Choosing a tattoo is an important task that requires a lot of thought. After all, your tattoo is going to stay on your skin forever. There are a lot of considerations to make when it comes to choosing a tattoo, but one of the main things that people consider is the meaning behind the tattoo.
There are a lot of tattoos out there with different meanings, such as the star tattoo or dolphin tattoo. In this article, we’re going to go into some of the hidden meanings behind different tattoos.
- SemiColon
The semicolon is a grammatical device that will combine two sentences that are complete together. These two sentences are usually related. In essence, it means that the sentence gives the illusion that it’s over, but in reality it’s not entirely finished.
People who get the semicolon tattoo usually aren’t getting it to share their intense love of grammar, however. The semicolon tattoo actually originates from something called Project Semicolon. This is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of things like self harm, suicide an mental illness. The semicolon suggests that something could have ended, but it didn’t. It represents continuing onwards in the face of mental illness, which is a very profound meaning.
- Teardrop
Teardrop tattoos hold a number of meanings, but they’re actually commonly used among prisoners. At its most basic level, the teardrop tattoo can be associated with death. It can also represent that the person who has the tattoo has killed someone. In some places, the teardrop tattoo can also represent losing a friend, and if the person has shaded the tattoo in it may mean that the wearer has avenged the loss of the friend. It’s also a common symbol of mourning.
- Swallow
The history of the swallow tattoo actually goes back to sailors! If a sailor had a swallow tattoo it usually represented their sailing experience. Some ideas suggest that it is believed that if a sailor happens to drown, the swallow may carry the soul towards heaven, so the swallow is there to symbolize that.
- Anchor
A lot of members of the US Navy will usually get an anchor tattoo if they have crossed the Atlantic Ocean. It has more meanings than that, however. The anchor tattoo can also symbolize hope, calmness and salvation. It also signifies strong foundations and stability for sailors, too.
- Cat
You’ve probably heard before that cats can be a symbol of luck for many people. Well, this is one of the main reasons why people actually get cat tattoos! The cat can also represent life following death, and can symbolize mystery and intelligence. It was also a symbol of thievery in prisons – a person that performed a theft alone would have a single cat, whereas if they acted with numerous other people there would be more than one cat on the tattoo.
- Dolphin
A dolphin tattoo is pretty popular, but it has quite the hidden meaning! Dolphins can often represent having two sides of something, since they exist both in the water and in the air. They are part of two different worlds, and thus they represent exactly that.
- Butterfly
Many people get butterfly tattoos, but not everyone considers the fact that the butterfly represents the soul in a decent amount of cultures across the globe. They can also represent change.
- Birds
Birds represent having numerous choices. Since they have wings to fly, birds can also represent hope and freedom too.
- Dragons
There are a number of meanings behind dragons. For starters, dragons are fierce and powerful, so they may be seen to be symbols of strength. They can also represent creativity and hope. There are some negative connotations too, since the dragon can also be associated with jealousy and rage.
- Stars
Stars are incredibly popular tattoos since they can look fantastic on the skin, but they also hold a lot of meaning. They can represent truth and nature. In addition to that, they can also represent guidance, since sailors would often use stars as a way to find their way home when they were out at sea. Stars can also represent light in the darkness, so they can be a sign of hope.
Conclusion
So the next time that you get some ink done, you should take some time to think about the meaning behind it! Tattoos can have a number of different meanings, and so what you choose to put on your skin can also relay a lot of information to people that see your tattoos. What does your tattoo mean to you?