Symbols and cultural context

One symbol, different meanings

Symbols travel with people and change their meaning along the way. What is simply a pretty pattern in one country may be a sacred sign in another, or a reminder of a painful history.

• The lotus — a sacred symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism; in Europe, more often just a beautiful flower.
• The swastika — an ancient sun symbol in Indian religions, but in Europe firmly tied to Nazism.
• The swallow — for sailors, a sign of returning home; for many people today, a symbol of freedom.
• The snake — in some places wisdom and renewal, in others threat and betrayal.

Your personal meaning matters, but it's worth knowing the one other people will see, too.

Religious and sacred symbols

Images of deities, sacred texts, mantras and prayers aren't decoration for many people. In some Asian countries a Buddha tattoo is seen as disrespectful, especially if it's below the waist or on the legs.

For advice on getting tattooed while travelling, see “Getting tattooed abroad”.

Traditional patterns from other cultures

Māori designs, Polynesian patterns and traditional Indigenous symbols often tell the story of a particular person's family, status and history. Copying a pattern like that is a bit like taking someone else's surname. Many people from those cultures see it as appropriation.

That doesn't mean you can't take inspiration from them. You can use their rhythm, shapes or mood to create your own design without presenting someone else's design as your own.

OlyaArtist's tip

If you love a pattern from another culture, we can take inspiration from its rhythm and mood and draw your design from scratch. That way, you'll have your own design rather than a copy.

Symbols with a hidden meaning

Some signs look harmless but mean a lot in certain circles. Stars on the knees and shoulders, particular numbers, runes and letter combinations can be linked to prison culture, gangs or extremist movements.

Most likely nobody will take you for a gang member because of a star on your shoulder. But if you've come across a symbol in a random picture with no explanation, it's better to spend ten minutes looking it up than to spend years explaining to people that you meant something else.

How to check the meaning

Checking takes an evening and saves you years of awkwardness.

1. Find out where the symbol comes fromFind out which culture, religion or period it comes from, and what it meant in that context.
2. Compare several sourcesA single captioned picture isn't a reliable source. Look for dictionaries, books and museum websites.
3. Ask someone from that cultureSomeone from that culture can tell you things you won't find online.
4. Talk it through with your artistYour artist can suggest how to keep the meaning while making the design your own.

Characters and pop culture

Anime, cartoons, games and books have their own cultural context too. A fan will recognise the character from a single detail; everyone else will simply see a nice design. And that's fine.

What matters is that you don't copy a frame or someone else's tattoo exactly. A good artist draws their own version of the character: still recognisable, but in their own graphic style and sized for your placement. For help finding images, see “Tattoo references”.

Your own meaning counts too

The meaning of a tattoo can be yours alone: your grandmother's flower, a sign from a childhood book, a shape you simply like. You don't have to explain it to anyone. What matters is that it doesn't clash with what the symbol means to millions of other people.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about symbols tend to come up once you have a fairly clear idea for your tattoo. Can't find your question? Message me on Telegram or Instagram. I reply personally.