Thesoccerplayer tatto

People of strength

The Celts were warriors, feared for their fighting skills and ruthlessness. They were a tall, muscular people who dyed their hair blond and painted their faces blue and appeared naked in battle. They stuck the severed heads of their defeated foes over the outside of the doorways of their houses. They were said to go to battle for the love of it, which made them sought after as mercenaries. The Romans and the Greeks called them barbarians. They were a tough, strong people.

Yet, with all this, they were also known for their chivalry and their courage. They built a reputation as fierce warriors but, at the same time, they were artists, poets and musicians. They were skilled artisans as seen in their metal and artwork. They developed an intricate knot work form of art that is uniquely theirs. Wearing a Celtic tattoo connects you to this unique heritage.

Your strength tattoo

Wearing a Celtic knot work tattoo can be a symbol of strength. It can be a strong declaration to the world that you are proud of your Celtic or your Christian heritage - a symbol from which you can take strength. It can simply be that you gain strength by connecting to a people with a history of bold deeds, great accomplishments and a rich mythology.

Where would you find your strength? Maybe you strength comes from nature or one of its creatures. Then your tattoo can have your favourite animal image interwoven in the knot work or, if are more drawn to the Celtic Otherworld, you may choose a mythical creature from their folklore. The cross and circle found in the Celtic cross predate Christianity and have their roots in nature worship - the sun, the moon. Maybe you can gain strength from wearing those ancient symbols and thus connecting to the Universe

Angel tattoos are lovely to look and admire. They present an impression of the heavenly and Godly. Many celebrities have this heavenly being imprinted onto their skin. They look at angels as harbinger of good news and protection from harm.

Angel tattoo designs are gaining popularity in all sectors. Lots of men, women, old and young share their fascination about angels. Furthermore, seeing the figure of a person with wings and the ubiquitous nature of angels definitely attract men to angels. Of course, the prospect of receiving blessings because angels come from God makes them the top choice for a tattoo.

Because angels are characters found in the Bible, much religiosity is attached to them. And those who have an angel body mark are identified or typecast as some sort of religious freak. Some people don't realize that in the context of art, angel figures are very superb and it has a calming effect on someone who sees it.

One only needs to specify what he or she wants and the desired body mark can be customized easily according to the wearer's requirements. Basic in drawing this heavenly creature is the wing symmetry, whether it is a seraph, archangel, guardian angel or cherub that you are drawing.

The size of your angel tattoo design depends on what you want to emphasize and the degree of visual impact of your drawing. An angel with wings spread widely tattooed on the whole back area would easily attract attention especially when it was done neatly. A cherub and seraph on each shoulder blade are a pleasing sight to see.

Whatever preference you may have, design varieties for this lovely, gentle, and meek creature abound. Always remember that there is always an angel who loves and cares for you.



By Amy Johns

Japanese Kanji symbols are very popular as tattoos as they are unique and they can convey a very personal and meaningful message in an artistic and exotic way.

Complex language

Kanji is one of three different types of alphabet character symbols used in a complex system of writing. The other two are Hiragana and Katakana. All three are used in different ways. Kanji conveys ideas in picture form, which may not always convey the exact meaning. Hiragana is sometimes used with the Kanji to modify or clarify the meaning.

Hiragana is used more for everyday use while Katakana is used mainly when dealing with foreign names.

The Japanese language contains literally thousands of characters. These were adopted from the Chinese, which have anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 characters. Scholars disagree on the number but, as you can see, it is a lot. In everyday use in Japan there are around 2000 - 3000 characters.

Multiple meanings

One of the major pitfalls in choosing a Kanji tattoo is the actual meaning of the symbol. The meaning can depend on the context and can have up to ten different meanings. It is essential to do some research before having a permanent symbol on your body. Make sure you get an accurate translation or, better still, use an artist who understands Japanese. Some artists are reluctant to do Kanji because they are not sure of the meanings.

There can be good reasons for getting a Kanji tattoo - with one symbol you can express a thought or an idea or a philosophy and you can do it in an artistic and different way. However, Kanji is limited, as its symbol will express a simple picture or expression. It does not lend itself to more involved quotes or phrases. One of the other scripts may have to be used with Kanji to express your words. This is where an artist's knowledge of Japanese can become important.

Artistic expression

Japanese calligraphy is an art form. In fact, one artist believes the meaning of the symbol is unimportant as it is more about the look and flow of the script - more about the artistic expression. This would not suit everyone, as most people like to use a tattoo to convey a message to themselves or others. However, for those who do want to express themselves artistically, the opportunity is there.

Kanji tattoos can be attractive, artistic and meaningful, but they can be a trap for the unwary. Do your homework and make sure your tattoo means what you want it to mean.


By Wlliam Burnell