Voodoo Tattoo

One of the things on my list this year is to get a tattoo.  I'm not sure why I want one... I just do.  So I've been kicking around some ideas, thinking about some of the things that interest me... what would look cool... what's not overdone... what wouldn't get me beat up... as well as where to get it on my body, etc. 

I've always liked voodoo dolls for some reason.  I think I relate to the contradiction of their strength, endurance and pain threshold to their frailty in construction... being made out of scrap items and barely holding it all together... something I can directly relate to.  I drew out this quick sketch on the left last night on a napkin... and it would be much more elaborate as a tattoo... but you get the idea.

The other idea was going to be an arm band of sorts, much like a charm bracelet that I could add on to over the years with pivital points in my life.  Some of the starting charms would be the 'Love' sculpture that is located in Philly to represent my time that I lived there... there's a cartoon sketch of my dog Shelby... I'd want some version of the 'Gemini' symbol... and the letters 'B.E.' which would not only symbolize the dayspa that I designed and opened, Body Elements... but also for the workshops that effected me that I took last year, Body Electric.  Years ago, Pittsburgh National Bank's logo was three rectangles arranged in the form of a triangle... which would represent the three rivers of Pittsburgh... and double as a gay pride triangle.  I'd also like to have some sort of hand to represent my massage.  Maybe something to symbolize Paris and living in Vegas, like the 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign that I love.   

I really like the charm bracelet idea... but I also thought about having those items flying around in an atomic symbol... representing the things that revolve around my core and  keep me from exploding and keep it all together.

I really wouldn't want this to be some big, honkin' splotch on my body... I'd like to keep it somewhat smaller... probably on my arm above the sleeve line.  We'll see... I'm still kicking some ideas around.