Tattoo Ideas: Stars II

A search for star tattoos on BMEzine reveals 10,446 images. Trumped only by the Tribal and Blackwork Tattoos category (which boasts a staggering 14,475 pictures), the stars section is absolutely overflowing with inspiration and ideas. Stars on feet, along the sides of ribcages, traveling up the backs of necks. Big ones, little ones, colored ones, black ones. If you're considering getting a star tattoo and are looking for pictures on the web for inspiration, the task can be daunting. But I have actually gone through all 10,446 images, and I'm happy to share with you the ones that I found particularly impressive.

What is it about stars that has made them become such a popular choice of tattoo? In reality, a star is just a burning ball of gas emitting it's constant light from millions of miles away. They aren't even shaped like the traditional five-pointed star to which we've become accustomed, they're circular. And yet scores of people are obsessed with their imagery (myself included-I have thirteen stars tattooed about my body.)

Maybe it's because on a subconscious, molecular level, we instinctively realize the importance of these luminous orbs. It was the North star that guided our ancestors through unfamiliar territory and rocky seas, and it was the Star of Bethlehem that foretold the birth of Jesus to the three wisemen. It is stars that rule our astrological signs and are said to govern our personalities.

Besides that, stars in and of themselves are fascinating. The notorious black holes, which are so strong nothing that comes near it can ever escape, are actually massive celestial objects. Once you reach the event horizon located at the entrance to the black hole, you are powerless. Getting swallowed up is "as inevitable as moving forward in time." (wikipedia.org) A star of this magnitude is to be both feared and respected. White dwarfs, which are small, dense stars that only shine faintly are the last stage in a star's life, and yet billions of years from now when the galaxies evaporate, it is believed that only white stars will survive this massive transformation. Finally, the sun, our planet's source of energy and light, is actually one big, enormous star that radiates down to Earth so children can grow strong and plants can grow tall, creating oxygen so that we may breathe easily and endlessly brightening all of our days.

With all this imagery and symbolism, is it any wonder stars are so popular in modern culture?