Celtic & Irish Tattoo Meanings: Pictures & Design Ideas

Irish tattoos are a direct statement of the culture of the Irish people. Celtic tattoos are some of the most stylish of designs around today. The history of these tattoos are one of the reasons that they are so desirable.

Worn as an expression of the pride of their ancestry, many choose the Celtic tattoo because it is surrounded by mystique. This tattoo can actually be traced back to around 500 A.D.

Celtic And Irish Tattoo Meanings
Celtic tattoos have a wide range of styles and designs. The main reason they are so popular is the meaning behind them. They are more than simply a design - the meaning behind these tattoos are symbolic to the ancient Celtic way of life. From swords to crosses, these tattoos are a symbol of the history and religious beliefs of this heritage.

Although some may choose this tattoo because of the intricacy of the design and the universal symbol of the cross, there are many who wear it as a birthright. The Irish cross is different and this is what makes it stand out from other crosses.

Celtic Tattoo Ideas And Design Styles
They are often designed with Celtic knots placed at the points where the parts of the cross meet. The knot is representative of life. The belief that there is no beginning and no end is expressed in the Celtic knot.

Since this is such an intricate design, it requires skill to draw this tattoo. It is not just a series of lines; it is quite elaborate when done correctly.

The cross is actually a symbol that represents the four elements - water, fire, wind and earth - and today's tattoos often have the added features of vines and swirls and intricate geometric designs. The center of the cross represents life, which is surrounded by the natural elements.

Celtic Tattoo History And Specific Meanings
The Irish cross tattoo was placed on warriors many years ago before they went to battle to protect them from their enemies. The claddagh is an example of an Irish tattoo with a meaning that according to Irish culture is a symbol of love and friendship.

The design is two hands holding a heart and contains a crown. There are rings that are made with this design as well that are often given as a token of affection.

The shamrock is another Irish tattoo that is often seen. This is a symbol of good luck and is quite popular. The shades of green that are used for this tattoo can vary, but the basic meaning is still the same.

Another reason the Irish tattoo is so popular is that they can be beautiful in any size. Large designs or small, they are so complex and this is what adds to their beauty.

The Irish flag is often seen as a tattoo. This is a symbol of freedom for those who have Irish heritage. One of the more whimsical tattoos associated with the Irish is a leprechaun. This tattoo is often seen on men and is considered somewhat of a good luck charm.

According to Irish folklore, the leprechaun was the guardian of the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The story is that if you can get to the end of the rainbow before it disappears, you will have found the pot of gold. Perhaps a metaphor for living a successful life.

Phoenix Tattoo Pictures: Meanings And Cultural History

The phoenix tattoo is a sign of rebirth. It is the sign of longevity and long-lived prosperity and strength. This symbolism comes from the mythological origins of the phoenix. This mythological bird has been a prominent figure in folklore across many cultures, including Greek, Egyptian and Chinese cultures. It has even been associated with Catholicism, as a symbol of the rebirth of Christ.

The basic myth is that the phoenix lives for up to 1,000 years, then builds its own nest of twigs and ignites in flames. Once the entire nest and firebird burn away, an egg appears and the phoenix is born again. There are many variations on this basic myth, depending on the cultural reference you study.

In the modern world, the phoenix tattoo is among the most sentimental available. It is almost exclusively used to symbolize some type of rebirth or turning point in life. Almost every person who gets some creative form of a phoenix tattoo has a personal story behind the design.

Phoenix Tattoo Pictures:
The tattoo represents something deep that has happened in their life. In this way, no two phoenix tattoos are the same. The actual design of the bird and the colors chosen may be very similar in some cases, but the meaning that the tattoos hold for the person wearing them is almost always different.
In some cases the tattoos will represent a personal transformation while in other cases they may symbolize the belief that someone who has passed away still remains on earth in some form.
Phoenix tattoos can portray colorful birds with lots of beautiful feathers, but they can also be very minimalistic. They can appear as a tribal design in some instances, since they are etched in black and white in a pattern similar to many tribal tattoos. The basic symbolism stands behind them for most people, but great creativity can be used in the design process.
Picture of flaming phoenix in a striking position located on the back of the calf.
Picture of a high quality three dimensional bird with wings spread and extended tale. Design located on the back of a man.
Large masterpiece located on the right hip, ribcage and torso of a woman.
Here we have yet another picture of a excellent flaming phoenix tattoo. Breathing fire and located on the shoulder and upper arm area.

Joker Tattoo Meanings: Pictures And Inspired Design Ideas

Why are Joker tattoos such a popular design? They are likely more popular among those who are either devout fans of the Batman comic, movie and television series, or get pleasure from the association the joker has with mischievousness.

The joker meaning is usually one or the other - foolish or full of mischief and a little evil. The popularity of the Joker tattoo is more much dominant among men than women. However, we do see requests amoung women from time to time.

Joker Tattoo Meanings And Personality
They are often associated with having somewhat of an insane personality. The Batman series further popularized this notion. The type of Joker tattoo desired is dependent on the person choosing the design. The focus is typically on the smile because this is the distinctive characteristic of the Joker.

Also associated with a deck of playing cards, the Joker represents the only card in the deck that does not have a numerical value. As such, it is considered the 'wild card.' This is often why people get a tattoo of the Joker. They may see themselves as the 'wild card' in the deck of life. Others may choose the Joker because they enjoy card games or gambling.

Tattoo Design Techniques And Ideas
Colors and shading used to create a Joker tattoo are part of the detail that makes this a highly desirable tattoo. The detail and the mixture of the colors - green, yellow and black - are shaded to give the tattoo the look desired.

The makeup is often smeared around the mouth as well to give the Joker his evil and insane look. It is important that the tattoo artist master the lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth to get the right look of this tattoo.

Jack Nicholson And Heath Ledger Joker Portrayal
The Joker tattoo may be chosen because of the popularity of the movie or because the person is a fan of either Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger, who both played the infamous character. The latter is chosen as a remembrance to the actor. There are also plenty of Jack Nicholson fans as well who enjoyed his portrayal of the Joker and have gotten tattoos of his mischievous portrayal of the villain.

The Joker is portrayed as the bad guy, always making a mess of everything, but he is still considered by many to be charming and fun to watch. For many, this tattoo is chosen for the little 'joker' that lives in all of us. Some people get enjoyment out of the scoundrels as well as the good guys. The fact that they have so much fun while creating havoc just appeals to that side of us.

Joker Tattoo History And Popularity
This character first appeared in 1940 in the Batman comics. Since then, movies and television have given the Joker a status that has only grown more popular over the years. Celebrities are even sporting this tattoo. For example, the keyboardist for Bon Jovi has a Joker tattoo on his chest.

The popularity of this tattoo does not seem to be waning in the least. In fact, it is gaining. Jokers are present in Tarot cards as well and this has an entirely different meaning for some who choose this design.

The presence of the Joker in Tarot cards is dependent on the position. If it is facing upright, this is considered to be a sign of a new beginning. If it is facing down, this means there are important choices that must be made before starting the new beginning. The Joker in Tarot cards is referred to as the 'Fool'.

Free Tattoo Designs Online

Tattoos appeared by accident: having noticed that after burns or cuts, in which soot or paint gets accidentally, fanciful and indelible pictures are left on the skin, people started to hurt themselves deliberately. Tattoo art started in Egypt and owing to numerous trade relations of Egypt with other countries tattoos soon appeared in Persia, Greece, Crete, etc. A tattoo served not only as a decoration, but as a sign of the tribe, showed the origin of a person, also a tattoo was used for a disguise and it was even endowed with magic force.

Not long ago his girlfriend found in one of such catalogues an Egyptian tattoo she really liked, then she printed it and went to a good tattoo master, who made it on her shoulder. My friend's girlfriend told me that far more convenient to find a tattoo on the Internet because it saves a lot of time. After I heard many stories and facts about tattoos from my friends and after I saw their tattoos I'm thinking over making a small pretty one on my loin. Yesterday I looked through tattoo designs on the Internet. 

Executive Summary By Hanna Delloway

Egyptian Tattoo Pictures: Design Ideas And Popular Symbols

There are so many different Egyptian tattoos in existence today that it would be rather difficult to create a collection of them all. What brings all of these tattoos together is the incorporation of basic themes, people and ideas that represent ancient and modern Egyptian culture. Some of the more common design features incorporated in Egyptian tattoos include:

• Ankh (cross symbolizing Ancient Egypt)
• Egyptian Goddesses (each with their own symbolic and mythological meanings)
• Scarab beetle
• Tombs
• Mummies
• Hieroglyphics
• Mau (cats)
• Eye of Horus
  

There are some very unique designs that can be incorporated into Egyptian tattoos as well. For example, the idea of creatures that are half human and half animal are very popular in the tattoo culture. These tattoo designs have their roots embedded in ancient Egypt.

What is unique about Egyptian tattoo artwork is the culture that they are inspired by. Ancient Egyptians mostly tattooed women. Some of the first tattoos known to man are now being discovered on the bodies of mummies found in Egyptian tombs. These tattoos were often created with dots or slashes in order to create very basic pictures or hieroglyphic words.

Egyptian Tattoo Pictures:
Commonly used for fertility purposes, these tattoos were found more often on women than men.
Today, Egyptian tattoos are common with men as well as women. They are often used for the meaning of hieroglyphic designs, but many get them simply because they like the look of these ancient designs.
Some are simply black and gray while others can be very colorful with elements of gold. Most of the designs are very pleasant and peaceful in appearance, however, there are others that are specifically tailored to be disturbing in nature. Some are even quite romantic, such as those designed after the Egyptian Goddess of Love.
Egyptian tattoos can have a wide variety of meanings. Some may be sentimental, other are based on ancient traditions and beliefs, but most are used for their symbolic meanings or simply for their attractive appearances.
Picture of a wonderfully designed tattoo that combines the Eye of Horus with an Ankh. Plus a tribal inspired pair of wings.
Picture of a Egyptian warrior bird armed for battle and located on the right shoulder and tricep area of a man.
Picture of extensive artwork on the back of a man. A compilation of numerous designs including a large Pharaoh centerpiece.
Picture of an excellent tattoo on the lower back of a woman. A classic Egyptian symbol of a women with extended wings and head wear.
This cute masterpiece is a bit of novelty featuring a mummy-cat with skull, ankh and other elements of the culture.

Star Tattoo Pictures: Ideas And Meanings For Girls And Guys

Star tattoos can be designed to represent something personal or they can be chosen simply for their appearance. Stars are often incorporated into larger tattoos with a lot of fine details, though they are just as often presented independently. There are many different types of stars that can be chosen from and some artists will design their own stars with different colors, designs and shapes.

Two of the most popular star tattoos are the shooting star and the nautical star. Both of these images have a rich history in the tattoo world and can stand for different things. They are also very diverse in the way they are presented in tattoo form.

Shooting stars by nature shoot through the sky with brilliant beauty but then quickly fizzle out to nothing. Tattoos with this design are often used to symbolize periods of life that were short lived, but which will always be remembered. It is common to find names etched into the centers of these stars or somewhere in the stream of the rising star.

Nautical stars are tied to servicemen and women of the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps. Yet, they are used heavily by people who associate strongly with the sea today. These star tattoos have a very clear design with a particular pattern of shading or coloring.

Star Tattoo Pictures:
Both of these types of star tattoos can be shown as individual stars or as groups of stars. They can also be incorporated into other tattoo designs. For instance, nautical stars will often appear in tattoos reflecting ships, water, skeletons, roses and cherries, among other designs.
Star tattoos are extremely popular in Hollywood. You could compile a long list of celebrities that feature some type of star on their bodies, including Drew Barrymore and Gisele Bündchen. This is probably because celebrities think of themselves as stars, though some select star images for personal reasons just like everyone else in the world.
Picture of a pair of swallow birds perched on small branches while holding cherries with a smattering of small and large stars covering the back.
Picture of a lovely flower and a stream stars located on the hip and torso area of a woman.
Photo of a bright and colorful design featuring several musical notes mixed with numerous stars of various shapes and sizes.
Picture of many solid stars in black ink located on the stomach of a woman. The three larger designs all possess a unique shading and stencil effect.
And finally we see five solid black and bold designs gracing the top portion of a right foot.

Lindsay Lohan Tattoos

Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, model, and pop singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazine advertisement and television commercials. At age 10, she began her acting career in the soap opera Another World; at 11, she made her motion picture debut by playing identical twins in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.

Lohan rose to stardom with her leading roles in the films Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mean Girls and Herbie: Fully Loaded. Her subsequent roles include appearances in A Prairie Home Companion and Bobby. In 2004, Lohan launched a second career in pop music yielding the albums Speak (2004) and A Little More Personal (Raw) (2005).

London (IANS): Singer-actress Lindsay Lohan has a fetish for tattoos and recently got the seventh one - another quote by Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe - inked on her right wrist. It reads , "I restore myself when I'm alone" and goes with the one she has on her left wrist that says "Everyone's a star and deserves the right to twinkle" and is surrounded by yellow, blue and green stars, dailymail.co.uk reported quoting a source. The new tattoo is the latest addition to Lohan's others - the word shhh.... on the side of her index finger, a small star on her wrist, a heart on her hand, the word breathe on her wrist, and the phrase la bella vita on her lower back.