the difference between my tattoo and the bio-hazard logo is pretty obvious, to me anyways, but for some my tat is mistaken for the other which is understandable. and, sometimes guys ask me "why do you have a bio-hazard tattoo"? i think the real question they are asking is "are you poz"? the answer is no, im not poz.
there was a time when i was considering the bio-hazard symbol as my first tat. it was a time when tribal tats were all the rage. i wanted something that looked cool, had meaning and nobody had. i changed my mind when i saw a guy with the symbol on his chest. i was bummed but i wanted to find out why he got it. he said "im toxic", winked at me then walked away. well alrighty then. so i waited, and waited, and waited some more until i decided what to get.
i got inked November 14, 2003! what does my tattoo mean, well im glad u asked... its called the Triquetra (try-KET-ra, Latin for "three cornered"). fans of the TV show CHARMED know that the symbol represents the "power of three". the Triquetra also appears on the christian bible, new king james version, in real life and is considered by some as a protection symbol. so what's the real story behind this symbol? here are the two current viewpoints of what the Triquetra symbolizes.
Christian Symbolism: the Triquetra represents the holy trinity: the father, son, and holy spirit. the unbroken circle represents eternity. the interwoven nature of the symbol denotes the indivisibility and equality of the holy trinity. it symbolizes that the holy spirit is three beings of power, honor, and glory but is indivisibly one god.
Pagan/Wiccan/Goddess Symbolism: the Triquetra represents the threefold nature of the goddess as virgin, mother and crone. it symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The inner three circles represent the female element and fertility.
many cultures and religions consider the number three to be holy or divine. The symbol of three interlocking circles, has been found on 5000 year old indian religious statuary. there are lots and lots of threes if we just look around. the Triquetra symbol itself dates as early as the eighth century on carved stones in northern europe. a norse rune known as the odin knot or val knot resembles it almost exactly.
now, you'll want to know why i chose the Triquetra as my first tattoo... well simply put, when i was born, the three women in my life were my great-grand mother, my grand mother and my mother. my great-grand mother passed away (three months after i was born in 1969), my mother had my sister and then the three women in my life were my grand-mother, my mother and my sister. my sister had my niece in 1999, my grand-mother passed away in august of 2000 and now the three women in my life are my mother, sister and niece.
the night i got my tattoo, i knew it was the right thing because i could feel my great-grandmother, grand mother and great aunt were with me as the tattoo artist was inking me... live, on stage in front of everyone at aaron tanner's tattoo fetish party at the eagle.
~MD
