Tattoos

Sam and Dean

In this shot from behind the scenes on 1.04 Phantom Traveler, a small tattoo can be seen on Dean's upper arm. This tattoo never appeared in the show.

Following Sam's possession by Meg in 2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign, Bobby gives Sam and Dean each a charm amulet which features a symbol which will stop demonic possession. In 3.12 Jus in Bello, the boys reveal that they have had these anti-possession symbols tattooed on their chests.

Sera Gamble on the tattoos origins

FFN: Those matching tattoos are pretty cool. How long has that been planned?

SG: I remember talking about it with Ben Edlund last season, while Cat was writing "Born Under A Bad Sign." We agreed that if we were Sam, the first thing we'd do is take that anti-possession amulet and head for the nearest tattoo parlor. He reminded me of it while we were working on “Jus in Bello,” because breaking out the amulets was an important story point in that episode. So I stuck it in there, and it made for a nice moment. It’s like, of course Sam and Dean have matching tats. How could it be any other way? By the way, I'll be convinced we're truly a cult hit when a fan gets the same tattoo.

Anti-possession tattoos from 3.12 Jus in Bello.

Little did Sera know, that fans had been getting tattoos since early on in the Show's run.

• See Fan Tattoos for a gallery of Supernatural inspired tattoos from fans. The anti-possession tattoo is one of the most popular designs.

In 4.18 The Monster at the End of This Book, this phenomenon is referred to when Sam and Dean reveal their tattoos in order to pass as avid fans. In response the publisher of the Supernatural books by Chuck Shurley, reveals she has the same tattoo - on her ass. While not named in the episode, the publisher's name was Sera Seige, named after writers Julie Siege and Sera Gamble - as mentioned in this interview by Sera Gamble.

In 9.10 Road Trip Castiel removes Sam's tattoo at Dean's request, so that Crowley can possess Sam in order to help him expel Gadreel.

Charlie

In 7.20 The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo Charlie reveals she has a tattoo of Princess Leia in her slave girl bikini astride a 20-sided dice (which are used in RPGs). In a scenario familiar to many fans, she claims she got it while drunk at Comic-Con.

During the airing of the episode, the phrase #DandDtattoo trended on Twitter (Source).

Kevin and Linda Tran

In 8.02 What's Up, Tiger Mommy? Sam and Dean make both Kevin and his mom Linda Tran get anti-possession tattoos at the Inked Pig Tattoo Parlor. Linda admits its not her first. Later Plutus' assistant Beau burn off Linda's tattoo so that Crowley can possess her. During 9.06 Heaven Can't Wait, Kevin's tattoo is visible as he draws his blood so Crowley can call Hell.

Kevin and Linda Tran getting anti-possession tattoos.

Kevin's anti-possession tattoo.

Castiel

In 9.03 I'm No Angel after Castiel becomes aware that angels are hunting him, he gets a tattoo in Enochian which will make him unable to be tracked by angels. This is similar to the Enochian sigils he burned into Sam and Dean's ribs for the same purpose in 5.01 Sympathy for the Devil. However, this tattoo just jams him from being sensed by an angel's normal means of sensing people; Ephraim is able to locate him by sensing his pain, showing the tattoo doesn't block everything.

Castiel with his warding tattoo.

Full text of tattoo posted by Zabrina Matiru- Makeup Department Head on Supernatural. |}