The meaning of nautical star tattoos has been the subject of many debates since different groups have taken this old symbol as an icon of their movement. This actually caused different way of interpretation according to the user and taking context into account as well. Sailors were the ones to set the tradition of nautical star tattoos as they had their superstitions and fears getting lost at sea or seeing their end away from the land. Thus the north star became the home symbol and the silent promise that the person will stay on the right path in life. Such nautical star tattoos clearly stand for good fortune and the chance to get home in the best of conditions.

Nautical Star Tattoos

The groups who have predominantly adopted nautical star tattoos are the military, lesbians and gays as well as punk rockers, but taken separately they all consider different meanings to the symbol. For the military, the nautical star tattoos mean pretty much the same thing as for sailors; the military are also looking or waiting for their return home. The lesbian connections with the nautical star tattoos are about choices. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, non-heterosexual orientations were not regarded as freely as they are today and, lesbians would tattoo the nautical star on the wrist inside where it could be easily camouflaged by a watch, but in the evening when they went out, the tattoo could be seen and identified by people with similar orientations.

Nautical Star Tattoos

Punk groups express their standing apart from the group by using the nautical star tattoos. With the same hints to the North star, these tattoos point to personal efforts to find one’s path in life even if that means being different. With punk groups nautical star tattoos are often identified in the hand sleeve area or in combination with other designs. Besides these categories of people who wear nautical star tattoos for a purpose, there are many others who simply take a liking in the pattern. The preference for one tattoo or another is highly personal and it should stay as such.

Nautical Star Tattoos

Rejections of possible interpretations for the meaning of nautical star tattoos are also very common; thus, the military often have a very strong rejection and debunking reaction towards the possible associations with gay or lesbian groups. Yet, other people wear such tattoos without even giving them a meaning other than their personal liking for the design. The thing that stays valid is the presence of nautical star tattoos in different moments in the history of mankind, which no one can deny.