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The padlock, in a tattoo, is a symbol that something is locked up or secured. By extension, it also represents a sense of safety. In a romantic affiliation, padlocks also carry the sense of dedication and the idea that only one person carries the key to the lock, that is to say, the key to the HEART. In this example of true love, two hearts are bound together by a single lock.
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The pagoda or multistoried shrine of Asia is probably one of the most recognizable pieces of architecture from this region, like the roan GATE. The pagoda is essentially a STUPA, the commemorative monument of Buddhism. As with the stupa, it functions as a home for the sacred relics of the religion. As its tip reaches toward the SKY, it also represents spiritual ascent and an Axis MUNDI (world axis).
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Although this pattern takes its name from the town of Paisley in Scotland, the design itself comes from the northern Indian region of Kashmir. The familiar TEARDROP shape, looking quite a bit like an elongated comma, reaches back to at least the time of the Arabic Mongol Muslim dynasty that ruled the Kashmir region from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. It was a popular pattern in the decorative arts of this dynasty and may be related to the form of the growing shoot of a date palm, gradually coming to be associated with fertility. In mehndi, the traditional art of adorning the hands and feet with a dark paste made from the finely ground leaves of the henna plant, the paisley is said to represent the mango and is a symbol of passion.
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Historically the palm tree has been symbolic of victory, regeneration, and even immortality, perhaps due to its very long and slender trunk and the abundant top foliage. Today, the palm tree has also come to symbolize a tropical paradise and even such warm weather U.S. destinations as California or Florida.
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In Greek mythology, Pan is half human, half Goat with the horns, legs, and ears of a goat, but the arms and torso of a man. Frequently seen playing his trademark pipes and known as a god of the shepherds, Pan was agile and cunning in an animal way. However, he was most known for his insatiable sexual desire, which is the primary feature of his symbolic meaning.
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The panda BEAR, also called the giant panda, has been a much-admired and coveted creature in many parts of the world, although it is native only to west-central China. Its black and white coloring, plump shape, and abundant fur give the appearance of a cuddly creature and it has been usurped as a symbol for the World Wildlife Federation. Although tattoos do not generally exploit this logo, the colorful scenes that sometimes incorporate pandas are certainly reminiscent of their life in the wild and their endangered status as a result of human encroachment.
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