Get Inked

Tattoos are a controversial subject and appear to divide people's opinions like Marmite: you either love them or you hate them.  Personally, I think they can look incredible if you find the right tattoo artist and you choose the right design and colour.  A male friend spoke to me recently about what they should get for a tattoo for themselves.  What a question!  The most important feature of a tattoo (I believe) is to get something personal; something that you won't regret.  A close friend once made a very astute comment, "A tattoo is like a scar, it's a memory".  So even if you do veer off the idea later in life, if when you got it done there was an emotional significance - you shouldn't regret it.  Here are a few tattoos that I have stumbled across which I have fallen in love with, taken from male and female models.

taken from Scott Campbell

taken from "tattoosday"

taken from photobucket

Freya Beha Erichsen, taken from "cosie cosie"

tattoo design by Scott Campbell

Despite many people chosing a tattoo because the design "looks pretty", there are many hidden meanings behind each design.  A list of a few popular images and their meanings:

- Heart: signifies love, adoration and passion.  However, if the heart is adorned with wings it can signify freedom or with a dagger, bravery.

- Swallow: this was an image originally popular with sailors, however it links back to the souls of the dead and 'imperishable' stars in ancient times.  In Greek legends, ancient texts gave information on how to transform into a swallow; much like Icarus' attempt during which he flew too close to the sun.  

- Lightening bolt: in Greek mythology, these were thrown by Zeus as a symbol of his power.  Due to lightening's unpredictability, there is also a sentiment of the capricious attitude of the ancient gods.  Many cultures saw lightening as being a sign of fertility as it often accompanied rain which allowed crops to grow. The earth is sometimes seen as a female entity which indicates therefore that the sun and lightening are male; showing a lightening bolt to be a sign of masculinity.  Currently, it is a very popular tattoo amongst men and women as it can embody a feeling of being 'love struck' or empowered.  

Lottie 

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