Tattoo has been known to mankind for more than one thousand years. During this time, this type of art has undergone many changes in technology and styles of drawing patterns on the skin. This is a specific cipher that serves as a hidden "friend / foe" sign for a wide variety of groups of people. One of these symbols is a tattoo of a “star” on the shoulders. The meaning of this pattern is widely known among people serving sentences in prisons or freed from there. What is the interpretation of the considered symbol, consider in more detail.
The sacred meaning of the star sign
The star sign has a certain mystical essence. It is one of the oldest symbols of many cultures and religions. The meaning of the symbol for many centuries - peace and the pursuit of excellence. It is also an eternal symbol of inexhaustible energy, good luck and deliverance from worldly vanity.
To make yourself a similar pattern on the skin, you need to understand what a star tattoo means on the shoulders, wrists, legs and other parts of the body. After all, such a tattoo has a powerful energy potential.
A shooting star speaks of a dreamy nature. It pushes a person to fulfill his desires. After all, they are sometimes made up when the star falls! On the wrists, a similar symbol is pricked by women of non-traditional orientation. The Star of David speaks of the pursuit of dominance.
Number of rays
The five-pointed star is the pursuit of harmony. The inverted pentagram is often used by Satanists.
The seven-pointed star has a magical meaning like the very number 7. This magic will be with a person for a long time, like the tattoo itself.
An eight-pointed star denotes life in abundance.
The nine-pointed star of the ancient Celts symbolized health and prosperity. A similar meaning carries such an image today.
However, criminal tattoos of the “star” on the shoulders have special meaning. Its meaning is always changing. However, the basic message can still be understood.
Criminal tattoo
In Europe, the tattoo got its distribution in the 18th century after the travel of James Cook. In his reports, he spoke about the inhabitants of Oceania, who applied drawings to their bodies with the help of needles and special pimentos. From this period begins the era of tattoos in the Old World.
One of the directions of such drawings was a criminal tattoo. Tattoos such as stars on their shoulders have a special rank of a person in their environment. This is a kind of identity passport that speaks of status.
If you can decipher such signs, you can learn a lot about a person - from his origin and life path, to habits, inclinations and beliefs. This number includes the stars on the shoulders. Tattoos, the meaning of which helps to understand the nature of personality, have always aroused interest among the uninitiated.
The history of crime tattoos
In forensics, the study of thieves tattoos paid very little attention. In the Soviet years, a system for registering marks on the body of criminals was introduced, designed to identify them. Tattoos, such as stars on their shoulders, were meant to inspire fear among ordinary people. Although their presence often became the reason for the arrest.
But even the fear of going to jail did not stop people with a criminal past in deciding to get a tattoo, for example, stars on their shoulders. Tattoos, the significance of which was very well known in the prison world, were justified, because with all the risk, such landmark marks gave special privileges.
The essence of tattoos as a sign of personality degradation was first said by Lombroso. This erroneous opinion, when studied more seriously, showed that the significance of the stars on the shoulders and other drawings was imitative. Similar drawings were naive and rather simple.
Star tattoo
In the ordinary world, a star tattoo is a very popular design.
Superstitious celebrities inflict similar images to attract even greater popularity. They try to hide their tattoos in the form of a star on the shoulders and other parts of the body under clothes, but in rare cases they are still ready to demonstrate their underwear. Among celebrities, there is a completely different meaning, different from the criminal interpretation of what the stars on their shoulders mean.
Ordinary people also quite often choose these characters for application to the body. This tattoo is also used to attract popularity, fame.
The value of prison tattoos
An innocent tattoo, done for the sake of fashion, is interpreted in prison in a completely unexpected way. Incorrect symbolism can cost a short-sighted philistine health, and even life.
Prison tattoos are stars on their shoulders, the significance of which is far from criminal reality, people mistakenly regard as a sign of thieves in law. Such tattoos can be found in a fairly large number of people. They are united by the ability to confirm their right to wear the described pattern.
The right to such a prison tattoo as stars on their shoulders, the significance of which is so often found in various sources, are people who have earned a certain authority. In addition to thieves in law, stars can also be worn by people who openly oppose the prison administration and the camp regime.
Application Method
Earlier in prisons they made tattoos with a needle and a substance containing soot. Pigment was obtained from the burnt soles of boots. Understanding what the stars on the prisoners' shoulders mean, it should be noted that the application technology, as well as the meaning of the drawing itself, changed over time.
Later they began to use ink from ballpoint pens as paint. For the image itself, a special stamp was used. The needles were stuck in a thick piece of rubber so that they protruded 1-2 mm. They were dipped in paint and imprinted on the skin with one movement, leaving a certain pattern.
Subsequently, special machines from electric shavers began to be used. Instead of a needle, strings from a guitar were taken.
Star configuration
A star can have a different number of rays. Usually their number is from six to ten. Tattoos in the form of stars on the shoulders most often have eight rays.
In the center of the picture, something else can be depicted, such as a skull, lightning, other stars or signs. Each drawing has a special meaning. For example, if a skull is depicted on the shoulders in the center of the “star” tattoo, it means “the shooting will correct me”, and there are also transcripts like “born for suffering” or “whatever happens”.
If inside the star there is an image of lightning, it stands for "push the cops." This is a warning that such a person is quite aggressive towards the prison system and is not afraid to show it. The swastika in the center of the figure means the statement “beat the communists”.
Prison Stars and Religion
A tattoo of a “star” on the shoulders, the meaning of which varies depending on the configuration, can often speak of nationality, religion. Muslims serving a prison term can chop a crescent moon inside a star. A Jew, instead of the eight-pointed variety, will fill the star of David.
Although those who hold a high status in the criminal world do not adhere to any religious commandments. They have their own code, their own rules of conduct. Their faith says: "What the thief can do, then the fraer." They simply do not give a damn about faith in its usual understanding. Such people are also called "negatively." Examining what the stars on their shoulders mean, we can say with confidence that people with similar drawings on their bodies express their unwillingness to live by the rules. Even having freed themselves from places of serving their sentences, such people do not give up their beliefs and are ready at any time with the help of aggression to confirm their status in life.
Recently, it is increasingly common opinion that the stars on the shoulders resemble shoulder straps. No self-respecting criminal would agree to wear the mark of law enforcement officials. Therefore, even the one who once filled such a stamp on his shoulders, today seeks to close it with other drawings.
Having examined the many interpretations of prison symbols, we can conclude that a great variety is inherent in such a prison attribute as a tattoo of a “star” on the shoulders. Its meaning is constantly changing, but most often such a symbol distinguishes a rebel person. He challenges the system and does not live by the rules. He will never give up his criminal worldview, so you need to be extremely careful with such people. To date, the popularity of the symbol is reduced, since the stars on the shoulders resemble epaulets. In criminal circles, there is nothing more disgraceful than wearing the symbols of law enforcement officials.