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The wasp is a flying and stinging type of insect, the most recognizable of which might be the yellow jacket, although the hornet is also well known. Because some species can be communal, with their activities centered around a queen, they are at times associated with the notion of community and occasionally, by extension, with female energy.

Though virtually never a design in and of itself and yet part of many others, the symbolism of water runs deep in the human subconscious. Its centrality to many myths and legends cannot be underestimated. From stories of creation to cleansing floods, water has, most importantly, symbolized both life and fertility as well as death and destruction. In tattoo art it in cludes the OCEAN of the SAILOR'S GRAVE or the ROCK OF AGES, the stream against which the Japanese go! valiantly struggles, and even the water that may pour from the URN of AQUARIUS.

As with the RIVER, a waterfall is not an uncommon backdrop for Japanese-style tattoos, particularly tattoos such as the gm or KINTARO. In Chinese symbolism, from which much of Japanese tattoo imagery is ultimately derived, the waterfall represents the feminine while the mountain or cliff is the masculine. The downward fall of the WATER is the natural complement to the upward climb of the rock.

In a symbolic sense, the well is often much more than just a source of WATER, life, or plenty. The wishing well is a part of mythology that is given the sacred character of not only granting wishes but also knowledge. In tattoo art, the well is also a country motif, a design that is reminiscent of a more rural and simple life and time.

Although appearing as a normal man during the day, a full moon causes this person to change into a wolf-man, more man than WOLF, really. The belief in these legendary and transformative creatures occurs in some form all over the world, but is not always based on wolves. In fact, there is even a psychiatric condition (lycanthropy) known for people who believe that they are wolves.

The whale is everywhere the most majestic and fear-inspiring creature of the sea. It was probably the "great fish" that swallowed Jonah and the sea monster slain by Perseus. In this type of symbolism, the whale is an animal of the Underworld, a dark and powerful force but not undefeatable. In tattoo artwork, different types of species are shown, sometimes the KILLER WHALE and other times the gray or the blue whale, but almost always breaching, rising significantly above the surface.