Getting a tattoo. Easy decision, right? You’ve thought about it for a while. You had the design all figured out. Your Pinterest board is awash with ideas. Well, you’re wrong. For someone like me, it’s not so easy.
I thought I knew what I wanted. I had it all planned out.
Except, I’m indecisive AF.
Easy Choice: Just get your zodiac sign.
OK, so this turned out to be the biggest nightmare of a rabbit hole. I’m a Libra and was contemplating getting my astrological symbol. So, the tattoo idea became a hunt for a cute looking symbol I could get, but then I wanted to get the scales. I could do so much with that!
But upon looking for “Libra Tattoos,” I thought of getting a seashell. The ruling planet of Libra is Venus, the Roman goddess of Love. I don’t really know too much about Roman polytheism, but Venus’ Greek counterpart, Aphrodite, is said to be born of the foam of the sea. So I was like, ‘Hey, why not get scales like a mermaid or the seashell'!
And I was so sure about this, but as the days stretched on, I just wasn’t feeling it anymore (which is why people like me shouldn’t get tattoos on the fly). So… I had to keep looking.
Figure out what you love.
Do I love roses? No? Do I even want a flower? I guess not. For some reason, when it comes to making a decision, my ideas and dreams that have been so solid for so long fly out the window like tiny wisps of smoke in the wind. So what do I love so much that I would want it on my body forever?
And then it hit me. My first tattoo was supposed to be with my sister (but she fell on hard times, so the tattoo is postponed). We were going to get the word ‘Protego’ in each other’s handwriting. For those of you that don’t know, ‘Protego’ is a protection spell from J.K. Rowling’s world of "Harry Potter."
So, I’m finally doing it! I’m getting a "Harry Potter" tattoo! (Inspiration pictured below) Just today, I had my tattoo consultation with my artist (who is sooo ecstatic to do my piece), and to keep it with ‘Protego,’ I am replacing the label at the base of the snow globe! To be frank, I don’t really care for the Hogwarts castle in the snow globe, which is why I’m having my artist draw inspiration from the second picture. And I’m so excited!! The date is set for August 23rd, and I couldn’t be happier.
So, for those of you stuck in a rut about what you want to get, don’t fret. It will come to you. Maybe you want something symbolic of a family member (I have a flower idea for each of my grandmothers). Maybe you want a dainty silver spoon to keep you grounded as you rise in our strained socioeconomic climate (I think it’s a cool idea). Who knows! But know, that there is something out there for you that’s worth waiting for. I swear to god, if I see any of you on some tattoo nightmare show, I’m going to be so disappointed.
