Decoration or message
The reasons people have their tattoos are rather different. There are those who wants simply decorate their body with some colour image, there are also those who dedicate those images for those they love, or those who patterns their favourite bands, actors etc. To cut a story short, there are a number of reasons for people to have one or another tattoo, and so the meaning of those tattoos variate from tattoo to tattoo. Though, there is a question opened whether a tattoo is simply a decoration or it obliges the one who has it to something.
Sure you may say that your tattoo is your own business and it is only you who may know the meaning of the tattoo and message it contains. Though, there will be a number of people who is not agree with you, as patterning certain pictures on your body you pattern the symbolism and meaning of that picture and those are wide-known and some of those are even considered as means of exchanging information.
Say you have a tattoo of butterfly on your ankle and you believe that it is nothing more than a beautiful butterfly. Though, you should know that a butterfly is a symbol of streetwalkers and a number of people all around the world will recognise this tattoo in that way. Sure, our life is not a life among criminals and there will not be a person who will demand you to prove or disprove your tattoo, though there always are people who may frustrate you with their knowledge.
There are also tattoos peculiar for certain nation and certain culture. So, there is no way for people of another culture to have those tattoos. Sure, no one can forbid you to have the Magen David on your skin but a number of troubles may appear because of that tattoo. First of all it is common that people confuse the Magen David's position and sometimes instead of Magen David they have another symbol and that symbol is not of good meaning. Moreover, having a Magen David tattoo will oblige you to follow the rules of Jew religion in case if you at Israel.
It is wrong to believe that your tattoo is strictly your own business as each tattoo is a symbol of something even if you don't think so. Sure you may wear your tattoo during the whole life and have no problems about it. Though, there may be situations when your tattoo will be a source of great problems for you. So, before you go to tattoo-salon and have some tattoo on your body, find out the meanings of the tattoo and places where those may be patterned on. It is important, as not only the image of tattoo exchanges the information but also a place of tattoo influences its meaning.
One should never use the religious symbols as tattoo as those will oblige you to follow the rules of that religion in case if you are at country of that religion. Moreover, the religious signs contain rather powerful energy that will cause several changes in one's life. No matter on your attitude towards tattoo it is a message, the message that will remain for good.