For the ten trillion nautical star questions...

For everyone who has questions about the 'ole nautical star.... "Sailors have long used nautical stars as symbols of protection and guidance." Here is more information and input: "Nautical Star tattoos are very commonly used in the gay world to denote homosexuality. They are often placed in a location that can be easily concealed. For example, one could have the star tattoed on his/her wrist, allowing them to hide it (with a watch or long-sleeved shirt) by day, and reveal it at night at the bar/club." "The nautical stars were originally used by sailors to help guide their way as they sailed through the night. They relied upon the stars to protect them and bring them home safely. A lot of soldiers get nautical stars for the same reason: protection." "They symbolize protection, guidance, loyalty, and honor. They can also symbolize prestige or a higher rank in the military." "Back in the day sailors would tattoo nautical stars on them because they relied on the stars to take them home. So in that case the star would be a symbol of guidance. Now as time has passed the nautical stars represent the direction of ones life. If it's pointed upward they have a higher outlook on life and so on." "The meaning of the Nautical star is to create your own path, but use the stars as a guide when you are lost or scared." "Many people have differnt meanings, but I have my nautical star to remind me to always follow my dreams, also to protect me and guide me through out life." "I am in the United States Army, an MP who searched towns and villages for Al Quida and insurgents. I was in Iraq for a year. I have a red and black nautical star on my wrist. The reason I got it was because when I was out there, I felt it was a guide to guide me home to my family safely. I got it so that it would remind me that I am going to make it to see my son grow up. I am not gay, it doesn't matter what you believe it represents, it means something different for everyone. Out in the desert, I would look up at the stars and think about home. So anyone can think what they want to, that is what it means to me." "I have two black and red nautical stars on each elbow. I am in the Navy and I know of quite a few people who have nautical stars. Sailors where some of the first people to bring back the art of tattooing which they picked up from indigenious tribes in the pacific. Also if you ever look at a map you will notice nautical stars somewhere on it. I believe it originated with sailors because they where constantly using the charts and noticed the symbol of the nautical star." "I have been in the tattoo and piercing industry for 29+ years and I can tell you this: The Nautical Star is just that "A NAUTICAL STAR!" My hats off to those who know that it is a symbol representing the guidance of a return to safe port! " "This "gay symbol" is a load of hooey that someone made up VERY recently. The nautical star tattoo has been around nearly as long as tattooing itself. The late Celts (or early Irish, depending on your view of World History) were said to have been the first to have the tattoos, although evidence of it being used on ships in Spain has been found pre-dating the Irish claim. As a Marine, it's a very commonplace symbol amongst us if we have been part of a Boat Raid company, red for port, green for starboard on varying parts of the body. On ship, I saw about a million different variations on the Sailors I was was serving with, obviously harking back to the sailor roots." "The five point star, not necessarily the nautical star, was a Pagan symbol. It is the way Venus moves across the night sky. Venus was a Pagan goddess. As a political smear campain, the catholic church pronounced it a pentagram and a symbol of the devil. The same way it changed other pagan gods to devil symbols like Posideons trident to a devils pitchfork." "I guess the nautical star or general star could mean whatever concept you could possibly imagine. To me it reminds me of solidarity. I had never heard of the lesbian history but I guess it just reaffirms my idea of my nautical star. Gays have always been a part of the struggle the freedom of expression and action in America." "The nautical star is on some of the Mormon temples. On the plaques they have telling the meaning of some of the things on the temple it says the star means holyness." "I believe that the Nautical Star derived from the Druze Star. Almost the exact same concept, except they split the star segments down the middle and added color. I'm sure the sailor thing is correct, and truthfully no one should care what past people whom have had these tattoos believe its translated to. If you get a tattoo that feels right, think of in your head what you believe it to be. But anyway back to the Druze Star and the link to that of a nautical star. The Druze Star is in 5 segments with the colors green (top), red (right), yellow (lower right), white (lower left), and blue (left). Green is the mind, the male principle. Red is the soul, or the female principle. Yellow is the word, the mediator between divine and material. White is manifested will or actualization, and Blue is will, the realm of possiblity. I believe this has something to do with the creation of the nautical star, or I could be wrong. Just an assumption. Maybe someone just drew a star one day and decided to put 2 different colors in it who knows for sure?" "It was used by OLD sailors and the symbol represents North on a map. It is the North Star the sailors would use it as a baring to get home. (As for punk rock, we use it because we can and because Sailor Jerry made the coolest tattoos who started putting them on everyone.) " "The nautical star is a navigating device used by sailors, and travelers. It has also become a symbol of the sea, and of all forms of navigation." "The Nautical Star is an Irish symbol for good health. It was first brought into practice by the Pagans that inhabitaed Iriland in the 1700's. The Nautical star can still be found hanging in any pagan based hospital." "I've been told that the nautical star is a symbol for anti-racism." "Nautical stars are often called vegan stars cause vegans sometimes get them tattood on their body." "TO ME THEIR ARE FIVE POINTS THAT A STAR CONTAINS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TO LEFT TO RIGHT TO THE LAST POINT MEANS TO ME (1)ONE LOVE (2) ONE LIFE (3)ONE DESTINY(4)ONE HEART(5)ONE SOUL.This was pass on to my family for generations whom all have had the five point star tattoo and this was it's meaning to my family." "Stars are one of the first symbols in human history, therefore it is bound to have a thousand meanings to a thousand different cultures. Sailors, Lesbians, Christians, Jews, Mormons, Pagans, punk rock kids, Native Americans, 35 countries have stars on their flags INCLUDING THE USA. With the hammer and sickle it represents communism, with palm leaves it's scientology, with the cresent moon it's islam, when you were in kindergarden you got a little star on your homework...." ....In other words....IT'S WHAT EVER YOU WANT IT TO BE!!!!....J

Yeah but... What do they really mean?!?! (J is gonna hate me for that!!)

My star is in tribute to THE SNEETCHES by Dr. Suess (same placement same star) the plain bellies get stars to be like the star bellies and the star bellies got stars removed to be like the plain bellies and they keep going back and forth until they have no money and finally figure out that plain bellies and star bellies are really all the same and no one is better. Kinda like people with or without tattoos. :)

The Sneetches are my FAVORITE!!!>>>>YAY!!!! I am gonna be a starbellie when I grow up!!! God Molly I haven't heard of them for so many years...thanks for reminding me...I gotta go get the book for my grandson....The book illustrates so well how looks can dominate peoples lives!...ITS GREAT!! Thanks again!...TAz Jwerk....You have way too much time on your hands...ever thought of oh I don't know...DRAWING???????????????????

Taz, my wonderful Master.... I know what you are thinking....All of this crazy bullshit I've posted and I could have spent that time drawing.... You're right. But in all honesty, it took me all of 1 1/2 hours of a 12 hour shift to do. I felt like making a point that somethings are not that hard to figure out.... I ain't gonna let ya down Chief.... ....Mario J....you silly boy.... The nautical star is just that ... a star... check out the last paragraph on the original post.... I think people get to caught up in "What does it mean"....it's not like kanji where it's best to get three opinions before you ink it into your skin. I don't know man...If somethin' about it is hemmin' ya up Bro' I'll Find out something or debate thoughts with ya.....It's all good!....J

Dammit, you mean now I have to get a nautical star tattoo too? That's sooooooooo gay!!!!!!!! Not that there's anything wrong with it. TCE

I'm seventeen years old and me and my mom do alot of crazy things together. She's 41 and we just recently got are tounges pierced together for example. But now we want to get matching nautical stars on our wrists. She wants blue and i want red and black. But i don't want it cause i don't want people to think i'm gay. So i read ur meaning about it and i like it. The one love one soul all that. so i'm still getting it

Holy Fuck Werk! Now that's a complete explanation. Hail Sir J-Werk... Knight of Search Engines!!!

You know you want to bow before me...go ahead...do it...do it....

The OFFICIAL meaning between sailors, me being one also, is that only 2 colors exist, green and red. They specifically mean the amount of naut. miles you traveled by sea. BUT, the amount of miles per color has been lost and skewed. The last I heard agreed was 5,000 for green and 20,000 for red. You get one for each 5 or 20k you pass or ind. deployments or total but, as a sailor you must explain the amount of miles you traveled if someone asked. There is the belief of gays/lesbians having tats in the 30's/40's of the naut stars to distinguish them amongst others. I whole heartly agreed that they meant for that symbol to mean what it did during that time BUT, it still came from sailors and is rightfully theirs. If you are a homosexual and have these tats, you may believe its because of your sexual orientation but, it has been and always will be a sailors tattoo. Therefore b/c the older gay people of america thinks its ok to steal tradition its not.....therefore its a sailor tradition only nothing else. This isn't the 40's! People have taken "other" peoples designs to mean seperate matters throughout human history. Also it could mean port and stbd and honestly any sailor from now to old will tell you that is stupid b/c they know that, thats their job. therefore it means more, the time you spent out to sea in a numerical value meant you were better than other sailors. Thus a way through tats was developed to show what they accomplished. Green meant the right away and thus the easiest therefore green is less. to go red meant going in the wrong direction, thus more difficult, therefore more miles to complete. Colors are still evident in meanings of swallows.

There is plenty of evidence that the "gay symbol thing" has NOT been made up recently. A nautical star was used in the 40s and 50s to denote homosexuality in both women and men. Of course the nautical has taken on MANY meanings over time, the gay/lesbian reference is not new or "made up". http://www.autostraddle.com/i-saw-the-sign-lgbt-symbols-then-and-now-140061/