What's the rage about tattoo designs of zodiac signs?

Why are they so popular?

Mankind has been mesmerized by the stars and constellations for thousands of years and the impact that those twinkling little dots up in the night sky have on each and every one of us as individuals.

You can't pick up any daily or weekly publication without there being some reference to the stars, astrological readings.

And most people have set ideas about what your star sign says about you. If you are a Capricorn, you are determined, steady but can be stubborn. Pisceans tend to be sympathetic and kind. Those born under the sign of Aries can be gregarious and courageous but grumpy and quick tempered to boot!

Surprisingly, throughout the world there are many different types of the zodiac. But more or less, the basics remain the same. In astronomy, the zodiac is the ring of the constellations that line the ecliptic. This is the path the sun takes across the sky over the period of a year. The Moon and the planets also lie within this ecliptic, thus being within the constellations of the zodiac.

In astrology, the zodiac represents the signs which divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of longitude. In effect, the zodiac is a form of coordinates system taking the ecliptic as the origin of latitude and the sun, at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.

The astrological charts that the majority of the western world follows are the based on the Latin/Greek zodiac. The Greek zadiakos kuklos which means circle of animals is motivated by the fact that most of the f the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals (six out of twelve, plus two mythical birds).

So why have a zodiac or star sign as a tattoo? Why not? If you believe strongly in astrology it is another way of saying and showing through your body art, this is who I am; this is what my birth date makes me. Some say that it makes them feel that they are connecting with the universe - their zodiac tattoo is another coordinate to be joined up with.

Also if you are stuck for ideas as to what sort of tattoo design to go for, basing your decision on something that is personal to you isn't such a bad way to go.

You can vary the art and the design by basing your tattoo on the symbols used in Western astrology or the actual zodiac signs allowing you to let the artist recreate something quite simple or ornate and intricate.

Comprehensive designs of zodiac tattoo designs can be found at GeminiTattoos4u.