Carpe Diem Compass Tattoo Idea? Try It for 2 Weeks
Carpe Diem Compass Tattoo Idea? Try It for 2 Weeks
Lasts 10–14 days
An eight-point compass rose with "Carpe diem" at north, "Si vis pacem para bellum" at south and "Feel your breath" at west. Three mottos, one idea: seize the day, stay ready, hold your course. Clean black linework, with stippled shading on the points of the star.
At InkToday, this carpe diem compass is 3 x 3.4 in and lasts 10–14 days, so you can check the lettering reads well on your forearm before you book a real tattoo.
Size: 3 x 3.4 in (7.6 x 8.4 cm) · Best placement: forearm, upper chest or shoulder blade
Got your own design? Try it with our custom temporary tattoos.
What's in the kit?
Every InkToday tattoo ships in its protective sleeve, with an application guide to help you put it on.
How do I apply my tattoo?
Our tattoos are painless and very easy to apply yourself – it only takes a few simple steps.
Follow the application guide supplied with your tattoo, or watch our video tutorial here.
Once applied, the ink reacts with the proteins and the keratin in your skin, and darkens within 24 to 36 hours.
Your tattoo then stays visible for 10 to 14 days depending on where you apply it on your body, before fading away naturally.
Colour and appearance
Unlike most temporary tattoos, INKTODAY ink bonds to the surface of your skin instead of simply sitting on top of it.
Once applied, the ink reacts with the proteins and the keratin in your skin, and darkens within 24 to 36 hours.
The final result looks like a real tattoo, in a deep blue-black colour.
How long does the tattoo last?
INKTODAY tattoos are designed to fade within 10 to 14 days.
How long they last depends on where you apply them, on your daily activities and on how hydrated your skin is.
The ink fades gradually as your skin renews itself naturally.
Here is an estimate of how long they hold, area by area:
🦵 Leg: day 1 to 5 (very dark colour), then day 6 to 12 (colour fading).
🦶 Foot: day 1 to 8 (very dark colour), then day 9 to 14 (colour fading).
🦵 Knee: day 1 to 6 (very dark colour), then day 7 to 12 (colour fading).
💪 Forearm: day 1 to 6 (very dark colour), then day 7 to 12 (colour fading).
💪 Shoulder: day 1 to 7 (very dark colour), then day 8 to 14 (colour fading).
💪 Upper arm: day 1 to 7 (very dark colour), then day 8 to 14 (colour fading).
✋ Hand: day 1 to 4 (very dark colour), then day 5 to 8 (colour fading).
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InkToday ink: how we designed it
We developed our InkToday formula drawing on the natural, ancestral practices of tribes who used plant sap to mark their skin.
Our unique formula lets our INKTODAY tattoos last longer while giving a deeper, blacker colour.
Water-resistant and incredibly realistic, our tattoos offer an authentic, long-lasting experience.
Discover our founders’ story and how InkToday ink was created here 👀
Shipping and returns
We ship to most countries worldwide, free above the amount shown in your cart.
All non-personalised orders can be returned within 14 days, as long as the tattoo’s individual packaging has not been opened, of course.
Why try it before the real one
- See if 3 x 3.4 in is the right size where you want it (forearm, chest…).
- Check that the three mottos read well on your skin, day after day.
- Love it? Show it to your tattoo artist. Not sure? Try another design next month.
What a carpe diem compass tattoo means
A carpe diem compass tattoo says: seize the day, but keep your heading. The compass gives the direction, "Carpe diem" says live now. This design adds "Si vis pacem para bellum" at south, to stay ready, and "Feel your breath" at west, to keep your cool under pressure.
How to apply
- Clean and dry the skin.
- Press the tattoo on firmly.
- Peel off the backing.
- Let it develop: the ink darkens over 24–36 hours.
InkToday makes plant-based semi-permanent tattoos that develop on the skin over 24–36 hours, look like real ink and last 10–14 days, so you can try a tattoo design before getting it for real.
Meaning
"Carpe diem", usually translated as "seize the day", comes from book 1 of the Odes by the Roman poet Horace. "Si vis pacem, para bellum", "if you want peace, prepare for war", is adapted from Vegetius's military treatise De Re Militari, where the actual wording is "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum". The idea already appears in Plato's Laws. Set on a compass rose, the two mottos pair living in the moment with being prepared: go all in, never drop your guard.
Source: Wikipedia, article “Carpe diem” ; Wikipedia, article “Si vis pacem, para bellum”
Size and placement
Design size: 3 x 3.4 in (7.6 x 8.4 cm)
| Placement | How it looks at this size | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Forearm | Flat on the inner forearm, the lettering reads at a glance | Guys who want a motto they see every day |
| Upper chest | Under the collarbone, the compass gets room to breathe | Guys who want a strong piece they show when they choose |
| Shoulder blade | On the shoulder blade, the round compass follows the curve of the back | Women who want a fine piece an open back lets people catch |
FAQ
What does a carpe diem tattoo mean?
Carpe diem means "seize the day". The phrase comes from the Roman poet Horace, in the first book of his Odes. It is a push to live in the present instead of putting everything off. As a tattoo, it is a daily reminder: act now, take the shot, stop waiting for the right moment. Placed at the north of this compass, it becomes the direction to follow.
What does having a compass tattoo mean?
A compass tattoo is about direction: knowing where you are going, holding your course and finding your way back. Sailors wore it as a charm to bring them home. Today people pick it for a journey, a fresh start or values they want to keep. On this design, every cardinal point carries a motto, which turns the compass into a personal code.
What is the symbol of Carpe Diem?
Carpe diem has no official symbol, it is first of all a phrase. Tattoo artists often pair it with a clock, an hourglass, a blooming flower or a compass, images tied to passing time or the path you choose. Here the compass connects the two: seize the day, yes, but keep the heading you set for yourself.
What does si vis pacem para bellum mean?
"Si vis pacem, para bellum" means "If you want peace, prepare for war". It is adapted from a line by the Roman writer Vegetius in his military treatise De Re Militari. The idea is that peace lasts when you are ready to defend it. As a tattoo it speaks of discipline and readiness, and next to carpe diem it balances living fully with staying sharp.
Where to put a carpe diem compass tattoo?
The inner forearm is the classic spot: the compass sits flat and the lettering stays easy to read. The upper chest and the shoulder blade work well too, with more room around the design. This one is 3 x 3.4 in, so avoid the wrist, where the small words would get crowded. Try it on the forearm for two weeks to check the lettering.
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