Zodiac Tattoos

Pictorial Styles

Each of the twelve signs of the zodiac has an animal, character, or object associated with it. If you identify with your sign's character or creature, that image on a tattoo can be a great way to show off your style. Designs can be lifelike or stylized. Animals can be fierce or playful. Humans can be beautiful or fierce, or both. And you can always add your own elements to the image.

Here are the traditional pictures associated with each sign:

• Aquarius (January 21-February 19). Aquarius, the water-carrier, is often drawn as a man carrying buckets of water balanced across his shoulders.
• Pisces (February 20-March 20). Pisces may be shown as a single fish, or as two fish swimming in opposite directions.
• Aries (March 21-April 20). The ram is the traditional representation, but Aries is also an ancient god of war.
• Taurus (April 21-May 21). The bull might be drawn getting ready to charge, sharp horns lowered, or just standing patiently and proudly with head held high.
• Gemini (May 22-June 21). Male twins, often drawn as warriors, are the personification of Gemini. A wolf, representing the ancient Roman twins Romulus and Remus, is another option.
• Cancer (June 22-July 22). A realistic or stylized crab is the image of Cancer.
• Leo (July 23-August 22). Leo is usually drawn as a proud male lion with a magnificent mane. You could also choose a lion in a more playful pose.
• Virgo (August 23-September 23). Virgo is a beautiful—and virginal—young woman in flowing robes.
• Libra (September 24-October 23). The classic symbol for Libra is a pair of old-fashioned scales in perfect balance.
• Scorpio (October 24-November 22). The venomous scorpion, tail curled, is the symbol of Scorpio.
• Sagittarius (November 23-December 22). Sagittarius is an archer, often drawn as a half-man, half-horse centaur.
• Capricorn (December 23-January 20). Capricorn, the goat, represents this sign.

Zodiac Symbols

Although the classic pictures are easy to recognize, you may want a more subtle design for your zodiac sign. Zodiac symbols are an option, and they can be drawn in many styles. 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.

These sites have good examples of symbols which could be used in zodiac tattoos:

• Astrology Weekly's page of Zodiac Symbols Pictures.
• Astrology on the Web has a page of symbols drawn with simple, bold, bright lines.
• Astrology.ca's clip art page has versions of zodiac symbols in several different styles, which could serve as inspiration for tattoo flash.

Colors and Zodiac Tattoos

Each zodiac sign has its own color, although which color matches which sign is the subject of disagreement among astrologers. Taurus is represented variously by pink, white, or blue, depending on what source you use.

One way around this is to choose your tattoo's colors according to your birth stone. Birthstone charts vary, too, according to the culture where they originated, which gives you a few color options while still being technically correct.

Other Options

There are many images associated with zodiac signs, in addition to the classic figures and symbols. Talk with an astrologer or visit one of the many online astrology sites to learn about flowers and gemstones connected to each sign. You'll also find which element—earth, air, fire, or water—your sign is part of.

For example, Cancers might choose a tattoo incorporating honeysuckle and pomegranate. For Aries, the flower is tiger lily. Different astrologers have different ideas about these connections, so be sure to do your own research before you settle on your tattoo.

Chinese Zodiac Tattoos

The Chinese Zodiac is actually a different system, assigning animal names and traits to people born in a certain year. For inspiration for Chinese Zodiac tattoos, visit the Travel China Guide, where you'll find details about the signs plus stylized drawings of each sign's animal.

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