Saturday, February 28, 2009

Orchid Tattoo

Those considering orchid tattoos would do well to consider the meanings associated with this popular flower. Known commonly as the flower choice for corsages, the orchid has several deep and long-standing meanings. Ironically, some of those meanings are overtly masculine in nature, while others are overtly feminine.
On the masculine side, the name “orchis” itself stems from the Greek word meaning testicle, and is associated with the flower because of the shape of the tuberoids which grow on the roots. Though approximately 30,000 species of orchids exist, many have an erect stem in the center which resembles a phallus. One source recalls that, in the 1990’s, the phrase “purple orchid” was slang for penis (making it all the more ironic that now Purple Orchid is a Calvin Kline fragrance for women). Among multiple meanings, one meaning the Chinese associate with the orchid is the “Perfect Man.”

On the feminine side, the orchid is also a symbol of beauty, charm, and refinement. In Greek mythology, Satyrion - for whom a family of orchids is named- was a nymph who gave birth to a child fathered by Poseidon. Due to its beauty and its fragrance, the orchid is often referred to as the Flower of Magnificence.

Perhaps it is those meanings which combine the masculine and feminine that best represent the orchid flower. In Confucian teachings, the orchid was the symbol for numerous progeny. It was considered a love potion and aphrodisiac in many countries, including Egypt, Germany, China, and Africa.



The Orchid Flower Tattoos Can Be Feminine Or Masculine

Tattoos or at least the concept of tattoo art designs have been around for many, many years. Ranging from simple dots and lines to the more intricate designs are present in mummified remains found in several caves and burial grounds all over the world. This just goes to show that tattoos have been a long fascination of the human mind, ancient or modern.

Now, if you are planning to enter the world of tattoo art designs, then go and read on. Still, if you are just really in for the knowledge, then read on. If you are planning to start to have a tattoo art, then start it simple. Remember, that tattoos are permanent, so you might want to think about what to get first before you actually start the inking.

If you want a tattoo for life, then try an Orchid flower tattoo designs. Flower tattoos are great designs, as they show dual sides of simplicity and complexity. Simplicity in a sense that it's just a flower, but complexity in a way that the design varies, the shapes and colors vary as well.

Rushing for a good Orchid flower tattoo design in a tattoo parlor? A pretty good suggestion is to first have a temporary tattoo that lasts for around a week or so. Have a feel of the flower design. Then, just as this design starts to fade, you can go back to your tattoo artist to have it inked permanently.


Orchid Flower Tattoos - Orchid Tattoo Picture

Some people use tattoos as a way to express their individuality. The majority of tattoo artists use an electrically powered, vertical, vibrating instrument using needles to inject tattoo ink pigment into the skin, to make a design or a picture or logo. This orchid flower tattoo is a really great design! Flower tattoos are all about beauty.
If you are wanting an orchid flower picture to wear on your body be sure of the size where it is to be placed & the design if, you should remember that tattoos are generally permanent so expect to be with it long term. an orchid flower tattoo is good for those who really want one for life. Another option is to get a fake orchid flower tattoo that would only last a few days. Our huge range of tattoo designs including orchid flower pictures is great to browse through before choosing a the one you want. View and download many cute tattoo designs from right from where you are now. Get great orchid flower tattoos within minutes!

It is rather common that deciding on a tattoo design is a rushed decision when searching though the binders at a tattoo parlor? The way to go about it is to go through many tattoo ideas and designs before choosing the one you like best which is why the Tattoo Me Now tattoo site will be a great bonus to have. This makes it easy to find the orchid flower tattoo pictures you want. When you've got the perfect tattoo it shall make you appear extraordinary, make people you are interested in adore you, make random people who you don't know approach you and strike up a conversation about it, make you look different from everyone else and stand out from the crowd, and make you more confident. The best solution to finding yourself a Sexy tattoo design is to look at a huge collection of designs first, then decide.

The worst thing about getting a tattoo done is the pain associated with it, although it does depend on where on your skin it is done. The pain doesn't last long and damage to your skin is quite minimal that most people don't bleed. Its likely to be slightly inflamed for a further few days. If its done in an approved manner in a capable manner, tattoos will generally recover particularly rapidly. The quality of tattoo aftercare is crucial to its lifetime appearance.

Orchid Flower Tattoos

Orchids are large flowers and they blossom in a bunch. These flowers have bright color which makes them a favorite in the list of flower tattoos. It is always attractive to show your orchid flower tattoo on your body, as they are as bright as the flower itself. The bright petals of orchids give a new character to your body parts having the wonderful tattoos. With their symbolical meanings, orchids are the best choice for flower tattoos.

There are various colors of orchids available on the market. These varieties can even help you to choose the specific color of orchid that you choose to have as your tattoo. A dendrobium orchid is yellow in color and these bright yellow petals can be a good choice for a bright tattoo on your shoulder. Miltassia orchids have delicate pink colored petals. This orchid flower tattoo when painted on your body becomes lively, primarily because of its vibrant color intensity. Other than these, there are brassidium and barkeria orchids, which have bi-colored petals. They are indeed a colorful choice of all orchid flower tattoos. Get more into the world of flower tattoo from Dgreetings.





The Lily Tattoos

Lily tattoos are always a popular choice. The toughest part of the choice might be deciding just what kind of lily you are talking about. There are many species of lily though, with the exception of the Water Lily (discussed below), they all tend to resemble one another. Also, many types of flowers are often generically referred to as lilies.

The more traditional lily is a long stemmed garden flower with petals curling back from a horn-shaped face. This type of lily is strongly associated with the Christian tradition. Legend has it that it originally grew from the tears of Eve as she left the Garden of Eden. In artwork, the angel Gabriel is often depicted as holding a lily (or there are lilies nearby) during the visit in which he tells Mary she will give birth to Jesus. It is also used in artwork depicting any of the virgin saints. As such, the lily is generally associated with purity and chastity. Because of this connection, the lily is often paired with a sword. Together they represent the Last Judgment, and the division between the innocent and the guilty. Wouldn’t that make a nice symbolic lily tattoo? The most common lily associated with Christianity is, of course, the Easter lily. Because of its white petals, and tendency to bloom into life after a spring rain, the symbolic connection to the story of the resurrection is quite strong.

The lily is also used in a message by Jesus to demonstrate God’s love for His people. In speaking to the thousands, Jesus said, “Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27; also Matthew 6:28)Other lily symbolism exists worldwide. In Greek mythology, the flower came from the milk of the goddess Hera as it dropped to earth (an outpouring which also created the Milky Way). In Aboriginal Australia, the (Gymea) lily symbolizes courage and perseverance. In both China and Japan, the day lily is said to dispel grief.

The Flower Lily Tattoos

Tattoos are great for expressing your individuality the way that you want. Tattooing is a special technique of permanently marking the skin using colors of ink, leaving an image or logo on their skin. This flower lily tattoo has some good appeal. Flower tattoos are all about beauty.
But before you walk into a tattoo studio you need to have already decided you want a flower lily design, then you have come to the right place as we have many designs available for you to flick through and view. It could be that a flower lily tattoo may not suit you. Checking out other designs and asking friends for a second opinion is probably a good idea. Another option is to get a fake flower lily tattoo that would only last a few days. There is many more available than just a flower lily tattoo. Take a look at the Tattoo Me Now tattoo gallery. There's thousands to choose from out of many categories including flower lily designs. View and download many great tattoo images from home. There's some great flower lily tattoos available for you to enjoy.

An important advantage that is gained when you use our collection of tattoo images over going to a tattoo studio where you will get it done is you're able to spend as much time as required to make a better decision on image you would enjoy wearing most. Its quite common for people to later on wish that had taken extra time to find a design they truly wanted which is why the Tattoo Me Now tattoo site will be a great bonus to have. You'll uncover many astonishing flower lily tattoo designs. With the ultimate tattoo it'll make you appear great, others will lust over you for it, make random people who you don't know approach you and strike up a conversation about it, promote you in a new light and stand out from everyone else, and become more confident. The trick is to go through a many tattoo designs and ideas first, then decide on the best.
Once You Do, You'll Let Others See It A Lot! This flower lily tattoo design will look great on the right person. But just remember, a tattoo is worth all the time and energy you put into it. So decide carefully.

You should expect some pain when a tattoo is being performed on your body, on some parts of the body it hurts less than other parts. Tattoos may still sting for an hour afterwards. After that, any discomfort should be reduced to a slight irritation over the following few days. Performed in an approved manner and competently, a tattoos tend to cause very little suffering to skin and get better particularly fast. The quality of tattoo aftercare is crucial to its lifetime appearance. If you want your tattoo to still look great after 3 months or 3 years will depend on the way treat it immediately after getting it.


Lilly Tattoos

Lilly Tattoo Designs - The whiteness of the lily’s long white petals speaks of purity, innocence, and chastity. At the same time and in other cultures, the trumpet-like flower has evoked associations of erotic love and procreation. Clearly, the lily is one of the most ambiguous of all flower symbols. Christians took possession of the symbol on the basis of the Sermon on the Mount and its 'lilies of the field' passage. Consider how beautiful they grow, though 'they toil not'. God provides, that’s the message, and the lily emerges as a symbol of faith and surrender to God’s grace. Liturgically, the lily is a symbol of Easter and of Christ himself, of resurrection and immortality. It’s evocative scent, the odour of chastity.

The flower’s phallic pistil and erotic fragrance made quite the opposite impression on the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. They linked the lily with fertility. It was a popular decorative motif in those ancient cultures. The female principle was artfully suggested when the lily was placed in a vase or jar, as it often was. The connection with procreation may have been behind the French royal family’s decision to adopt the fleur-de-lis as their coat of arms in the 12th century. Three petals bound at the base would ensure the prosperity of the royal line.

The lily is often seen near a coffin, symbolizing death as well as purity. Because of its association with Christ, lilies are symbolic that the newly departed soul, if they have led a virtuous life of faith, will find resurrection in the hereafter. Lilies are often featured in memorial tattoo designs.

In Medieval and Renaissance art, where flower symbolism was almost a language unto itself, the Lily symbolized purity, chastity, and innocence. White lilies represented the purity of the Virgin Mary. The Angel Gabriel was often painted presenting Mary with a white lily when he announced to her that she would give birth to the Son of God.

Buy the lily tattoo design that is perfect for you.

Lilly flower tattoo designs from Tattoo-Art.com


Get your Lily tattoo design ideas here!



Arab Tattoos in Iraq



Tattooing, which is a wide-spread practice in Iraq, is known colloquially as daqq or dagg, from a root meaning to strike or knock, and as the name implies, it is tattooing by puncture. Occasionally a man with a literary background will employ the classical word washm, but daqq is thc generally accepted Arabic word. Tattooing is a custom which already shows signs of disappearing, especially in the cities. It is rarely observed among the upper classes, and is despised by city-dwellers of the lower classes as well. On the other hand, the tribespeople and fellahln still esteem it, particularly if the operation is performed in the town, and above all in Baghdad. Very often the tattooing is done by a townswoman, but in the towns themselves, according to an informant in An-Nasiriya, it is considered shameful to tattoo.

In Iraq it is found that tattooing is divided into two kinds, broadly speaking: ornamental or decorative tattooing, and tattooing applied for magic or therapeutic reasons. This statement is based simply on observation, and does not take into account the ultimate origins of the practice. Probably most tattooing has an ultimate magico-religious purpose, whatever may be its course of evolution. Magic and healing must of necessity be considered together, for the dividing line is arbitrary, especially among an unsophisticated people.

Generally the therapeutic and magic designs are simple and crude in form, with curative tattooing applied to the seat of pain or injury, whereas the tattooing done for the sake of beauty (lil-hila) is more extensive and elaborate. But sometimes the divisions overlap, and a simple design will have no other reason than to be decorative, or an ornamental design will be employed for a therapeutic reason. Cauterization as well as tattooing is widespread among the people of Iraq as a cure for many ills, but this is a separate subject.

The most common kind of curative tattooing is for sprains. Another is tattooing against headache and eye disease. The tattooing is applied on the temple or forehead or near the eye. Tattooing is also used as a cure for local skin infection, and localized pain generally, and very often against rheumatism and cold.

All these, to our way of thinking, tend to be magical, but there is another type of tattooing which is avowedly magical, in which the tattooing is applied with the intention of helping to bring about some desired contin-gency. Magical tattooing is chiefly the concern of women for here we enter the world of old wives' lore. Three recognizable varieties are found among the instances which came under my observation. The first is designed to induce pregnancy, a matter of great concern to Arab women; the second has the purpose of guarding children, especially boys, against death; and the third consists of charms for love or against other magic.

Tattooing to induce pregnancy was observed in only one case, but the practice was confirmed by statements from two other informants. One woman in the Baghdad hospital had three large dots irregularly placed on the lower abdomen, as well as a design around the navel. The dots in particular were to insure her having chiidren, but she said she had already borne one child when the tattooing was applied. This was done on the third day of menstruation. A midwife from Al-Kadhimain, one of the best infor-mants on the magic aspects of tattooing, also mentioned the practice of tattooing to insure child-bearing. According to her, the tattooing may be a single dot or a small design consisting of three or five dots, applied below the navel, or on the back just above the buttocks. It must be done on the second or third day of menstruation. A single dot in the center of the navel was specified by Kulthumah, the tattooer in An-Nasiriya.

A dot on the end of a child's nose is the most general form of magic tattooing encountered. In a country where the infant mortality is high, magic practices to preserve a child's life will be highly in favor. If a woman has lost several children, she will have the successive ones tattooed with a single dot, either on the end of the nose or on the lower abdomen. Some informants said that the magic effect was extended to later-born children, but others said that it was not effective for more than one child, and later-born children would have to be tattooed likewise. The tattooer in An-Nasiriya said that all the men in the village of Samawa are tattooed with a dot on the end of the nose, and one above the mouth on either side. This is done when they are children to make them look like girls so they will not die. A variation was observed in the case of a policeman in Baghdad who came of the Uzairij tribe. Instead of a dot on the nose he had on each temple a cross with a dot on each angle. His mothcr's previous children had all died, he said, so she had had him tattooed in this way to preserve him. He added that the design was also good for the head.

The efficacy of the third type of magical tattooing, which is a form of sympathetic magic, is aided by having someone read thc Qur'an while the tattooing is being applied. This is practiced secretly by women, and I came across only one or two instances. In Baghdad I saw a woman with three dots tattooed in a triangle on the palm of her right hand to insure her keeping her husband's love. A similar design on the ieft hand would mean that the woman no longer wanted her husband's devotion. The midwife in Al-Kadhimain had a circle of five dots on the palm of her right hand. She said that she was her husband's second wife, and when he took a third, she decided that something must be done to ward off any possible conjuring on the part of the new wife. So one Friday noon, the most effective time, she had her right palm tattooed while a woman mullah read Qur'an. The potency of the tattooing could not be doubted, for the result was that her husband divorced both his other wives and kept her!

Besides the magic and therapeutic varieties, there is a vast amount of tattooing whose ostensible purpose is to beautify thc wearer. Most Arab women, at least outside the cities, are so tattooed. Not only the face and hands are decorated, but arms and feet, back, thighs, chest, and abdomen.

Among the Albu Muhammad definite observations were made on only a few womcn, but from superficial observation it seemed that nearly all of them were tattooed. The husband of one Albu Muhammad woman stated that his tribeswomen tattoo extensively because the men like it, and refuse to marry a girl who is not tattooed. Among the total of one hundred and twenty-nine Shammar women observed, only three were not tattooed, and they were young girls.

A very pretty and elaborately tattooed girl from the neighborhood of Hilla, who was twenty years old and had been married seven years, was one of my richest finds, especially for the actual designs. Her tattooing had been applied not all at one time, but during the course of three years. During her tenth year, her face, forearms, hands, and chest were tattooed; during the following year, her thighs and back; and in her twelfth year, her feet and upper arms were tattooed. All this was simply ornamental, but she had also a little curative tattooing, namely, a single dot in the inner corner of the right eye because of pain in the eye, and three marks on the right thigh, done by herself, and a linear mark on the right foot, tattooed to cure pain in the leg, which occurred after childbirth.

Another informant at An-Nasiriya said that her face, hands, arms, and feet had been tattoood some time before marriage, and her thighs, back, and abdomen had been done at the time of her marriage -- all in one operation, which took seven hours, and must have been exceedingly painful.

Although the idea was never suggested by any of my informants that tattooing is a puberty rite for girls, the fact is that for the most part, girls are tattooed about the time of reaching puberty, or at least before marriage, which is apt to occur not long after puberty. There seems, however, to be no sort of tabu attached to the operation, either for the person tattooed or for the operator.

Tattooing among the Arabs is not confined to the women, as one is sometimes led to believe, but is practiced to a wide extent by the men as well, although the latter for the most part confine theirs to the hand and forearm and the face. But tattooing of the face is not as common among men as among women, and where it is found among men, it generally has a definite purpose, magic or curative, while designs on the hands and arms may have such a purpose, or may be simply decorative. Sometimes it is admitted that such tattooing is for beauty, and sometimes, if the man is rather ashamed of what he considers a feminine method of adornment, he says it is hlch, nothing. It may be suspected that the typical wrist design displayed by men, which outlines the wrist and back of the hand, may have the fundamental purpose of strengthening the wrist, and in fact, this reason was given by a professional tattooer in 'Amara. Many men were observed with lines tattooed across their wrists as a cure for sprains. Sprained wrists and thumbs seemed to be quite common, according to the number of cases in which tattooing had been resorted to as a cure.

Tattooing seems to be more common among men in the south of lraq, that is, the Marsh Arabs near 'Amara, and the settled tribes of the district around An-Nasiriya, than among the Beduins. Among the latter, not more an one-third were tattooed, while among the settled tribes, at least three quarters of the men were tattooed.

Nearly all tattooing among the Arabs of Iraq is done by women, mostly professionals. It is not a hereditary profession, but any woman who has the will and inclination can become a daggagah or tattooer. No evidence was produced to show that the tattooer must come from any specific group (except that in a few instances the tattooing was said to have been done by gypsies) or that she must undergo any preliminary ceremonies or observe certain tabus at any time. Much of the simpler sort of tattooing is done by mothers upon their children, sometimes when only three days old.

Arab tattooing is always blue in color, and the designs are geometrical, or sometimes extremely stylized representations of natural objects. There are various methods of making the pigment for tattooing, which is known as kohl or basmah, but the principle is the same, for the chief ingredient is always carbon in the form of lamp-black. The word kohl usually refers to the powdered antimony which is put around the eyes, but it is also used to mean lamp-black, which is used by the poor in the same way as the antimony. The carbon is precipitated by burning either the ordinary kerosene in lamps, or tallow, or a piece of cloth dipped in dihn, the mutton fat used for cooking. Sometimes indigo is added, or bile from the gall-bladder of an ox, which sets the dye, but the commonest method is to gather the soot precipitated on the bottom of a dish held over the lamp, and make a paste.

Many people hold that the soot must be moistened with hallb umm al-bint, the milk of a woman nursing a daughter, which has magic properties, but others say that it is not good, and use water or kerosene. The use of human milk was noted in several places, always the milk of a woman nursing a girl, as the milk for a girl is supposed to be specially soothing and cooling. On the other hand, the chief tattooer in An-Nasiriya said that it was not good to use milk because it attracted flies, and then the tattooing spoiled. She herself used the simplest of ingredients, the soot of kerosene moistened with water; and samples of her work were both clean-cut and of good color. In all cases the instruments used are ordinary sewing needles of a varying -number according to their size and the technique of the operator. Usually they are of a good size, but smaller than a darning needle, from two to four bound together for at least half their length. First the design, which in most cases depends on the taste and skill of the operator, is drawn on the skin with the needles dipped in the dye, and then pricked through. The tattooed surface may or may not bleed; whether it does or not is not important, except that some women in An-Nasiriya said that it is better to perform the operation in the morning because it bleeds a lot if it is done at noon. The tattooed area may be swollen for three days. A scab forms, which comes off after three to seven days, leaving the design well fixed under the skin.

As for the designs employed, a great deal could be written on the subject, especially on the history of the names, and the comparison of the designs themselves with those found in ancient and modern times on pottery and textiles. The designs are geometrical or stylized. (generally they consist of combinations of dots and lines, especially zigzag and cross hatched lines, circles, crescents, chevrons, triangles, stars, and crosses, and elaborations of these. The elements everywhere are the same, but of course in some districts certain patterns are used, which in other places are not known, or at least not held in favor.

The patterns also depend on the part of the body tattooed, especially in the case of ornamental tattooing among women, for curative tattooing is usually simple in form. Both men and women have the back of the hand and wrist tattooed, the whole design often being known as the "glove". Lines with some sort of cross-hatching or other decorations form the most important parts of patterns on the legs and arms, and down the chest. The latter type of design is found everywhere among the women, and consists -essentially of a line which begins at the lower lip and runs down the chin, neck, and chest nearly to the waistline, and sometimes extends to the navel. Other designs on both forearm and upper arm circle the arm like bracelets and similar designs are found on the ankles, although foot and ankle patterns do not necessarily go all the way around.

Women's eyebrows are frequently tattooed, and most women have some tattooing on the face, especially on the chin, and dots between eyes and above the upper lip. Sometimes vertical lines on the chin extended through the lower lip, and I have seen a few women with all the lower lip tattooed.

The elements of the patterns are given their proper titles: star, crescent, zigzag, double zigzag, and so on, while the whole designs are generally named for the part of the body adorned: chin, chest, back, side, foot, or wrist. A design on the side of the cheek is known as "the shadow of the side lock," and dots on the upper lip may be called "mustache" or "shadow of the nose-ring." A single dot on the face, and especially between the eyes called "dimple." Rayed figures are known as "sun," "star," or "flower, " while circles may be called "disc," "ring," or "moon." It is interesting to note that one or two of the terms used to denote small designs refer originally to marks or blazes on horses. A design consisting of a line with single cross-hatching, particularly on the wrist, is often called "comb," but I am inclined to think that the design is derived from the figure of an animal, presumably a gazelle.

Conventionalized gazelles are perhaps the most interesting of the designs noted. Men particularly are fond of having a gazelle tattooed on the inner forearm. Women also have gazelles, on the forearm or hand, and sometimes in pairs on the breast, on each side of the line running down the chest from the face. Since representations of living beings are forbidden to Moslems, one is tempted to think that the tattooed gazelles may be survivals of an ancient totemism. Some of the so-called ''combs'' look very much like elaborated gazelles, while on the other hand, a simplified form something like a broad letter H is also called gazelle.


Another interesting and primitive design, which was found in all groups, is the cross. It is always found with arms of equal length, and frequently there is a dot in each angle. From ancient times, and in many places, the cross has had a certain magic function attached to it, and the idea is borne out by one of my informants, the midwife from Al-Kadhimain, who said that the cross, or as she called it, the four-sided, is thc best, that is, the strongest design. The design of the dotted cross is by no means modern, for it is noted among those of tiles from Samarra, dating from the middle of the ninth century, and on fourteenth century potsherds found by Dr. N. Debevoise in the neighborhood of Tell Dahab, near Tell Asmar. Another sherd bearing the same design was found at Tabus on the Euphrates. Debevoise suggests that these stamped designs may be potters' marks.



Source : http://www.tattooheaven.com/excerpt1.html

Finding the Right Tattoos to Suit Your Personality



When you decide to get a tattoo, you should be sure to get one that suits your personality. Tattoos can be fun, but getting one should not be entered into lightly. Once you get a tattoo, you will have it for a long time, so it is important to find a suitable tattoo, which you will enjoy for years.

There are incredible amounts of tattoos available for you to choose from. Selecting one that suits your personality may not always be easy. You may feel overwhelmed with decisions. There are many patterns, sizes and colors to be had. You should take your time during the selection process and ask a tattoo artist for help in selecting a suitable tattoo design if you need to.

You may also find that the most suitable tattoo design for you is one that reflects your family history. For instance, you might choose to get a Celtic tattoo if you are of Celtic decent. If you are Japanese, you may, instead, want to get a Japanese tattoo. The most suitable tattoo for you may also be a tribal design. There are many possibilities. You should take the time to explore them all.

On the other hand, you may already have a design in mind. Maybe you like roses, dogs, particular television shows, or, possibly, you just want to have a loved one's name tattooed on your body. Even if the design decision is easy, you still need to consider where to put the tattoo on your body and how big to make it. So, finding the right tattoo for you is not always easy.

When you choose a tattoo design, you should find one that suits your personality, but you should also be careful. Some tattoo designs are open to interpretation. For instance, a flower tattoo could represent anything from power to love to shyness and more, depending on which flower you get and what color it is. You should remember that your intended meaning may not be what others think when they see your tattoo, so, while it may be the right tattoo for you, it may seem odd to other people.

So, consider all of your options when trying to select a suitable tattoo. You should be sure to select the size, color and design that i right for you. Don't settle for the first cute thing you see. Weigh all of your options, talk to a professional. Above all, be sure to select a tattoo artist that knows what they are doing. Some designs are more difficult to draw than others after all.


Choose the Right Tattoo Designs

Considerations you should keep in mind when choose your tattoo style.

Possibly the best source of inspiration when looking for a tattoo is tattoo magazines, they often contain full-color photos of truly first-class tattoos. Look for designs in magazines, books, posters, stickers, and everything else you can come across.

Another approach is to visit tattoo studios in your area and look at the designs and photo displays on the wall or their album to search for inspiration, but keep in mind, don't limit your imagination to what someone else already has, be creative.

Consider get a tattoo that matches your career, hobbies, and talents, the image you choose will be a reflection of yourself. Consider the reasons why you want the tattoo in the first place. If you want to be expressive or body decoration, think about things that you enjoy or have meaning to you.

If your tattoo is to honor someone else or to express your strong feeling to your loved ones, think about the things they enjoy the most and what message you want to pass on.

Talk to a tattoo artist whom you respect and ask for suggestions. You don't have to draw the image yourself, but express your true feeling to the tattoo artists and listen to their suggestions

Decide whether you want your tattoo in black and gray, or full color. Any design or image you find can be altered, or the colors can be changed, use your imagination.






Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Traditional Hand Tattoos of Thailand

In Thailand tattoos were the norm for nearly all men. Men would be tattooed as a sign of spiritual and religious faith. Very rarely were they done as some kind of meaningless artistic display of the tattoo for its own sake but more often as a catalyst for change or to mark a stage in their lives.

The most popular style of tattoos in Thailand are the depictions of Buddhist Temples or Buddhist deities. Those who got these temple tattoos or Buddhist deities believed that they contained power to protect them. These tattoos are usually done by Thai monks using India Ink or Rotring ink and were often accompanied by prayers while they were being done.

Picture of guy getting traditional Thai tattoo in a tattoo bar


Unlike Western style tattooing traditional Thai tattoos are done using hand tools and don't use the same kinds of sterilization methods as you would in a shop-front tattoo studio. Although apparently other things are added to the ink such as battery acid, plant extracts and snake oil which supposedly kills bacteria.

With the accessibility of Thailand in recent years as a travel destination (and high profile tattoo conventions being held there) many people go there and decide to get a tattoo to commemorate their time there or even for spiritual reasons. Although getting 'holiday' tattoos has almost become a cliche (or something you do after a skinful of booze!) there are plenty of people willing to seek out Buddhist monks to get traditional Thai tattoos.

Picture of girl getting traditional Thai tattoos using bamboo


If you do happen to find yourself in Thailand and seek out a Thai monk to tattoo you there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Remember the level of hygiene is not the same as a Western tattoo studio and in some cases they don't sterilize the tools between sittings so it is best to go early to minimize the chance blood borne infection.
  • Traditional Thai tattoos done by hand take a lot longer that a tattoo using an electric needle. Be prepared to sit (or lie) for long periods particularly if you are getting a larger piece.
  • The lines are not as 'clean' as tattoos done with a needle so if you are worried about aesthetics maybe a hand tattoo is not for you. You could always get a cherry tattoo on your breast or anchor tattoo on your ass instead!


The Animal Tattoo




When choosing a tattoo, one may consider various designs before choosing the one. Animals, are a more popular tattoo design that one would think, and people get animal tattoos for various reasons.

Throughout time and literature, animals of varying species will symbolize different things. So, when one person gets an animal tattoo, it may mark a turning point in their life, or how that animal represents their soul.

Plus, in today's society, animals are a big part of life. We spend millions on our pets, and many people reflect their love with tattoos of their beloved pets on their body.

Some people just find a fascination with an animal species, and feel the need to have it tattooed on their body.

Whereas, others may have a spiritual connection with the animal.

But, in any case, animal tattoos are popular among the masses.

The more common animal tattoos include:

  • Koi
  • Snakes
  • Frogs
  • Tigers
  • Horses
  • Birds
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • DragonsButterflie

The Animal Tattoos and Tattoo Designs

“Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.”

A great majority of tattoo galleries across the world devote a good majority of their selection to pictures inspired by the animal kingdom. Whether worn as a visual witness to animal rights and protection or as a personal testimony of religious or spiritual convictions and beliefs, animal tattoo designs are being worn by humanity all across the globe.









fairy, angel, lion, animal




Indeed, animals have been viewed by some religions with such respect that all of their followers refuse to eat meat or other animal products. Others revere certain creatures (like cows in India) and offer them special protection and/or homage. Still others avoid particular animals because of undesirable capabilities or.

Throughout the ages, mankind has come to respect certain living things for their strengths and capabilities. This is attested to by the number of popular proverbs, clichés and metaphors that extol (or admonish against) certain animals’ characteristics.


Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sparrow Tattoos

Sparrows can mean: eternity, luck, and innocence. Sparrows can travel great distances, but always return home.

The sparrow is an inconspicuous small bird, buff and brown, it flits from here to there in the company of other sparrows, free to take flight as and when it pleases.

These Sparrow Tattoos are typically worn somewhere on the hands, wrists or arms, but they can really be placed pretty much anywhere on the body. Most sparrow tattoos are quite small, like the birds themselves.

Sailors traditionally would get a sparrow tattoo for every 5,000 nautical miles that they have traveled. You would get one after traveling 5,000 miles and the second after traveling another 5,000. The origins of the swallow tattoo go back to a ship named The Swallow; the crew of the ship had a mutiny. To recognize each other, the 7 mutineers who started the mutiny had a swallow tattooed on their chest.

Sailors earn the right to the wear "blue birds of happiness" tattoos on either side of their chest after having crossed the Equator. Also it has been said that they keep the sailors from drowning. The Sparrow has been said to symbolize a safe return home. When a sailor saw a swallow at sea, he knew he was very near land, and the swallows would lead them home. It is said that if the sailor does not survive his travels, and ends up drowning, the birds alight upon his soul and carry him from the murky waters, up to heaven.

Swallows can also symbolize renewal and fresh beginnings. With one swallow facing forward looking to the future.

Johnny Depps' character of Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean has made the Sparrow Tattoo very popular and a lot of fans have had a tattoo as a tribute. Sparrow tattoos also have their place in prison culture, where the Sparrow Tattoo symbolizes freedom. The sparrow symbolize freedom, some convicts choose sparrows as a statement about their own freedom, especially when they are getting near their release from prison.

You may not perceive the common sparrow as the bird of love, but a lot of people do. When sparrows mate, they mate for life. A sparrow is a symbol of finding your true love and can be very popular with couples to show their commitment and love and loyalty to each other.

Some tattoo artists would get sparrow tattoos somewhere on their body to draw the evil away from their bodies because they tattoo demons and anti-religious designs every day. They believe it will protect them from the evil spirits.

Sparrows are mentioned in the bible and have some religious meanings. Sparrow Tattoo should always be tattooed in pairs.

The Egyptians associate sparrows/swallows with the stars and believed that they caught the souls of those who have passed.


Sparrow Bird Tattoos - Picture Of Sparrow Tattoos

What's special about tattoos is it gives yourself your own unique look, you can express yourself how ever you wish. The majority of tattoo artists use an electrically powered, vertical, vibrating instrument using needles to inject tattoo ink pigment into the skin, making an embodiment image on the skin. This sparrow bird tattoo is unique and may look great on you.
If you are wanting a sparrow bird picture to wear on your body, it is vital to be certain that you'll still want to live with it on you later in life. For a lot of people a sparrow bird tattoo isn't for them. Another option is to get a fake sparrow bird tattoo that would only last a few days. You can find designs of a range of other picture of sparrow tattoos at the Tattoo Me Now tattoo gallery. You can find many sparrow bird pictures here. View and download many amazing tattoo photos from the comfort of your home. Locate great sparrow bird tattoos that you'll enjoy for the remainder of your life.

When making your mind up on your permanent tattoo design that you plan to wear for life, if you are the tattoo artist studio you are more likely to feel rushed into choosing from a collection of designs than to spend all day there looking and selecting tattoos of interest then narrowing them down. Often people find they made a mistake choosing because they didn't wait a bit to decide properly which is why the Tattoo Me Now tattoo site will be a great bonus to have. You can find great sparrow bird tattoo pictures. With the ideal tattoo it may allow you to look special, others will be attracted towards you for it, get other people to come and talk to you about it, make you appear unique and make new friends easily, and make you more sure about yourself. The best solution to finding yourself a Perfect tattoo design is to look at a huge collection of designs first, then decide.
Once You Do, You'll Show It Off Whenever You Are About. Some people definately look great with a sparrow bird tattoo picture like this one. However, when considering having a tattoo done, get a second opinion from friends and take more time out to think before one done for good. Please
bookmark this sparrow bird tattoo for return later, or get in with the crowd at Tattoo Me Now, then select and print a copy of your chosen tattoo bring along with you when you go to get it done.

Having a tattoo done does hurt to a degree, but there's more pain on some locations of the body than others. Don't expect the discomfort to go after your tattoo is done, it could last another hour. For the next few days expect some continued irritation or itchiness. Performed carefully and capably, a tattoos tend to cause very little suffering to skin and get better particularly efficiently.

Sparrow Tattoo the Symbolism Behind It

Getting a tattoo? Are you thinking about getting a tattoo? You probably have been going through designs and patterns and researching what the different patterns mean. There are so many patterns that you can choose from, so which do you get. If you are having trouble deciding on the right tattoo pattern or design, you may want to consider the sparrow tattoo.

All About the Sparrow Tattoos

Sparrows were just a bird that you could see in your backyard. Not much more to it than that. Then things changed with Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean and the main character of Jack Sparrow. The sparrow tattoo grew to new heights. You know Jack Sparrow. He is the humorous, the renegade and foreboding at the same time. There are a lot of men who would like to have those qualities. They want to be like Jack Sparrow and because they admire the character, they are getting sparrow tattoos. Some women are getting the sparrow tattoo, because they are drawn to the sexiness of the character.Now there are more reasons than just the character of Jack Sparrow and why people are getting the sparrow tattoo.

Sparrows represent freedom also. This is another reason for the popularity of the tattoo. If a person has had a hard time or period in their lives, this could be a bad relationship, they might get the sparrow tattoo to show their new independence.When people get the sparrow tattoo, they usually add more to the design than just having a plain sparrow. Some ideas that come to mind are, they may have the sparrow sitting or flying near a flower or they could have the sparrow sitting on a branch of a cherry blossom tree.

The sparrow tattoo could get slightly altered, depending on whether it is a man or woman who is getting the tattoo. If people are looking to get a tattoo, they may be thinking of getting a small tattoo and the sparrow tattoo is just this a small tattoo design, but at the same time have a lot of detail. The tattoo artist of today have the ability to make every last detail show in the sparrow tattoo. The small tattoos like the sparrow tattoo look especially nice when they get them on the ankles.Looking for the right sparrow tattoo design is very easy today. There are many places that have sparrow designs and patterns. You should even look in the catorgory of small tattoo patterns.

You can go to your local bookstore, and if they have a large magazine section, you are probably going to find a tattoo magazine in there to look at.The internet is full of tattoo patterns and designs of sparrows and small tattoo patterns. You want to make sure that you take your time and look through those. When you find the tattoo artist and parlor that you are going to use for your tattoo, they can help you pick out a pattern. The tattoo artist will have a large selection of sparrow tattoos to choose from. You will find the right sparrow tattoo that suites your fancy if you do the proper research and take your time.


Swallows The Tattoo Ideas

First and foremost, let's understand the difference between swallows and sparrows. They are NOT the same thing. They are not the same bird and have vastly different meaning between them. The words swallow and sparrow cannot be used interchangeably. Swallows are a traditional old-school tattoo symbolizing enduring love that first appeared on sailors during the World Wars. Because swallows are known to always return home to San Juan Capistrano each year without fail, it was believed that sailors with a swallow tattoo would always return to their homes and families as well. Because swallows never fly too far from home, the sight of a swallow by a sailor was a symbol of hope; it meant they were close to land. Sailors with one swallow tattooed on them had traveled over 5,000 miles and a sailor with two tattoos had traveled over 10,000 nautical miles and denoted a very experienced sailor. If a sailor had the misfortune of dying at sea, legend had it that a swallow would carry his spirit to heaven. And if a sailor had a friend who passed away, he may get a tattoo of a swallow with a dagger through it's breast. But swallows are also an enduring symbol of love and loyalty, as swallows are monogamous creatures. They choose only one partner and will mate with them for life.

Many swallow tattoos were modeled after the barn swallow native to Europe. Blue in color, with a long, forked tail, barn swallows make their nests out of mud and are believed to represent the free blue sky and eternal happiness.




Full Half and Quarter Sleeve Tattoos Designs A Complete Guide

Wondering what the heck a sleeve tattoo is? Well they are one of the most popular of all tattoos and they look great. Very basically a sleeve tattoo is any tattoo design that covers up the majority of the skin in a certain area. For example a full arm would be a full sleeve tattoo. These are becoming increasingly popular as the overall trend for tattoos rises and people discover more and more about body art. They can be a wonderful tattoo design if you have carefully thought about what you want to get and the artist you are going to work with. Here is some more advice about getting sleeved.

What Is A Sleeve Tattoo?

Some of you might be wondering where did they get their name and how it is different from regular tattoos? Typically sleeve tattoos are done on arms can also be done on the legs. They are any type of tattoo that fully covers this can so that little to no skin is showing through the tattoo. They're often called sleeve tattoos because they look very some similar to wearing a long sleeved shirt. Fact, you have probably seen fake or sleeves being sold on eBay and these are just the sleeves of a shirt with an intricate tattoo design.

Popular Designs And Ideas

Of course if you're getting a sleeve that to an article at the time that you want it by all means go with that design. However, if you are still contemplating what you want to include in your design are the exact details of your design are some of the more popular ideas that people use with getting sleeve tattoos.

1. Traditional Japanese Designs - another very popular theme for sleeve tattoos are traditional Japanese designs. The Japanese have a long history of tattooing and theme of the designs of koi fish, samurai, and cherry blossoms can often be interwoven beautifuly.

2. Floral Patterns - there are many different floral patterns and can easily be adapted or tweaked into a tattoo. These are typically more delicate feminine nature but don't necessarily have to be.

3. Celtic Designs - Celtic knotwork often lends itself to tattoo designs. The intricate nature of the interwoven knotwork could make a beautiful design. Since there is so much space or canvas available on your arms often one can include knotwork animals and even calligraphy into an overall Celtic design.

4. Tribal - These take large tribal tattoo designs and spread them out over the large canvas. These are often very popular ideas for guys as the bold strong black lines of a tribal design can look pretty cool. You are thinking about getting tribal design then you want to carefully consider the culture and the style you want. Many of the native cultures have very developed tattoo designs that have been carried over into modern tattoo art. For example, you can get a Maroi Tattoo or possibly a Hawaiian tattoo.

Time, Cost and Commitment

sleeve tattoos are typically very large and intricate designs which can take a long time to complete. Therefore they compete more expensive and require a great deal of commitment. So you might be wondering how much will sleeve tattoo design costs? This could depend on a variety of different factors such as the popularity of the tattoo designer, the type of design that you want, and if you decide to get a custom tattoo versus standard flash. All prices can range greatly and there is no set amount typically full sleeve tattoos can run between $500-$2000.

Typically ssleeves are done over multiple sessions lasting about an hour each. Most full sleeve to designs can be done with about 20 sessions over 20 hours of total work. Depending on the availability of your tattoo artist as might be scheduled at one session per week so a full sleeve tattoo could take easily over 20 weeks.

You are considering getting a full sleeve tattoo you want to carefully consider the design in the tattoo artist. Spent some time before hand considered both these factors could play major role in your overall experience of getting a full sleeve tattoo. Try to find an artist does want to work with you and listen to your ideas and a design that you are happy with.

Rosary bead tattoo

A rosary is a timeless symbol of Catholicism consisting of a set of prayer beads arranged in a way that one can contemplate different episodes in the life of Christ in the form of prayer and devotion. It is a very significant symbol to express one’s faith among Catholics that rosary tattoos are very popular religious tattoo designs that we see nowadays.

Rosary bead tattoos are popularly inked in such a way that its wrapped around the ankle with the cross part of the rosary resting on top of the foot. Nicole Richie, a famous celebrity is sporting a rosary tattoo that she likes to flaunt it a lot by wearing shoes that displays it prominently. Designs of rosary tattoos have different variations as well, some go for the rosary beads alone while others combine the rosary with praying hands, cross, flowers or image of the Virgin Mary. Aside from an expression of faith, some tattoo enthusiasts go for rosary tattoos in memory of a loved one who passed away.

Tattoo with banner by Sacred Heart Tattoo


Insect Tattoo and Reptile Tattoo

Of course, insect tattoos and reptile tattoos are not the same thing, but they do share a common bond. For lack of a better description, they generally fall under the “creepy crawly” design category. There’s just something about a big bug or a slithering snake that makes our hair stand up on end. Maybe it’s the fact that they are alive like us, but also cold-blooded, that gives us the shivers.

But there’s more to insects and reptiles than just being creepy (or crawly!). Symbolically, they are frequently associated with gods, spirits, and the underworld. For example, in Central American lore, flying insects were said to be the souls of the dead revisiting this world. For the Hmong, legend states that grasshoppers were the first life on earth, but the gods thought them stupid and made humans instead. Flies, though generally not popular for tattoo designs, have their place in legend. In Judeo-Christian tales, flies were one of the ten plagues that visited Egypt, and the Hebrew name for one of the chief Biblical devils – Beelzebub – translates to “lord of the flies.” Reptiles, particularly snakes, are often associated with stages of the life cycle: creation, destruction, and eternity. Because many reptiles can live both on land and in water, they are associated with two of the primary elements of life and thus revered.

And not all insects and reptiles are considered creepy. Some of the most beautiful insects and reptiles – and the tattoo designs that go along with them – include colorful butterflies, chameleons, tree frogs, and several species of turtle. These designs don’t make your skin crawl; instead, they make your skin glow with the colors of your favorite exoskeletal or scaly creature.

Insect tattoo and reptile tattoo designs are only some of the many designs available to us from the animal kingdom. Please see our other pages for animal tattoos , sea life tattoos , and bird tattoos .

Popular Insect Tattoos & Reptile Tattoos

• Bee tattoos

• Butterfly tattoos

• Frog tattoos (includes Toads)

• Lizard tattoos (includes Geckos and more)

• Scorpion tattoos

• Snake tattoos (includes Rattlesnakes, Cobras, and more)

• Spider tattoos (includes Black Widows, Tarantulas, and more)

• Turtle and Tortoise tattoos

Would you like to share your Insect tattoos or Reptile tattoos with us here at Tattoo Meanings? If so, please consider contributing to our research and - take the tattoo survey!

Tattoos - Love it or Hate it

I believe tattoo is officially an ART now. It has passed through all those stages and the way whole world looks and treats it as nothing but art now.

Tattoos are known around the world by different names. Some called it tatoeage, tatouage, tätowier, tatuaggio, tatuar, tatuaje, tatoos, HotTatoo, tattueringar, tatuagens, tatoveringer, tattos, and tatu, and are even more popular now than at any time in recorded history. Current estimates now have more than one in seven, or well over 45 million people in North America alone have one or more tattoos.

Tattoo was and is being used worldwide in many countries for many different purposes. History proved that it was used by many ancient tribes and warriors. And now we also find tatoo popular among marines, army as well as gangs and criminals.

Though I must add one thing for sure that tattoo is more popular-HotTatoo- now in mainstream than ever.

One Tattoo Shop owner mentioned during his interview that in one day he did tattoos for three generations, from grandma to teen grandson. Many enthusiastic groups do annual conventions and/or gatherings activities worldwide.

Some use tattoos to beautify their body, some for the memory of that special event or special person, some for GoodLuck, some to look COOL, some for pure joy, some for religious purpose, some for branding and some for fun.

You know some government and even criminals use tattoo too. For example historically, chinese dynasty used tattoos to brand criminals to punish and disgrace them. Many gangs and criminals used it to brand their members. But as of today more young and educated people love tattoos too. They don't use tattoo removal.



Female Tattoos Gallery - Hot Tattoos Especially For Women

Normally female tattoos or feminine designed tattoos that are usually found in female tattoo gallery are becoming increasingly familiar and favored by women. This is largely due to the many celebrities who publicly sported tattoos that caused it to be more socially acceptable.

This female tattoo gallery has tattoos that are normally smaller and more beautiful. Hot tattoos favored by women include a butterfly, a flower or a Celtic design. These tattoos that are sported by women are also milder and not aggressive-looking. They tend to have thinner lines.

Today, women are slowly going for larger tattoos. Stars, hearts, roses and tribal tattoo designs on the lower back are becoming hot and gradually being asked for by females. Thus, a female tattoo gallery will have these designs as they are becoming more and more experimental in these new designs.

There are reports from many tattooists and female tattoo gallery that when musicians and artists get their tattoos, there is usually a particular popular placement on the body. They like to get the designs done on their lower back and stomach which suggest that most women want their tattoos to be obscure and the placement will show it to be a sexier place.

Highly recommended places by many female tattoo gallery is the lower back and the ankle as they are more popular.

Lower back tattoos are very sexy and hot for women as it seldom shows, but can be flaunted when the woman bends over. This sudden glimpse of a lower back tattoo on a woman will get you the tantalizing feeling that you're seeing something you shouldn't.

Many female tattoo gallery usually shows small ankle tattoos. Other tattoo location can be the shoulders; usually the left shoulder is considered the more feminine side. Shoulder tattoos can also be great when you're wearing a tank top or halter top in the summer.

Eventually when these tattoos come into concern, it's what makes you feel good that matters. It's going to last for quite some time so you may want to choose a really good design in the female tattoo gallery.

Nowadays, you can really get many good tattoo designs and customized pieces that tattoo artists can do. So don't be tempted to get those tattoos designs that will date really fast and end up looking sloppy.

Usually female tattoos in any female tattoo gallery are very sexy and hot. Just do a search for "female tattoos" on the internet and you can get more ideas regarding these tattoo designs.

Top 10 Tattoo Designs, based on site searches over the past month

1. Star Tattoos - another top ten tattoo design favorite, seen on a growing constellation of celebrities. I'm a star, I'm a star - get it!

Stars are often encountered as symbols, and many cases the meaning of a particular star symbol may depend upon the number points it has, and sometimes the orientation of these points as well. As a light shining in the darkness, the star is often considered a symbol of truth, of the spirit and of hope. The symbol of the star embodies the concept of the divine spark within each of us. Their nocturnal nature leads stars to represent the struggle against the forces of darkness and the unknown.

Stars with a specific design have taken on an explicit meaning and symbolism on their own. Among the most well-know of these are the Pentagram (five-pointed star), the Nautical Star (five-pointed star), the Hexagram or Star of David (six-pointed star), all the way to the nonagram (nine-pointed star).

Polynesian tattoos and designs2. Tribal / Maori Tattoos - as popular as ever. Tribal tattoo designs, especially Maori and Polynesian designs, continue to be all the rage. The term "tribal" of course covers an astonishing array of tattoo design possibilities, from the traditional tribal tattoos of indigenous and aboriginal cultures, to the latest in graphic design for the body.

Maori tribal heartMaori tattooing is a distinct school of patterns and graphic designs within Polynesian tattooing. While much of Polynesian tattooing is derived from straight-line geometric patterns (and thought to originate with patterns found on ancient Lapita pottery shards such as have been discovered in Samoa), a design fact which rose in part because the traditional Polynesian tattoo combs are best suited to linear designs, Maori tattooing is essentially curvilinear, and the mainstay of Maori designs are based on the spiral. It should be noted that renowned traditional Hawaiian artist Keone Nunes has demonstrated that it is possible to reproduce complex curved designs using traditional Polynesian tattooing implements.

Cross tattoos and designs3. Cross / Crosses Tattoo - A perennial top ten favorite. The cross is a profound symbol of faith, hope, belief and sacrifice. Also a favorite design choice when wishing to memorialize a family member, friend or fallen comrade. And who do we think of most often at this time of year than the people we love and have loved and lost. A memorial tattoo is a way to help keep the memory of someone we cherished with us always.

One of the most ancient, widespread, and important symbols, the vertical and horizontal lines of the cross represent Father and Mother Nature respectively. Some of the cross' forms are the ank or tau, swastika or Thor's Hammer, crux ansata or cross with a handle, denoting power over material nature. The four arms of the cross represent the four elements, and its central point their synthesis or laya-point.

4. Strength Tattoos - The searches for tattoo designs & symbols signifying "strength" have long been popular. A tattoo that would serve its wearer as a powerful amulet and talisman, a touchstone for personal virtue.

The popularity of searching for "tattoo design meanings..." has never been greater. Many of the searches in the Top Ten Tattoo Designs & Symbols are all interested in the meanings and symbolism to be found in specific tattoo designs. And while people are very much interested in great tattoo designs, most people want their tattoos to stand for something as important to them as "Strength, Family and Friendship", and of course, "Love".

See kanji or Chinese Characters, but perhaps a tattoo design that represents a symbol of strength might be a bear, or something that reminds you of your father or your mother or of your best friend. It could be the Koi fish that swims up the waterfall to become a dragon, a knight on a quest, or the first flower bud of spring.

Angel tattoo meanings5. Angel/Wings - Angels are often used to evoke protection as potent symbols of God's presence and as an expression of one's faith.

As a tattoo design, an angel is a symbol of devotion, spirituality and faith and signifies a relationship with God. An angel can be intended as a figure of guidance and protection. An angel is often used as the centerpiece of a tattoo that is intended as a memorial.

Wing tattoosWings as a tattoo design can often have inspirational or spiritual symbolism. In many myths, wings often have to be earned by their wearer. Wings, often associated with birds, represent speed, elevation, freedom and aspiration.

Wings associated with angels are spiritual, symbolizing enlightenment, guidance and protection - to be taken under the wing - and inspirational.

Wings associated with butterflies, dragonflies, fairies, mythological winged creatures like dragons, griffins, and the winged-horse Pegasus, have an element of the magical about them. As in alchemy and magic, wings can be transformational, allowing an individual access to a previously unattainable state. The presence of wings allows the combination of different elements, earth and sky, wind and fire.

Butterfly tattoo designs6. Butterfly Tattoo Designs - Another perennial top ten tattoo design. Its ranking shows the influence that women have in tattoo culture, as butterfly designs are an overwhelmingly feminine tattoo choice.

The butterfly, because of its short life, its physical beauty, and its fluttering from flower to flower seeking nectar, has among many ancient peoples been regarded as an emblem of the impermanent, unstable characteristics of the lower human soul. The caterpillar lives its period, making for itself a chrysalis, which after a stage of dormancy is broken by the emerging butterfly. This suggests the idea of the less becoming the greater, of an earthy entity becoming aerial. These thoughts led the ancient Greeks to use the butterfly as a symbol of the human soul (psyche); and in their mythology Psyche was in consequence represented in art with butterfly wings.

Love tattoos7. Love Tattoo Symbolism - The ever popular love tattoo symbol covers an entire rather large genre of tattoo designs including these ever popular expressions of love and devotion... more

meanings of crown tattoos designs symbols8. Crown Tattoos - As a symbol, the crown also symbolizes leadership, and the rightful authority which comes from being elected by a group to serve as their leader.

Many groups have used the crown to symbolize the power and authority to lead or command. When it is combined with a cross, one of the meanings of the crown is "victory," and the cross symbolizes Christianity. Many Royal crowns in Europe incorporated the Christian Cross into their design, reinforcing the Monarch's claim that their right to the throne was a divine right and that the Monarch was guided by the hand of God.

As a tattoo symbol, the crown doesn't just mean the right of one person to command another. It symbolizes and individual's sovereignty over their own life, feelings, thoughts, and actions. The crown symbolizes self-control, and is a reminder to use power and authority wisely and justly.

Dragon tattoo designs9. Dragon Tattoos - The dragon is a classic tattoo motif, popular with both men and women. As a tattoo design the dragon shows the profound influence that Japanese and Chinese culture have had in Western tattooing for nearly two centuries. In the Far East, the dragon represents the Four Elements - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water - and the four points of the compass - East, West, North and South - and dragons are simultaneously a symbol of Water, Earth, Underworld and Sky. The dragon is a culturally far-ranging character whose apparent bad temper should be interpreted as simply amoral, neither good nor evil. The forces of nature are not human-hearted, representing as they do the cycle of life and death, followed again by birth and renewal. Natures nurtures and nature destroys. So too, does the dragon.

Phoenix tattoo meanings10. Phoenix - the legendary mythological bird of fire, is probably the most popular of all the rebirth and resurrection symbols. There are stories and fables that touch on the Phoenix myth in the ancient Middle East, India, China and the Greek and Roman Empires.