A tattoo, as we all know, is not just some marking that one wishes to get imprinted on one’s body for life. It represents thoughts, feelings, experiences, and the state the person is in. Decades back, tattoos just represented a member of a combatant or rebellious group, but these days, they symbolize pride, a Picasso for people to wear. Every single tattoo has a deep story behind its creation, and one such style that has been in the limelight is the Semicolon Tattoo.
In this informative article, let’s learn about the history of the Semicolon Tattoo, its reasoning, its different designs, and whether you should get it printed or not.
The Definition of Semicolon Tattoo
In English, the semicolon represents the linkage between two clauses that are different but yet relay the same ideology or train of thought. The tattoo presents the same story. It is a representation of hope that combines life with death. The semicolon tattoo represents someone who has had a history of depression, addiction, or self-injury. In the worst case, it is a symbol of solidarity with people who are either dealing with mental illness or have lost the war with life and committed suicide.
Credit to @Our Mindful Life | Pinterest
The History of the Infamous Semicolon Tattoo
The semicolon tattoo concept started in 2013 and was founded by Amy Bleuel. She started off the project by naming it Project Semicolon in tribute to her father, whom she lost due to suicide. Amy had a brutal life herself, with a history of abuse, rape, bullying, and depression. Unfortunately, she committed suicide at the age of 31 in 2017. She dedicated this project to presenting hope and love for people who were at the lows of their lives and made it a beacon for support and encouragement. People began following this trend, and the idea morphed into a symbol for someone who was on the verge of committing suicide but chose to live on and fight the demons.
"A semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you, and the sentence is your life."
Semicolon Tattoo Designs
There are plenty of styles to choose from, and each has its own meaning. Changing the semicolon art will change its definition completely and depends on what someone wants others to read from their tattoo. The following are a few of the styles that have been registered by people who have shared their tattoos with the world:
1) The Butterfly Semicolon Tattoo
Credit to @chuan_dreizehn | IG
The butterfly’s body is drawn by using a semicolon with its wings intact. The butterfly may be a colorful one or just a black-and-white representation. This style shares a message of the new beginnings, the drastic ends, and new lives people experience and the lessons they learn from them.
2) Tiny Semicolon Tattoo
Credit to @naleak_tattoo | IG
This semicolon tattoo design is a silent nod to the subtle acceptance of mental illness and the battles one fights to keep on living. Usually, people opt to get it inked on the wrist.
3) The Heart Semicolon Tattoo
Credit to @isoltattoo | IG
People who lose a loved one due to suicide usually go for the heart-shaped semicolon. The dot is replaced by a heart and shows their care for the one they truly miss and wish to have been there for them.
4) The Floral Enclosure
Credit to @rudrainktattoo | IG
Some artists gave the semicolon a floral enclosure to give a sense of care and understanding. This design is a call to the ones who plan on committing suicide that people are out there who are willing to provide them with the care and love that they seek. These people are there to hear them out and protect them from their failed thoughts.
5) The Sun Semicolon Tattoo
Credit to @gunajit_tatin | IG
Replacing the dot with a sun gives a new meaning to the tattoo. As we know, the sun is a representation of new beginnings and a symbol of dawn in life. This design is usually chosen by those who fought with dark thoughts and won over them. It is a hope for a new start with a better perspective on life.
6) The Brush Stroked Semicolon
Credit to @zmoratattoo | IG
Some people chose to have the semicolon as a work of art on a canvas. It is a simple semicolon but shows an uneven brush stroke. This tattoo idea represents how someone is fighting with either mental illness or the thought of ending their life. It is a sign of power and motivates to keep on fighting.
7) The Neck Wrapped Semicolon
Credit to @bium_tattoo | IG
The idea behind this style is to have hope in life but not be able to open up about the dreadful depression with the people in the surroundings. The neck is the part of the body that represents strength and holds the head up high. Having a semicolon on the neck assures one is willing to fight and move on but hide it from the world, as not everyone chooses to show their sorrowful thoughts to the people they love.
8) Colored Semicolon Tattoo
Credit to @beantheretattoos | IG
Why just have a blend of black and white semicolons when you can add colors to your life? One trending style is adding a color scheme to the semicolons to match one’s personality. This tattoo design allows the joyful nature of the person to blossom and gives an extra boost to the meaning of life.
9) The Semicolon Arrow
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/487866572139644240/
A semicolon acts as the awareness of suicide, and the arrow represents that the owner or the wearer of this tattoo has all the intentions of carrying on with their life. This idea is a perfect style to not only keep oneself motivated but also to help others by giving them a sense of hope and motivation.
10) Replacing ‘i' With the Semicolon
Credit to @queenofthebeehive | IG
People love to tell their stories by summarizing them in simple words such as warrior, life, living, etc. In those words, the letter ‘i’ is replaced by a semicolon. To add to this style, a person can choose to have the word ‘suicide’ inked on their body with a semicolon replacing the ‘i’ and striking the word out. This design symbolizes the idea of the will to continue living after going through a dark phase of suicidal thoughts.
11) Birds with Semicolon
Credit to @nisha_ink_art_pune | IG
Birds in the artistic world usually represent freedom, especially a flock of birds flying away. The idea is to integrate the semicolon with a flock of birds either hanging on or flying away. This tattoo design shows the wearer of the tattoo is freed of the thoughts of suicide or has recovered from their time of mental illness.
There are many such styles to choose from. One can even put on one’s creative hat and start doodling around for a perfect semicolon design that truly represents the thoughts that have been haunting them. You may get an abstract semicolon if you do not want a simple design. Everybody has their stories to share, and it truly depends on how we want to share the story with our readers.
Is the Semicolon Tattoo for You?
By now, you might be wondering whether this tattoo resonates with you and your life. That is a valid question with a simple answer. Throughout our lives, we face different hurdles, and some hurdles are worse than others. You do not necessarily have to have troubled mental health to bear this tattoo, but you can choose to be a listener for those who feel they are alone. Getting a semicolon tattoo inked on your skin shows your empathetic and understanding nature. People want to be heard, and if you think you are strong enough to hear them out, this tattoo can be a perfect channel for you.
Credit to @Precious Damian | Pinterest
In Summary
The semicolon project was a strong initiative that has been trending for a while now, especially after COVID-19, as many lost their fights with loneliness and depression. It is a symbol of love, care, and hope. Wearing the tattoo represents the warrior in you and shows the world your true strength. Fighting physical battles requires skills and physical strength, and many can do that, but fighting the inner battles requires more than just strength. It requires love and support from the people who are around us.
The semicolon tattoo is both a call for help and a beacon of help. Everyone is struggling in this world, and it is better to shoulder the weak than to leave them alone in their darkness. There is no shame in letting the world know that you have suicidal thoughts, but in fact, one should wear a semicolon tattoo as a symbol of pride. The tattoo shows that you had suicidal thoughts, and you won over them and chose to live one day at a time.
FAQ About Semicolon Tattoos
1. What is a semicolon tattoo stand for?
A semicolon tattoo embodies hope melded with mortality, often signifying battles with depression, addiction, or self-harm. Ultimately, it stands as a beacon of support for those grappling with mental health challenges or who have succumbed to the hardships of life.
2. What does the semicolon butterfly mean?
This style shares a message of the new beginnings, the drastic ends, and new lives people experience and the lessons they learn from them.
