Animal tattoo inspiration-Leopard Tattoos

Along with tigers, lions and jaguars, leopards make up the four ‘big cats’ and these magnificent creatures capture the essence of the most prized animal qualities, like courage, strength and speed, making the leopard tattoo a popular symbol of masculine prowess. They are associated with shamanism across both eastern and western hemispheres and have always been much revered by these animistic practitioners.

This endows leopards with spiritual qualities and indeed their skins were greatly prized by the high priests of ancient Egypt to ward off evil spirits; and the young king, Tutankhamun, the high priest of the gods, was buried in a leopard skin cloak.  Because it was always reserved for royalty and because of its symbolic significance, the leopard skin became a powerful symbol of dominance, which has made the leopard tattoo highly desirable.

Meanings of Koi Fish Tattoos

In Japanese culture, the koi fish tattoo design is associated with masculinity and flags depicting koi fish are flown to celebrate the birth of male children and are meant to endow them with desirable masculine qualities such as strength, determination and courage.  In Chinese culture, it was believed that if any of these tenacious creatures could navigate far enough up the Yellow River to reach the point known as the Dragon Gate, the fish would be transformed into a dragon.  This has therefore imbued the koi with the attributes of great ambition and the pursuit of dreams.  And then, of course, in western culture, there is the astrological sign of the zodiac, Pisces, often depicted as one or two colorful fish and symbolising compassion, imagination and intuitiveness.