Whenever people see my tattoos they do one of two things: comment that they like them then nothing else; or after commenting they ask what they mean. That second part -- the what do they mean -- usually ends with me giving a short explanation and the other person nodding their head in feigned understanding. The origins of my tattoos, and the ideas behind them, are lengthy and complex, and they have to do with content that most don't know about. So, in light of the many times I have foregone giving the full exposition about my tattoos, that is just what I will be doing now. I am going to proceed chronologically since that tends to make most sense for tattoos.
My first tattoo (pictured below) was only the bit circled in red, the crescent moon. Before I delve into details, this is a design that I personally worked on for years. I always knew I wanted a tattoo and that I wanted it to be very personal, so I tried to pack as much meaning into one space as I could. The crescent moon is from my family's crest, except there are three of them there. Now, here are some of the details.
1. This is referring to what looks like a bunch of dashes and lines.
What this really is is Ogham, the writing system of the Celts. It says teaghlach which means family in Gaelic, something always emphasized in my life.
2. This bit holds a lot of content.
First, the outline is of a Mjolnir, but not just any. It's a direct outline of my first Mjolnir pendant that I still wear today. It was an acceptance of the ways I wish to follow. The symbol on the top, the one that looks like a funny X, is the bind rune for good luck. Call me superstitious, but I never want to be on the bad side of luck.
Next is the one that looks like a backwards 1 with a diamond on it. This is the bind rune for good health, something I've always been blessed by the gods to have.
And finally, the one that looks like an R and a B is the bind rune for peace. Luck, Health, and Peace, three things everyone needs, so why not have some charms to help them come to you?
3. The text bracketed by the braiding is runic.
Runic is the ancient writing form of the Nordic peoples; runes were also used in worship and magic, as you can see with the bind runes. What it says is "Honor or Death," a code I have tried to live my life by.
I believe the next one was the small bind rune on my wrist. This bind rune is supposed to foster love from a man to a woman (left). My girlfriend got a matching one, the bind rune that promotes love from a woman to a man (right).
The next tattoo(s) were actually just aesthetic in nature, but still reflect cultural background. We (I say "we" because I am referring to my tattoo artist and I) added Celtic and Nordic knotting around the original piece. It may be hard to see, but the Celtic knotting also has the hilt, guard, and tip of a dagger sticking out of it on each cardinal direction. The space between the knotting will likely be filled with different drinking horns that represent the two families I come from.
After those additions, I got a block of runic text. It says, "Never give up, even if you're falling off a cliff. You never know what might happen on the way down." This is a quotation from one of my favorite books, "The Sea of Trolls," the origin of my interest in the Nordic peoples. It's a motto that has led me through years of life at its best and worst.
The next tattoo is actually on my right shoulder. I got this one at the D.C. tattoo expo after an artist started to read the runic on my arm. We hit it off instantly, having the same faith and interests, so I decided to get a piece from him. All I had to do was rattle off exactly what I wanted and he nodded, said "Cool, lemme draw something up and we'll do it." And that was that. I absolutely love this piece and plan on getting more from the same artist in the future. I've included a scanned copy of the line art since this is such a complex piece.
The idea behind this piece was to have the weapons of Ragnarok, the end times in Nordic mythology.
1. The centerpiece of the work is a large Mjolnir, cracking from use.
I wanted it to look like an actual weapon, but still be "godly" so that is how the handle and shape came to be.
2. This is the antler that Freyr will use to kill the fire giant Surt.
In the original line art there are only eight points on the antler, but while tattooing me the artist put in a ninth, since the number nine is so proliferate and important in Nordic mythology.
3. Poking out of the side is Gungnir, Odin's spear.
When he asked me what I wanted the spear to look like, I told him something like a boar hunting spear because of its practicality and deadliness (much like the Viking axes).
4. These are mistletoe berries surrounded by their leaves.
I actually didn't mention this part when we discussed an idea, but since the artist knew the lore I was pulling from he added it and I was happier for it. Mistletoe is what begins the end times. Seems quite innocuous, I know, but put Loki in any situation and you're bound to find trouble. As the tale goes, Baldur, the son of Odin and Frigg and most magnificent of all the gods, was protected against harm from anything because Frigg had gone to all the things in the world and made them swear not to harm him. However, mistletoe was too young and small so Frigg didn't bother with it. Loki, after finding this out, tricks Baldur's blind brother Hermod into firing a mistletoe arrow at Baldur, unknowingly killing him. With his death begins Ragnarok.
5. This was another aspect that I had forgotten, but the artist added knowingly.
These are ash tree leaves, another important symbol in the mythology. The great world tree Yggdrassil is itself an ash tree.
After this, I got another extension to the work on my left arm. This is the Fenris wolf, also referred to as Fenrir. He is one of my favorite beings in Nordic mythology. A giant wolf who was bound by the strongest, heaviest fetters the gods could find yet still broke free of them. Finally, after aid from the dwarves in creating a silken ribbon called Gleipnir from the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the spittle of a bird, Fenrir was bound beyond his strength. During Ragnarok, Fenrir will break free of his bonds and kill Odin, only to be killed himself by one of Odin's sons.
The last two I have gotten were done at the same time. The first is a symbol of the band Amon Amarth, one of the most influential aspects upon my life. I as well like to think the A also represents the other side of my family, the Abels. The second is a rather sentimental one. It is a quote from the song "Come What May" in the movie "Moulin Rouge." If you can't read it, it says "Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste". The arrow is pointing to the silhouette of a couple ballroom dancing. My girlfriend got a "matching" one as well, hers saying "Suddenly the world seems such a different place."
So, those are all of my tattoos and the reasons and ideas behind them. Soon (hopefully) more will be added and I'll be able to do an updated piece.
Ink it up, my friends.
