Nautical star tattoos have caused much controversy and
heated discussion regarding the true meaning of the design. Over the years,
many groups have attempted to tag the design with their own unique
interpretation. In addition to the nautical connection, this popular tattoo
design has been connected to the military, punk rockers, the lesbian community
and the anti-racism movement in recent years.
But what are the origins of the nautical star tattoo? Where
did it come from and what did it originally represent?
Almost everybody, without exception, accepts that sailors
were the first group of people to wear nautical star tattoos.
In previous centuries, working at sea was a very dangerous
and unpredictable way of life. Sailors had very little to guide them at night,
apart from the stars. And the one that they relied upon most was Polaris or
the North Star. As this star is positioned close to the north pole, it appears
to be stationary at all times, unlike other stars which appear to move as time
passes. This provided early sailors with a fixed reference point. And once they
know where the North Star was, they could position their ships accordingly and
be reasonably confident that they were going in the right direction.
Over time the North Star became a symbol for finding your
way home safely and symbolically finding your way in life. But beyond that, as
many sailors were deeply superstitious with a rich history of lore about life
and death at sea, they were always looking for lucky charms. So many sailors
began to place nautical star tattoos on their forearms or hands as a symbol of
good luck and a desire to get home safely.
Skip forward through the centuries and the meaning of the
nautical star tattoo has become broader. Not only is it a symbol of the sea,
but also a sign of security and guidance for all sailors and travellers. It has
also become a sign of following your dreams and achieving success in your life.
However, there is some disagreement concerning the design of
the nautical star. Most people accept that the basic design of the nautical
star is a five-pointed star. But a minority of people claim that the nautical
star represents the traditional design of a ship's compass. This consists of
the four cardinal directions, North, South, East, West, and possibly the
intermediate directions of North East, South East, South West and North West.
So, their idea of the nautical star is a four-pointed design or even an
eight-pointed star.
Personally, I think that the five-pointed star best
represents the design of the nautical star tattoo, especially when you consider
that on many nautical maps, north is shown by a compass style five-pointed star.
But whatever style of design is selected, one thing is
clear; the nautical star has had a long connection with naval tradition and was
originally a symbol of finding your way home safely. And while other groups may
attempt to link themselves to the use of the nautical star tattoo, the sailors
of bygone centuries will always retain the distinction of representing the original interpretation of this iconic tattoo design.
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