Memorials are one of the most frequently requested types of tattoos.
Memorials are often symbolized by images of heaven and heavenly bodies, such as angels or clouds, the famous Albrecht Durer's praying hands, wings, portraits, hand and foot prints, light beams, bible quotes, feathers, ships, and many other symbols that may have been personally significant to the family 0f the departed.
Whether you have lost a relative, a friend, or a pet; getting tattooed for them has a significant amount of therapeutic quality. When someone experiences a devastating loss, denial is one of the symptoms of grief, and it can take some to accept the reality of the situation. Rather than mentally cycling through the pain of the situation it can be relieving to have something positive to look forward to and think about.
Also, tattoos can be a healing form of closure, as a final tribute to the great memories that were made with the deceased. From then on whenever the tragedy is suddenly remembered there is something forever to remind people of the positive influence that person or animal gave them, instead of automatically reliving the pain of the loss every time the beloved crosses their mind.
Even for the souls that are still embodied, a tattoo is one of the most beautiful gifts someone could be honoured with. It is literally giving someone some of your time, a part of your body, and designating them a place in your soul for the rest of your life. That way you can pay your respects and remember the good times without having to travel to a tombstone, and without the depressing atmosphere of the graveyard. It is a very personal decision to permanently attach a memory to your physical body, and the most meaningful tattoos probably exist for just that reason.
There's a saying that describes this perfectly,
"certain mental anguish can only be relieved by physical affliction."
I think most people would agree that the mental and physical effort it takes to actually receive a tattoo has a certain transformational sensation, as if negative emotions are being released from the psyche in a sort of emotional cleansing. There is no denying that the temporary pain of getting a tattoo is not even comparable to the pain of losing a loved one, but it can have extremely positive effects when engaged for this reason.
Another amazing result of getting a memorial tattoo is that the memories of that loved one are carried on, not just spiritually or allegorically, but in the sense that when the tattoo is noticed or spoken about that person or an animal is brought up into conversation, extending their influence in the world without being physically present themselves. If someone is experiencing grief of any kind, a well designed and professional tattoo may be just the answer they've been praying for.
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