Lydia the Tattooed Lady!
Got it done on Wednesday, in the U District of Seattle at Deep Roots by an artist named Jeremy.
(The word is Luminous.)
Sorry for the crappy pic, it was done with my phone.
Meaning:
Determination to not give in to depression:
Star - It's never so dark that there isn't a light to guide me through.
Lilies - a good friend gave me tigerlilies as a cheer-up gift during my darkest depression a few years ago, so they represent the community I have around me; they signify that I am not alone, no matter how I may feel.
Luminous - "full of light." Radiating light. I have a light within that will shine through, some times brighter than others, but always there. I will not let it go out. I will be luminous, and shine on those around me. (Incidentally, it can also refer to a high intelligence level. :P)
My own name:
Star, Luminous - one meaning (my parents' favorite) of Lydia is "Beautiful Light" (others being "Sophisticated/Cultured" and "Being from the country of Lydia").
Lilies - My litte sister's nickname for me, derrived from my real name in only Gracie-style, is Lily. She calls me that all the time.
Symbol of Christ:
Star - Christ is the light of the world, the guiding light. Also, the star's shape is reminiscent of a cross.
Lilies - lilies symbolize new life and resurrection, and thus are used on Easter.
Luminous - His light will shine from within me.
Placement:
Center back because, though this is a reminder tattoo that also signifies my identity, no other place I imagined it seemed right, and also I like symmetry. This place was just where it was meant to go. Also, the back is the biggest canvas on the body, and the amount of detail I wanted in this tattoo required a certain size.
Center upper back - easy to hide, easy to show off. The main part of the tattoo shows above the bra line, and manymany shirts and dresses will show it off, but there's the bit of the star that goes below it, and is tantalizing ("it keeps going, what's down there???"). And it doesn't go up my neck, so T-shirts will cover it all.
My parents are gonna flip.
My dad will be shocked, sorta, and disappointed, but also a bit intrigued.
My mom will cry for a very, very long time.