I get asked this question many a times by friends and have responded a few times. Few have commented that it is one of the most tattooed image/ thing, few have said there are many hidden meanings and few have said it looks too simple for my taste and thought (really now!). Other than researching on where to get a tattoo from, which professional artist is good and which studio is safe and hygienic - I never researched on what the butterfly design commonly means. That is because the image and the idea to have it is quite personal and specific to me. I have always loved and been amused by butterflies, right from childhood. They are free, fluttering, vibrant but delicate, hardly stay still for long, are light and appear to fly without effort. They do no harm and is a delight to (most) beholders. Am yet to hear someone say they hate the sight of butterflies. And they are so easy to be hurt if not handled appropriately. While it is not too easy to capture one, a butterfly in the hands of an insensitive 'capturer' is as good as brutally sucked out of all that lightness, freedom and vibrancy. I relate so much to these. I love the lightness of being, the freedom and ability to ascend smoothly, being active and vibrant and not being easily locked by anything. And without knowing anything about my amusement for the creatures, an Upper Primary teacher of mine used to call me a butterfly for fluttering all around the class ;)
