A heart tattoo is one thing, a heart tattoo that says "Mom or Dad" in a ribbon or scroll across the heart takes it to a whole new level. Getting a tattoo with the name or the initials of the one you love can be a greater commitment than getting married. You may part ways with the one you once loved, but the tattoo will still be there. There is an old expression among tattoo artists, "Love last six months, but a tattoo lasts forever!"
Tattooing has long been enamored with words. Sailors tattooed HOLD on the fingers of one hand, and FAST on the fingers of the other, as protective amulets so that they would never lose their grip on the riggings and lines high above deck and plunge to their death. LOVE and HATE, LOVE and PAIN, LIVE and FAST are all tattoos that have been popular on fingers over the years.
Political prisoners often tattooed slogans on their bodies as their only form of protest. Prisoners and gang members still tattoo powerful words on themselves as form of identification and affiliation.
Biblical passages, proverbs and hymns have often been very popular tattoos.
Likewise, Buddhist texts are reminders of spiritual truths and also act as protection against evil. Even more magical are the tattoos inked by priests in Thailand. Devotees pray in preparation for the tattooing ritual of the sacred text, and may enter a state of ecstasy afterwards. These texts, beautiful in form and meaning, originate from enlightened minds, so placement on the body should be considered with care.
See Also: Religious Tattoo Index, Latino Tattoo Index, Ribbon Tattoos, Dagger Tattoos.
