Frog Tattoos – a Fun and Popular Choice

Frogs are very popular in our society and frog tattoos can be cute, quirky, colorful, and fun choices, but did you know that frogs also have a long place in history amongst many different cultures with a variety of important meanings? In some cultures a frog represents good luck, while in others they are considered sacred. Frogs in nature come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Shades of yellow, red, blue, bright orange, green and brown, as well as spotted frogs are found in the more than 5,000 species on our planet.  There are many fascinating aspects to consider when choosing a frog tattoo.

In the totem pole tradition, a frog represents metamorphosis and regeneration. In the coastal tribes of North America, frogs represent prosperity and wealth, and in Native American tribes, a frog symbolizes the Great Rainmaker. In Scotland and Western Cultures, frogs are good luck symbols, for the Greeks and Romans, frogs stood for fertility and harmony, in Japan, they mean energy and perseverance, in China, frogs represent prosperity in healing and business, and in Borneo – they symbolize the Creator of Men. The Haida consider frogs to bring harmony and keep balance, and in ancient Egypt, they represent life and fertility, and symbolize the protector on the journey to the afterlife.

Let’s also consider some of the many instances of frogs amongst our folklore, fairy tales, movies, literature, tv, comic books, and video games:

* Kermit The Frog
* The fairy tale The Frog Prince
* The video game Frogger
* Tv show Futurama – Hypnotoad
* Marvel Comics – King Solomon’s Frogs
* Harry Potter – Trevor
* Looney Tunes – Michigan J Frog
* Wind In The Willows children’s book – Mr. Toad
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – The Punk Frogs
* The film Tijuana Toads
* The animated series Hoppity Hooper
* Honey Smacks Cereal – Dig’em
* Battletoads
* The Kine Saga – Bufo and Bunda
* The Adventures of Victor and Max – Carden

There are many others, but this will begin to remind you of the great variety of frogs throughout our own culture and those around the world. Another aspect to consider is that some species are poisonous, adding a dangerous element to your selection of frog tattoos. It might say that you are both handsome or beautiful, interesting, but untouchable.

Searching for frog tattoos will give you a great many styles to choose from and you can personalize them with colors, designs, and meanings to suit you. They can be silly or serious, cartoon-like, stylized or realistic. Frog tattoos are a wonderful way to represent the natural world in all of its brilliance and color. You can take the frog shape, then add your own intricate designs and color patterns. Adding vines, water lilies, and flowers are another great way to enhance the design of frog tattoos. You have a wonderfully wide selection when considering frog tattoos and they can be made small enough to have inked on just about any part of your body.

Egyptian Tattoo Designs – Symbols from an Ancient Culture

The popularity of Egyptian tattoo designs is unmistakable. They are popular around the world and this popularity is owing to their inherent beauty, the fact that the history of Egypt dates back thousands of years and that their accomplishments are still unparalleled, and their know-how unrivalled. Many of the symbols from ancient Egypt are instantly recognizable by nearly anyone the world over.

Egyptian tattoo designs have a wide range. There are ones that are very specific copies from ancient Egypt, and there is an ever-growing database of images that are derived from the original designs. Form and color, detail and size are all elements that are interesting to play with. You can design something unique, but which is still unmistakably Egyptian in origin. This is thanks to the powerful imagery the Egyptians had and the way that Egyptian history and design has permeated our own culture. Seeing Egyptian images is very common in every day life, we are taught their history, we travel to their lands to take in the magnificence of their temples, pyramids, and Sphinx. Movies, books, art, and documentaries on ancient Egypt abound and are amongst the most enduring in popularity.

In addition, there are powerful, symbolic meanings behind the images. What we know and recognize as hieroglyphs was actually their written language. Ancient Egypt has a lasting mystique and has permanently captured our imaginations and sense of wonder.

Finding an Egyptian image that speaks to you is important. Knowing the representation of the different Egyptian tattoo designs is important. You will be asked about the meaning behind the image, and you don’t want to just say you liked the look of it. You want to understand what it stands for, and then choose something that suits you, appeals to you, and speaks to a part of your personality or goals for getting the tattoo.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* Ankh – the Egyptian symbol of life or immortality
* The Eye of Ra/The Eye of Horus – depending on which way it’s facing, it can mean the sun and protection or the moon and protection
* Scarabs – a sacred image of renewal
* Isis – Egyptian goddess of fertility
* Osiris – the Egyptian king and judge of the dead
* Bastet – cat/lioness solar and war goddess, defender of the pharoah
* Amun/Amun Ra – the Egyptian sun god
* The Mask of Tutankhamen
* Phoenix – consumed itself by fire, later rose from the ashes
* Various birds and cobras

The popularity of Egyptian tattoo designs is one that will endure. Just as humanity’s fascination with their rich history, monuments, art, mummies, tombs, excavations, and stories continues, so will movies, books, documentaries and yes…tattoos. Having Egyptian tattoo designs can tie you to this ancient culture and speak to ancient, powerful meanings. The ancient Egyptians themselves were proud wearers of tattoos for body ornamentation, as well as religious and social reasons. You can choose your own.

Choosing a Shooting Star Tattoo

When you are choosing a shooting star tattoo, you are tapping into one of the most ancient symbols humanity has focused on. Since the beginning of time, human beings have been gazing up at the stars in wonderment. We searched the heavens for meaning and guidance, fixed on stars to guide our travels, constellations guided the building of magnificent structures, and our horoscopes have been told based on the constellations associated with our birth. In biblical times the appearance of the star of Bethlehem pointed the way to Jesus for the wise men. Stars have always been significant symbols in our history.

A shooting star tattoo can represent enlightenment and new beginnings. Shooting stars can also be symbolic – a way to express the desire to reach one’s ultimate destiny. It also symbolizes the idea of wishing upon a star, of looking for positive change in one’s life, and hoping for the fulfillment of one’s most cherished dreams. Ships guided their courses by a star, hoping to set a safe course and to find their way home. For many people, seeing a shooting star can be a sign of good luck.

If you have considered selecting a shooting star tattoo, there are many to choose from. These tattoos can be attractively placed in various areas of the body such as arms, shoulders, along side of the ribcage, behind the ears, the back of the neck, ankles, feet or wrists. A shooting star tattoo is a popular choice for both men and women. It is way of expressing what you believe about yourself, what you want for your life, and what you aspire to. A shooting star tattoo can also represent a particularly meaning time in your life, one that was amazing, or that you don’t expect to come around again.

When you are working with your tattoo artist, don’t just check out the designs on paper, also have it drawn on the part of your body you intend the tattoo to go. That way you can see how the tattoo will appear with the curve of the area, whether it will be visible enough, whether you want the outlines to be thicker, etc. You can choose three or five stars, or a specific number that has special meaning for you. You can depict a meteor shower, have them in a starburst, or a have a trail of stars following your name. Shooting stars can also take on a military significance or indicate a desire to explore space. Typically shooting star tattoos start with a larger star followed by progressively small stars.

Shooting stars have always, and will always, capture human imagination, hope and wonder. Choosing a shooting star tattoo can be just as personal as any other tattoo, with its size, placement, color and intricacy. Like people, the designs are always evolving. There are many generic styles out there, but personalizing it is a great way to make it special and unique, just like you.