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Traci’s Yin Yang Tiger Dragon Tattoo

My tattoo started out as just a ying-yang that I had done for my 18th birthday. The ying-yang represents balance in my life, which is more of an abstract concept than something I’ve been able to practice. Its a goal I aspire towards. It was always the intent that I would finish my tattoo with a dragon and a tiger around it, but I did not have enough money when I was 18.

Through the years I’ve been keeping an eye on designs, but never following through on finishing the tattoo. Then a tragedy happened this past winter. One of my best friends from high school was brutually murdered in a random act of violence. I was angry, and that anger found me in the chair at the tattoo studio.

The artist who did my work competes nationally, and I was amazed all of the awards he had gotten. His nickname was Freehand. I told him what I wanted, and he sparked an interest in working on me. He had drawn a design of a tiger and dragon with the intent of putting it around a ying-yang on one of his friends. But this never happened because his friend had been murdered only a couple of months prior. He modified the design a bit for my tastes, but said that he would love to put the design on me, and even signed the original handdrawing for me to keep.

I guess I’m a bit of a whimp when it comes to needles, or at least thats what I’m told, but my anger got me through the first 40 minutes of the job. It was the last 5 or so that my anger faultered and I was in tears, from both the pain on my shoulder/back and in my heart. The experience for me was very healing, and I found it much easier to start to deal with the pain in my heart as the other pain subsided. I still miss my friend very much, and I ache to know that I never got to say good-bye, but I know she is still with us, at least in heart and spirit.

So, thats my story, and I’m sticking to it….

-Traci

Yin Yang Tiger Dragon Tattoo

Lindsay’s Fairy with Phoenix Wings Tattoo

I got this tattoo because I have been through a lot in my life. I was born 3 months premature and have been fighting since then. I decided to get the tattoo after my mom told me I always fought through everything, never giving up. I saw myself as rising from the ashes.

I had the tattoo drawn up by Megan at Tattoo Lous’ in Huntington, NY. She got the concept down pat when I told her I wanted her (the tattoo) to have bright, vibrant wings and piercing blue eyes and to face my heart

It was done in two sessions. Now, I use this tattoo as in inspiration in my life; when I am going through hard times I think of her as my alter-ego.

-Lindsay

Tattoo Artist: Megan - Tattoo Lous’ - Huntington, NY

Kalina’s 9-11 Tribute Tattoo

The story behind this tattoo is pretty basic. This was my first tattoo, I now have 3. My aunt died is the attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers, and this is my way of remembering her. She was in the North Tower, on the 58th floor.

I didn’t get her name tattooed on me because it was just too much to take in. I felt it would have been too much pain for me, and this tattoo of the eagle and the Twin Towers and the Empire State building was a way to remember not just her but all of the others that lost their lives on that tragic day.

I want people to look at my tattoo and think about that sad day and how strong America is, and remember how important our country is to us. I don’t want people to look at it and just see a picture on my back. I want them to understand why it is there, and why it is important to me. The attacks on 9/11 isn’t something that should ever be forgot about in my eyes. And that is the story behind my tattoo!

-Kalina

Tracy’s Elephant Tribute Tattoo

This is my second tattoo (my first one is on my ankle.) It’s located on my right shoulder. I got this for my Mother who passed away when I was only 15.I didn’t get it until I was 17 because I didn’t want to rush into just anything, it had to be something that would apply to her and me.

It was the craziest thing, one day I was sitting at my table and I looked at this notepad we had and there were two elephants on it. Since elephants were her favorite animal everything in my house is elephant. Why I never saw it before, I don’t know but once I saw that picture I knew that’s what I wanted.

So I made it personal by adding the Halo and the writing, Called up my tattoo guy and got it done. It really helped me get through the hard times and made me feel that now she would always be with me.

-Tracy

Tattoo Artist - Sean Duffy @ Phenom-A-Bomb Tattoo in PA

Steph’s Aestuo Tattoo

This tattoo was my 25th birthday present from my two best friends. I always knew I wanted to get inked but I’m a fickle girl so the ‘what’ was the big question. Finally one day it struck me–words. I love words and the power that they have, so then it was just picking the right one, one that would always hold meaning and be true.

I chose ‘aestuo’, which is latin for ‘i burn’, connotatively with intensity and passion and desire. As long as I do whatever I do with passion, everything in life is going to be okay. It’s the one thing I demand from myself and others, so it seemed appropriate to mark myself with the sentiment.

I got it done at Icon Tattoos in Murfreesboro, TN. Reverend Horton Heat was blaring from the stereo, and rather than it hurting, which I had always been warned, it felt kinda good.

Inked at Icon Tattoos, Murfreesboro, TN