Throughout the ages, wings have been symbolic of man’s desire to soar; to rise above earthly limitations and fly free and unencumbered into his own potential. Wing tattoos represent different things to different people, but no matter what form they take or where on the body they reside, they are a soulful testament to freedom and liberation.

photo by Flickr user The Flooz

Angel wings are often included in some way as part of a memorial tattoo for a lost loved one, assisting the spirit on its way to the afterlife. Freedom from the bonds of the body is represented here, as well as the journey to Heaven. The soul is let loose to continue it’s journey, weightless and undaunted by physical laws and obstacles, wherever it is going according to one’s personal beliefs.

Butterflies are known for their complete physical metamorphosis inside of their silky cocoons. Once inside, the caterpillar basically disintegrates, turning into mush and cellular goo, and from that goo a delicate and beautiful butterfly is formed, though no one is quite sure how. Butterfly tattoos and butterfly wings symbolize the profound transformation that we as humans undergo throughout our lives, or more specifically, at certain times in our lives, unique to each persons experience.

photo by Flickr user Leah Makin Photography

A pair of wings tattooed on one’s back has become a fairly common choice for a tattoo in recent years. These wings take various forms. From small to full back sized, the details vary tremendously. The wings are often fluffy, dainty feathers, such as one would anticipate seeing on the back of an angel. Other people choose tattered wings that are losing feathers, or bloody wings that look as if they have been through a hard fight. Skeletal wings and even robotic wings are yet another take on this recurring theme.

Once again, these tattoos have specific, personal meaning to those who have chosen them. The torn, tattered and bloody wings could be representative of a very difficult journey, of overcoming extremely painful situations in ones life and rising up above it, despite the hurt. We can only presume what the true meanings behind each piece are. Tattoos offer us the chance to be inquisitive as we wonder what life experiences, thoughts and emotions entice a particular design.

Wings bridge the gap between the rocky earth and the endless sky, between being human and evolving as spirit, and as such, offer a sense of peace and ultimate freedom from what binds us. Whether they are the wings of angels, eagles, dragons or fairies, wings have been and will continue to be a popular choice for a tattoo because of the depth of meaning and symbolism that they represent and their openness to interpretation for those who have decided to ‘grow’ them.

We all begin our ‘life with tattoos’ differently. Some of us go all out right from the start, big and bold with no regrets. Others are more conservative, settling on a small tattoo in some inconspicuous place, such as the shoulder blade, ankle, lower back, or below the bikini line.  At some point, often immediately after that fateful first tattoo, the decision is made that yes, we would consider doing it again, or no, one tattoo is enough.

Many people are happy with their one and only tattoo. It was a unique experience, and they feel like they are complete with it. On the other hand, some people enjoy the sensation of getting a tattoo and the result of having it so much that they will often begin planning their next tattoo before the scabs heal on the one they just received.

The second tattoo is almost always bigger than the first, and usually in a location that is more noticeable. The back is a good place for a larger tattoo that can either be seen or covered relatively easily. The upper arm begins to be viewed as a good canvas for a large, prominent design. After all, we reason, we can cover it up if we have to. As the attitude that tattoos must be concealable begins to wane, unless we have specific reasons for needing to cover them, the ‘hide-ability’ factor seems to matter less and less with each tattoo that we get.

Even so, moving down to the forearm seems to be a defining moment for many people, because tattoos in this location are visible all of the time in casual clothing. Unless you are wearing long sleeves in the middle of the summer, virtually everywhere you go people will see your ink. That’s not a problem for most people, most of the time, but if your job prohibits visible tattoos, lower down on the arm might not be the best location for one.

For some people, at least, the transition to the forearm pretty much means that there’s no going back. They are who they are, they like what they like, and the rest of the world can just… Well, I’m sure you get the idea.

There is something seductive about being openly tattooed and completely unconcerned about it.  You become someone that draws the eyes of just about everyone who passes you, instead of just being a person walking through a store or attending a school play. Peoples eyes automatically look towards your tattoos, without them even realizing that they are staring. You get used to it, after a while. Tattoos challenge the wearer to be more tolerant of the gazes of others just as they challenge the observer to be less judgmental towards the person who has them.

photo by Flickr user iwillnotsuccumb

There seems to be some confusion amongst tattoo aficionados in regards to the distinction between swallows and sparrows. Most people, even some tattoo artists, tend to use the terms interchangeably. It is very common for someone to come into a tattoo shop asking for a sparrow tattoo when what they are really wanting is a swallow. Swallow tattoos are making a huge comeback, and they are one of the most popular tattoo designs being requested today. However, many people still mistakenly refer to them as sparrows.

In nature, the two species of birds are very different, and look nothing like each other. A sparrow is a small bird with a gray underbelly and brown and black feathers with accents of white. It has a short grey beak and rather stubby tail feathers. The swallow, however, has delicately forked tail feathers that are long and graceful-looking, and it boasts beautiful blue, bright yellow and rusty red colored feathers. Typically, what people refer to as sparrows are actually swallows.

sparrow photo by Flickr user foxypar4

Historically, sailors would get tattoos as symbols of their accomplishments, in honor of loved ones, or memorializing someone after death. In those days, setting sail on a long sea voyage was very dangerous, as they were literally sailing off into uncharted territories. The sailors did not have the immense technological advantages that today’s sailors posses, and leaving their families behind offered no promise of return. Swallows were a common tattoo for sea bound young men because of the many things that they represented at that time.

Swallows are well known for returning to their original nesting place every year without fail. They always return home. Having a swallow tattooed on one’s body was symbolic of the sailors promise to himself and to his family that he would return home, too. Swallows were also tattooed upon the bodies of sailors as bragging rights for the distances that one had sailed. It is said that for every 5000 nautical miles sailed, a sailor would receive one swallow on his chest. The more swallows, the more experienced and seasoned the sailor. Swallows, as a whole, symbolize good luck, accomplishment and returning home safely from a long and perilous voyage.

barn swallow photo by Flickr user scubapup

Both swallows and sparrows are monogamous birds. They keep the same mate until they or their mate dies. It is fair to say that both species, as tattoos, could symbolize loyalty and true love, and these are some of the main reasons why many people opt for two swallows rather than one, as a gesture of the promise of fidelity. These swallows often have banners clenched in their beaks that reflect personal sentiments or names.

Tattoos, being such an individual art form, can be shaded, colored, customized and personalized to suit the person who wears them. The coloring, design and texture of the piece are completely up to you. Colors can be altered, feathers can be ruffled or flat. Wings can be pointed or more rounded. An obvious distinction to make when discerning a swallow tattoo from a sparrow tattoo is that a long, clearly forked tail feather denotes the swallow. It is helpful to make the distinction, especially if you plan on getting one.

photo by Flickr user mre770

Imagine standing at the grocery store checkout counter loading fruit, cat food and toilet paper onto the conveyor when a girl approaches and asks if it is OK to look at your tattoos, adding rather boldly “I guess that’s why you got them in the first place, huh?” Many people assume that enthusiasts get tattooed so that others will look at them. This would be an incorrect assumption. Even though there are as many different reasons for getting a tattoo as there are people who have them, more often than not it has less to do with ‘other people seeing it’ than most people realize.

Tattoos are intensely personal, including the actual experience of having them done. Each one has special meaning and symbolism, perhaps representing transitions in one’s life, important people, spirituality or accomplishments. Tattoos can be more lighthearted, too, carrying less emotional weight, but the knowledge that something is going to be on your body for the rest of your life tends to force you to pay attention to your reasons for choosing it.

For the most part, society no longer demonizes tattoos or the people who choose to wear them, though there are still many naysayers who continue to live in a closed-minded fugue where those who seem radically different from themselves are feared, or at the very least, written off. Getting tattooed is certainly not for everyone. People who are afraid of the judgments of others are less likely to be tattooed than people who aren’t easily swayed by others viewpoints and opinions.

Tattooed individuals may be considered wild or masochistic, brave or daring, but rarely are they branded as thieves or ‘bad people’ anymore. Some may consider those with tattoos as being rebellious or just plain crazy, but it seems that with the steady stream of quality tattoos showing up in movies, television and on the backs and arms of celebrities, the association of the art form to the criminal element has been largely abandoned.

Photo by Flickr user bucaorg

Tattoos have become an accepted art form, and a beloved art form to those who create them and those who choose to spend their lives wearing them. Tattoos have become so popular in recent years that snubbing an individual who has tattoos might mean snubbing your doctor, or your child’s magnificent third grade teacher. People from all professions and all socioeconomic classes have gone under the gun.

So many people love and appreciate tattoos as works of art, that being treated with derision for having tattoos is becoming much less common than being greeted with curiosity and even admiration for the fact that you have made such a decisive and permanent statement with your body. Because of the allure of tattoos, most people look, some ask questions, but all are somewhat intrigued.