TSM

I must share my tattoo experience so that others may benefit from my foolishness.

As a 21 year old college junior I got a tattoo of a sun on the top of my foot. Pretty small, figured it would be easy to cover up, loved it. Cost me $75.

Fast forward 13 years...medical professional, loves shoes, about to get married, still have now pretty ugly and totally meaningless tattoo on foot. Cost me $1000 (yes, that is ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS) to get it removed (laser).

Wisdom is expensive.

Some girls from my chapter have gotten lines of our creed. I really like this because there are some parts of our creed that are really meaningful to us, or that we just really like :). Im not familiar with the pi phi creed but if there is a part that you really like or think is meaningful to you then that could be something good!

I don't have a tattoo, even though I've given thought to what I'd want for years now. I knew I wanted to wait until I was an alumna before getting a Phi Mu tattoo, though, and I also maintain that I don't want to get my letters, despite my alumna status. There are still several ideas floating around in my head, but nothing totally solid yet, and I still don't even know where my tattoo would be located.

Idea #1: a quatrefoil (our badge shape, of course) with a cycloid (coincidentally ASA's badge shape; I'd use it because I'm a Steelers fan) inside it. Two passions, one tattoo.
Idea #2: a quatrefoil with three stars inside.
#3: Three stars.
#4: A hand holding a heart.
#5: A hand holding a heart, with three stars seeming to shine out from the heart. (This is the most likely option at this point.)
#6: The words "Love, Honor, Truth" in cursive.

...all of mine are taken from symbols of my Fraternity (or from our creed, as in #6), but they don't include the letters at all. Perhaps for Pi Phi you could choose just an arrow? Maybe a diamond (the basic shape of your coat-of-arms, of course), or a diamond with an arrow in it? Also, do a Google search and see if you find anything inspirational there from other Pi Phis. I would personally avoid getting a carnation (unless you found a VERY good line drawing of one that your artist could copy), because they often don't turn out clearly, or if you just say "carnation" to a tattoo artist, you may wind up with a rose or a chrysanthemum. ;)

I would not get a tattoo.....but seems to me that a small arrow would be appropriate for a Pi Beta Phi.

I'd have to first council against it. Then I'd say a small burgundy arrow on the ankle would be minimally obtrusive. I've never been a fan of words for tattoos. Too specific and invites too much discussion. And I'd definitely spend some time considering what your fraternity president would say if she saw it. Big ole Pi Phi tramp stamp would probably not go over too well; something small, not too specific and in a discreet location would probably not offend her.

And although I think they're awful, I have accepted that they are a permanent part of the culture now. But really, couldn't you just get a Pandora bracelet with Pi Phi charms? Then when you HATE your sisters and you're ready to quit, you can remove the charms, and when you've gotten over it, you can put the charms back on again.