In Greek, 'phoenix' means 'palm tree' but to most of us we know the phoenix as the mythological bird of fire. Many ancient cultures contain stories about the phoenix which, like the sun, dies in flames and rises each morning.
Christians came to see this as a metaphor for resurrection and Jewish legends talk about the Phoenix as the one creature that didn't leave paradise with Adam (and so wasn't tempted by 'forbidden fruit'). To the Chinese, the phoenix represents virtue and grace and in Japan the Phoenix is often combined with the dragon. Also, don't forget that the North American Indians have the Thunderbird which is a take on the Phoenix legend.
In short, the phoenix lives for 500 years and then sets fire to its nest and is consumed by the flames, only to be reborn from the ashes.
Today...
Today, the phoenix represents reliability, kindness, duty and often has feminine connotations. If you've been through a transformation because of adversity in your life, then the flames of the phoenix should be special to you. It's a great way to express a new beginning in your life and a symbol of moving on.
The Phoenix Tattoo...
Here are a few things to consider:
1. A phoenix tattoo needs to be quite large to get all the detail to stand out clearly. The back is a great area to have one inked, or maybe the chest. You need a bold statement. This is not a tattoo to wear discretely on your ankle!
2. You need lots of color - orange, yellow and red. However, don't be afraid to use a touch of blue, gold, copper and green to add your own unique touch.
3. Do you want the phoenix to be engulfed by flames or bursting from ashes? How about displaying your phoenix surrounding the globe so that you can portray the passing of time?
4. How about using an Egyptian phoenix design? Here, the phoenix has a man's body but with large wings. This would be different and certainly eye-catching!
As you can see, there are lots of things to consider when deciding on the style and design of your phoenix tattoo. Don't rush the process as this is going to be a big project that you want to be proud of.
