Okay, so sowilo is out then...googled the waffen ss and while I've never seen it and imagine many other Americans haven't, I do intend to travel extensively and live abroad. My reasoning for wanting to get a rune is pretty simple actually, they were used by my ancestors (among others) and I like the symbolism of the meanings. My mom and I are going together, but she already has hers figured out.

Out of the remaining two, I'm leaning towards kenaz. Nienna, I didn't make that connection, but I do love it. And the only misinterpretation people could make is that I'm an enormous math nerd.

^Well if you've studied Chinese, then OBVIOUSLY it doesn't look like a swastika to you, because you're familiar with it. But to the average passerby, who has not studied Chinese (and given where the OP lives, or lived last time I knew of it, I'm going to take a stab at there not being alot of people there that avidly study the Chinese language), they have to take it at face value.

And at face value, it looks like the makings of a swastika. Even in the red one, all it's missing is a couple of flicks of the paintbrush, and it's right there:

www.google.com . . .

See? She might not be specifically posting swastikas, but had the original artist just flicked the paintbrush a few more times, they would have been.

Now of course, I don't study Chinese or anything, so I'm no doubt completely qualified to give my opinion on a tattoo (cause evidentally, that's the going rate for giving your opinion on body art these days...), but to look at some of those and say it looks like a swastika isn't quite the outrageous mental leap you're making it out to be.

Eh, I don't know if I think it looks "just like" one, as you'd have to remove half of it and then rearrange the bits that are left. As I said though, upon further reflection of it, I do see the similarities and am deeply uncomfortable with them, so I will be going with the kenaz rune A huge thanks to all of you for chiming in!

So I guess I'm jumping into this a little late (just got off work), but:

1. I also saw no relation to a swastika at first glance...however I did notice it when everyone else mentioned the similarities. If you showed my in real life it wouldn't have crossed my mind.

2. However, I DO like the design of the kenaz rune! Can't wait to see it when it's all done.

Kenaz looks like a "C" for Chris. Every time you look at your wrist tattoo, you can think of me. I like it.

The Kenaz is a "Ku" in Japanese so I personally like that one the best. It is pronounced like the "koo koo bird".

I just want to say that I was right all along, and I'm glad you finally decided to listen to me. So it's totally fitting that you'd get a 'C' (for CHRIS!) tattooed on your wrist. Much better than a swastika. And you're welcome!

I make it my goal in life to not be one of those people who posts asking for advice while secretly seeking validation. You all were right, I was wrong, I'm happy you all (panic as the ringleader) pointed it out to me

It seems like things are pretty much settled, but I just wanted to chime in with some food for thought.

I do calligraphy, so I'm into alphabets, and I've been into runes ever since I found Tolkeins interpretation of a runish alphabet at the back of my copy of the Lord of the Rings. While I love the look of them, I don't think they look great on their own, since they're made up of such simples lines, as a requirement of how they were originally written. I think they look way better as a script, with multiple runes in succession.

I haven't heard of meaning behind individual runes before, but it makes for nice symbolism for a tattoo. If you're going to go for that, instead of using runes as letters in a word, I think it would be a cool idea to get a string of them, representing a progression of the different stages of your life.

You don't have to go for it, but you might consider the possibility of expanding when you're deciding on placement.

Plus, if you've got them in a row, they'd be more obviously recognisable as runes, and you wouldn't have to worry so much about them being mistaken for other symbols, and you could choose the ones you actually want, rather than alternatives.

Just my 2 cents.

FYI: here are some alternate forms of Jera
api.ning.com . . .

Okay, I didn't say the original image didn't look like a swastika. I personally didn't think it did when I first looked at it, and it looks like there were other as well who didn't see it as that originally until reading other comments. Could it? Fine. But there doesn't need to be such attitude behind every comment. Sheesh.

Oy, okay, enough of the thread hijacking. Glad the OP figured it out and I hope you love it! Don't forget to post pictures of the finished product!

the first one reminded me of a swastika too, the other ones however i like much better, but in the end its your choice and you should be the one that has to be happy with it. So i hope that which ever design youve chosen will turn out great for you.

Now i have one teeny tiny question; isnt it forbidden these days to get a swastika or an SS logo tattood on your body?