A image of a Wing or Wings as a tattoo design, of course, means flight. But if we give wing to our imagination for a moment, if only as a romantic sign, we can say that they mean the escape from the bonds of earthly existence to the limitless freedom of the spirit. Wings stand for peace, love, and the link between earth and sky — between the human and the divine — and as symbols of high quality and freedom. Wings known with creatures such as dragons, griffins, winged horses, and with the more delicate world of fairies, butterflies and bees have an element of the magical about them.

As tattoos, the wing design is often infused with uplifting or spiritual meaning — the angel motif for instance, a symbol of guidance and protection. For those who dream of soaring the skies like a bird, the wing symbol takes on the feathery aspect of a bird. As a tattoo design it can reflect the power of the eagle or the lightness of the butterfly. It is also worn as a badge of completed by those who have “earned their wings” through trials or training. Such stories form the basis of many myths around the world.

Wings combined with a “love” symbol is one of the most popular tattoo motifs. Heroic and spiritual, this combo has mystical and religious associations that go back thousands of years. For the Sufi mystic, the winged heart symbolizes the heart’s yearning for heaven. Wings transform the gravitational pull of the earth into a spiritual “pull” to a higher way of being. For the artist, it has been a favourite metaphor, not only for freedom, but also for shelter and redemption.

In heraldry, wings represent valour and bravery of the highest order — nothing less than a death defying act. An angel with three pairs of wings represents dignity, glory and honour.

In the ancient world, wings represented power and speed. Many statues and images from ancient civilizations depicted an animal, such as a lion or horse, sporting wings. The gods were sometimes “winged” as well, symbolizing their power to fly through the air. The Greek God Hermes had wings at his ankles, as did the Roman God, Mercury. Over the centuries, many of the ancient wing symbols were incorporated into modern cultures and religions.

Having a tattoo on your skin is a huge decision to make. A tattoo cannot be erased easily from the skin and possibly will be there all your life. Several individuals who made the decision to get inked opted to have the wings design for their tattoos.

For options of wings tattoos, the available designs are quite a few. Here are some of the suggestions which will assist you in finalizing which type of wings design is perfect for you:

* Angel Wings

Most people would have wings tattoos on their backs and shoulders that will appear like they really have angel wings. A lot of people who opted for this design get it for symbolism or spiritual meaning.

* Demon Wings

Same with the angel wings, people choose this style for symbolism and spiritual orientation.

* Fairy Wings

Individuals who are supporters of fantasy art would love to have this design. Ladies usually prefer this but men can also go for this type of ink, it just depends on how you will be presenting the wings on your tattoo design.

* Butterfly Wings

This kind of tattoo is enthused by one of Mother Nature’s good-looking creations which are the butterflies. Similar to fairy wings, the women are often seen with this design.

These wing designs are oftentimes drawn huge. Typically, they are in extremely complex design. If you will prefer the fairy or butterfly wings, you may want to have it in multicolor ink. But if you do not have that budget to spend for a glamorous tattoo, then you can always choose to have a design in a smaller version.

Tattoos can have a very special meaning in a person’s life. Whether they are wing designs or any design that you may like, think clearly before finalizing your choice of getting it.

Tattoos are the ultimate in self expression. They make a statement about who you are and what you are about. Different tattoo designs have different meanings. Adaptations of various designs can add your own stamp to the body art so you can make your own statement.

Tribal Tattoos

Symbolizes belonging. The Tribal designs were by far the most popular, coming in with approximately one third of requests. In the past, tribal body art identified different tribes and were very important to the identity of the tribe and the individual. Today, tribal body art is an appealing fashion statement, that allow people to show off their individuality combined with a bit of mystery. These tats use aggressive dark lines in jagged symmetrical shapes and are most common in black and skin tones but can also be infused with color to brighten the overall look.

Stars

A symbol of protection and guidance. They are popular because they can go anywhere on the body and can be any size you want. They are also popular because they are timeless. Compass and nautical stars were very popular amongst sailors as they relied on stars to guide them on their journeys, so they used the tattoos as luck. These days, the meaning of stars depends on the number of points it has. The most popular places for the star designs are around the shoulder, ankles and navel.

Angels

Symbol of devotion, spirituality and faith. Angels are popular because they are very symbolic, representing many values such as peace, spirituality, and protection. Some of the more popular tattoo designs relate to Religion and Spirituality (due to angels being seen as the link between heaven and earth), Love, and the Struggle between good and evil.

Crosses

Strong religious symbolism. Popular as a symbol of faith, belief and hope. Crosses are popular because they can be effectively combined with other designs. The cross tattoo is very versatile because they look good most places on the body and small or big.

Wings

Symbol of spirituality and freedom. Wings are associated with angels, representing protection and guidance from above. Wings are also associated with butterflies, birds, dragons, fairies and a host of other animals. Wings represent freedom for many people and rising above problems. Some wing designs spread right across the back, which look very impressive. A popular place for women to get a wing tattoo design is on the lower back.

Where to get good designs

The next step is to look at some pictures or flash to get ideas to work from. A cost effective option is to download a package of thousands of popular designs from Chopper Tattoo. Then add your own touches to your favorite one for the artist to incorporate. That way you get top quality body art that is totally original for a fraction of the price it would cost for a tattoo design to be drawn up from scratch.