The peculiar looking but deceptively poisonous puffer fish was referred to by David Attenborough as "the greatest artist of the animal kingdom." Noted for its unique ability to take in air and "puff" itself up to scare off potential prey, the puffer fish is an otherwise innocuous presence in the aquatic realm. Culinary delicacy or curiosity, there are many reasons...
"The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face," wrote William Thackeray, and to this day we catch glimpses of both our true and superficial selves in all manner of surfaces. From the mirror to the swimming pool, the places in which we catch our reflections and those of our peers...
Swimming upstream much of its life and taking on currents that for all intents and purposes appear stronger than itself, the salmon is a powerful symbol of strength, endurance, and divine feasting. Born in fresh water but braving the ocean until ready to return and breed, the salmon represents the journey we all must embark upon before realizing our place...
A serpent wrapped around a dagger once signified the presence of Mercury, god of travel and communication, as well as the protector of thieves and tricksters. The snake-and-dagger symbol carries multiple meanings, and its tattoo likeness will no doubt elicit equal parts fear and awe from those who glimpse upon it. Just as the snake is the earthly embodiment of...
The snake may shed its skin over a lifetime, but its bones remain long after it has departed this existence. In cultures around the world, the snake skeleton is a powerful and much-prized treasure, and while modern Western inhabitants generally prefer it for decorative purposes, occasionally the serpentine vertebrae winds its way into unforgettable tattoo art. Whether you are a...
More than just a delicious--and dangerously overfished--creature of the deep, the tuna is built for speed, its sleek, streamlined body darting through the water on a seemingly inexhaustible energy supply. You may very well wish to honor your favorite catch in equally eye-catching tattoo form, but perhaps the tuna's underlying symbolism aligns with your own values and individual qualities. In...
In the British Museum there is an Aztec sculpture of a double-headed serpent, presumed to be a gift to the 15th Century Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. The serpent is believed to represent the underworld and powers of rebirth, the ability to shed one skin and inhabit another multiple times throughout the course of a lifetime. Since then, the two-headed snake...
We will all make our way to the grave eventually, it's just that some of us prefer to dance instead of drag our feet. Life's abundance is for those who take the surprises, setbacks, and triumphs all in one stride, always keeping the bigger picture in mind over petty affairs and concerns that routinely hold us back. Dancing skeletons have...
The world of the diver is fathoms below and apart from our own; his territory is that of the uncharted and exhilarating. His true realm is the sea, though he reluctantly makes his home on land. For the diver there are few symbols as powerful as the diving flag, be it the North American red & white or international blue...
What would life be like without Italy and the Italians? Visionaries and gregarious lovers of la dolce vita, Italians have given us a wealth of pleasure and equally poignant history that spans the globe and centuries. It's no small wonder, therefore, that those whose hearts burn with pride for their ancestral country would want to display its flag in the...
