Eye Tattoo Designs

Although eye tattoo designs come in many different forms, they have primarily stemmed from the Egyptian sky god, Horus who was depicted as having a falcon’s head. Horus’ mother was a matriarchal magician named Iris and his father was Osiris, one of the greatest gods.

Horus’ brother Seth, murdered their father Osiris which caused a fight between Horus and Seth for their father’s throne. The fight was eventually won by Horus but he lost his left eye over it. Now it was believed that his left eye was the moon’s eye while his right eye was the sun’s eye. Thoth, a mighty god, later restored Horus’ left eye that he had lost. This left eye was later used as a amulet to bring his father back to life.

Since then, this mighty eye of Horus has been worn in eye tattoo designs for its protective powers as well as its healing results. This symbol can be traced back to being used from 2300 BC. It is a symbol that has the power to protect you from darkness and keep away evil spirits. The Eye of Horus tattoo is almost always done in all black and can be put on any part of the body, even somewhere as small as your wrist.

Many people have always held a fascination to the eye since it is said to be a doorway to the soul. A wide variety of emotion can be conveyed through the eyes including happiness, sadness, anger and love without even seeing the rest of the race. It is also not uncommon to see eye tattoo designs added to some other type of symbol such as wings and butterflies.

While the Eye of Horus is a representation of protection and life, the third eye is a symbol of awareness. Depending on the tattoo, they can be all black or insanely colorful. Placement of eye tattoo designs also hold a bit of symbolic meaning as well. The most popular choice being, the back to symbolize awareness of the wearer’s surroundings. It is common to see one eye at the nape of the wearer’s neck that can be seen above the shirt line or for women, the lower back is a popular pick. Eye tattoo designs that are done exceptionally well will present a symbolic and artistic picture.

This is one of the more powerful eye tattoo designs and worn by those that are incredibly superstitious. The Hand of Fatima, or daughter of Muhammad, is depicted as a tattoo of a hand with an eye on the palm. Muslims believed that this image would act as a protection against the evil eye which was a symbol of a fabled curse that brought about bad luck, sickness and death. This Hand of Fatima not only appears on tattoos but also in amulets, magical charms and in many cultures it is painted near the door of a home to keep the dwellers protected inside.

These are the most difficult eye tattoo designs and should only be attempted by a very skilled and experienced artist. Most often they are on a face but then sometimes the tattoo is just the eyes of someone, often the wearer’s. They are always realistic looking and phenomenal pieces of art.

Unrealistic Eye Tattoos – These are fun, colorful, unique eye tattoos that are often cartoon-like or representative of monsters of some sort.Winged Eye Tattoos – It is very common to see either a realistic or an unrealistic eye tattoo with wings extended from it.Butterfly Eye Tattoos – Many people enjoy the abstract art of incorporating eyes on their butterfly tattoos, usually on the wings.Asia Argento – Model and actress has an eye tattoo on her upper back.Brandon Boyd – Singer wears his eye tattoo in the middle of his upper back.Ville Valo – HIM vocalist displays very large eyes of Edgar Allan Poe on his back.

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Rose Tattoo Designs

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Rose tattoo designs have been the most popular flower chosen to be displayed on both women and men. They are a flower that is known, loved, appreciated and respected all over the world. Roses have been used for tattoos almost as far back as the practice of tattoo itself. It is a strong enough flower to stand alone as a solitary tattoo, yet gentle and adapting enough to be paired with other symbols, flowers, crosses, words and virtually anything else.

In the East, the lotus and the rose share the meaning of true love. It was believed by the ancient Greeks that the rose only came in white and then it turned red when Aphrodite, the goddess of love pricked her finger on a thorn and her blood flowed, staining the blossoms.

Persia was the first place to grow the rose plant and it was actually thought of as a masculine flower. Over thousands of years it became cultivated in many beautiful varieties and colors. Rose tattoos are found on an equal number of men and women. In the 1940s, a rose tattoo was the most popular tattoo by sailors to honor their girlfriend or wife that they had left behind when they went out to sea.

Rose tattoo designs commonly are a representation of inner and outer beauty. It is interesting to note that if thorns are displayed on the rose tattoo, it is to mean that the individual does not place an emphasis on outer beauty. Others believe that the rose represents everlasting beauty and if it has a thorn then it means that although you can look, you cannot touch.

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The rose has always been linked to love. Without thorns it represents being in love however a rose with thorns is a caution that an interested person should proceed with caution or they might get hurt. A thorned rose offers a reminder that love always comes with certain sacrifices. It means that love comes with risks and ecstasy does not come without some agony.

Colors of rose tattoo designs are extremely important as the color holds deep symbolism.

Red – True love and passionPink – Elegance, grace and gentlenessCoral – DesireOrange – Excitement, enthusiasm and fascinationLight Peach – Friendship and modestyWhite – Innocence, purity, youth, secrecy and spiritual loveYellow – Friendship, joy, familiar love, gladness and devotionPurple – Love at first sight and enchantmentBlue – Fantasy, fascination and impossibilityBlack – Darkness and deathWhite and Red Combination – Unity, justice and mercyYellow and Red Combination – CelebrationOrange and Yellow Combination – Passionate thoughtsWilford Brimley – Actor displays three symbolic roses with leaves on each arm.Nina Brush – Supermodel has a rose tattoo on her upper arm.Sophia Bush – Actress wears a tribal rose on her right forearm.Laura Cover – Model boasts a rose tattoo on her back.Lara Dutta – Ex Miss Universe wears a rose on her right ankle.Isabeli Fontana – Brazilian supermodel has a rose wrapped around her ankle.Slash – Musician wears a few roses on his right arm.

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Dragonfly Tattoo Designs

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Dragonfly tattoo designs can have various meanings symbolizing anything from positive change, rebirth and happiness to dark meanings such as evil or a sign of the devil.  This is because their symbolic meaning has changed through the years and they hold their own different interpretation in many cultures.  Symbolically, there may not a more powerful creature in the world.

In Europe, dragonflies were seen as sinister and were often called the devil’s darning needle.  Many cultures have linked the horse with the dragonfly and in Romanian folktale it is said that this flying insect was once a horse that the devil possessed. Swedish folklore suggests that dragonflies were responsible for weighing souls for the devil and other stories tell how trolls use them like spindles to weave clothes.

Dragonflies are also associated with snakes in many cultures.  Folk tales were created in Southern portions of the United States stating that they follow around snakes to stitch them back together when they get injured.

However, the dragonfly is not evil in all cultures.  Native Americans connect this fluttering insect with activity and swiftness.  To the tribes, the dragonfly also is a symbol of renewal after a great hardship has been endured.  It is this representation why dragonfly tattoo designs most often are worn to symbolize a personal reflection of the past and strength of moving forward, especially after getting through anguish and pain.

In Japan, dragonflies represent courage, happiness and strength.  Their beliefs are similar to the Native American’s as far as moving on after hardship.  Having the courage to do so symbolizes your strength to embrace happiness.

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The main symbolism of dragonfly tattoo designs are positive force, power of life, renewal and a strong sense of one’s self that can only come with maturity.  Dragonflies are creatures of wind so it only makes sense that they would represent change.  The way that they skim across water surfaces represents one’s deeper thoughts surfacing.  The dragonfly symbol reminds you that when your deeper thoughts rise, you have to pay attention to what is also below the surface.

The colors of a dragonfly are a direct result of them reflecting light so naturally they are associated with illusions, being only what they allow you to see.  Dragonfly tattoo designs can symbolize that mankind is made of light and has the ability to reflect light.  They represent moving beyond self-created illusions that often limit one’s growing and changing.

The  most popular symbolism of dragonfly tattoo designs is the strong sense of self.  This can only come with maturity and similar to butterflies, this offers the meaning of change.  Dragonflies are creatures that are generally appreciated as one looks deeper at their life.

Dragonfly tattoo designs really began to see a sudden rise in popularity near the end of the 90s.  As more women started getting their first tattoos and learning about the meaning of this mystical creature, they became a popular sign of strength and change.

Technically speaking, a dragonfly spends a great majority of its life, sometimes many years, in they nymph stage where it lives in the water and waits for its time to transition to an adult.  The nymph goes through a lot of pain to reach this adult stage of its life.  It climbs out of the water and finds a place on a plant, leaf or stem to rest and then the skin begins to split.  The head emerges with the rest of its body following until it is completely free of its old body which can take several hours.  It then stays there, allowing its wings to dry and prepares for flight that can take a few more days.  This symbolizes a person spending a great portion of their life in a certain stage and then going through a great amount of pain to get to a better place in their life.

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Just because dragonfly tattoo designs have become so popular for women, does not mean that they are exclusive to that sex.  In fact, in Native American astrology, it is believed that every person has their own totem animal spirit that acts as their personal guardian to help guide them through various phases in their life.  The dragonfly is one of these totem spirits.  This spirit means that you really need to make the conscious effort to express your dreams, hopes, wishes and needs.

Its spirit is the message of wisdom, winds of change and a way to communicate with the elemental world.  It reminds you to examine habits in your life that need changing and it is there to guide you with your pathway of transformation.

Sarah Michelle Gellar – Actress has two stunning purple dragonflies displayed on her back.Coheed & Cambria – All band members wear a dragonfly tattoo designs.

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Shark Tattoo Designs

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Shark tattoo designs represent one of the world’s most fierce predators.  They are a symbol of fearlessness and power.  Just taking the time to observe the beautiful and mysterious animal allows you to understand why they are one of the most respected and feared creatures on earth.

It has long been a tradition for sailors to wear shark tattoo designs as a symbol of protection from the sea.  People around the world that have an appreciation for nature all see this creature for more than a killer but rather as a sacred animal that is strong and powerful.  This is why the shark was often included in totems as a hunting symbol for its ability to survive and adapt. For Polynesians, the shark is considered one of the most sacred animals.  Shark tattoo designs were worn as a protection against their enemies.

Polynesian fishermen also wore shark tattoos to protect themselves as well as their vessels from all of the sharks that were in the water while they were fishing.  Many people in Hawaii wear tattooed dots in a row around the ankle to keep the sharks away.  Legend says that a shark was about to kill a woman who was swimming until it saw her tattoo and let her go.

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Sharks are built to survive so these tattoos are perfect for those that have gotten through a tough time in their life.  Symbolically they say that the bearer of the tattoo has been born perfectly designed and no matter what life throws at them, they will survive.

Aside from being the great protector and the king of the water, shark tattoo designs have several other meanings including:

PowerInstinctFocusAssertivenessConfidentCalculatedStrengthGracefulKnowingEnergySelf-assuranceSurvivor

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Celtic Shark Tattoos – These types of shark tattoo designs are a symbolism of the sickle since the ancient Celts thought the shark’s dorsal fin looked like a sickle.  Since the sickle is synonymous with harvesting, Celtic shark tattoo designs became a symbol for the harvest.

Hindu Shark Tattoos – Vishnu, the Hindu god is often shown in shark tattoo designs leaping from a shark’s mouth.  This signifies that all creatures of nature must be respected and never underestimated.

Tribal Shark Tattoos – This is one of the most powerful looking tribal tattoo designs.  The shark depicted in powerful, bold, black lines is a strong statement.

Cartoon Shark Tattoos – These are fun, generally colorful tattoos of sharks that are often created doing human things like wearing sunglasses or laying on a beach.

Great White Shark Tattoos – The most feared and admired shark makes a perfect tattoo choice to wear as a symbol of protection.

Alain Bernard – Olympic swimmer wears a shark tattoo down the left side of his stomach.Goran Ivanisevic – Tennis player has a shark on his right shoulder.Dennis Rodman – NBA basketball has a shark tattoo design.Nick Carter – Singer displays a shark tattoo on his forearm.

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Butterfly Tattoo Designs

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Various butterfly tattoo designs are one of the most popular chosen body art images for women. These fluttering insects are not only beautiful, they are extremely symbolic and carry with them a deep history in many different cultures. They are truly an extremely versatile design and can be designed by using a real butterfly for inspiration or as something completely imaginative.

Butterfly tattoo designs allow for a great level of experimentation with shape and color and they harmonize well with other symbols such as flowers, angels, eyes, vines, flames, fairies, etc.The best thing about butterflies is that they are like snowflakes and no two are ever exactly the same so this design allows you to be completely unique.

Butterfly Tattoo History

Mythologies in many ancient civilizations have had a connection with this mystical creature which is a big reason why butterfly tattoo designs are so popular today. They are believed in many cultures to be a symbol of a human soul and as a night butterfly is attracted to a flame, a human soul is attracted to heavenly truths. Scientifically speaking, the metamorphosis of a crawling caterpillar changing into a butterfly is one of the most intriguing mysteries in nature. It is a magical, representative transition of new life.

Butterfly tattoo designs on a woman usually are a free-spirited acknowledgment of change. The change could be from a young girl to a woman, starting a fresh chapter in life or a positive and mental new beginning. Regardless of where it is placed on the woman’s body, its service is to serve as a portal to draw in energies of life and essences of human souls. It represents an unmatchable power that lies deep within all woman.

Woman that opt for this type of design are as diverse as the butterflies and can be patient, observant, creative, intelligent, deeply committed or in touch with nature. However, they can also be aristocratic, judicious, shrewd and reserved. It is a powerful symbol that can mean some form of representative change differently for every woman.

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Placement of the butterfly tattoo designs also have their own individual meanings as well. It is interesting to note that almost all women choose one of the chakra points for location and don’t even realize it. The seven points are crown of the head, forehead (between the eyes), throat, heart, reproduction (includes lower back and lower belly), solar plexus and tribal root (below the groin).

Placed on the shoulder blade, it generally represents a dreamer while the chest symbolizes an unconditional love either for someone or themselves. The lower back, which is the most popular for good reason, means survival, stability, prosperity, self-preservation, physical health and trust and below the belly typically represents virginity or a return to innocence.

Krissy Taylor – Model displays a butterfly on her right foot.Julia Roberts – Actress has a butterfly on the lower part of her back.Melissa Joan Hart – Actress boasts a butterfly on her left breast.Anne Heche – Actress offers a butterfly on her lower back.Paris Hilton – A paparazzi favorite, shows off a butterfly tattoo between her shoulder blades.Elena Santarelli – Italian model and actress has a butterfly on the back of her right shoulder.Kimora Lee Simons – Fashion model and entrepreneur has a butterfly tattoo on her right foot.Drew Barrymore – A beautiful butterfly is displayed on this actress’ lower back.Dolly Parton – Famous country singer has a butterfly tattoo on her chest.Britney Spears – Singer chose her butterfly to be on her left foot.Lita Ford – Musician proudly boasts a butterfly on the right side of her buttocks.

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Greek – A new human soul becomes born every time a cocoon turns into a butterfly.Irish – Butterflies are souls belonging to the dead who are waiting for their turn to pass through purgatory.German – The dead become reborn as children in butterfly form to offer childbirth to childless parents.European – A feared omen of death. The human soul takes butterfly form.Asian – A symbol of joy as well as the essence of happiness.Native American – Believed that butterflies would carry their wishes to the heavenly Great Spirit.Aztec and Mayan – Symbol of rebirth, fertility, regeneration and happiness.

Butterflies have a strong connection to the Holocaust. Barracks for children at concentration camps were covered in butterflies. Several hundred butterflies were scratched into the walls with pebbles as if the children all knew that they were about to die but left a message of hope that their souls would continue to live on in butterfly form.

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Skull Tattoo Designs

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Skull tattoo designs are naturally instinctive. Human minds are trained to recognize faces so looking at a skull automatically allows your brain to connect it with a person. It is easy to associate skulls with death when looking into those deep empty sockets so it is no surprise that it is known around the globe as a symbol of death. However, some cultures look at them as a memento mortality or a reminder of death in a positive way.

The skull has always been viewed as a symbol of repentance, eternity and vanity in Christian culture and art so it serves as a reminder of how to live your life for the good. In medieval religious paintings it often represents the skull of Adam placed at Christ’s cross to symbolize redemption. Then of course there is the famous ancient image of a serpent crawling through the skull as s symbol of immortality and knowledge. There are also many pieces of art from the Renaissance that portrayed popes, saints and royalty all with a skull in the portrait to act as a reminder of how important it is to serve a virtuous life.

Victors would often stack skulls in public places to boast of declaration and they were even worn as a trophy or used as a drinking goblet by those who had conquered a king. Years ago in World War II, the skull was the official Nazi SS insignia so it because a symbol of fear. Bikers and other fearless groups began to use it on tattoos as a symbol to cheat death.

Ancient Pompeii brought about the idea of a crowned skull with a spirit level which is a carpenter’s tool to suggest death as being a leveler. Also, in New Guinea, skulls were always present in the rafters of medicine houses to bring awareness that death surround you in life.

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The symbolism of the skull is actually more associated with positive than negative. For example, the skull Tarot card represents change which could be good or bad. “Memento mori,” meaning, “remember you must die” is the Latin meaning behind the skull to serve as a friendly reminder to live you life to the fullest while you can.

The skull can represent victory over death or that your soul can triumph and survive death. However, at the same time it can symbolize that the wearer of the tattoo excepts their fate and they are fearless of it.

Additionally, many religious cultures use skull images. Kali, the Indian god is portrayed with skulls and on the Kabbalistic’s life tree, the skull symbolizes rebirth instead of death and it is not mourned but rather celebrated. In Mexico, the celebrations of the “Day of the Dead” use skulls as a reminder that although death is misfortune, it is also liberating.

Many gamblers will choose skull tattoo designs as a type of reversed bad luck charm to bring them good fortune. It is often paired up with dice, cards or other associated symbols.

The well known skull and crossbones has always been a popular tattoo design and although it once represented prison and death, the resurgence of romantic pirate imagery has made the skull and crossbones less frightening.

Skull tattoo designs can represent various things depending on the wearer such as protection, power, strength, overcoming death, getting though a difficult time or a change from a past life.

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Girly Skulls – Not all skulls have to look scary or serious. Many women prefer to soften the roughness of the skull with more inviting lines or even with hearts as eye sockets. They are also often accessorized with bows, jewelry and colored in feminine shades.

Sugar Skulls – Mexican culture celebrates “Day of the Dead” as a celebration and remembrance of those who have passed on through the years. Sugar skull tattoo designs are colorful and nontraditional, often decorated with flowers.

Skulls With Decorations – Skull tattoos can be decorated with themes, characters, designs or virtually anything else. Wings are very popular as well as hearts, stars and flowers.

Old School Skulls – These types of skulls tend to most often be fairly simple designs with aggressive, dark outlines and phenomenal shading. Many are meant to be scary looking however there are those that are paired up with pinup girls, hearts, military symbols and ribbons that house a special motto or a memorable date.

Nina Brush – Supermodel shows off her skull on her upper arm.Jerry Cantrel – Musician has a skull on his right shoulder.Nick Cave – Musician displays a winged skull with crossbones on his left arm.Kiera Chaplin – Model/actress boasts a skull armband on her left arm.Bill Goldberg – Wrestler wears a bleeding skull inside his right arm.Slash – Musician has a skull tattoo on his right arm.Ash Stymest – British model displays several skulls.Bruce Willis – Actor offers a skull on his left arm that is wearing a top hat.Michael Wray – Chef shows off several skulls.Chuck Zito – Actor wears a winged skull tattoo.

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Sleeve Tattoo Designs

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A steady eruption of sleeve tattoo designs seems to have emerged across the planet as people find the therapeutic addiction of tattooing. So what is a sleeve tattoo? It is basically either one large well thought out and planned massive tattoo or a collection of tattoos that has background added to them to cover either most of or all of the individual’s arm.

The term sleeve, accordingly represents the coverage of where a piece of clothing would lie. A full sleeve is tattooed from the wrist to the shoulder, a half sleeve covers from either the wrist to the elbow or the elbow to the shoulder and a quarter sleeve is generally the bicep to the shoulder.

Making the commitment to get a sleeve tattoo should not be taken lightly nor should it be a spur of the minute decision. They are time consuming, complicated and costly and do not think about rushing your tattooist. Rome was not built in a day and neither will your sleeve be. It will take several visits to the shop to get worked on. Of course, if you already have a few tattoos and you find yourself wanting a sleeve, a talented tattoo artist will be able to turn these into a sleeve for you by filling in the skin areas.

The first and most important thing you need to do is find a fabulous tattoo artist and one that you feel confident it. Filling in a sleeve takes far more talent, creativity and experience that creating a single tattoo.Dedicate to a theme. The background theme will usually correspond with tattoos already on the arm. The tattooist can usually guide you on what will look good artistically but the end decision is yours so be sure that you positive of your choice before you begin.Fill in the arm. Don’t make the mistake of wasting valuable real estate be filling in large areas that could house something symbolic.Allow your arm to heal completely between sessions. Generally the shortest time between visits will be a week and even then the artist will usually try to work on an area not freshly tattooed.

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Tribal Sleeve Tattoos – These are an extremely popular option due to the thick, dark bold lines that look great on anyone and from any distance.

Celtic Sleeve Tattoos – Celtic knot work sleeves are extremely intricate tattoos with at on of interweaving lines and great detail.

Flame Sleeve Tattoos – Generally flames will begin around the wrist area, traveling up the arm and wrap around other tattoos.

Floral Sleeve Tattoos – These types of sleeve tattoo designs are most often chosen for women however, many men will incorporate floral designs in their sleeve as well.

Scenic Sleeve Tattoos – Many people will choose to have every inch of their arm display part of a dedicated scene. These take a lot of work and a great deal of talent.

Busta Rhymes – Rapper has a tribal sleeve.Chris Carraba – Singer wears an Oriental sleeve with koi fish and Japanese symbols.Daniel Conn – Australian rugby player displays a sleeve on his right arm.Fred Durst – Musician has full sleeves on both arms.Keith Flint – Prodigy singer displays a tribal sleeve.Robert LaSardo – Actor boasts two full sleeves.Nicholas Lemons – Model wears a full sleeve and a chest plate housing bamboo, lotus, dragon and Kanji.John Otto – Limp Bizkit drummer has a half sleeve on his lower left arm.Casey Patridge – Actress has a full sleeve tattoo on her left arm.Ville Valo – HIM singer displays a full tribal sleeve.Ed Witt – Chef wears two full sleeve tattoos.

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Gecko Tattoo Designs

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Gecko tattoo designs are the most common lizards used in body art.  They are small to medium-sized lizards that are found around the world in warm climates.  There are around 2,000 gecko species and what makes them more interesting than other types of lizards are the unique, social chirping sounds that they will make with other geckos.

The history of gecko tattoo designs can be accredited to the Polynesian islands including Samoa, Easter island, Tonga, Cook islands, Tahiti, French Polynesia and of course, Hawaii.  The Polynesians believe that the gecko has supernatural powers so it is as much admired as it is feared.  Myth says that if a green gecko happens to laugh in your direction it is a sign of bad fortune and illness.  The gecko has the ability to lose its tail to escape away from danger so it also represents self-protection and the principles of letting go.

The Polynesian islands were discovered in 1500 but it wasn’t for a few more centuries that they started really receiving a lot of attention.  Even the simple word of “tattoo” is believed to have derived from this area.  There are basically two types of tattoos from these tribes being either Enata or Etua.  Enata would be a natural type of design that would symbolize your life, work, social level, island of origin, etc.

Etua is the second form of tattoo design that have a stronger spiritual or magical representation.  Specific symbols show honor to certain tribes and can even offer protection from some gods.  The most popular symbolic tattoo designs throughout Polynesian history have been the gecko, turtle, dolphin and shark.

Gecko tattoo designs continue to be a popular choice today.  Although many people choose to have them created in bright vibrant colors, there are those that still favor the whimsical abstract shapes done in bold black ink.  Despite the fact that foreigners and missionaries attempted to abolish the rich cultural tradition of tattooing, Polynesian tattoo designs have managed to have a rebirth in popularity today.

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The traditional green gecko is the most popular chosen tattoo design, occasionally portrayed with spot on its body.  Due to its large dark eyes, it is often created to be cartoon-like and even in many other colors.  Leopard geckos are also common choices and have a much more colorful and pronounced pattern while the Crested gecko is loved for its golden hue that it offers.

Gecko tattoo designs are almost always in their natural crawling position, climbing up an arm, leg, back or chest or they may be twisted into a crescent moon shape.  Often they are even depicted on a flower or stem, molding into the color.

Sometimes people choose their gecko tattoo to appear lighthearted and placed in fun settings like on the beach, surfboard or wearing sunglasses.  These symbolical little creatures can be designed to be as unique as the wearer and are the perfect addition to a larger tattoo or ideal for a discreet tattoo.  Gecko tattoo designs are very versatile and adaptable just like the creature itself.

Elisabetta Canalis – Italian model wears a gecko on her right foot.Aurelie Claudel – French model displays her gecko on her lower back.Kimberly Wyatt – Pussycat Dolls member hides her gecko right below her bikini line.David Bowie – Singer has a gecko on his ankle.Nicholas Cage – Actors shows off a gecko wearing a top hat on his back.Joe Elliot – Def Leppard singer has a gecko on his left arm.Alex O’Loughlin – Actor wears a gecko on the right side of his chest.Alissa York – Author displays a gecko on her left arm.

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An Overview Of Tattoo Designs

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The art of tattoo designs continue to emerge along with the human race development. It is not possible to decipher when the first tattoo presented itself but it is believed to be more than 30,000 years ago.

Numerous Egyptian mummies have been found in pyramids displaying wrist tattoos. The women were believed to have been longing for a child and the tattoos were meant to act as a symbol fertility. Some reports suggest that tattoos may have served a medicinal purpose as the pigment had some type of curative or healing effect. It is also interesting to note that the word tattoo comes from the Polynesian word of “ta” that means to strike something.

A mummy known by the name of Oetzi was found in 1991 that was believed to be 5,300 years old that displayed vertical and horizontal lined tattoos. At least 57 markings were found on various joints on his body. The tattoos were believed to be a form of acupuncture that was administered to be a reliever of joint pain. These are the same pressure points that are used in acupuncture today. There is, however, some speculation that the markings could have been a representation of a ritual or social status.

Russians found bodies that they believed to be more that 2,400 years old. They had therapeutic dots that lined up all along their spinal column as well as around their right ankle. It is because of tattoos like these that historians have been able to attain important information of the Neolithic ages.

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Every tattoo has its own special meaning while others have several meanings that can be a different representation to whoever is wearing it. Below is an overview of popular tattoo designs.

Tribal Tattoos – These have become one of the most popular tattoo designs for good reason, the meaningful roots run deep. Every tribe of people has their own history and culture that is represented in tribal tattoos.Animal Tattoos – Animal tattoo designs are chosen for various reasons, usually being a deep respect for the acknowledged animal. Many animals also have their own symbolic meaning.Bird Tattoos – From swallows to owls to crows, in general, bird tattoos are almost always associated with freedom.Click Image For MoreCross Tattoos – Found in various styles, religious and non-religious, all representing a strong symbolism of something, either spiritual or not. Popular crosses are Latin, Celtic, Iron, Maltese and Gothic.Eagle Tattoos – These are extremely popular in the United States with the Bald eagle representing the nation’s bird. It is a symbol of power due to the animal’s predator nature. The eagle tattoo is often depicted in the colors of the flag.Face tattoos – Portraits of human faces are often done as a tribute to a deceased loved one or as a fantasy or mythological creature.Sun Tattoos – The sun is a deep root in cultures and history of numerous civilizations. The sun has always been a giver of life and represents rejuvenation.Flower Tattoos – These types of tattoo designs are most popular with woman and symbolize a natural element or they are commonly used as an accessory design with something else.Horoscope Tattoos – Zodiac symbol tattoos are extremely popular and usually suggest a tribal form of art.Wolf Tattoo – This hauntingly beautiful animal gives the impression of a primeval savage beast or a leader.

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Through time, many people have found themselves forcibly tattooed. During the Holocaust in Nazi concentration camps, a tattoo identification system was used for inmates. Tattoos have often been used by forensic pathologists, helping them to identify mutilated and burned bodies because tattoo pigment lies deep enough in the skin that is often not destroyed.

Tattoos serve as a needed rite of passage, symbol of rank and status, spiritual and religious devotion, a decoration for bravery, marks of fertility, punishment, pledges of love, protection, convicts and slaves. The impact and symbol of a tattoo changes with different cultures and locations.

Today, people acquire tattoos for many different personal reasons such as sentimental or memorial, cosmetic, religious, criminal gangs and magical reasons. They have certainly came a long way and will continue to be a personal sign of representation for centuries to come.

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Flower Tattoo Designs

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Flower tattoo designs are one of the most popular natural subjects for tattoo art.  Flowers are colorful, beautiful and they offer individual symbolic meanings.  They can be portrayed as the elegant and graceful pieces of nature that they are all alone or paired up with virtually any design, symbol or word.

Flowers grow almost everywhere in the world, in some of the most extreme weather conditions.  They are known by all so it is no surprise that they have been used almost as long as tattoos have existed.  It is more than evident the fascination that the world has had with floral designs through the explicit showmanship on tattoos.

Hawaiian flowers are popular in tattoos because of their exotic beauty.  Many people will get them as a remembrance of what a fabulous and unforgettable time they had on the island.  Plumeria, hibiscus and orchids are among the most common picked.  Plumeria and orchids symbolize thoughtfulness, beauty, wisdom and love.  They are often combined with tribal and are almost always placed on the lower back or part of a full back piece.

For women that want to break away from traditional flowers, the lotus flower is a popular choice.  They are usually designed with brilliant color that makes them stand out and often enhanced with water, vines and symbols.  In the Hindu and Buddhist culture, the lotus represents a symbolic journey of an individual’s soul to enlightenment.  Today the lotus is a symbol of power, beauty, change, strength and the journey of the soul.

Japanese flower tattoo designs are widely used as well.  Sakura, or the cherry blossom is one of the most popular designs along with the azalea and plum blossom.

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Zinnia – A thought of an absent friendWhite Lilies – Sweetness and purityWater Lily – A pure heartTulip – EnchantmentThistle – Sternness and austeritySunflower – Symbol of sheer beautySaffron – Sexual energy and voluptuousnessRose – LoveOrange Blossom – Eternal love, marriage and chastityMorning Glory – Departure and affectionMagnolia – High-souled, nature lover and benevolenceLotus – Estranged loveLantana – Unbending and unyieldingRhododendron – DangerJasmine – HappinessHydrangea – Heartlessness and boastfulnessHoneysuckle – A bond of true loveHibiscus – Delicate beautyGeranium – RefinementPeach Blossom – CaptivityFuchsia – IntimacyFour O’clock – TimidityDogwood – ForgetfulnessDaisy – InnocenceDaffodil – Hope, unrequited love and deceitfulnessCrocus – Mirth and gladnessCornflower – Refinement and delicacyCherry Blossom – Spiritual bodyCarnation – Love and fidelityButtercup – RichesBluebell – Sorrowful regret and constancyBaby’s Breath – A pure heartAzalea – Temperance and moderationAngelica – Magic or inspiration

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Malin Akerman – Model/actress has a lotus on her back.Jessica Alba – Actress displays a flower with a ladybug on the back of her neck.Boy George – 80s singer shows of his tattoo on the back of his head.Michelle Branch – Singer/actress boasts her flower on her shoulder.Brandy – Singer has a lotus on her lower back.Nina Brosh – Supermodel hides her flower below her bikini line.Jessica Burchiago- Model displays a lotus on her lower back.Colbie Caillat – Singer tucks away a plumeria on her hip.Cher – Singer/actress boasts flowers on her butt and a black orchid below her panty line.Melanie Chisholm – Singer has a lotus on her spine.Fred Durst – Musician wears his flower on his neck.Lisa Faulkner – Actress displays a daisy on her right ankle.Melissa Gilbert – Actress also has a daisy tattoo on her ankle.Janet Jackson – Singer shows off her tattoo on the back of her neck.Kelly Ripa – Actress has a four inch flower on her left ankle.Britney Spears – Singer hides her daisy on her right toe.Christy Turlington – Supermodel wears her flower tattoo on her right ankle.

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Gothic Tattoo Designs

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It is often assumed and proclaimed that Gothic tattoo designs were developed from the cultural movement that took place in the United States and Europe in the late 1970s. However the Gothic lifestyle was inspired by Medieval times. Most people think that Goths are all fascinated with the occult and death but not all of them are into that. It is also important to note that most often they are artistic, highly creative people that usually hold an above average intelligence.

Gothic art came along with Gothic architecture as part of the Medieval movement that began in the 12th century and lasted until the 16th century with the birth of the renaissance movement. The transition that occurred from Romanesque isn’t quite precise but what is known is that the word Gothic, in reference to art often was a synonym for barbaric. Gothic sculptures were born on walls of buildings and cathedrals and religious art was made use of to offer narrative stories.

Black letter, also called Gothic Script was used through Western Europe. It also is often referred to as Old English and is, itself broken down into many categories of writing. All of which are commonly used for Gothic script tattoos.

Medieval Times gave birth to mythological stories of dragons and fairies that were reborn with the Gothic movement in the 70s and 80s. Brilliant musical artists played off these ancient stories as inspiration to create a new type of Goth that brought plenty of black clothing, leather, lace, chains and of course, Gothic tattoo designs.

Those who have adopted the Goth culture are generally imaginative and eclectic with these two attributes radiating in the presence of their chosen tattoos. One category of these tattoos is represented by fantasy images of dragons, fairies and other medieval beings. They are usually linked to the fairy-tale world.

The second category that Gothic tattoos covers are those linked to the occult. Images of Wicca, Tarot and Runes including the pentacle, athame or symbols representing the four elements are common. Occult crafts are not necessarily evil, nor do they have to have anything to do with Satanism. Many of these ancient religions were practiced until Christianity chased them underground. Gothic tattoo designs celebrate these images.

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There is a good portion of Gothic subculture that represents the darker side of romance. Death, mystical forces and esoteric subjects make for rich and detailed art forms for tattoos. Popular fantasy Gothic tattoo designs are dragons, griffons, pixies and fairies.

There are several types of people that make up the Goth culture and some are definitely affiliated with the dark side, holding deep interest in the occult. Defined, occult means “hidden” therefore, it can describe a varied assortment of things. It can be just a casual infatuation with vampires to an alternative religion practice of Wicca or white magic.

Not all goths carry an interest at all in the occult so it is ignorant to assume that they all dabble in some form of arcane religious practices. Those that are associated, generally choose images of pentagrams, vampires, druidic symbols, Wicca imagery or tarot cards for their tattoo designs.

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Since the 70s birth of Gothic subculture was so influenced by music, it only makes sense that many tattoos are from music, films and television programs. Popular popculture tattoos are band names or logos and images from Gothic films or books.

Many of the aesthetic influences over Gothic culture are traced back to Medieval Times. For example, the Egyptian ankh is common to see on a Goth. Romantic literature and architecture from the late 18th century had a heavy influence on Goth today. Black and gray tattoos are popular of Gothic cathedrals, crosses, ruined castles, Egyptian imagery and historical literary figures.

Gothic tattoo designs are as diverse as the people that make up the community. Some choose to make an explosive statement with plenty of vibrant colors while others stick with black. Gothic tattoos are as unique as the people that display them.

Eminem – Rapper displays a Gothic style bracelet tattoo.Brody Jenner – TV personality and model has a Gothic script displayed down his left side.Jude Law – Actor sports his Gothic initials on his right arm.Tupac Shakur – Late rapper had a Gothic cross tattoo with an inscription of Exodus 18:11.Ville Valo – HIM singer proudly displays the eyes of author Edgar Allan Poe on his back.

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Cross Tattoo Designs

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Cross tattoo designs are generally meant to act as a symbol of remembrance either spiritually or as a tribute to a loved one.  However, depending on the type of cross, they can also be a representation of pain, fertility, courage, loyalty, honor, etc.  A cross is full of historical and spiritual meaning and symbolism.It can be placed anywhere on the body and is an extremely versatile component to be paired up with writing, animals, wings and endless other designs.

Symbolically, a cross was used by many pagan religions that were present thousands of years before Christianity so the meaning behind cross tattoo designs are as diverse as the crosses themselves.  Aztec, Greek. Egyptian and Norse cultures used the cross as a symbol for many centuries.

There is historical documentation of Christian tattoos dating back to the 5th century.  Later, during the Crusades, the knights often displayed a cross tattoo on their arm or hand to tell that upon death they wished to have a Christian burial.  After time, with the rise of Christianity, the cross became a symbol of execution by crucifixion.  Today, Christian tattoos are a popular expression of the Christian faith.

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Latin Cross – This is a religions symbol representing Christ’s crucifixion.  It is characterized by two vertical lines intersected by perfect right angles approximately one third down from the top. They are used by Christians to boast their faith in their religion.

Celtic Cross – Similar in appearance to the Latin Cross, but there is a Celtic Knot over the area that houses the intersection of the lines.  It is simple and elegant and symbolizes never ending human life with the knot standing for a joining of spiritual and physical worlds.

St. Andrew’s Cross – These crosses are shaped like an “X”.  It is a representation to St. Andrew, a Patron Saint of Scotland.  This is a popular tribute to Scottish ancestors.

Gothic Cross – Influenced by German styles of ornate wrought iron work.  This work was prevalent during the Edwardian and Victorian Era and is a symbol of the Goth culture.  It is used to represent feelings of pain, anger and depression.

Ankh – Similar in appearance to a traditional cross, however, it displays a bent vertical line forming a loop just above the line that is horizontal.  It symbolized fertility and infinity.

Tau Cross – This cross is connected with Judaism and Paganism.  It once was a symbol of pagan god Tammuz and it also symbolized the Hammer of Thor.  It is characterized with two vertical lines that intersect at the top to form a “T” shape.

Maltese Cross – The eight points made by this cross is meant to symbolize the qualities of a knight being generosity, courage, loyalty, honor, piety, contempt of death, reverence with the church and helpfulness.  This cross is a powerful symbol for ancient times and today it is a firefighter’s protection symbol.

Iron Cross – This striking looking cross is a German symbol of triumph and courage.  It is often mistaken for the similar looking Maltese cross.

Southern Cross – This is the English name for the Crux Australis, which is a visible constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.  It is commonly known for its representation on the Rebel flag or Confederate flag.

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Justin Timberlake – This singer shows off his cross tattoo on his left arm.Robin Williams – Actor has a Celtic cross found on his right hip and another one on his right arm.Britney Spears – Singer boasts her pink and black cross on her hip.Tupac Shakur – Late rapper had a Gothic cross with the inscription of Exodus 18:11.David Gahan – Depeche Mode singer has one cross on his left arm and another one under his arm.Drew Barrymore – Actress displays her cross on her ankle.Mary J. Blige – Singer has a cross tattoo present on her right thigh.Boy George – 80s singer from the Culture Club band shows of his cross on his right shoulder.Kelly Clarkson – American Idol singer displays her small cross on her right wrist.Jenna Jameson – This beautiful adult film star proudly shows off her cross on her back.Lenny Kravitz – Musician has a cross tattoo on his arm.Eva Longoria – Gorgeous Desperate Housewives actress displays a Celtic cross on her lower back.Christian Slater – Actor has a cross on his right shoulder accompanied with two lions.

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Spider Tattoo Designs

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It takes a very unique individual to wear spider tattoo designs.  There are few people that have not been fascinated by a web at some point, regardless if the spider is feared or not.  Spiders are found everywhere on the planet and find themselves in many stories in almost every culture.  Spider tattoo designs often represent being cunning and creative and if they are trailing down on one string they are meant to be good luck and of course, due to their precise construction of their perfect webs, they are a symbol of craftiness.

Ancient Greece tells a story of Arachne, a beautiful young maiden who Athena became very jealous of because she was such a brilliant weaver.  Legend says that Athena made the young maiden’s life miserable so she died but Athena felt great remorse over the ordeal so she brought Arachne back to life as a spider so that she could spend her life weaving beautiful webs since she enjoyed weaving so much.  This story gives spider tattoo designs a representation of rebirth and reincarnation.

Native American legends tell a story of a Spider Woman that was alive long before any humans so it was her that taught people how to weave.  The spider represented a symbol of harmony, balance and fertility and is often personified as a protector of wisdom or a teacher. Native American clay carvings often offered a spider with a cross on its back which you will sometimes see in spider tattoo designs.  This symbolizes the Earth’s center and north, east, south and west.

Dwellers of Scotland tell their own tale of the spider and Robert the King that went to stay in a cave after he was defeated by the English.  Since he knew that he could not  possibly recover his kingdom, he was ready to just give up and escape.  As he sat there depressed and plotting his move, he watched a spider attempting to spin a web, although it kept falling over, it never gave up so he was inspired to keep fighting.  This offers the symbolism of a fighter that works hard for what he or she wants.

Spider tattoo designs are also a representation that sometimes books are judged by their cover.  The gigantic tarantula who is the largest in the spider family and one of the most feared, is actually relatively good-natured and will rarely bite unless it is provoked.  Then, there is the very tiny Black Widow or Australia’s Brown spider who are both so much smaller in comparison and less frightening in appearance, yet they are the most deadly and nasty.

Also, in prison and gangs, spider tattoo designs have always been quite popular as they are a representation of doing time and sometimes even offer a symbol of the length of their sentence and the seriousness of their crime.

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Although spinning a spiderweb may be an art and different spider tattoo designs hold different meanings the web generally signifies struggle and conflict.  The symbolism dates back to the white supremacy group or the time of Aryan when individuals wore web tattoo designs as a racism symbol.  Traditionally, these were worn  on the elbow, behind the ear, on the neck or back.  Today however, if you wear a spiderweb on your left elbow it does not represent racism but rather is a warning that you are armed, dangerous and enemies should keep their distance.

A spider web tattoo between your index finger and thumb signifies prison however, if you are wearing just a spider it symbolizes freedom.  This is why many prisoners will get a web on one hand while they are locked up and then get a spider on the other hand after they get out and are free.

Black Widow – This feisty little spider is the most common spider tattoo.  It is most often placed on the neck and created with a three-dimensional style.

Spider And Web – The spider and web combination can be used with any type of spider and done in color or black.  The spider may be placed on the web or crawling toward it.  This is another popular neck tattoo but is also often seen on the shoulder, back or leg.

Tarantula – These massive spiders are almost always created in color and on a body part that offers enough room that the tattoo can be large enough for great detail.  The forearm, shoulder and calve are all popular locations

Spiderwebs – The spiderweb alone is one of the most popular types of spider tattoo designs. They are usually created in black or red and placed on the elbow, shoulder, neck or between the thumb and index finger.

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Tim Armstrong – Musician wears a spiderweb on his left elbow and a spider on his neck.Charli Baltimore – Musician has a spider on her back.Cold – All band members display spider tattoo designs on their bodies.Dr Dre – Rapper has a spider with flames on one hand a web with flames on the other hand.Sean O’Haire – Wrestler shows off his black and red spiders on the insides of his arms.Coral Smith – Actress has a spider tattoo on the top of her foot.Eve – Rapper displays a Black Widow spider on her arm.

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Eagle Tattoo Designs

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Eagle tattoo designs have been worn, primarily by men in all countries and all cultures through history.  These birds are one of the oldest royal and powerful symbols.  Aside from their representation of strength and symbolic message of patriotism, they are just stunning and mysterious creatures.

Persian and Greeks believe that the eagle is sacred to the sun while the Egyptians worshiped this great bird under the name of Ahom.  It was Zeus’ sacred emblem, according to Greek mythology.

In other legends and  myths, the eagle was the official sun god and symbolized power, light, fire and water.  It represented courage and spiritual power and it was fearless.  However, if it was shown with a snake, it was a symbol of conflict. In Norse legend, eagles were associated with the god called Odin, representing light and wisdom while Aztec warriors believed that they were given their strength from this powerful bird.  Some cultures believed the eagle was the vegetation god while other cultures dressed their royalty in eagle feathers.

The eagle is the supreme ruler of air and remains one of the most popular adopted symbols of emperors, warriors and leaders on earth and in spiritual realms.  It is a symbol of superior strength and everlasting loyalty since this is a bird that mates for life.

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Since 1782, the majestic Bald eagle has been the national emblem for the United States.  It is a striking bird that is only found in North America.  Eagle tattooing has been a popular pick for freedom lovers and for those in military for thousands of years.

In the 19th century, Emperor Charlemagne used a double-headed eagle emblem with one of the heads facing in the direction of the German empire and the other head facing the Holy Roman empire.  Also, John the Evangelist suggested that the eagle represented alertness and vigilance so the emblem was adopted by the Christian crusaders to symbolize a victory of the light over darkness or, good over evil.

In addition to the already mentioned symbols of the eagle, tattoo designs of this magnificent creature can mean a few other things as well.  Since eagles are known to live in high cliffs and trees and spend their time soaring at impressive heights above the ground, they also represent strength, independence and fearlessness.

Additionally, eagles have extremely sharp vision can can spot their prey up to two miles away so eagle tattoo designs can also represent that the wearer sees everything and misses nothing.

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American Bald Eagle – In America, almost all eagle tattoo designs are of the American Bald eagle.  They are usually depicted with their wings spread wide and almost always done in color to show off their rich brown feathers, pure white head and striking golden eyes.  These eagles are often tattooed along side an American flag.

Eagle And Snake – Depending on the size of the eagle, many have no predators with the exception of the snake that will steal their eggs or prey on the young.  A struggle or conflict is often symbolized by an eagle and snake tattoo combination.

Harpy Eagle – Known for its speed, strength and capability of attacking quite large mammals, this eagle was named after Greek mythological harpies who would carry the spirits of the dead to Hades.  These make more mysterious types of eagle tattoo designs.

Memorial Eagles – These are along the lines of patriotic tattoos.  They are worn as a remembrance of someone, primarily in the military or for firefighters or police officers that died serving their community or country.

Tribal Eagles – With the explosion of popularity of tribal tattoo designs, it is no surprise that the eagle is a top pick with their bold, curved lines.

Christian Kane – Actor wears an eagle on his right ankle with wings that stretch up to his knee.King Alexander – Royalty displayed a eagle tattoo across his shoulder.Jeremy Shockey – NFL player has an eagle tattoo on his right upper arm.

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Anchor Tattoo Designs

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Anchor tattoo designs are one of the oldest symbols that has managed to hold its meaning through the years. Most commonly in today’s society, the bearer of the anchor tattoo is a seafarer of some sort, usuallly a member of the Marines, Navy or Coast Guard. However, it is not uncommon to see individuals that just simply love the water or enjoy sailing to wear anchor tattoo designs.

In maritime lore, a seaman that wore an anchor tattoo meant that he was very experienced and had successfully sailed the Atlantic Ocean, this made him quite trustworthy and very popular. Also, in more ancient times, to the Mediterranean seafarers, anchors were a representation of the sea gods.

Although anchor tattoo designs are often created by themselves as a solitary tattoo, it is very common for them to also be combined with other types of symbols that elaborate their meanings into something more specific such as lifesavers, ships, names of ports or creatures of the sea. Regardless of what other elements that anchor tattoo designs are created with, they are generally meant to symbolize security and stability in the physical world as well as steadfastness, trust and hope in the spiritual world.

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The most common type of anchor tattoo designs are those that are incorporated with the symbol of a cross which is pretty much all of then and really in the eye of the beholder and believer. Ancient Romans looked at the anchor as a lifesaver since it would protect its ship from being crushed by rocks during storms so the anchor came to symbolize protection. Christians say the anchor saves spiritual lives. They believed that the anchor is a sign of hope based on the life Christ, his teachings and his death.

The traditional cross anchor appears in a few different forms. One of the variations incorporates three crosses. These types of anchor tattoo designs are meant to symbolize either the Holy Trinity or the three crosses associated with Calvary.

As a nautical tattoo, the anchor represents a steady course through storms or a secure harbor that is protected from turbulence. An anchor symbol also served as a religious emblem for ancient Roman Christians as a disguised cross. It looked like an anchor however, to the Christians it was a cross. The anchor as a religious type of icon can be traced back to very early Christendom when such images were considered pagan and forbidden.

The cross anchor is also often referred to as St. Clement’s cross who was a leader in the early Roman church. Legend states that an emperor imprisoned him and since he was know to perform types of miracles while he was in jail, he received the death sentence. Executioners tossed him into the depths of the Black Sea, attached to an anchor. This is how be became the saint of mariners and anchor smiths.

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Military Anchors – Today, these are the most popular types of anchor tattoo designs. They are usually a simple anchor with Navy or Marines scripted through it.Tribute Anchors – These types of anchor tattoo designs are any type of anchor with a loved one’s name incorporated into it.Couple’s Anchors – Since the anchor represents stability it is common to see couples getting small matching anchor tattoos as sign of togetherness instead of getting each others name.Tribal Anchors – For those that choose to have a simple representation of an anchor without taking up a lot of space or having great detail, tribal anchor tattoo designs are idea, created with simple black, bold lines.Anchors With Other Elements – Anchor tattoo designs are commonly created with other symbolic elements such as water, ships, fish, sharks, birds, etc.Kelly Osborne – Ozzy’s daughter has an anchor tattoo on her left forearm.Kate Moss – Supermodel wears her anchor on her right wrist.Amy Winehouse – Singer displays an anchor tattoo on her stomach.Winston Churchill – World War II politician had an anchor tattoo on his arm.

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Celtic Tattoo Designs

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Celtic tattoo designs have a deep rooted history.  They were always a traditional site on Celtic warriors who wore their tattoos to act as a means of intimidation for their enemies.  To battle with the Celts was considered the highest honor as their bravery was unmatchable.  Warriors were known to battle completely bare chested which further reinforced their intimidation stance.

To perform these tattoos, the Woad plant was used, a hardy plant that is native to the British Isles and Northern Europe.  The Woad plant acts as a source of an indigo blue die.  The leaves from the plant were dried, boiled, strained and then boiled again to create a potent end result.  The potion was then tapped with needle-like implements into the skin which forced the stain to seep under layers of skin, creating Celtic tattoo designs.

Celtic symbols appeared everywhere on the body and the famous Celtic knot was worn proudly on the chest or arms to be visible to their opponents.  Animals were also quite symbolic to the Celts and showed up frequently in designs.

The first four themes of the primary circles represent four elements being either earth, air, fire and water, or four directions being North, East, South and West or four seasons being winter, spring, summer and fall.  The fifth element of the inner circle is the unified power that joins the four elements together.  The five-fold symbol is also often used as a personal mandala so the meanings could be endless.

Honor, balance, transition, unity, faith, ascension, life, temperance, navigation and hope are all keywords used to describe Celtic cross designs.  The symbolism indicates the human desire to experience life’s mysteries.  Self, nature, wisdom and God are the four ways to ascension.  It also represents a meeting place for Divine energy and navigation to lead one through a spiritual sea.  The added element of a circle around the Celtic cross offers a meaning of totality, unification, inclusion and wholeness.

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These are powerful symbolic Celtic tattoo designs.  They represent a higher, stronger, power, possessing human traits yet they are immortal.

Epona – Mother horse goddess to the Earth.  She served as the guardian for new life, including babies and crops.Cernunnos – Also referred to as the Horned One, this Celtic god sported stag antlers on top of his head.  He was called upon to ask for favorable hunting conditions and is a popular symbol for hunters.Triple Mother Goddess – It took three feminine forces to create the Triple Mother.  The number three holds a mystical significance with the Celts.  She is loaded with wielding power over wind, light and time.Taranis – The thunder god or god of the heavens is represented by this thunderbolt tattoo.  Taranis had a duel nature and when provoked he had the ability to bring fury with the sky to those who needed to be punished.

Celtic knot tattoos are the most recognized symbol of Celtic history.  When looking at these knots you cannot see an end or a beginning reminding you of timeless nature.  It represents an infinite circle of birth as well as rebirth in eternal and physical realms.  There are various types of Celtic knots but the trinity knot is the most common with its three corners that can symbolize Father, Son and the Holy Spirit or mind, spirit and body.

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Celtic tattoo designs represented by animals hold a lot of symbolic power as well as fascination.

Celtic Bull – Symbolizes an uncompromising strong will but it is also considered a virile sign to men and fertility for women.Celtic Butterfly – This mystical creature represents inspiration, transformation and rebirth.Celtic Cat – Silent, mysterious and stoic qualities are meanings behind these tattoos.Celtic Dolphin – These tattoos symbolize intelligence, good luck and friendship.  The dolphin’s cleverness combined with its approachability makes the dolphin highly respected in Celt history.Celtic Griffins – A symbol of duality due to its part eagle, part lion characteristics represents gentleness, justice and nobility.David Gahan – Depeche Mode singer has a green Celtic cross on his left arm.Eva Longoria – Actress displays her Celtic cross on her lower back.Melanie C – Spice Girls member has a Celtic band tattoo.Robin Williams – Actor shows off his Celtic cross on his right hip.Jessica Lang – Actress boasts her Celtic knot on her left wrist.

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Tattoo Designs For Women

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Although some may assume that tattoo designs for women are part of a new craze and there are those that believe that a woman should not mark up her body, it is a fact that women were getting tattoos long before men. What was once a taboo act that was looked upon as an act of rebellion has now become a socially acceptable form of self-expression. Women all over the world are able to now use their bodies as an open canvas. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that some of the most beautiful and famous women proudly put their ink on display.

A few of the earliest examples of tattooing on women are Egyptian mummies. Small bronze implements were also found in tombs that were believed to be tattooing instruments dated to 1,450 B.C. Of course, the three famous female mummies from 2,000 B.C., display the most intriguing permanent marks that have been found.

Two of the women were believed to be dancing girls and one, Amunet, was a high-priestess. There seems to be a great deal of controversy over their tattoos. Some believe that they were marks of prostitutes to protect the women against disease and others believe they played a therapeutic role during difficult pregnancy and child birth. This idea has been adopted due to the distinct distribution pattern around the abdomen and on top of the breasts and thighs. This explains why the act of tattooing was primarily a female custom.

Most of the tattoos were diamond, dotted patterns by black or very dark pigment. Although it seems that in other cultures, brighter colors were used.

Of course, the wars brought an explosion of popularity of tattoos for men but it took awhile for it be acceptable for women to do the same. Many older women now are getting tattoos stating that they wish they would have started many years ago but didn’t want to deal with the frown of society. Lawyers, doctors and teachers are all flocking to studios to seek out tattooists to put something on themselves that makes them unique. A good majority of women wear their tattoo in a place that few people even know that they have one.

Women are now able to reassert control over their bodies thanks to a rise from the danger zone. They are no longer looked down upon as harshly from most and it offers them a power that was not present for a very long time.

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Lower Back – This is a feminine, sexy location for a tattoo. It can be hidden or showed off depending on clothing.Inside of Wrist – Easily covered with a watch or sleeve and it is a perfect spot to house something symbolic that the wearer can actually see at any given time.Feet – The popularity of foot tattoos has exploded and who doesn’t love the look of a tattoo on a bare foot in the summer.Ankle – Tattoos seem to just look feminine on the ankle. Ankle bands are also commonly chosen.Back of Neck – One of the less painful places and the neck is an exotic and mysterious place for a tattoo. It offers a surprise element when the hair is pulled up.Left Shoulder – On the back, in the left shoulder region is a common, traditional area.Upper Arm – One of the original picked spots for tattoos.Panty Line – A very sexy, top-picked location to tuck away tattoo designs for women.Hip – The most popular spot for those that have to keep their ink hidden.Calves – Generally a tattoo on a woman’s calve is quite bold, larger in size and worn by someone not afraid to flaunt it.

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Butterfly Tattoos – Symbolic, feminine and beautiful, it is no surprise these mystical creatures are picked by women of all ages.Star Tattoos – Shooting stars or a moon and star combination are very popular.Flower Tattoos – Flowers are naturally beautiful and each one brings its own symbolic meaning. They are perfect for a solitary tattoo or to pair up with something else.Dragonfly Tattoos – These are not ordinary insects. Dragonflies are representative, magical and offer mystery.Heart Tattoos – The symbol of romance and love or the broken heart, are all reason that heart tattoos are a popular choice.Tribal Tattoos – For a long time only men enjoyed tribal tattoos, however, now they are equally as adored by women.Wings Tattoos – Angel wings have become quite popular and are stunning in a bikini or an open back dress.Dolphin Tattoos – These intellectual animals of the sea are loved by women for many reason.Skull Tattoos – Some women go for the traditional looking skull while others will have a girly one created to play off their feminine side.Zodiac Tattoos – Many women are true to their astrological sign and want to show it off in the form of a tattoo.Angelina Jolie – Actress displays many words and sayings in both English and Arabic as well as a Latin cross, Buddhist Sanskrit symbol, Asian tiger, dragon and tribal.Megan Fox – Actress wears the name Brian, tribal, Marilyn Monroe, a line from Shakespeare and a star on an ankle. She plans on completing a sleeve in the near future.Adriana Lima – Victoria’s Secret Angel, supermodel of Brazil and a spokes model for Maybelline has a tribal tattoo on her ankle with a star.Christina Aguilera – Singer and songwriter has a few tattooed words, Hebrew letters, flower and Mickey Mouse.Heidi Klum – Supermodel, television host, artist, fashion designer and has been a spokes model for everyone who matters wears the name of her husband Seal on her tattoo.Rihanna – Singer and former model has a music note, Pisces symbol, star, Roman numerals, a Sanskrit prayer and a few other words.Jessica Alba – Actress wears a Sanskrit word for lotus, a ladybug with a daisy and a bow.Malin Akerman – Supermodel, actress and singer has a lotus, Tibetan Sanskrit and the initial of her husband, Z for ZinconeCharlize Theron – Actress, producer and former model displays a flower and a koi fish.Lindsay Lohan – Actress and model wears a few symbolic quotes, scattered words, a star and a heart.

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Tribal Tattoo Designs

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Tribal tattoo designs have enjoyed a recent emerge and renaissance of popularity in recent years, however, they are ancient and powerful, important symbols in many cultures.  Even after being suppressed and outlawed for a couple of centuries, this traditional art is being revived by native people of every tribe. Early cave paintings root the origin of tribal art and proof that tattooing took  place has been obtained through discoveries of frozen mummified remains displaying body tattoos.  Tribal tattoo designs are believed to have started appearing over 30,000 years ago.

Aztec tribal tattoo designs offer striking patterns.  The Aztec tribe lived from the 13th century until the 16th century in what we know now as Mexico.  Religion and gods were important to their culture and everyone was tattooed, even the children.  Tattoos could differentiate different tribes and were almost always acquired during rituals to honor a god.  Aztec designs almost always include a sun, Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, an Aztec calender, eagle cross or Mexican skulls.

Hawaiian culture includes Samoan and Maori communities that are rich in tattoo tradition.  The Kakau practice allowed for personal identification, tailsman, adornment or a mourning symbol for a loved one.  Traditionally they were black, made of sugarcane juice and kukui nuts, applied by claws and bird beaks connected to a branch.  Common Hawaiian tribal tattoo designs include lizards, sea turtles, dolphins, arrows and tropical flowers.  On men they are typically located on arms, face torso and legs and females display these tattoos on the wrist, tongue and hands.

The history of the Celts dates back to the 2nd century, living in tribes and roaming Western territories of Europe.  The Celtic cross, designed by Saint Patrick is the most popular design.  Celtic butterflies symbolize rebirth while Celtic knots represent eternity.  The Celtic trinity knot has three corners that symbolizes Christian, Pagan and New Age.  Another popular design is the Celtic shamrock that is the symbol of the Holy Trinity for the Irish Catholic church, not to be confused with the beloved four-leafed clover with each clover representing hope, faith, love and luck.  The Celtic heart tattoo represents a union of souls and a Claddagh ring stands for love, friendship and loyalty.  Other traditional Celtic tribal tattoo designs include dogs, eagles, horses, ravens, bears, dragons and lions.

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Chinese symbols are extremely popular tribal art tattoos.  Always be sure that you get the translation for your tattoo from a source that you trust.  There are around 47,000 Hanzi characters, however, only about 4,000 are used in tattoos.  Simplified Chinese is also commonly used which uses less strokes than traditional Chinese symbols.

The most popular symbols used for Chinese tribal tattoo designs are love, faith, hope, strength, peace, sister, family, zen, courage, water, dragon, happiness, angel and friendship.  The Chinese tiger is also commonly used in tribal art as it is the third animal in the Chinese zodiac representing courage, self-reliance, friendship, hopefulness and vanity.  Yin Yang and phoenix tattoos are popular as well.

There are a few important symbols that find themselves commonly used in tribal tattoo designs.

Tribal Dragon – This mythological creature holds a different meaning for everyone.  In Asia they are benevolent, Japan dragons denote sun, air, rain and fertility and the Western dragon is evil and symbolizes power.

Tribal Phoenix – This long-lived mythological bird arises reborn from his own ashes and acts as a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

Tribal Bear – Either a bear or only a paw is used as reminiscent of Native American tattoos representing a protective animal spirit.

Tribal Cross – A representative symbol appearing around the world.  It expresses religion or spirituality.
Tribal Sun – People have forever worshiped the glowing sphere so it symbolizes fertility and life.
Tribal Tiger – Appearing in Asian tribal tattoo designs, it is a symbol for beauty, power and cruelty.

Pamela Anderson – Actress/model/blonde bombshell shows off her tribal on her lower back.Corey Taylor – Singer for Slipknot has several tribal tattoo designs on his body.Mike Tyson – A large tribal is worn on this boxer’s face.Boy George – Culture Club group member portrays a tribal on his neck with a “G” in it.Mel B – Spice Girls group member shows off several tribal designs on her body.Sandra Bullock – This well known actress shows off a tribal heart below her navel.Anthony Kiedis – Red Hot Chile Peppers’ singer displays several tribal tattoos on his body.Manny Ramirez – This baseball player has a tribal found on his left shoulder.

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