More ink, yay

For a while now I wanted a tattoo that would symbolize a change. A change from things I've left behind me, and things I've given up.

Vince and I finished playing Fatal Frame II the other day, and I (oh no, yes, admittance to possible video game tattoo) fell in love with the concept of the crimson butterflies. When Mayu dies (Mio's twin sister), she turns into one of the crimson butterflies. She later rejoins her sister as a butterfly to complete her as a whole, and lands on Mio's neck, leaving an imprint like a tattoo.

Now, butterflies are an obvious symbol of reincarnation, awakening, and rebirth. What I loved about this, though, was that it shows a "part" of a person dying and being reincarnated to a new form, to join the other half of the old. I felt this was appropriate, as for me, it symbolizes not only a giving up of those things and moving on, but to become whole with myself again and let the part of me that died come back as something better and more constructive.

I know mine isn't quite crimson, but I don't think the ones in the game really were either. I think the Japanese just don't know their colours Having the colours gradiate more between red, orange, and yellow (like fire) give it coloration that reminds me of a phoenix. And if that one isn't an obvious knock in the head then. Oi.

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Drawn/designed by me, inked at Liberty Tattoo in Libertyville, IL by the amazingly talented Mark.
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