Wanting the experience of tattooing but not be able to find the right subject matter is a common problem. You want to find something which represents your character (good or bad aspects), which will ring true for years to come. You also need something which is aesthetically pleasing and suits you. Plus, you definitely don’t want to choose something which is strongly associated with a current partner or lover – tattoos are permanent but sadly most relationships aren’t. Of course, commemorating a loved one who has passed away is a beautiful thing and very commonly seen in the tattoo world. Parents who have lost their children often honour their memory with a tattoo of an angel or cherub. Angels can also be a symbol of religious devotion, but not necessarily any particular belief system. An angel may also be a symbol that you are looking out for someone or that they are looking out for you – a guardian angel.

One of my favourite tattoo ideas (which I hope to get inked in the next couple of months!) is the lotus flower, because of its beauty and abundant symbolism. The lotus flower has importance to Buddhism and Hinduism, and even Chinese and Japanese deities are often pictured sitting on lotuses. Its petals represent expanding of the soul, while its growth from muddy waters shows spiritual promise. In Buddhism, it represents the purity of the body and the mind – floating above the dark waters of desire and worldly attachment. Another meaning behind the lotus is hidden potential – the lotus’ roots are extensive, but unseen below the water – a tattoo of a lotus, especially one with the roots shown indicates that there’s a lot more going on that meets the eye

Dragons are a very popular tattoo idea and people get them for a variety of reasons. With the exception of the Chinese dragon, which is seen as benevolent and wise, most western interpretations paint them as malevolent creatures. A curled up dragon in its cave or lair can be seen as a symbol of hording wealth, hiding from a terrifying world, or of great power waiting to be unleashed. A flying dragon is considered a symbol of freedom and power. Overall, dragons are considered icons of strength, toughness, resilience and longevity. Whether they are tattooed to commemorate a hard time in someone’s life, a desire to become stronger or the wish to never be weak again is entirely up to the individual. Just make sure you know what you’re getting – a Chinese dragon, generally associated with the emperor/royalty has 4 or 5 claws, while the Japanese dragon which is commonly associated with rainfall and rivers has 3 claws.

I see a lot of people with rose tattoos and I wonder if they know the rich symbolism behind them. Roses have traditionally symbolised love and have been associated with several goddesses, notably Aphrodite and the Egyptian deity Isis. The phrase “sub rosa” originates from the roman practise of placing a rose on the door of rooms where secret business was being discussed. There are also a lot of Christian connotations – the petals may represent the 5 wounds of Christ, a red rose is associated with the blood of Christ and roses in general are linked to the Virgin Mary. Red roses are the symbol of socialism or social democracy, while The White Rose was a peaceful resistance group during the Nazi regime in Germany.