Caduceus

The rod of Asclepius (also known as the medical staff) is an ancient Greek symbol associated with astrology, and with healing through medicine. It consists of a serpent entwined around a staff.

The rod symbolizes the healing arts by combining the serpent, which in shedding its skin is a symbol of rebirth and fertility, with the staff, which is a symbol of authority. So, the combination means rebirth or repair through authority, knowledge of the healing arts. The snake wrapped around the staff is widely claimed to be a species of rat snake also known as the Aesculapian or Asclepian snake. It is native to southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, and some central European spa regions, apparently brought there by Romans for their healing properties.

According to Greek mythology, Asclepius was said to have learned the art of healing from Chiron. He is customarily represented as a surgeon on the ship Argo. Asclepius was so skilled in the medical arts that he was reputed to have brought patients back from the dead. For this, he was punished and placed in the heavens as the constellation Ophiuchus (meaning "serpent-bearer"). This constellation lies between Sagittarius and Libra. In early Christianity, the constellation Ophiuchus was associated with Saint Paul holding the Maltese Viper. According to some, Asclepius fought alongside the Achaeans in the Trojan War, and cured Philoctetes of his famous snakebite.

Medical staff tattoos represent the power of healing and the knowledge behind the medical profession. The Staff of Asclepius has long been a popular tattoo design with individuals who work in the medical professions, especially with those who provide Emergency Medical Services, such as Paramedics and Emergency Room personnel.

To BEE or not to BEE?

Bees have been a part of human history for as long scientists can tell. In fact, there are theories that bees and their honey were very important to early man because the words for honey, bees and beeswax are similar in widely dispersed areas such as China, France, and Iceland.

Early man thought the bees were heaven sent. And because they had the ability to find their ways back home from over long distance, bees were seen as representative of the soul. They came to be associated with sexuality and fertility. The bee's detailed, organized hive has made it also a symbol of social order and cleanliness. They also project the image of hard working and a symbol of good. The phrase "busy bee" comes from the image of bees gathering honey and working individually in their hives for the colony's greater good. Killing bees is considered bad luck.

Bee tattoos represent a "taking care of business" attitude, toughness and industrialism.

Up In Smoke

Yes it's true. Kat Von D's house burnt down. Her pet cat, up in smoke. Even though she's not our favorite artist, we wish her well and hope she recovers quickly from this tragedy.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Irie Tribe Tattoo & Body Piercing Supplies.

Thinking of a First Tattoo?

Tattoos & You

Getting ink is important step in life. Make sure you got about it the right way. Here are few first time tattoo trade secrets:

How To Choose a Tattoo That’s Right For You on Howcast

Irie Tribe ONLINE STORE

Irie Tribe Online Store

We are pleased to announce that we are opening an ONLINE STORE for Select Tattoo & Body Piercing Supplies. Check back for more products.

Body Piercing School Coming Soon

Want a License to Pierce in Oregon?

We're designing an online course that will get you LICENSED TO PIERCE in Oregon. You'll learn everything you need to know to earn extra money piercing. We'll show you how to build wealth from body piercing services and body jewelry sales.

Isn't it time, you profited from this multi-million dollar industry?





Must be 18 or older to enroll in the course.

Buy Tattoo Supplies

We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with JOKER TATTOO SUPPLY.



They are an excellent, reputable source for tattoo supplies

Lip service?

Yes, they're interesting and can be a lot of fun, but THEY WILL FADE AWAY.

Why Does a Lip Tattoo fade so quickly?
The skin in your mouth replaces itself faster because the acid and abrasive, food digesting chemical content peels it way. The mouth is an under appreciated part of the body. You can't live without it. Your lips, teeth, gums, and jaw all work together to keep you alive. You should thank the spirits by making sure that you brush your teeth and visit a dentist regularly; so you don't end up having a molar rot out and need a root canal just to quell the stench and then have a greedy dentist put in a fragile porcelain crown only to have it shatter a few months later and then pay another honest, old skool dentist, who tells you rinse with salt water, more money for a shiny GOLD crown which looks and feels awesome but kinda makes you a pirate.

Solid gold tooth or not, if you get an inner lip tattoo, you will need to have it touched-up/re-inked from time to time. When you are getting the tattoo, you can expect to savor the lusty taste of blood, pigment, soap, and a touch of hipster douche-bag. It is nothing to worry about. You'll want to stay away from color, especially yellow or red, which may contain trace amounts of poison or not.

What's the point of a Lip Tattoo?
You get to show a few people close enough to smell the cheetos on your breath that you can spend money on a tattoo that isn't really permanent. So, the point ISN'T the meaning or fashion statement; it's the laugh, the eye-roll, or the "that's cool" that will make people want to read your lips.

Neuma Tattoo Machines: Hot or Just Hot Air?

Now that is NOT your typical tattoo machine. This one doesn't run on electricity, it runs on air. Yes, it requires a compressor, air traps, and hose. It's very much like an airbrush. The benefits to using compressed air are smoother, non-jarring, implantation. More precise control over needle cycle.

Personally, I like the look of the machines, but I think Nuema has simply re-invented a wheel that already works. The main drawback to the machines is there accessories. The full blooded air machine requires several clunky components.



Who wants to lug an air compressor and regulator around? I can carry my iron machines AND power supply around in a shopping bag. That's the genius of traditional machines. They're simple and they work. Yes, you have to tune them from time to time, but that's not where near as cumbersome as lugging around an expensive, heavy air supply. To Nuema's credit, they have created a "hybrid" machine which runs on air and electricity. But it's pretty expensive. I'd rather stick to traditional machines. I think a modern rotary tattoo machine would deliver the same advantages. It may not look as slick, but it'll get the job done.

In my opinion, it's just a lot of hot air. Traditional machines work fine, why try to reinvent them?

Is Black Light Ink Safe?

Black light tattoos are all the rage. After all who doesn't want to glow in the dark? There's something seductive about these aberrant tattoos. But are they safe?

It depends on the type of ink used. DANGEROUS UV INKS contain phosphorus and are NOT FDA approved. (Regular Tattoo Ink isn't FDA approved. Why? Because it wasn't used for tracking animals the way UV ink is.) The companies that make and distribute UV ink may claim to be FDA approved, but when you read the fine print on the bottle, FDA Approved is NOT there. They tend to write things like, "tested for FDA approval," which is by no means FDA approved. All UV inks that are FDA approved will have an FDA special marking and statement. Don't BE SHY. ASK YOUR ARTIST TO SEE THE BOTTLE. He or she may be resistant, he or she may squawk something about "cross contamination." But it's YOUR BODY and he or she will have bring out the ink at some point--as long as you DON'T TOUCH THE BOTTLE there's no risk of "cross contamination." If you don't see the FDA approval, then think twice.

Personally, I don't like using color at all. I'm a Black and Grey Guy. Kuro Sumi black ink, for example, is safe: it's "vegan"; it's ingredients are printed on the bottle; and it can be used for other artistic purposes, such as SUMI painting.



If you're dead-set on glowing in the dark-light, Chameleon Black Light Ink is probably you're best bet. They claim to be FDA approved as a Spectral Marking Pigment. The ink they use was developed for use in tracking animals and fish (and people at clubs). No adverse reactions have been REPORTED (not the same as none) in humans for over 10 years.

Black light ink tattoos SUCK; the tattoos look like burns when they're fresh. Sometimes the artist has to go over the skin several times to get the pigment in, causing the skin to raise and moderate scarring. You can sort of see the tattoos in regular light, which I think looks kind of half-ass. Get a REAL TATTOO Black and Grey All the Way!

Don't Believe the Lie

Have you heard this one?
“Good tattoos aren’t cheap. Cheap tattoos aren’t good.”
It's BS!!!!! Don't believe it for one second. It's just a sales ploy to get you to pay more.

When getting a tattoo, price Should NOT be a major factor. You don't SHOP AROUND FOR TATTOOS. That's silly. Your tattoo depends on the SKILL OF YOUR ARTIST and NOTHING ELSE. PRICE has nothing to do with the quality of your work.

The best tattoo I have, I got for FREE. Conversely, some people PAY out lots of MONEY for BAD TATTOOS. One girl who came to me for a cover-up had two of the WORST KOI FISH I've EVER seen on her. They look like parrots, not fish. The "scales" are timid and faint. She paid $300.00 just to outline that piece of crap "custom job". If she had plopped down another $100 or so, the tattoo wouldn't have been any better. So, don’t get caught in the LIE: “Good tattoos aren’t cheap. Cheap tattoos aren’t good.” .

More money will not enchant the ink to magically move around. Price is up to artist. If he or she feels generous with the ART, that's his or her prerogative.

Are You a Flasher?

As I said, some people love Flash. They like the idea of carrying on a tattoo tradition. There's a reason that some flash has stood the test of time. First the designs are bold and meaningful. Take the Nautical star. It's reference point for true north, it symbolizes finding one's way. Sailors tattoo nautical stars on their forearms as a charm, with the star there to guide them, they can always find their way home or anywhere else for that matter.


For more FREE Flash and great Tattoo Designs, Click Here!

Want an Authentic Chinese Design?

Don't get fooled. There are so many FAKE and INCORRECT chinese symbols tattooed on people. If you want a REAL CHINESE TATTOO DESIGN, then get it from a native speaker.

Yingying, is a Chinese Tattoo Artist who has been Translating Thousands of English Words Into Chinese and making AUTHENTIC, Custom CHINESE designs for years. Don't get the wrong symbol.


Click Here! to Get an Authentic Chinese Design.

Black & Grey All the Way

I'm often asked why I prefer black and grey tattoos over color. Don't get me wrong, color can be beautiful. But I do have a few reservations about it. First, some people are allergic to certain pigments, blue and red are the most common. Having an allergic reaction to ink implanted into the dermis of your skin sucks and your tattoo will suffer with splotchy color. Second, color can fade in strange ways. For example, a half sleeve may have slightly different color in areas that are exposed to the sun. This is true of black and grey as well, but the discoloration is NOT as noticeable with black and grey as it is with color work.
Please don't think I'm anti color. I love color. Much of my watercolor artwork sings the harmonies of primary, secondary, and tertiary color. And I have done and seen some amazing color tattoos. Heck I have few color pieces on myself.

Yet in my heart, I still believe that Black & Grey is the Way. Here's why:

1. Black and Grey works for BOLD designs, which means your tattoo will look good longer
2. Some Black & Grey tattoos can have color added, which means you have more design options
3. Black and Grey communicates value better than color, which means your tattoo will be recognizable at distance AND people who are color blind will see it just as clearly as person with normal vision
4. There are more words that rhyme with"grey" than "color", which means its poetry friendly.

Click Here!

To Ink Or Not to Ink?

So you want a Tattoo?

Good. I think everyone should have at least one tattoo. Not only because they are instant Karma, but also because some cultures believe that they make you visible to the spirits. Tattooing is also said to arose the Gods.

Since tattoos are permanent (some colors cannot be completely removed, even with lasers--BTW, BLACK is the EASIEST PIGMENT TO REMOVE), you should consider a few things first. First you need to have a design in mind. Personally, I hate it when this happens:

Customer: "I want a tattoo."
Artist: "What do you want?"
Customer: "I don't know."

For some people, a piece of Flash is fine. They really don't care what goes on them or they like the idea of carrying on a tradition by having a common design on their body. Other people want custom work. If it's not unique, it's not going on them. Everyone is different.



Aside from having a general idea of the design you want, you should also consider WHERE you want it placed. Some designs work better on certain parts of he body. For example, the lower back "aka tramp stamp" is great for SYMMETRICAL designs. You also have to decide on visibility. A face, forearm, or hand tattoo is hard to miss. Another thing to consider is the nature of the skin in the area to be inked. The lower back and upper arms are good sites for most work because the skin is usually protected from the sun. The hands and feet are okay, but the skin is thicker there. It stretches more and your tattoo design will tend to "migrate" or blur faster. Also, sites where the skin bends a lot are prone to issues with healing. It has nothing to do with artist. It's just nature.

Once you have a design and location chosen, you should visit shops to check out portfolios. ALWAYS ask to see the artist "Book". That will give you an idea of the quality you can expect. Of course, that's not full proof.

The best way to find an artist is by referral. Don't be shy. If you see someone with some killer ink, ask him or her where they got it done. DO NOT JUST RUN OVER TO THE PERSON AND TOUCH HIS OR HER TATTOO. That's rude and might get you punched. Instead say something like, "Excuse me, but may I ask you a question." They will say yes or no if they say "No." Leave them alone. If they say "Yes", ask "Where did you get your work/tattoo done?" Most people will be happy to tell you.

Don't try to haggle with the artist on price. Price Should NOT be a factor, it has nothing to do with quality. The best tattoo I have, I got for FREE. Conversely, some people have paid a lot of money for bad tattoos. So, don't get caught in the LIE: "Good tattoos aren't cheap. Cheap tattoos aren't good." It's total BS. By that logic, if you're unhappy with your tattoo, you should just pay your artist more money and the ink will magically move around to make it better.

Getting a tattoo is important rite of passage, you should not enter it lightly.

Want to find tattoo designs?

Click Here!

Are Your Tattoos Ruining the Planet?

Did you know that most plastic DOES NOT degrade? And even plastics that do such as LEXAN take a good long while to blend back into the earth. What does that have to do with your tattoo? A lot. Some shops use disposable tubes, which are thrown away after only ONE USE. Shops couldn't use them again if they tried BECAUSE Oregon only allows SINGLE USE of disposables tubes. These wasteful tubes stack-up fast. Think about it. Most tattoos require at least TWO TUBES: one for lining , the other for shading. That's piles of tubes at the end of the day.

So what's the solution? Unfortunately, in Oregon, some of the plastic waste is inevitable. The Oregon Health Licensing Agency for the most part, requires tattoo artists to dispose of anything that touches the skin during the tattoo procedure. This is, of course is for public safety: to prevent the spread of disease through cross contamination. BUT Oregon ALSO ALLOWS the use of REUSABLE, STAINLESS STEEL TUBES!!! These tubes can be used over and over again BECAUSE they can be STERILIZED with an AUTOCLAVE.

Ask your tattoo artist whether he uses disposable tubes or not. If he uses disposables, DISPOSE of HIM or HER.



Reusable tubes are SAFE and SANITARY. They are sterilized the same way dentists sterilize their mouth mirrors and periodontal probes. Oregon also requires that the tubes be sterilized with Indicator Tape, this tape changes color when the critical temperature has been reached for a prolonged period. The color changing tape ensures that all pathogens, spores, and anything else on or in the tubes has been completely destroyed.

Is Your Website Toxic?

If you're NOT using Green energy to host your Website, you may be ruining our planet. Did you know that dirty energy fills the air with particulates which can cause cancer, asthma, and other respiratory problems? Not only that Coal Mines and other sources of Filthy Power rip apart and deplete out natural resources, killing wildlife, contaminating streams, and scarring the earth forever. Stop using filthy and destructive power sources for you Website.



Click Here to Host a CLEAN, GREEN Website.