Hence, this tattoo may also depict an emotional closure from the world. We say mask because being humans, emotions inevitably form a part of our existence. In the practical and rigid world that we live today, most of us choose to wear a mask, be immune to feelings, attachments, and emotional blows of life. It gazes at you with an emotionless stare, the darkness it wears overshadows all that it contains. Legend has it that it is almost impossible to trick, convince, or persuade the reaper to spare your soul. It just does its job to harvest the souls of the departed to the afterlife. These warriors tend to encounter near-death experiences in their careers almost everyday, and therefore, this tattoo is quite a remarkable way for them to portray their fearlessness towards death. This tattoo is also symbolic of bravery, which is why you will find it on many marines and soldiers. Sporting this tattoo can somewhat help us accept the fact that fear only makes things worse and that death is as likely as birth. For many of us, death is perhaps the biggest fear of all. They say that the best way to overcome your fears is to face them. Nonetheless, you can also customize it furthermore based on your personal memories associated with the deceased person. Additional elements such as a grave, name of the deceased, a rose, and a quote, can make the entire design look absolutely gorgeous. Similarly, a Grim Reaper design can also symbolize the memory of a dear one who has now moved on to the afterlife. Skull tattoos have always been a way to remember the dead, oftentimes inked with a dear one’s name. It emphasizes the fact that every moment passed is a step closer to death, and so it must be lived as happily and cheerfully as possible. A Grim Reaper design, in this case, can help in embracing and appreciating whatever time we have on earth. Some of us get so engrossed in building a materialistic haven, that we actually forget to experience life’s true essence, which is to appreciate, love, learn, and move on. Most of us also end up taking a lot of life’s gifts for granted. Most of us tend to take life as a burden, especially when we encounter pain, disappointments, and failures in life. This tattoo, in this case, would act as a reminiscent that you would eventually meet the scythe-bearer in due time, wherein he will be the carrier of your soul to the afterlife, the ultimate place of judgment, reward, punishment, and perhaps, rebirth. The belief in rebirths, reincarnations, or a different form of life after death isn’t unheard of. Yes, contradictory to its popular symbolism, the end of life, a Grim Reaper can also signify a passage to the beginning of another life. Those who view death as more of a new beginning than a mere end, would complement this design quite rightfully. The following section discusses the same. When it comes to inking a Grim Reaper tattoo, it would be interesting to know how versatile its symbolism could get. While it is not uncommon for people to ink designs just for the aesthetic appeal of it, a meaningful symbolism accompanied by a design, definitely makes the tattoo worth cherishing all the more. Various artists, poets, writers, and intellects from all walks of life have depicted the Grim Reaper in many ways―in the form of writings, paintings, sculptures, songs, and the like, thereby, making this symbol popular among many body-art enthusiasts, as well.īefore inking any tattoo on yourself, it is very important for you to establish a connection with the given theme, spiritually. This portrayal of death is perhaps man’s way to acquaint himself with the end of life, and overcome the fear of the unknown deities/forms/ethereal beings that the spirit may encounter once it’s separated from the flesh. The figure that we all address as the “Grim Reaper” has so far gained the appellation of the harbinger of life’s end. The skeletal form wearing a black cloak became a symbolism of the end of life then, and continues to be so until now. Although death has been a part of this world since its very inception, the association of the ‘Grim Reaper’ with death began only in the late fourteenth to early fifteenth century when the world saw death like never before in the form of plagues, wars, and famines.

Grim reaper tattoo