Cancer Tattoos (June 21 - July 22)

Cancer is the fourth of the twelve signs of the zodiac, corresponding to the constellation Cancer, and is depicted as a crab. Some early versions of the Cancer symbol depicted it as a crayfish.

The glyph for Cancer looks like the two lower-case letter “b’s” or the number “6” with one laying down and the other facing the opposite direction laying on top (picture how shoes come in a shoebox).

Cancer tattoos can be of the image, glyph, or combination of both.

Cancer is a water element sign, and is ruled by the Moon. Often, it is linked to the ancient Greek story about Hercules, who was trying to kill the multi-headed Hydra beast. The goddess Hera wanted Hercules to lose, so she created a crab to hold Hercules by the ankle while he fought. Unfortunately for both the Hydra and the crab, Hercules won. The Roman variation is that the goddess Juno placed the spirit of the defeated crab in the sky.

The Cancer personality is devoted to traditions and customs, are collectors, and they love home and cherish marriage. They may, however, become dependent on others. This is unfortunate, because they are also unable to see or understand that others may have evil intentions. The lists below show a number of characteristics, both positive and negative, that different sources attribute to Cancer:

Positive: family-centered, good at business, caretaker, emotional, sensitive, imaginative, gregarious, cautious, romantic, sociable, shrewd, domesticated

Negative: passive, timid, self-absorbed, opinionated, acquisitive, fear of being emotionally vulnerable, superficial, lives in the past, withdraws, moody, stubborn

Characteristics associated with Cancer, which may be customized into a unique tattoo design:

• Body Part: Chest
• Color: Orange-Yellow
• Metal: Silver
• Flower: Moonflower
• Gem: Aquamarine (Ruby)
• Food: Watercress, Milk

Famous Cancer include Kafka, Proust, Chagall, and Henry VIII.

Gemini Tattoos (May 21-June 20)

Gemini is the third of the twelve signs of the zodiac, corresponding to the constellation Gemini, and is depicted as human twins.

Gemini glyph The glyph for Gemini looks like the Roman numeral “II.”
Gemini tattoos can be of the image, glyph, or combination of both.
Gemini is an air element sign, and is ruled by the planet Mercury. Often, it is linked to the ancient Greek legend of Castor and Pollux, sons of the god Zeus. Legend has it that Castor (sometimes spelled Kastor) was mortal, while his sibling Pollux was immortal. Other stories claim that one twin was Eques or Apollo, and the other was Hercules or Pugil. Given the configuration of the stars, it appears that Pugil may be boxing his brother. That’s where we get the word “pugilist” to refer to modern day boxers.

The Gemini personality is curious and adaptable, but is sometimes naïve or reacts to insignificant things. They make good journalists and love to travel and try new things; they are good at multi-tasking, but may sometimes start more projects than they can finish. The lists below show a number of characteristics, both positive and negative, that different sources attribute to Gemini: Positive: instinctive, intellectual, versatile, idealistic, communicative, imitative, inventive, alert, inquisitive, youthful mentality and appearance

Negative: superficial, restless, impatient, unstable, lacking in concentration, inconsistent, difficult, childish, immature

Characteristics associated with Gemini, which may be customized into a unique Gemini tattoo design:

• Body Part: Shoulders, Arms
• Color: Orange
• Metal: Mercury
• Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley
• Gem: Emerald (Pearl)
• Food: Lettuce, Cauliflower

Famous Gemini include Dante, Stravinsky, Wagner, and “Sherlock Holmes” creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Taurus Tattoos

Taurus is the second of the twelve signs of the zodiac, corresponding to the constellation Taurus, and is depicted as a bull.

Taurus glyph The glyph for Taurus looks like the letter “O” with curly-cue horns sticking out of the top.

Taurus tattoos can be of the image, glyph, or combination of both.

Taurus is an earth element sign, and is ruled by the planet Venus. Often, it is linked to the ancient Greek legend of Europa (for whom the continent of Europe is named), a beautiful human girl who wanted to travel to the ends of the earth, beyond the horizon. Zeus sent her a bull carry her on her journey. Some variations say that the bull was really the god Jupiter in disguise. Custom has it that the bull is linked to speech and hearing. In the early Christian era, the constellation was sometimes associated with Christ, who was “logos,” or the “Word.”

The Taurus personality is steady and slow to anger, but watch out for them when they get mad! Taurus like to eat, and they work well with money. One thing they cannot tolerate are those who fail to fulfill their obligations. The lists below show a number of characteristics, both positive and negative, that different sources attribute to Taurus:

Positive: practical, conservative, beautiful or rich voice, productive, warm, sincere, sensual, loyal in friendship and in love, both masculine and feminine strengths

Negative: slow, possessive, intractable, relentless, overbearing, jealous, tyrannical, coarse, gluttonous, repetitive, selfish, violent, cruel

Characteristics associated with Taurus, which may be customized into a unique tattoo design:

• Body Part: Neck
• Color: Red-Orange
• Metal: Copper
• Flower: Daisy
• Gem: Amethyst (Emerald)
• Food: Celery

Famous Taurus include Brahms, Ella Fitzgerald, and Karl Marx.