Looking beyond the edge

By Rob • Aug 31st, 2011 • Category: ModBlog

The all-seeing eye, the eye of providence, the eye of god, etc.  All of these terms refer to one simple symbol, an eye in a triangle with rays of light coming out of it.  Most Americans see it every day on the back of the dollar bill.  Popular culture has convinced us that it is a Masonic symbol (I’m looking at you Nic Cage).  Regardless of the name and where it is located, it always means the same thing, an eye that sees everything.  Who the eye belongs to is open to interpretation, but for this particular eye, it belongs to a client of Nick Bertioli.  Nick was doing a guest spot at Exxxotic Tattoo in Paris when he was asked to create this eye, and according to him, he had a lot of fun while doing it.  Hopefully we’ll see more from Nick’s travels soon.

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Rob is the news guy for Modblog. He's also Canadian. And has a beard.
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9 Responses »

  1. Austin on August 31st, 2011 at 12:49 pm:

    As a member of the Masonic fraternity, I can tell you that the eye of providence/all-seeing eye is indeed a Masonic symbol representing God (whichever God you happen to believe in, as Freemasonry is non-sectarian and non-dogmatic)

  2. Rob on August 31st, 2011 at 1:48 pm:

    @Austin: Sorry about that. It was late and my wiki-fu was weak. I was actually referring to the fact that people thought the eye was used in US currency because of the influence of the Masons, when in fact they Masons didn’t start using it until a few years later.

  3. Austin on August 31st, 2011 at 2:05 pm:

    The incomplete pyramid with the all-seeing eye above it isn’t Masonic really, but the all-seeing eye itself is a prominent symbol of the Craft. There are tracing boards and other Masonic documents dating far before the Great Seal on the dollar displaying the all-seeing eye.

  4. SolidOak on August 31st, 2011 at 5:02 pm:

    Well I don’t know about all that, but I sure do like the tattoo!

  5. ben on August 31st, 2011 at 5:11 pm:

    @Austin what’s the Mason’s stance on body modifications?

  6. Austin on September 1st, 2011 at 1:25 pm:

    There is no official stance. A lot of younger members like myself are modified and a lot of the older members probably don’t like it but the fraternity has no rules regarding tattoos, piercings or anything else.

  7. Austin on September 1st, 2011 at 1:26 pm:

    *anything else mod-wise, that is

  8. Austin on September 1st, 2011 at 1:26 pm:

    *anything else mod-wise that is

  9. Kevin on December 26th, 2011 at 4:50 pm:

    Hi guys this is my arm. I asked Nick to draw me this symbol from a “prophetic” painting of Christ. Because everything have been made by Him, for Him and throught Him.
    For me It represent The Holy Trinity and I asked Nick to make It with Colors to continue In The same Old school style of my sleeve

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