Tattoo Meanings Explained Part 1 is the first video in a multi-part series where Fordee from Herbistry420 finally breaks down the stories behind his ink. He gets asked constantly — online and in person — what his tattoos mean, and for the first time he is sharing the real answers. These are meaningful tattoo stories rooted in personal history, heritage, loss, and identity. If you have ever wondered what drives someone to permanently mark their body, this is tattoo inspiration and meaning straight from the source.
Tattoo Meanings Explained Part 1: The Love Hate Tattoo
The most immediately visible piece is the love hate tattoo on Fordee’s knuckles — LOVE on one hand, HATE on the other. The story behind it is more layered than most people expect.
In 2014 — the second worst year of his life — Fordee broke his ankle, ended a relationship, lost a business, and decided it was time for a change. That change led him to move to Barcelona. Before he left, he got the love hate tattoo as a daily reminder: life is going to hit you hard sometimes, and you always have a choice in how you respond. Love or hate. Move forward or move backward. Positivity or negativity. The tattoo is not a statement about other people — it is a directive to himself. He is the first to admit he does not always choose the right path, but the reminder is there on his hands every single day.
Tattoo Symbolism Explained: The Viking Wraparound
One of the most striking pieces of tattoo symbolism explained in this video is the Viking wraparound on Fordee’s arm — a Nordic compass paired with a Viking and ship.
His mother is Norwegian and Danish, so the Viking imagery represents that heritage directly. The Nordic compass — used historically by Vikings to find their way home — is about staying grounded: knowing where home is, always having a direction to return to. The ship reflects his deep love for the sea. He is an avid spearfisherman, surfer, and paddle boarder. The Viking in the design is dead, which carries its own meaning: no matter what happens, live or die, the Viking blood runs through him permanently. The axe and knife nearby are fillers that reinforce the same theme — connecting the sleeve to its Viking roots.
Meaningful Tattoo Stories: Leo Lion, Poker Thumbs, and Three Stars
Three more pieces from the left hand round out the meaningful tattoo stories in Part 1.
The lion on top of the left hand represents Fordee’s Leo zodiac sign — born in August. He is not deeply into astrology, but enough people have told him he is a textbook Leo that there might be something to it. There is also a small, slightly bitter footnote: being born in August meant he never got a birthday cake in elementary school since school was out. He remembers it. The lion also carries extra meaning from the fact that his artist Trudy Mueller — who has inked several of his pieces — added a skull and a gypsy girl with a tarot card to the sleeve.
The heart and spade on his thumbs came from a simpler place: symmetry. The rest of his fingers had ink, and his thumbs felt naked. He chose the heart and spade to represent his love of poker — cards that feel natural on the hands that hold them.
The three stars on the left arm were his first tattoos. They represent personal growth — starting as a small star and striving to become a larger one. Not fame or recognition, but growth: being better than you were the day before. Fordee calls himself a lifelong learner. He used to teach at the college level, has studied audio and video production extensively, and is always picking up new skills. The stars are a reminder to keep pushing forward even when he slips up — and he is honest that he does.
Tattoo Inspiration and Meaning: Che Guevara, the Pitbull, and the Gorilla
The most controversial piece covered in tattoo inspiration and meaning here is the Che Guevara tattoo. Fordee addresses it directly: he is not a communist, and he does not endorse everything Che stood for. What he admires is the sacrifice. Che was on track to become a doctor — a comfortable, secure life — and walked away from it after witnessing suffering in South America. He chose to give everything up to help others. That selflessness resonates deeply with Fordee, who describes himself as someone who will always give what he has and step in to defend people who cannot defend themselves.
The Pitbull portrait commemorates his first dog, who he got at 18. An 85-pound red-nose brindle who looked like a demon and acted like the sweetest animal alive. The dog was not great with other animals but was amazing with people — and clearly left a lasting mark.
The gorilla is the only cover-up in the sleeve, and it represents martial arts. Fordee has trained on and off his whole life, taught martial arts when he was younger, studied multiple styles, and once tried out for the Olympics in Taekwondo. It will always hold a place in his life, tattooed or not — and the gorilla is also partly a joke about his hair situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the love hate tattoo mean for Fordee?
The love hate tattoo on Fordee’s knuckles is a daily reminder that he has a choice in how he responds to life. It was inspired by 2014 — the second worst year of his life — and represents the decision to choose positivity and forward movement over negativity and stagnation.
What is Tattoo Meanings Explained Part 1 about?
Tattoo Meanings Explained Part 1 is a Herbistry420 video where Fordee walks through the personal stories behind his left hand and arm tattoos — covering the love hate knuckles, Viking compass, Leo lion, Che Guevara, his Pitbull, and more. It is the first in a multi-part series.
What tattoo symbolism does the Viking compass carry?
As part of tattoo symbolism explained in this video, the Nordic compass represents Fordee’s Norwegian and Danish heritage through his mother, and the idea of always knowing the way home. It is paired with a Viking and ship to reflect his love for the sea.
Where can I find more meaningful tattoo stories from Fordee?
Part 2 of meaningful tattoo stories continues the series with more ink from Fordee’s collection. Subscribe to Herbistry420 on YouTube and check the Dear Ganja Diary section for more personal story content.
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