earth symbol for tattoo

August 20, 2019 9:05 AM

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.

posted by nantucket to Society & Culture (22 answers total)

There are people who still use alchemical symbols in a neopagan context, or as general symbols of transformation. If I saw someone wearing one I'd be like "This person is some kind of witch, or reads tarot, or like goes to Burning Man or something, or is maybe into heavy metal." My first assumption wouldn't be that it was an ecological thing, but I wouldn't feel misled if you explained that it that was what it meant for you.
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:23 AM on August 20, 2019 [7 favorites]

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

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

I like the simplicity of this one.
posted by oh pollo! at 9:48 AM on August 20, 2019 [5 favorites]

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]

(ooh sorry, that would be contemporary) (still nice tho)
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 [13 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 [16 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]

The globe icon reminds me of a basketball or Pan Am
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:37 AM on August 20, 2019 [3 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

Not really the same thing, but there's the ecology symbol.
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 [1 favorite]

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

A line drawing of the continents.
old school map
posted by theora55 at 1:06 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]

How about a T & O map?
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:35 PM on August 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]