earth symbol for tattoo
August 20, 2019 9:05 AM Subscribe
I am a middle-aged woman getting her first tattoo. I want it to be a symbol of the planet earth.
First I wanted to get something like the earth from the NASA perspective but actually I do not want to sit through all that color and detail work in the shop. I want a few simple black lines really. So I thought I would get a symbol of the earth instead of trying to do a representational picture of the planet.
My question is: The triangle with the line through the bottom is the alchemical sign for earth. Does it have any other associations?
There is also a circle with a cross in it. What other associations do you have with that sign?
Basically I do not want to appropriate any non-western tradition, nor suggest a tie to any current western spiritual tradition. Classical Greek or medieval European alchemy is fine, just nothing contemporary. For example if the medieval alchemy sign is now used by a newer religion I need to be aware of that.
Other ideas welcome too.
First I wanted to get something like the earth from the NASA perspective but actually I do not want to sit through all that color and detail work in the shop. I want a few simple black lines really. So I thought I would get a symbol of the earth instead of trying to do a representational picture of the planet.
My question is: The triangle with the line through the bottom is the alchemical sign for earth. Does it have any other associations?
There is also a circle with a cross in it. What other associations do you have with that sign?
Basically I do not want to appropriate any non-western tradition, nor suggest a tie to any current western spiritual tradition. Classical Greek or medieval European alchemy is fine, just nothing contemporary. For example if the medieval alchemy sign is now used by a newer religion I need to be aware of that.
Other ideas welcome too.
If you're on board with science fiction, the Stargate symbol for earth makes a nice, simple line tattoo. You might expect occasional gushing reactions from fan people if it is in a visible place.
posted by rekrap at 9:42 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by rekrap at 9:42 AM on August 20, 2019
I’d go for the circle with a cross because of its simplicity. I suppose it could recall alchemy, or could possibly be taken for Christian.
posted by Segundus at 9:48 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by Segundus at 9:48 AM on August 20, 2019
There's a recent FPP on proposed Flags of the Solar System which has a nice earth one.
(But I don't think it would necessarily be recognized as the earth by most people.)
posted by Glinn at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2019 [4 favorites]
(But I don't think it would necessarily be recognized as the earth by most people.)
posted by Glinn at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2019 [4 favorites]
(ooh sorry, that would be contemporary) (still nice tho)
posted by Glinn at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by Glinn at 9:51 AM on August 20, 2019
I am a witch. I am not your witch. The only reason I think the triangle with a line through it might be a bad idea is that it's not necessarily a representation of "the planet Earth" as much as the element of earth. The circle with the cross through it is the planetary symbol. That's what I would choose.
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:56 AM on August 20, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:56 AM on August 20, 2019 [12 favorites]
I wouldn't do the circle with a cross because it closely resembles some nazi symbols. It is also derived from native american practices.
It's a little out-there, or symbolic, but the symbol that electricians use to mark a line that's grounded to the earth would be a good tattoo, and basically has no other associations. It's a single vertical line with 3 or four perpendicular lines underneath that recede in size.
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:22 AM on August 20, 2019 [15 favorites]
It's a little out-there, or symbolic, but the symbol that electricians use to mark a line that's grounded to the earth would be a good tattoo, and basically has no other associations. It's a single vertical line with 3 or four perpendicular lines underneath that recede in size.
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:22 AM on August 20, 2019 [15 favorites]
There's always the globe icon. It's simple and instantly recognizable and mostly free of baggage in a way that the circled cross isn't.
posted by fountainofdoubt at 10:26 AM on August 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by fountainofdoubt at 10:26 AM on August 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
Get one of the symbols of Geb, the Egyptian god of the Earth. The Greeks and Egyptians appropriated enough from each other over the years that I think it's fair game.
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2019
Not really the same thing, but there's the ecology symbol.
posted by bricoleur at 11:15 AM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bricoleur at 11:15 AM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
I really like the grounding symbol FirstMateKate proposed. The bonus is that it's not attached to anything else, so no risk of mistaken associations.
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:42 AM on August 20, 2019
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:42 AM on August 20, 2019
I really like the grounding symbol FirstMateKate proposed. The bonus is that it's not attached to anything else, so no risk of mistaken associations.
Other than being an electrician ;) If that's not an issue, and it's not too contemporary, I'll echo my enjoyment/ appreciation of it.
The western alchemical symbols can look pretty modern, given their stark simplicity. FWIW, the earth sign (🜃), a down-pointing triangle with a horizontal line 2/3rds of the way down, makes me think of an inversion of Pink Floyd's now-classic Dark Side of the Moon refracting triangle. This is an interesting take on it (source), adding a (branchy) tree coming out of the alchemical earth triangle.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:06 PM on August 20, 2019
Other than being an electrician ;) If that's not an issue, and it's not too contemporary, I'll echo my enjoyment/ appreciation of it.
The western alchemical symbols can look pretty modern, given their stark simplicity. FWIW, the earth sign (🜃), a down-pointing triangle with a horizontal line 2/3rds of the way down, makes me think of an inversion of Pink Floyd's now-classic Dark Side of the Moon refracting triangle. This is an interesting take on it (source), adding a (branchy) tree coming out of the alchemical earth triangle.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:06 PM on August 20, 2019
Best answer: What about just a blue circle?
posted by PistachioRoux at 1:32 PM on August 20, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by PistachioRoux at 1:32 PM on August 20, 2019 [3 favorites]
What about just a blue circle?
Or, if you'd rather think of it this way, a pale blue dot?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:44 PM on August 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Or, if you'd rather think of it this way, a pale blue dot?
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:44 PM on August 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Just so you know, a blue circle is the symbol for diabetes like the pink ribbon represents breast cancer. It is a known tatoo for people who support diabetes awareness.
posted by defreckled at 4:01 PM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by defreckled at 4:01 PM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
A blue dot could be the earth as seen from a great, great distance.
posted by mefireader at 8:24 PM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mefireader at 8:24 PM on August 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
There was this ”Earth flag” (more like the solar system, actually) on Reddit years ago. I really liked the design and still do, bought a t-shirt with the image at the time and ended up wearing the shirt until it fell apart. The image would make a simple but stylish tattoo and there’s probably no risk of anyone interpreting it as a reference to something else. Some people get it, no explanation needed, and people who don’t get it and don’t ask for an explanation probably think it’s just a design you happened to like.
posted by kaarne at 11:53 PM on August 20, 2019
posted by kaarne at 11:53 PM on August 20, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks so much! All these ideas were fabulous inspirations. I took a bit from a bunch of these and designed my own symbol -- a blue circle with what to me looks like the abstract suggestion of waves and land. This was so helpful, much obliged.
posted by nantucket at 9:18 AM on August 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by nantucket at 9:18 AM on August 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:23 AM on August 20, 2019 [7 favorites]