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Dragonfly Tattoo with Tribal Markings

I have always been fond of Dragonflies ever since I was a child. their free spirited movements, lust for life and never-ending vast array of color and structure always mystified me.

A few years ago I experienced a life changing event and realized that unbeknownst to me, I truly was a dragonfly at heart. I decided to tribute this piece to myself and my new life. I am an emerging free spirit with a zest  for life and change.

The artist-ink pusher is Pike, and at the time he was at Shivas in Ybor City, Tampa FL.

Samantha’s Dragonfly Tattoo

From the time I was 3 until I was about 13 my stepfather sexually molested me almost every night. In 7th grade I finally told someone and it seemed as if my life would always revolve around him and what I went through as a child. 5 years later I decided that it was time to put it all behind me and start with a clean slate.

I live in NY, but I got this tattoo in Canada, 2 months after my 18th birthday. My dad designed it for me with the tattoo artist that day. It means so much more to me because of that.

The dragonfly symbolizes endurance and my mental and emotional growth and maturity. It is said that people who have the dragonfly as their totem have had passionate and emotional early years, but as they grow older they achieve emotional and mental clarity and control. That’s me.

The character to the dragonfly’s left is the kanji symbol for “LIFE.” The symbol is a reminder to me that I have so much to live for, that the life I lead for last ten years does not have to be the one that leads me for the next ten.

And if you look closely there is an “S” where the dragonfly’s body should be because I am that creature and that creature is me.

I GOT THIS TATTOO SO THAT WHENEVER I LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AND TO THE PAST I CAN REMEMBER THAT I HAVE ENDURED, THAT I HAVE GROWN, AND THAT THAT PART OF MY LIFE IS BEHIND ME…

- Samantha

Tattoo Artist: Sergei
Lower East Side Tattoo and Body Peircing - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Katie’s Dragonfly Tattoo

I was the person that thought she would never get a tattoo. Now I have 2. My second one was going to be something very personal to me.

I have this friend Tom who Lives out in Boston and has a tattoo shop. I sent him my idea of this dragonfly tattoo that I wanted. I live in MN so he couldn’t give me the tattoo. My idea was to get a tattoo of a dragonfly on my back left shoulder. The Dragonfly because I have always liked them. Then in the wings there would be 22’s because that is my favorite number and then in the tail it would say Katie, cause that is my name. I never told Tom the colors that I wanted. He sent me back the drawing and I was like WOW…it was so pretty on paper.

I went to Everlasting Tattoo in MN and had them do it. It took maybe an hour. It turned out SO good and I love it so much. It means a lot to me and that is what is important. The colors are beautiful. I thought it would hurt more but it really didn’t hurt at all. I love my tattoo and I am thinking about getting more.

-Katie

Inked at Everlasting Tattoo, MN