Tattoo represents self harm and victory at the same time. Tattoos have long been a form of self-expression, often serving as a medium to commemorate important life events, convey personal beliefs or display artistic inclinations. However, some individuals may choose to ink their bodies with tattoos that symbolize their struggles, including self-harm. While these tattoos can hold deep personal meaning for the individuals who wear them, they also represent sensitive aspects of mental health and well-being.
Meanwhile, mental health awareness has increasingly moved from being taboo to being part of our everyday conversations. For many of us who have struggled with mental health issues, tattoos can provide strength, raise awareness and show solidarity with others to move forward.
Getting a meaningful tattoo is a great way to honor something that is important to you. Designs with meaning add another layer of personalization, making it a truly unique tattoo no matter how popular the symbol is. And given that the tattoo will be with you forever (or until you remove it), a meaningful choice means you’ll enjoy a reminder of what it represents every time you see it. One popular meaningful tattoo design is the semicolon, which has been a key symbol of mental health and resilience for years.
In the context of grammar, semicolons are used to join two complete sentences that are interlinked. In other words, a semicolon signifies that the thought is unfinished even though the sentence is complete-there is still more to come. That sentiment is at the heart of the Semicolon Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, self-harm, suicide and addiction.
While you don’t have to get a semicolon tattoo because of its meaning, many people do it to honor someone-be it a friend, relative, or themselves-or to raise awareness in general. A semicolon tattoo isn’t just a visual representation; often it’s a conversation starter, so you can spread a message while showing off your cool tattoo.
The versatility of the semicolon as a design has made this symbol a popular tattoo choice, and this has led to many beautiful and customized ink works. If you’re considering getting a semicolon tattoo, check out 24 ways to personalize the design below.
Butterfly
This design uses a semicolon as the body of a butterfly, with attached wings. Its symbolic message provides lessons about beginnings, endings and new life.
Heart
This style puts a sweet twist on the traditional semicolon, by combining a heart with a comma underneath. It offers additional symbolism for those who get the art as a tribute to a loved one.
Flower
This tattoo places the semicolon inside the circle of a two-stranded flower. It proves that you can combine the semicolon with other designs for an added touch.
Sun
A subtle sun design replaces the dot in this semicolon design. The sun adds additional symbolism of dawn and new beginnings.
Brushstroke
This bold style eschews the standard dot and comma for an approach similar to broad brush strokes. It looks great in black but can match a wide array of other colors as well.
