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Fear not, for God will be unto us a helper, a mariner, and a pilot. May God do unto us his servants and his little vessel as he willeth.
- Saint Brendan
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Walt's Tattoo Gallery
An Introduction to Walt McFadden's Tattoos
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The art of tattooing dates from antiquity. The oldest known tattoos were found on a 5,200 year old European ice mummy. Although modern tattooing descends primarily from Polynesian practice, tattooing in one form or another has been found to exist among the indigenous peoples of all of the world's continents except Antarctica.
One of the most common subjects for tattoos are symbols associated with spiritual values or ideals. These symbols typically reveal the values of their bearer, as well as qualities that the bearer either actually possesses or wishes to possess. My own tattoo reflects this ancient tradition and reveals many of my own spiritual values. I am grateful to Dan Martin, owner of Scorpion Studios in Houston for assisting me in communicating, through art, these values.
The inspiration for my left and right arm "half-sleeves," as they are called, comes from the Scottich Rite of Freemasonry. The left half-sleeve is based on the Chamber of Reflection, wherein a candidate reflects on various symbols in preparation for the reception of certain Masonic degrees. The right is based on the 18th Degree of the Scottish Rite, the Degree of Rose Croix.
The explanations of the symbols that I have provided do not represent any sort of official Masonic teachings, but rather reflect some of my own interpretations of these symbols as a Freemason who is also an Esoteric Christian and Pastor. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry encourages its members to interpret the many symbols of Freemasonry for themselves. This is one attempt to do that, but it is by no means exhaustive. I doubt that a lifetime of study would ever reveal all the possible meanings of these symbols.
There exists a little known connection between tattoos and Christianity. The Christian theological term "sacrament" (an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace) is derived from the Latin word "sacramentum," which was a military term used in the Roman Empire to denote a soldier's oath of allegiance to his commanding officer. Soldiers often memorialized their sacramentum with a tattoo that symbolized their commanding officer. I acknowledge that my ultimate commanding officer is God, and it is to God that I dedicate my tattoos and these ruminations. May they bring lux e tenebris.
The Rev. Walter L. McFadden, 32°
One of the most common subjects for tattoos are symbols associated with spiritual values or ideals. These symbols typically reveal the values of their bearer, as well as qualities that the bearer either actually possesses or wishes to possess. My own tattoo reflects this ancient tradition and reveals many of my own spiritual values. I am grateful to Dan Martin, owner of Scorpion Studios in Houston for assisting me in communicating, through art, these values.
The inspiration for my left and right arm "half-sleeves," as they are called, comes from the Scottich Rite of Freemasonry. The left half-sleeve is based on the Chamber of Reflection, wherein a candidate reflects on various symbols in preparation for the reception of certain Masonic degrees. The right is based on the 18th Degree of the Scottish Rite, the Degree of Rose Croix.
The explanations of the symbols that I have provided do not represent any sort of official Masonic teachings, but rather reflect some of my own interpretations of these symbols as a Freemason who is also an Esoteric Christian and Pastor. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry encourages its members to interpret the many symbols of Freemasonry for themselves. This is one attempt to do that, but it is by no means exhaustive. I doubt that a lifetime of study would ever reveal all the possible meanings of these symbols.
There exists a little known connection between tattoos and Christianity. The Christian theological term "sacrament" (an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace) is derived from the Latin word "sacramentum," which was a military term used in the Roman Empire to denote a soldier's oath of allegiance to his commanding officer. Soldiers often memorialized their sacramentum with a tattoo that symbolized their commanding officer. I acknowledge that my ultimate commanding officer is God, and it is to God that I dedicate my tattoos and these ruminations. May they bring lux e tenebris.
The Rev. Walter L. McFadden, 32°
Click on a picture in the Gallery below to see a larger view and read the interpretation of the symbols.
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