This is Katie C.’s tattoo:

The reason I got it was because I can really relate to having many paths in my life I might take, and I want to remind myself that if I wait around for the perfect, right one, eventually all my choices will be gone.

- Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar, Chapter 7

(16 votes, average: 3.81 out of 5)

 Loading ...

This is Will’s tattoo:

This was my first tattoo, though I’ve been thinking about it for … well, a long time. The phrase comes from Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” series, from Delirium’s sundial and means “time is broken.” For me, it was always a play on having no sense of time, but realizing that memories are persistent beyond any real sense of time. I can remember what happened ten years ago better than I can what I did for lunch yesterday. I think most people are like that. Having it just above where most people wear a watch is just part of the joke.

(9 votes, average: 3.78 out of 5)

 Loading ...

“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things – trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”

- From The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis.

This is Xin’s tattoo:

The line is from C.S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair, which is the 6th book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. It is spoken by Puddleglum in defiant response to the Witch-queen as she tries to enchant and persuade the characters into believing that whatever they cannot perceive with their senses must be imaginary, and as such, that Narnia and Aslan cannot possibly exist.

As a literature student fresh out of her BA and about to begin her Masters, I do think that there is something to be said about stories being more true that real life. As an aspiring English teacher, I affirm that one must never limit oneself to an understanding of the world in purely scientific or economic terms. As a reader of books, I believe that a life utterly devoid of the rejuvenating power of imagination can only leave us so much the poorer for it. Yet as a Christian who has been called upon to defend her faith, I am constantly coming back to the fact that what I believe in is indeed considered foolishness by so many others.

I do not know if I would die for a story. But I do know that if there is indeed such a being as a God who loved us enough to die for us, then surely I can do no less in giving up everything that I have in this life to seek His face.

The ink was done by Carlos at Lotus Land Tattoo.

(40 votes, average: 4.45 out of 5)

 Loading ...

I know, I know.  Regular updates will be back soon.  For now, an ominous tattoo for everyone to read too much into.

Ron’s tattoo is from Neil Gaiman’s Death: The High Cost of Living.  This is Ron’s story:

I broke up with my ex girlfriend in 2007; she was my high school crush (I’ve known her for 10 years, dated solid the last 5), we never stopped talking and kept trying to ‘make it work’.  Last October 2008 she ended up pregnant.  I stuck by her, did everything I could for the pregnancy, changed my schedule so I could be there for every appointment, went to all the classes; et al.  In May she brought it to my attention, I may not be the father-  I didn’t freak out, I kept going to every class, and appointment, because what would be worse?  Going to the appointments and the baby not being mine, or being mine and I missed all the appointments out of anger?  Lucas Grey was born on 07/08/09, at 10p and I instantly fell in love with him (despite never wanting children).

I stayed at her home, did the midnight changings, put him to sleep, pacified him when he cried.  I was daddy and it really felt good.  On 7/18 I got the test results that he is not mine.  I left and I’ve been entirely devastated ever since.  Buried myself in my work, was drinking a lot, and became a good shut in.  I got this quote for several reasons.  First, When he used to sleep, he would sleep under my left arm, nuzzled onto my chest, secondly its my reminder that its better for both of them without me there, staying only for the selfishness of wanting to be around him.  They are both better without me, and my animosity towards her.  Third, Neil Gaiman is my favorite author, and High Cost of Living is what really introduced me to him, I was a huge Tori Amos fan and I bought the book only to read her forward of the book.  It is also a true quote in every single aspect of life; everything ends, for something new.

(95 votes, average: 4.29 out of 5)

 Loading ...

These Harry Potter tattoos belong to Sharon and Chris:

My husband, Chris, and I got Harry Potter tattoos on the same day. I got a Golden Snitch on my thigh which might serve as the basis for a larger Harry Potter piece around it. Chris got a Dark Mark replicated right where it should go: on his left forearm. He claims that it no longer burns, but I’m not so certain. ;)

(57 votes, average: 3.18 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Jamie’s tattoo is a tribute to her grandfather, who passed away in 2008.  It was done by Rich at South Shore Tattoo on Long Island.

This was posted as a part of “So it Goes” Saturdays. The phrase “so it goes” appears in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five 116 times. Can you help me collect 116 “so it goes” tattoos? 16 down, 100 to go.

(39 votes, average: 3.82 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are arrives in theatres today!

Is this your Where the Wild Things Are tattoo?

Photos (1, 2, 3) by p22earl; republished under a Creative Commons license.

(54 votes, average: 3.98 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are arrives in theatres tomorrow!

This is Peder’s Where the Wild Things Are tattoo.

Photo by Niklas; republished under a Creative Commons license.

(52 votes, average: 4.21 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are arrives in theatres in 2 days!

This Where the Wild Things Are tattoo is on a stranger!  E-mail me if this is yours.

Photo by love not fear; republished under a Creative Commons license.

(36 votes, average: 2.97 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are arrives in theatres in 3 days!

This is Miss Grace’s tattoo of one of the Wild Rumpus scenes from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak:

I’ve wanted this tattoo for almost a decade.  My favorite book as a child, my son’s favorite book now.  I am a children’s services librarian by training (although sadly not by trade – I’m currently in a bookstore), and I wrote extensively on the work of Maurice Sendak, and specifically Where the Wild Things Are, in conjunction with earning my master’s degree.  I’m going to have have it colored true to the original illustration.  Tattooist is George Campise.

(69 votes, average: 4.49 out of 5)

 Loading ...