first tattoo!

I want to get my first tattoo(s) this summer. I am 19 and want a tattoo to symbolize either the beginning of a journey and/or something to portray an evil side/ and a good side because I tend to switch off all the time. I was thinking about getting the eye of horus on the back of one tricep which symbolizes protection & my good side, and the wedjat eye which I believe symbolizes the evil side on the other tricep. Do you guys think this would be cool, or does it sound kinda lame?

History lesson.... The Eye of Horus and Wadjet eye is the same thing.... but here is some info if you still want to pursue your original idea..... "The Eye of Horus can be a bit of a confusing symbol. It is seen sometimes as the right or sometimes as the left eye. The left eye is Eye of Horus and is connected with the moon. When it's the right eye, it's the Eye of Ra, and associated with the sun. Though some sources say there is no distinction at all. The Eye represents the eye that was lost by Horus when he fought with Seth over the murder of his father, Osiris. The symbol is worn for for protection and to ward off evil spirits." Hope this doesn't burst your bubble, but maybe gives you some new ideas. Just take your time my friend.....J

thanks a lot for the info, it doesn't burst my bubble at all, I;m looking for as much info as possible. I find ancient egyptian mythology very interesting but am a little hesitant to get it considering I am Jewish and it was the Egyptians who enslaved my people hundreds of years ago. Even still, I think the eye of horus and the story behind it would be a very cool tattoo, but am also open to other ideas. I want something symbolizing maybe the beginning of a journey considering I am just starting to work a serious job, and look at the current point in time as a turning point in my life and would like a tattoo to symbolize this. I have also been through much adversity, and problems in my lifetime and would really like a tattoo to sum up all these ideas and thoughts. I heard the phoenix is about rising up from the ashes - and a pirate ship or ne ship for that matter symbolizes the beginning of a journey. I like landscape tattoos and want something that is really unique and will stand out from every one elses generic "tribal" tattoos

Okay, please correct me if I am wrong but isn't the Jewish community pretty staunch when it come to the ideas of tattoos anyway? If that is the case, then you are already going against the status quo....Besides, religion and history aside, it is your body and if the art you choose means something to you, then stand on what you want....J

My mom and sister got the eye that wards off evil on their arms that match to represent our jewish heritage and the protection that it represents as well :)

[email removed].... Isn't getting a tattoo completely against all Jewish precepts?...I'm not tryin to be a smartass I really am curious as to your beliefs as a jewish person....For instance we tattooed every man in the band 40 Below Summer except the singer Maxx....He said his Jewish heritage prohibited him from being permanently marked in ANY way ...even piercing!! Are there different beliefs on this subject in the Jewish community?..And again I'm not trying to be argumentative...I'would really like your opinions!...Thanks for your post !...TAz,Painted Angel

Hey taz, u are right about not being able to mark your body in the jewish religion. O well, too late I guess because I pierced my eyebrow when I was 16, and actually self-inflicted a carving on myself when I was around the same age which thank g0d happened to have faded away by now. My family is very against the idea of getting tattooed but I like it and its my fuckin body. My grandfather recently passed as well, I was thinking of memorializing him... Even though he would have hated the idea of me having a tattoo, I think it's cool to immortalize him on my body somewhere. I figure I've already broken the jewish "code" so why not get some sick artwork on my body to symbolize my journey in life.. I still have a lot of thinking to do about this subject BUT I LOVE this website, and all the people who are cool enough to reply to my posts, i appreciate it very much -brandon

Just to add to the above post, it also depends on how you interpret the bible and what it means. Just so you know, i am a mesianic jew...or a Christian with Jewish heritage (my entire father's side). I have been meaning for a while to look through the bible and find what it says about marks to see what it means to me. As far as i can remember, it speaks of a few specific things (getting the evil number -666-, stuff like that), but, i must admit it has been a while since being involved and i don't remember much...but, i CAN give you a different, yet very similar example! Concider this...... In today's society, if you say fuck, shit, damn, ass, etc, you are cursing. The bible says not to curse or swear. But...here is the question...did God mean those words? I would say no. Leviticus 19 v. 12 "'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD" and Leviticus 19 v. 14 "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD." So, as i go living day to day, if i curse (which is not that often to begin with), i do not see it as breaking one of God's laws, because i do not see that as what he was refering to. I see that God refers to swearing and cursing as things that are condeming someone. Now, if a curse word is used in that manner, then yes, it is... it really boils down to the perspective of the person. as for tattoos.... Leviticus 19:28 " 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD" (NIV) Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.(KJ) Here is the same idea...the NIV (new international Version) of the bible states specifially tattoo, but the KJ (King James) version, which is the oldest version in english i believe, simply speaks of printing marks...and here is the question...does that mean tattoos, or something else? (Jewdaism(sp) follows the old testiment, so Leviticus is one of the books that they follow, just so you know :D ) hope that brings a little enlightenment?

P.S. it also seems that piercing is used to show servanthood to someone.

Ducky thanks for the history lesson... This is all very interesting information to know. But I find myself asking myself this question : During the Holocaust, Jews were tattooed certain #'s in order to be identified, sort of like in jail only w/out the tattoos. These people suffered and most of them died during this tragic period in history. I also know a ton of jewish kids who have tattoos, and I am in the least trying to follow their example w/ little ankle bracelet tattoos and such... i want a custom piece that has never been seen, and it must have story behind it...But i have some thinking to do obviously.....

Ducky, the KJ ver. does not use the word "tattoo." .... As many times as the bible has been translated and re-translated I am curious just to know what it ORIGINALLY read.... (I hate politics.)

Of course the "original" bible (the greatest work of fiction ever written) was penned by many people in many languages and with so many bastardized versions the interpretations are ...well... open to interpretation.....the damn thing will say whatever YOU want it to say...T

Yeah, try telling that to the six year old I encountered at a Anti-Gay protest (Put together by none other than the Rev. Jerry Farwell...I think that's how you spell his name.) outside of a barbershop quartet contest holding a sign with two stick figures drawn "doggy style." ... And when I asked her what that ment, she replied, "The bible says it's wrong and Jesus says it's wrong." .... Like I said, I hate politics.

First, i said in my last paragraph that the KJ does not say tattoo, it just says mark. 2nd, i think it's very shitty for you guys to completely disreguard the fact that some people believe in this religion, and deserve respect, wether you believe it or not. As for the protest, if gays are allowed to have times when they try to support it, then people who don't support it can have their time too. If people who don't support the war can show it, so can people who do. Just because you believe something doesn't mean everyone else has to..and you shouldn't talk down to someone for believing something different than you.

Ducky, First of all, I am not denouncing people of spirituality or their faith. What they choose to believe in is there cup of tea. And if GROWN FUCKING ADULTS want to protest someones lifestyle then they have that right. But when you see CHILDREN holding signs with stick figures fucking then that is too God damned much!!! We tell 14-15-16 year olds on this forum that they should wait to get tattooed when they are of age, when they are grown up, when they are able to make an educated, intelligent decision.... WELL THEN WHAT THE FUCK DOES A 6 YEAR OLD KNOW ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY THAT THEY COULD MAKE AN EDUCATED, INTELLIGENT DECISION TO STAND WITH MOMMY AND DADDY ON THE SIDE WALK CHANTING, "GOD HATES FAGS!" Ya'll can pray to whoever you want, whatever you want, whenever you want. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut! But it is this type of closed mindedness that reminds me of why I think this shits a fucking joke.

Love ya duck, but on that last comment, I'm with ya 100% Werk.

Ducky...sometimes I wonder about you!.. Jwerk was not saying ANYTHING about ANYONES religion or right to freedom of speech and assembly ...but I don't care who you are if you are teaching a 6 year old to hate anyone there is something wrong with you.....seriously wrong You are way off base on this one kiddo!...TAz

actually Taz, i was refering to your comment when i said about disrepsecting someone's beliefs...not Werk

And, in defense of myself, i do not believe any under-age children should be brought into any situations such as that because it is not healthy and, you guys are very right, they dont know what they are talking about! However, i do support parents teaching their children about their beliefs. BUT, people have different beliefs. Take me for example, i will teach my children that God teaches against homosexuality, for that is what i believe. HOWEVER, i will also be teaching my children that everyone is human, and God also teaches that humans sin. I will teach them that you should not judge on such things, and should only try to live your life the way you believe you should. People who do not live the same way you do should not be shunned. hope that explains anything. And, again, i wasn't talking about you Werk :)

Well then if you were referring to me then you are doubly wrong ...I do respect evryones beliefs just as I expect them to respect my DISBELIEFS!!!!

I am Jewish and will be getting my first tattoo sometime this Fall when I work out all the details. I know my parents won't be happy about it becuase I won't be allowed to be buried in a Jewish cemetery due to a belief that your body should leave the earth the same as it entered. Its my belief that through living we are changed, both inside and out, what better way to mark those important changes, to help keep the lessons learned alive, than through meaningful tattoos. And I have to agree that everyone is allowed to believe whatever it is they want, and teach their children whatever they want, but those beliefs should NOT effect the lives of others. And when you teach your children to hate or demean a person based on sexual preference (which I believe is innate not learned), sex, race, or any thing else you are only helping to further ignite the prejudices existing in our society. I'm not trying to piss anyone off...I just found this topic too interesting and close to my beliefs to not comment.

Not to be a smartass myself, we already got into this over the Christians getting tattooed, and please forgive me if someone already brought this up, but ISN'T CIRCUMCISION A PERMANENT MARK ON A JEWISH MALES BODY? TCE

Circumcision started way back when sanitation was a problem to prevent infection...today its just a carried over tradition that seems kinda cruel to me...but traditions die hard in the Jewish faith.

actually it is still a sanitary issue. They did it because traveling over sand was next exactly clean, and it would get stuck.