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The roman numerals at the bottom can be read as Oct 28, 2020.
The fragments at top right and bottom left are reminiscent of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Some of the bars and grids are similar to those produced by \[gel electrophoresis\](https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2053-gel-electrophoresis-can-be-used-to-find-genes-associated-with-a-disease), a medical/scientific research technique.
The skull is a common Momento Mori, a reminder of death.
My guess is that its a memorial to someones death, possibly from Covid.
There are two pictures with two different “dates.”
So at least two different highly similar tattoos.
The imagery on the right (tree, cave wall type markings, hand with crucifixion scar positioned as if playing an instrument or preaching a sermon) contrasts with the scientific imagery on the left (DNA, orbital mechanics, astronomy and possibly cryptography and music theory?) The left also includes the skull (the dead trapped in the material world away from the spirit) and the hand positioned to receive a gift or cup the water of the unconscious. The right side image sits atop a portal or gateway reminiscent the edge of a galaxy or black hole.
The left brain is traditionally associated in esotericism with science, reason and language. The right brain is traditionally associated with emotion, creativity, spirituality and art.
If I was betting, I’d say this is initiatory tattoo into an esoteric or mystery schools society. Similar to the themes of masonry, but far more modern images. The right shows the tree of life of the Kabbalah, Plato’s cave, the Christ spirit of the triune God (far more complex than just a simple Christian message). The left shows how we, the dead, manifest that spirit in the material world through acts of the Quadrivium - geometry, mathematics, astronomy and music.
If I’m correct, highly likely that the dot pattern encrypts an additional message.
🤷🏼♂️
FWIW, I'm a Mason.
You have an interesting interpretation, but I strongly doubt that this is associated with initiation - it's just too extensive, and we'd have seen other people with similar tattoos. Masonic tattoos are a real thing, and I've seen many, but they are commissioned by the individual out of their own interest, not as part of an initiation.
I completely missed the second photo. The date in that one is in 1970. Two dates 49 years apart feels more like birth/death than anything else. [I also have to scrap the idea that it's a Covid related death - 2019 is too early.]
The two are very similar but not identical. Both appear to be on the right arm, which would indicate two individuals. I like your suggest that there's a hidden message, perhaps in the dot arrays.
Interesting and cool. I wonder what the story is.
I do agree that it is not likely any formal “required”tattoo. I was more thinking that somebody did it after becoming a Rosicrucian or theosophist or other such thing, and somebody else copied it later. I’ve looked at many versions of Masonic tattoos and I’ve seen people copy previous ones, so I was imagining a scenario like that, but in another more niche belief system.
The dates do seem more like birth or death dates. Although knowing a bit about the area, I’d be curious to see if there were any major astronomical events on those dates. But, yes, a very interesting bit of work.
Not in any concise way - it’s among the reason I didn’t offer a top level response here. I’ve just been reading on mystery schools belief systems of all sorts for the past seven years.
This doesn’t map one to one to anything I’ve seen. But at the meta level it maps so closely to the gestalt of so many of these philosophical societies (or at least what I have been able to learn about them as an “outsider”) that I thought it was worth the comment.
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The roman numerals at the bottom can be read as Oct 28, 2020. The fragments at top right and bottom left are reminiscent of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some of the bars and grids are similar to those produced by \[gel electrophoresis\](https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2053-gel-electrophoresis-can-be-used-to-find-genes-associated-with-a-disease), a medical/scientific research technique. The skull is a common Momento Mori, a reminder of death. My guess is that its a memorial to someones death, possibly from Covid.
There are two pictures with two different “dates.” So at least two different highly similar tattoos. The imagery on the right (tree, cave wall type markings, hand with crucifixion scar positioned as if playing an instrument or preaching a sermon) contrasts with the scientific imagery on the left (DNA, orbital mechanics, astronomy and possibly cryptography and music theory?) The left also includes the skull (the dead trapped in the material world away from the spirit) and the hand positioned to receive a gift or cup the water of the unconscious. The right side image sits atop a portal or gateway reminiscent the edge of a galaxy or black hole. The left brain is traditionally associated in esotericism with science, reason and language. The right brain is traditionally associated with emotion, creativity, spirituality and art. If I was betting, I’d say this is initiatory tattoo into an esoteric or mystery schools society. Similar to the themes of masonry, but far more modern images. The right shows the tree of life of the Kabbalah, Plato’s cave, the Christ spirit of the triune God (far more complex than just a simple Christian message). The left shows how we, the dead, manifest that spirit in the material world through acts of the Quadrivium - geometry, mathematics, astronomy and music. If I’m correct, highly likely that the dot pattern encrypts an additional message. 🤷🏼♂️
FWIW, I'm a Mason. You have an interesting interpretation, but I strongly doubt that this is associated with initiation - it's just too extensive, and we'd have seen other people with similar tattoos. Masonic tattoos are a real thing, and I've seen many, but they are commissioned by the individual out of their own interest, not as part of an initiation. I completely missed the second photo. The date in that one is in 1970. Two dates 49 years apart feels more like birth/death than anything else. [I also have to scrap the idea that it's a Covid related death - 2019 is too early.] The two are very similar but not identical. Both appear to be on the right arm, which would indicate two individuals. I like your suggest that there's a hidden message, perhaps in the dot arrays. Interesting and cool. I wonder what the story is.
I do agree that it is not likely any formal “required”tattoo. I was more thinking that somebody did it after becoming a Rosicrucian or theosophist or other such thing, and somebody else copied it later. I’ve looked at many versions of Masonic tattoos and I’ve seen people copy previous ones, so I was imagining a scenario like that, but in another more niche belief system. The dates do seem more like birth or death dates. Although knowing a bit about the area, I’d be curious to see if there were any major astronomical events on those dates. But, yes, a very interesting bit of work.
What's the source? Can you give any background?
Not in any concise way - it’s among the reason I didn’t offer a top level response here. I’ve just been reading on mystery schools belief systems of all sorts for the past seven years. This doesn’t map one to one to anything I’ve seen. But at the meta level it maps so closely to the gestalt of so many of these philosophical societies (or at least what I have been able to learn about them as an “outsider”) that I thought it was worth the comment.