Girls black phoenix tattoo wrapping around her side

Although most phoenix tattoos show the bird rising upward – because of the legend surrounding the bird of fire that can rise from the ashes to be reborn – this girl opted for a phoenix tattoo in which the bird is actually diving downward. A rising phoenix typically signifies rebirth or new beginnings, so a phoenix tat pointing in the opposite direction could be a symbol of a challenge or obstacle the wearer has yet to overcome. The phoenix tattoo in this photograph is inked in black and white, and the extensive artwork wraps around the girl’s body, beginning with the tail feathers on right side of the back and ending with the phoenix’s head pointing down towards her left hip.