocks away) to get some forms we needed. I was on the elevator heading back downstairs when I noticed the woman next to me (who worked for the company I had just visited) had this interesting set of tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwvn87UWMIENrQAD8N_Qi7kMSXWIKSBoDZQEcxWQrps6cM1-cStVEpbJbYVOu5yqgkCOAnNk5WlXoijt89plXUJOM2xRXAfSelEdYamb2zLgokzwbJcrFVFHOmxmsna4bsaJhSUr6DMA/s1600-h/PICT2049.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343779482312684226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwvn87UWMIENrQAD8N_Qi7kMSXWIKSBoDZQEcxWQrps6cM1-cStVEpbJbYVOu5yqgkCOAnNk5WlXoijt89plXUJOM2xRXAfSelEdYamb2zLgokzwbJcrFVFHOmxmsna4bsaJhSUr6DMA/s400/PICT2049.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />On the street, I may not have stopped her, but in an elevator, it seemed foolish not to.<br /><br />Danielle had these tattoos (one of three total) inked at a shop in Long Beach, New York. She didn't recall the name of the shop or the artist who did the work, but she did mention that her fiance has a matching set of the three colored stars on his left bicep.<br /><br />These stars and signs, tattooed on Danielle's inner right wrist, are decorative and, the three symbols represent Danielle, her mother and her sister.<br /><br />From left to right, the three insignia stand for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libra_%28astrology%29">Libra</a> (her mother's astrological sign), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_%28astrology%29">Gemini</a> (for her sister) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28astrology%29">Aries</a> (her own Zodiac affiliation).<br /><br />What I have found interesting about astrological tattoos, is that each sign of the Zodiac has a simple line representation, but that these symbols can be modified artistically in so many different ways. The whole range of astrological signs as interpreted by subjects of this site can be seen <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Astrological%20Signs">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Danielle for sharing this cool tattoo with us here at Tattoosday!

Danielle's Stars and Signs Forever

Despite great inkspotting weather earlier this week, I found myself walking in Chelsea at lunch, marveling at the absence of tattoos. I like...

Read more »