Tattoos have been used by humans for millennia as a form of self-expression. Over the course of many centuries, human cultures have developed art and techniques that have made tattooing central in the lives of many. For many such traditional cultures, tattoos were not just a form of self-expression. They were also important as markers of social status, spiritual development, and ancestry.
Modern tattoos would not be what they are without traditional forms of tattooing. Nearly every early human culture has used tattoos for a wide variety of reasons, including:
We might take our cameras and light speed communications for granted, but all human societies are built on the foundation of the family unit. For our ancestors, tattoos were also a way to commemorate the dead, remember important cultural figures, and express to others who they were.
Today, we might express ourselves through the practice of portrait tattooing, for example. This has its origin in our need to symbolize our ties to our family. In this context, we still use tattoos today to remember important people and keep them as part of ourselves.
Magic and Spirituality
For our ancestors, magic and spirituality were at the heart of their cultures. The same may be true today of many religions where tattooing is still important. For example, Buddhists and Hindus have a long tradition of tattooing Mandalas.
For many early humans, tattooing animals and other symbols was thought to help them be better hunters, for example.
Tattoos also have a long tradition of being used to express military achievements. For certain traditional Brazilian people, for example, tattooing was also used to decorate heroes of battles with other tribal groups.
Medicine and Healing
There is also a long history of tattoos being used to frighten away evil spirits through the use of sacred symbolism. Tattoos were also used to mark out Shamans and to help cure those with illnesses.
Take Some Care
If you are getting your first tattoo, it’s always wise to do some research on what is best for you and why you’re getting it done. Do you want to connect with family or culture? Are you interested in expressing yourself to the world?
It’s also best to bear in mind that not every workplace allows tattoos. Having said that, it’s changing slowly, and many workplaces will either allow them or have no problem with subtle tattoos.
Expressing Who You Are
The truth is that we all want to express who we are to the world at some level. This helps us to connect with those people who might be like us or relate to us. It may also help us to find love. In this context, tattoos are a fantastic way to visually express who you are.
Here are just some of the reasons why tattoos are a great form of self-expression:
Celebrate an Occasion or Self-Transformation
There’s a good reason why many professional sports people go out and get a tattoo when they win a finals series. They want to mark the occasion with something indelible, and something that they can all share in equally. It will be a reminder of when they won the final and how it felt.
But it’s not just sports people who can go out and get tattoos for such a special occasion. Whether you want to have a tattoo done to remember a deceased loved one, the birth of your children, or a similarly special life event, they are great reminders that are also very personal.
Tattoos are also a great way to mark a personal transformation or to remind you of a goal. You may have been through some life changing event that has created great change in you. Having a tattoo done can not only mark this change, but also remind you of the importance of it in your life.
The fact is that it’s not always easy in this busy and rushed world to express who you are. Having a tattoo done can mark who you are, even if you have to cover it up in the workplace. If you have a strong connection to a concept or something else, you can express yourself through a tattoo.
Tattoos are also a great way to tell everyone else about your favorite music or band. If you happen to have a job, such as hairdressing, for example, you can have a scissors tattoo to express who you are and what you do in life.
As long as you find a reputable tattoo artist with plenty of skill and experience, you’ll have some real life art inked on your body. In fact, many people have tattoos done by specific tattoo artists because they love their work. If painters can paint masterpieces on a cotton canvas, tattoo artists can ink masterpieces on the body.
People Love to Talk About Them
One thing about expressing who you are through tattoos is that they can also become great conversation pieces too. Other people can see who you are and what you’re into, and they can easily break the ice at a social event.
Many tattoo enthusiasts have even met other enthusiasts just because one particular piece was admired at a social occasion somewhere. For some it leads to love, whole for others it leads to friendship. When you have tattoos done, you’re joining an entire subculture.
Connect with Your Culture
As mentioned before, tattoos have a long and rich history of human practice. For many people, having a tattoo done will create a lifelong bond with their own culture and traditions.
Tattoos have a long and rich history in human cultures around the world. Modern tattooing draws on this foundation and combines it with modern tools, techniques, inks, and symbols. All of this richness is a great way to express yourself to the world and connect with things that are important to you.