Archive for Free Tattoo Ideas
Fish Tattoo Designs
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A popular tattoo design today is the various representations of fish. Many ancient cultures view the fish symbol as representing water, mother or great goddess. In early mythology the fish stood for the feminine and their power to reproduce.
In the Hindu culture the fish symbolizes marriage. It is said that when a bride first steps into her husband’s house, she carries a fish in her hand; and the most popular fish symbol is that of the astrological Pisces – two of them swimming in opposed directions.
Before the advent of today’s mainstream religions the symbol – a pointed oval – known as Vesica Piscis meaning fish bladder in Latin, was associated with fertility (and the feminine reproductive power).
In early church history the symbol was used as a secret code. Back in the day Christianity was not ‘allowed’ and Christians were persecuted for their faith; the early Christians drew the fish symbol on the walls of their houses to indicate to other secret Christians that it was a safe place for a gathering or worship. It was eventually included in the Christian church décor. The Greek word – Ichthus – for fish came to symbolize Jesus himself.
For most aboriginal people especially those that lived by the seas, fish were their primary source of food. The salmon, among all, has come to be the most venerated. It became a symbol of fertility, wealth and abundance.
According to Celtic myth the fish is a symbol of wisdom. Celtic myth tells the tale of how the salmon – after swallowing sacred nuts at the well of knowledge – came to be associated with wisdom and from there springs the belief that eating salmons will result in gaining wisdom!
Some Polynesian groups consider eels sacred and therefore cannot be eaten. To them it symbolized ‘justified revenge’. People of this culture prayed to the eels in order to dish out justice to an enemy.
In many Asian cultures, such as the Chinese ‘Feng Shui’, the symbol – fish in the water – would aid in warding off evil spirits.
What do Rihanna’s tattoos mean?
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Robyn Rihanna Fenty, better known as (the celebrated pop artist) Rihanna, was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. Most people simply assume she’s American because that is where she shot to stardom in 2005 with her debut album Music of the Sun. Rihanna moved to America (the US) at the age of 16 to pursue her career as a singer / song writer. She is best known for her hit numbers such as: There’s a Thug in My Life, Now I Know, Willing to Wait and Pon de Replay.
Music, as we all know, is her passion; her other obsession is tattoos. She has even confessed that she is addicted to the body art. When asked she said: “I like hanging out in tattoo shops. I am so intrigued by tattoos. It’s an entire culture, and I study it. Sometimes I go with friends, or just by myself. I get bum-rushed, but I don’t care. I don’t take security.” Rihanna loves the art so much that she keeps adding new ones every now and then. So you see it’ll be inaccurate if I said she has 13 tattoos.
Like most people who are into tattoos, Rihanna’s tattoos also hold special meaning and messages for her. Perhaps the first of them is the one on her ankle – two symbols of music notes; and obviously enough they represent her love for music that started at a very early age.
Behind her right ear she has the astrological symbol for the sun sign Pisces. That too is fairly clear – she was born on the 20th of February that makes it her astrological sign by birth.
She has a prayer (of sorts) inscribed on her hip, in Sanskrit (an Indo-Aryan language.) the first few words mean forgiveness, truth, suppression and calmness. Need we explain what she’s praying for?!
Rihanna’s other foreign language tattoo is the one on her ribcage. The phrase Freedom is God is inscribed in Arabic. Some of her other tattoos are: the expression “Shhh…” on her right index finger (no puzzle there!), the word love on her left middle finger and the date April 11th 1986 in Roman numerals on her shoulder (apparently her best friend / assistant’s birthday – I’ll die of shock if my boos did that for me! Now that she knows what it can do, she just might do it…)
An Overview of Butterfly Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsToday tattoos have become more popular than at any other time in recent history. More than 30% of people between the ages of 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have a tattoo and in many cases more than one. (Wong, 2003) With all of these tattoos being performed, does it seem strange that butterflies are the most common tattoo found on women? Not really, if you look into the history of the butterfly symbol and its importance in human history.
There have been many variations of the story of butterflies in human mythology. Some cultures believed that each time a butterfly left its cocoon, a human soul was formed. Other cultures see butterflies as the souls of the dead waiting in purgatory while other cultures show butterflies as symbols of joy and happiness. Many Native American tribes had specific ideas about the butterfly symbol. They believed that they symbolized everlasting life and considered them to be the transformers or changers of life. (Michilak, 2010)
The butterfly symbol is primarily used by women in today’s modern society but that has not always been true. Augustus, an emperor of Rome, used the butterfly to symbolize his power, and the male priests of Mayan culture also used the butterfly on their clothes to symbolize their sacred fire. (Hemingson, 2010)
The reasons why butterflies have become a more feminine symbol in today’s society are not known but considering modern society’s obsession with beauty, it seems to make sense. Butterflies symbolize beauty just like they did in the past yet they are still considered a symbol of change or metamorphosis. (Hemingson, 2010) So, if a woman is trying to decide what picture she wants to have put on her body for the rest of her life, it makes sense she would want something that was once a horrible ugly bug but became a beautiful butterfly. The woman who has this tattoo may feel that she will be metamorphosed after she gets her butterfly tattoo.
The idea has been purported that because the butterfly is known to symbolize death and rebirth that perhaps women choose the butterfly tattoos when they feel like things are too tough. The idea of bad things ending and starting over could be something you want to keep on your body for the rest of your life. Most likely a butterfly just symbolizes something beautiful to many women and they choose it solely for aesthetic reasons.
The butterfly has also been chosen as the symbol for the transgender community and has become the logo for the Butterfly Coalition International. The idea that the butterfly symbolizes metamorphosis for many people was the reasoning behind their choice. (Coalition, 2010) Obviously women and men choose butterfly tattoos for all sorts of reasons. But, whatever the reason, the placement of these tattoos can be as important as the tattoo design itself. The most popular area seems to be the lower back with the ankle coming in a close second. The shoulder area is also popular. Selection of these areas probably means that, more than likely, the person wants other people to see their tattoo. In some cases, a person will choose a hidden place because the meaning of their tattoo is for their loved ones as well as themselves.
There is no best way to find a butterfly tattoo but visiting as many possible tattoo design sites on the internet as well as real life tattoo shops is a great start. The designs range in size, color, and shape which makes the choice difficult but allows for so much more individuality for the seeker of a butterfly tattoo.
Works Cited
Coalition, B. (2010). Home. Retrieved March 27th, 2010, from Butterfly Coalition International: butterflyco.org
Hemingson, V. (2010).Ttattoo Designs and Symbols. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from the vanishing tattoo: vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_designs_symbols.htm
Michilak, J. (2010). Need To Know. Retrieved March 24, 2010, from Butterfly tatoo: tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Butterfly_Tattoos
Wong, N. (2003). Think Before You Ink. Retrieved March 24, 2010, from tattoo facts and statistics: tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Butterfly_Tattoosvanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_facts.htm
Overview of Tribal Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsTribal tattoos have been used for as long as people have needed to identify themselves and they are the “in” thing at the moment. This trend began in the nineties and has only increased as time has passed. The tribal tattoo has had many purposes in human history but they originated mainly to identify a clan or group. Some groups would use the tattoos to identify distant relatives from far away tribes or to find each other after they passed away and were wandering the heavens looking for their tribe members. The tribal tattoo was also used to depict important events that occurred in a tribe or clan, almost like keeping a recorded history of events. (Syrkiewicz, 2008) Naturally a tribal tattoo has a different use today but in the end the modern tribal tattoo is still a form of identification.
Today in many instances the person getting a tribal tattoo wants the tattoo to illustrate something about them, almost like a tattoo of self identification. They are a way for a person to make a statement about themselves for other people to see and interpret. However, the tribal tattoo today is used not to group people into the same tribe but to express personality and individuality. (Hemingson, 1999-2009)
Oftentimes gangs, clubs, and military members will use a tattoo to identify themselves to others. This type of usage for a tattoo is similar to the use of tattoos five thousand years ago when the tribal tattoo art form is believed to have originated. (Syrkiewicz, 2008) Members of different gangs or military groups can identify each other by using a specific tattoo. They often form a bond around a particular symbol almost like a brotherhood. For gang members, the tattoo is used to define their members and lets them know who is friendly or not. All cultures have used tattoos as some form of identification and the trend is back in fashion today.
A tattoo magazine titled Tattoo Times, founded in 1982 by Don Ed Hardy and Leo Zulueta, started a new fascination with the tribal tattoo. (Tebi, 2004-2008) They called their first article “New Tribalism” and it featured tribal designs from the South Pacific, tattoos that had lost favor many years before. (Tebi, 2004-2008) Tattoo artistry itself had been going through problems with negative feelings from society at the time so an article illustrating these wonderful tribal designs helped alleviate some of the negative feelings people had about these tattoos. It actually had the effect of re-popularizing the ancient art form.
The tribal designs seen most commonly today are similar to designs used by the Polynesians for thousands of years. They often have a geometric silhouette pattern that may be considered too easy to do by many tattoo artists. Since these are not considered challenging, some artists do not like to do them. (Tebi, 2004-2008)
Celtic tribal patterns are also popular today. They were distributed by sailors hundreds of years ago as they traveled from Europe. Actually, sailors can be thanked for causing the original popularity of tattoo artistry in the modern western world. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word, ‘ta-taw’, which was thought to be the sound a person would hear when the tattooing instruments were used. When the sailors returned to Europe with tattoos that illustrated their adventures, people were fascinated and many wanted to have their own. (Tebi, 2004-2008)
The type and location of a tribal tattoo is a limitless as the unique personality of the person who wants it. Some examples are tribal armband, Celtic tattoo, tribal wolf tattoo, tribal shoulder tattoo, tribal scorpion, butterfly dragon, dog, bird, bull, tiger and many, many more. There are also tribal sleeve tattoos, lower back tribal tattoos, and tribal star tattoos. (Hemingson, 1999-2009) As with all artistic mediums and cultural developments, the art form of tribal tattoos is continually changing. But, the art form is always going to reflect the depth and potential of the person who wants the tattoo as well as the artist’s interpretation of the tribal design.
Works Cited
Hemingson, V. (1999-2009). Tribal tattoo design. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from The Vanishing Tattoo: http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tribal_tattoos.htm
Syrkiewicz, J. (2008, October 8). History and Social Impact of Tatoos. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from Suite101.com: http://cultural-anthropology.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_history_and_social_impact_of_tattoos
Tebi, D. B. (2004-2008). TatooJoy.com. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from History of Tribal Tattoos: http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_articles/the_meaning_of_tribal_tattoos.htm
The Symbolism Behind Libra Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsWhen someone has a Libra as their zodiac sign, they found that there are three different ways that they can display their sign as a tattoo. Here are the three libra tattoos that people use.
Libra Zodiac Symbol
This is often known as the glyph and it’s the best known of the three libra tattoos available. It’s known to be representative of the sun going down, and it symbolizes a new day. it’s also known to show Libra’s nature for staying in the road’s middle. The middle of the symbol, which is a rising bump, demonstrates that Libras stay have a balance on an issues sides without hurting the other side. One last interpretation of this symbol is a symbol that looks like the equal sign. The rising bump that is on the first line shows the justice that the Libra has.
Scales
Another common of the libra tattoos is the scales. The symbol is because of the balanced nature of Libra. A lot of Libra tattos feature the scales as equal and not usually unbalanced. This is due to the fact that most Libras are concerned with balance. They want to make sure that their daily life is balanced at both scale ends. The libra tattoos help to remind the Libras to look for harmony in their life each and every day.
Libra Constellation
The final of the libra tattoos that Libras often get is the Libra constellation. There are four stars that make up the Libra constellation.
• Sigma Librae
• Gamma Librae
• Beta Librae(which is the constellation’s brightest star)
• Alpha Librae
Due to the constellation’s shape, there are a couple of theories about why the constellation shows Libra’s balance.
• Alpha and Beta are the scale’s two sides and the arms which are strutting out from the sides are the scale’s pans.
• A theory that H.A. Ray came up with is the fact that Beta is the top tier, Alpha and Gamma are the second, and the three other Librae stars make the third tier. This is a theory that makes a layer system that is more balanced.
For those people who are interested in getting libra tattoos, there are some ideas about what you can get.
• Libra glyph tattoos are great small tattoos, worn on the wrist’s inside, between a person’s shoulder blades, and on the lower back.
• Libra scales are a nice addition for ankle, back, or foreceps. They are good to combine with things like celestial bodies.
Libra tattoos are wonderful for people who are Libras or who just believe in balance and equality in the world. They are something that is very versatile in the size that a person wants in their tattoo and where they want it to be on their bodies. They can also be put together with other tattoos to make a more complete tattoo. Libra tattoos are something that are unique and something that can show everyone what the person with the tattoo believes in.
A History of Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsA lot of people don’t know it, but tattoos have been around for many years. In fact, they have been found dating back to more than four thousand years ago. This article is going to discuss the history of tattoo, and how those tattoos go on to evolve into kanji tattoos and other kinds eventually..
Earliest Known Tattoos
For many years, people thought that the first tattoos were the ones that were discovered on women mummies that were dated back to c. 2000 B.C. But back in 1991, tattoos were found on the Iceman that was discovered on the border of Austria and Italy. He has been carbon dated to be aged at approximately 5.200. This age is given by a research fellow, Joann Fletcher, who works in the archeology in Britain. She works at the University of York.
Purpose of Tattoos
Joann Fletcher states she thinks that the tattoos that have been discovered on the Egyptian women were supposed to keep the woman safe during their pregnancy and labor. Where the tattoos were placed, on the woman’s abdomen, on her breasts, and on the woman’s thigh tops, seem to say that the tattoo custom was only for women.
Tattooers
Even though Joann Fletcher says that there isn’t a written account of who performed the tattooing, she believes that the tattooing was done by older women on the younger women.
Tattooing Instruments
An archaeologist by the name of W. M. F. Petrie found a wooden handle that had a sharp point, dating back to 3000 B.C. at Abydos’ site. It is believed that this instrument could have been used for the purpose of tattooing. Additionally, he discovered a group of instruments made of bronze on another site. These dated back to 1450 B. C. and these items were considered to be put together in order to create a more uniform group of dots on a person’s body.
Tattoo Patterns
The patterns on the mummies usually had some dotted patterns that created diamonds and lines, even though some of them had images that were more natural.
Tattoo Colors
The colors that were used in the earlier tattoos were usually darker colors or black pigments.
It’s pretty amazing how much the tattoo has changed in the thousands of years since it first appeared on the body. From those dark dots that were used to create lines and diamonds the tattoo has become colorful and gone into many shapes. Instead of helping to protect women during pregnancy and childbirth, they have gone on to make a statement for the person who is getting the tattoo. Whether someone gets a regular tattoo or one of the kanji tattoos, they are making a statement.
When someone gets a tattoo, they don’t often think about the long history that tattoos have and the different kinds of tattoos, kanji tattoos for instance. They don’t realize that they are more than pictures that are put on the body to signify something. They are something that has been around for a long time and there is no sign of them going away anytime soon.
So if you choose to get a tattoo, whether it’s to show your girlfriend your affection, to show how tough you are, or for another reason, remember that you are a part of a long and proud tradition. What kind of tattoo is right for you? Is it kanji tattoos, or something else? Only you know!