Tattoo by Stephanie Monat at 46 and 2 Tattoo
Fargo ND
My tattoo merges a couple of ancient symbols and represents my belief in seeking a more balanced world and lifestyle and my Scandinavian ancestry.
The 8-spoke wheel is a fairly old symbol that shows up in numerous cultures. In Buddhism, it represents the 8-fold path to enlightenment. In the Icelandic Viking culture of the 11th and 12th centuries, the wheel with 8 spokes is known as the aegishjalmr and was supposed to protect a warrior in battle. The design in the center of the wheel is another protective symbol from Norse culture known as a shield knot.
I spent a year or so drawing and re-drawing the tattoo in order to find a way to blend the Hindu, Buddhist, and Norse styles.