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Although we associate feathers with birds, there is a theory that says that they evolved from reptilian scales. In fact, some non-flying dinosaurs had feathers on their limbs and were used to for insulation. Today we use feathers for a number of different uses. They are sometimes used in high-class bedding, like pillows and mattresses. The feathers of goose and eiders are also used in winter clothing because they have a great ability to expand from being compressed and trap large amounts of air for insulation. Bird feathers can used for fletching arrow or to decorate fishing lures. 

Feathers are important in many cultures. Eagle feathers have huge cultural and spiritual value to the Native American as a religious object. They are seen as sacred and powerful symbols of power and knowledge. Feathers also decorated their battle dress, shields and weapons. Man has long envied the bird's ability to fly and used feathers in an effort to reach the sky. In Greek mythology, Daedelus the inventor and his son Icarus tried to escape prison by attaching feathers to his shoulders with wax but ultimately failed. In SouthAmerica, the locals brew a drink made from the feathers of Condors and used in traditional medicine. And Indians traditional use the feathers of the Indian Peacock in medicine for snakebites, infertility and coughs. 

Feather tattoos often incorporate the use of birds, wings or Native American element in them. A single feather may represent the ability to take flight, either spiritually or creatively. There are some feathers, like the Ostrich plume, the Peacock and the Eagle, that are very distinctive. These feathers in a tattoo symbolize the characteristics of the bird the feather comes from.

Color Feather Tattoo Designs 

Black & Gray Feather Tattoo Designs

Indian Feather Tattoo Designs

Feathers & Flower Tattoo Designs

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Frogs are amphibians characterized by long hind legs, a short body without a tail and webbed fingers or toes. They are able to absorb water and oxygen directly through their skin, especially around the pelvic area. Frogs are also known for jumping as their mode of transportation. They lay their eggs in aquatic environments and the eggs hatch into tadpoles that slowly lose their tails and grow legs. The growth of a tadpole to frog is very important in that it likely how sea creatures evolved into land creatures. Frogs catch and eat insects with the aid of their long tongues and have a very distinctive call, especially in mating season. 

Frogs are commonly featured element in folklore, fairy tales and pop cultures. In many stories, they are portrayed as ugly, clumsy, benign creatures with extraordinary hidden talents. The famous fairy tale, the frog prince was royalty in disguise. The Moche, an ancient Peruvian tribe, worshipped frogs and often incorporated them in their art. In many cultures, the frog is representative of the ability to jump from one state of consciousness to another. Egyptians worshiped a frog goddess named Heket. Ancient shamans also prized the frog for his sensitive skin that allows both oxygen and water to pass through it. They considered it magical.

Frog tattoos are a very popular tattoo subject, partly because of their popularity as collectibles. Frog tattoos can symbolize good luck, transformation or magical properties. It can also represent the wearer's feelings of being unappreciated on the outside, but possessing extraordinary talents.

Color Frog Tattoo Designs

Black & Gray Frog Tattoo Designs

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Eagle are large bird of prey that come in many varieties but are distinguishable by their large size, power build and heavy head and bill. They are equipped with very large and powerful hooked beaks, strong legs and sharp talons. Eagles are one of the few animals that mate for life. They build nest or "eyries" in tall trees or cliffs and usually lay two eggs. But the older and larger chick usually kills the other one as soon as it hatches, leaving only one. 

Eagles are powerfully symbols in many cultures. For both the Greeks and Persians, the eagle was sacred to Apollo, the personification of the sun. Egyptians worshiped the eagle and thought him sacred to Horus, the sun god. It was the sacred emblem of Jupiter, Roman ruler of all gods. And the Druids held the eagle as the highest of all gods. The eagle symbolizes freedom to many people, with its ability to fly to tops of mountains and swoop silently into valleys. While the lion may rule the animals on land, the eagle is the king of sky. Eagles appear in many national symbols including the United States, Austria, Nigeria, Poland and Rome to name a few. 

As a tattoo symbol, the eagle symbolizes freedom and sovereignty. It also represents speed, alertness and power. It also stand for courage or fearlessness when shown with thunder and lightning. When shown with a snake, it symbolizes conflict. Many patriotic tattoos depict eagles because of the association with so many national flags and crests.

 Color Eagle Tattoo Designs

Black & Gray Eagle Tattoo Designs

Tribal Eagle Tattoo Designs

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Dolphins appear in many Greek and Roman myths, always helping humans. Dolphins were said to bring humans who were lost at sea back home or to save sailors from drowning. They were the messengers and errand runners of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. In Greece, killing a dolphin was considered the same as killing a human and punishable by death. The Hindus believed that dolphin heralded Ganga's, goddess of the Ganges River, descent from the heavens. She even sometimes rode a dolphin. Celts associated the dolphin with the healing power of water and Australian Aboriginal tribes claim to be direct descendants of dolphins. Amazonian's even tell stories of local river dolphins taking human form and courting young girls. 
Dolphin tattoos were very popular in the sixties and continue to be common today. Those who wear dolphin tattoos are inspired by the intelligence, resourcefulness, and protection that the gentle water mammals are known for. 

The name dolphin means and the species includes not only your typical dolphin, but also the orca, more popularly referred to as the killer whale. Mammals like us, these creatures are warm-blooded, intelligent and give birth to live young.

They arrange themselves into families known as pods, and have developed a very sophisticated method of communicating using clicks, screeches and sonar.

Dolphins are smart and quick creatures, with maximum speeds of 30 mph and an intelligence that is comparable (or even possibly above) that of chimps and other apes and primates.

While dolphins require air for survival just as we do, they have an impressive ability to hold their breaths for several minutes and are capable of fast and deep dives exceeding 1,000 feet!

Our interaction with dolphins doesn't just stop there, dolphins also show up often in our subconscious minds in the forms of dreams. While traditionally, the appearance of a dolphin in your dream might be a negative omen that your will soon be coming under an new government, today the meaning of dolphins has grown along with our understanding of these gentle, intelligent creatures.

In dreams, dolphins will often communicate to us that their spirit is always with us, guiding us and helping to protect us. In other dreams, the dreamer will magically morph into the form of a dolphin, and be accepted as a playmate to go and frolic with a pod. More commonly, dreams of dolphins can speak of several virtues or situations, including:

Trust

The rhythm of life, and finding our place within it

Pranha, or the Breath of Life

Water Energy and power

Change

Wisdom

Balance

Harmony

Freedom, or

Safe travel

The dolphin has joined the ranks of creatures that have captivated us not only in our waking ours, but in our dream lives as well.

Dolphin Tattoo Design Ideas:
Because the dolphin can mean so many different things to wide groups of incredibly diverse people, there's no wrong way to design a dolphin tattoo. It should be noted though that most dolphin designs depict the dolphin breeching or playing on the surface, and rarely swimming through the depths of the sea.

Dolphin tattoos may include several members of a pod, or perhaps just a mother dolphin and her calf or her mate. Dolphin designs integrate well with both Celtic and tribal tattoo designs, and can be manipulated to create fantastic armbands.

Two dolphins forming a circle, with noses to tails can make a perfect design to surround navels or nipples, and you can always combine dolphins with other popular tattoo designs to make your own unique statement.

Pink dolphins, green dolphins, blue dolphins, silver or black dolphins regardless of the size or color, the dolphin's eyes will still shine with that nearly human intelligence which they uniquely possess. Alone or in pods, paired with mermaids or whales, the dolphin will always serve as our unique link to the underwater world.

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