New Beginning Tattoos

Starting over rarely comes with a ceremony. A move, a new job, a new chapter you chose: these new beginning tattoos give that moment a visible shape for one to two weeks. Wear the symbol while the change settles in. Then renew it, or let it go.

Symbols for a fresh start

• Lotus: it rises from muddy water and opens clean, so it is often read as rebirth and a clean slate. Fine line, dotwork, mandalas, ornamental pendants with dangling drops, blackwork: more in lotus tattoos.
• Lotus with unalome: a winding line that straightens as it rises, often described as the path toward clarity. See unalome tattoos.
• Lotus and moon: often linked to cycles and starting over.
• Phoenix: the classic rebirth tattoo, here in a brush-painted Japanese sumi-e style. It also has its own page: phoenix tattoos.
• Sunrise on the horizon: the plainest image there is of a day starting again.
• Zibu-inspired symbol: a flowing glyph drawn around the idea of new beginnings.
• Packs: lotus or moon sets, to mix several symbols.

The butterfly, often linked to change, has its own page: butterfly tattoos.

Choosing a new beginning tattoo

A small fine line lotus or a slim lotus and unalome suits a wrist, an ankle or the nape. Mandalas and pendants need room: sternum, upper back, forearm. Forearm, shoulder and upper back hold the design longest; hands, fingers and feet fade faster.

Try your symbol before you commit

Thinking about something permanent? A temporary new beginning tattoo lets you live with the symbol for a week or two. Does the spot still feel right on day ten? Our guide to trying a tattoo before you get it covers the rest.

Application takes two minutes, no needles. At first the design looks pale. That's normal. Within 24 to 36 hours the jagua ink develops into blue-black. Keep it dry and don't rub it for 8 hours; after that it's waterproof and lasts up to 2 weeks, though long soaks, sweat and friction make it fade sooner. PPD-free.

Want a new beginnings tattoo that is yours alone? Order a custom temporary tattoo: the date things changed, a word, a short phrase, initials, a symbol of your own. Minimum 3 copies, made in 3 to 4 weeks, design approved before printing.

Questions about new beginning tattoos

What tattoo symbolizes new beginnings?

The lotus comes up most, since it pushes up through mud to flower. The phoenix, the unalome, a rising sun and the butterfly follow. All but the butterfly are in this collection (the unalome paired with a lotus); butterflies have their own collection, and anything else can be made as a custom design.

What tattoo signifies rebirth?

Mostly the phoenix, the bird that legend says rises from its own ashes, and the lotus. Those are traditional readings; what yours stands for is up to you.

Is a temporary tattoo possible?

Yes. Jagua ink develops in the top layers of the skin, turns blue-black within 24 to 36 hours and stays one to two weeks. Long enough to carry your symbol through the first weeks of a change, or to test a design before going permanent.