Hello, my friends and dear readers! As you can see from the title of this article, I will be talking about my 9 tattoos and the meanings behind them. Before I begin, please note I am not encouraging you to go out and get a tattoo after reading this, but simply sharing a bit of my expressions.
Why Tattoos?
I have seen many people with tattoos growing up, and always thought they were cool looking. My mom had helped “inspire” me to get tattoos because she has so many. From what I see on her, she gets tattoos of things that represent something she loves and or things that represent herself, such as her Nefertiti tattoo representing that she is a QUEEN. I think this way of expressing yourself is unique.
Why I Choose to Get Tats
A lot of people will ask me if I know that they are permanent once it is on my skin, and I always answer the same: yes. People will also ask why I get them, which is sometimes annoying. As you will read soon, I get tattoos representing my life. I don’t go out and randomly get something tatted on me, and if you do that is your choice! Personally, for me, I like to plan out my tattoo which also helps build the meaning behind it. Spontaneous tattoos with friends or family are cool ideas, but I prefer taking time to design it, think about where I want it and the specific colors. Again, to each their own.
My Tattoos
Starting from my first to most recent tattoo, I will be sharing the details behind the meanings!
- Treble Clef
My first tattoo I received at age 16, six months before my 17th. My mom was getting a tattoo touched up and told me I could get a small one. I wanted to represent my love for music, so I picked out a treble clef with a “heartbeat” line going through it. Music has always been the love of my life, so I thought this would be appropriate. It is placed on my left arm near the brachial artery.
- More Music Stuff
The day after my 17th birthday I decided I wanted to get another tattoo. This one people mistake for 3 separate tattoos, but I assure you it is all one. At this point, after getting a taste of what they feel like, I decided I wanted to make my entire left arm a sleeve dedicated to my love of the arts and music. Anyways, the tattoo has a play, pause, stop, and replay button in that order going vertically down my forearm. Next to it are words that pertain to each symbol. For example, after the play button it says “The moments,” meaning play the moments in life. After the phrases are 4 music notes. This tattoo is right next to my first and takes up the remainder middle part of my forearm.
- BTS
Yes, I am referring to the K-pop group BTS. My sister got me into them the summer I was going to be a junior in high school. I believe the album that came out when I started listening to them was Map of the Soul: 7, however the first few songs I listened to were from the album WINGS. Their song “Blood, Sweat, Tears” was a personal favorite of mine. Depending on what platform you listen to the song on, the title will be in Korean. When I saw the Korean symbols, I knew I had to get this as a tattoo. I have literally put blood, sweat and tears into my 20 years of life, and will always have to because it is what makes my success story even more powerful. This tattoo is located behind my left ear and runs down my neck. Before you ask, no it did not hurt! I actually fell asleep getting it done. I got this one at the beginning of senior year, 2.5 months before my 18th.
- Japanese Cherry Blossoms
Now I am 18! 2 months after my 18th is when I obtained yet another tattoo. This is one of the bigger tattoos I have. My inspiration came from BTS (again), specifically the member V. He had fake tree branches tatted on him that went on his neck, across the shoulder and a little down the arm. I wanted the same concept, except with Japanese Cherry Blossoms. Nanny (my maternal grandmother) is the reason I got this tattoo. Growing up, she sang a song about a bird sitting in a cherry tree. I later assumed it was supposed to be referring to Japanese Cherry Blossoms. I got the outline done in one setting. The color/shading I finished a year later at age 19. The tattoo is on the right side of me. Starts behind my right ear and runs down my neck, a little across the neck, some on the clavicle area, on my shoulder and a little down the shoulder. This was the MOST painful tattoo I received!
- Matching w/ Mom
In between the time when I only got the outline done of my 4th tattoo and the shading, I got a matching tattoo with my mom, still age 18. 6 days after high school graduation, we went on our annual OBX trip. On the way back home, we stopped and got matching tattoos in Virginia above our hearts. Mine reads “raised by greatness” and hers reads “raising greatness,” both with a sand dollar and seashell after the phrase. My mom, as I wrote in another article, is the foundation of who I am. It was a privilege to get one with her!
- Koi Fish
The day before my 19th birthday (wow, 3 tats in 1 year!) is when I got my 6th and most liked tattoo. On my right arm is a big blue and orange koi fish swimming upwards. I do not know if it is the fact that they were turned into dragons in the Chinese and Japanese culture that caught my eye, but the meaning behind the direction they swim in and color they are really stuck with me. Koi fish that swim upstream represent the perseverance people have when fighting life struggles, hence the reason I have mine swimming upwards. The whole idea of the koi fish symbolism is that they stand for overcoming obstacles and adapting to the ever-changing world. I chose orange and blue because blue shows tranquility and peace, while orange (yellow-orange or golden orange) represents fortune and wealth which to me is another form of saying success. All I want in my future is to be happy, healthy and have good financial stability to support myself. I feel that this tattoo has brought that meaning to life for me.
- More Koi Fish
A few months after my 20th birthday is when I got a HAND and FINGER TATTOO. Crazy, I know! This entire tattoo takes place on my right hand, which had disadvantages because I am right-handed. I wanted a koi fish yin-yang symbol with the same colors as the big one because it represented two things: the circle of life and balance. The circular motion the fish are going in around the yin-yang represent how everything in life is connected. Grass grows because the deceased animals fertilize the ground, then the herbivore eats the grass and then the carnivore eats them, as an example. The balance is shown through fire and ice (orange and blue). Ever wonder why you go through a period of what seems to be negative followed by lots of positivity? The balance of life. It can also be interpreted as opposites coming together for the greater good. Now because I really enjoy Korean symbols and their meanings, I decided to get some phrases across my knuckles. I wanted it to say, “good luck”, but I don’t have enough fingers on one hand for that. I decided to go with “best luck forever.” Yeong-wonhi means forever in Korean, and I ironically realized that because of once again BTS. I have to say, hand and finger tattoos are very cool. The only bad part of getting it in those spots is the healing part; man, oh man was it itchy.
- Matching w/ Bestie
For my best friend’s 19th birthday in May of 2022, 2 months after my last, we got small matching tattoos right under our wrists. They are small hearts, outlined in red with no shading. We both have them on our right arms. My best friend and I have been best friends for almost a decade now. We met at the end of 5th grade and have been through hell and back. We did things together like having a dance battle for our 6th grade talent show, watching Pretty Little Liars every Tuesday night, and trying on our cap and gowns together when it was time to graduate high school. She is recently engaged to her amazing fiancé, and I cannot wait to attend her wedding next year (crossing my fingers I can be the Maid of Honor!).
- Tacca Chantrieri
Also known as the “bat orchid,” this is my most recent tattoo! I just got this one near the end of March 2023. People who have seen it say they really like the purple. I got this tattoo because it is someone special’s favorite flower. They have been helping me feel and do better mentally, physically, and overall, in general. I know you may be thinking why on Earth would I get something permanently placed on my skin for someone who could be temporary. The answer is simple: keyword being ‘could be.’ Why did I get a matching tattoo with my best friend who could also be labeled as temporary? It is because even through all the messy obstacles in life, we always stayed connected. This special someone is not going anywhere, and I am so blessed to have them. Anyways, this tattoo is on my right outer bicep.
There you have it friends! 9 tattoos later and the majority of them are on my right side “trying” to make a sleeve. Crazy to think for 4 years now that each year I got a tattoo, or three in some cases. My next tat will DEFINITELY be on the left side, which is originally meant to be the sleeve. Not to mention them again, but my next one will be for my brother and sister. . . that has something from BTS in it. Okay I know, I am a big ARMY member.
Ace