Several years ago I had a girlfriend, well, I actually had some, but this particular one had a brother,not that the others didn't, well some of them surely had or must have had any brother as well, but that's not the point, don't tangle me. Anyway, this brother am referring to was studying medicine and was not long away from graduating. He was a smart guy, but he was very few words and a little introverted too. It also seemed a bit conceited to me, but this is my opinion and personal perception, don't listen to me. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I heard his voice, including this anecdote that I will now do to you.
On one occasion we went out the 4 of us, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend, my girlfriend and me. The atmosphere at the table we were seating at was a bit heavy and weird, nothing was said about anything, despite my attempts, so I sticked to the music, the drink and my . There was a time when my brother-in-law's girlfriend asked me about the meaning of my tattoos for me. I replied that they did not have any in particular, that for me (that I liked drawing) they only had an artistic-aesthetic value, that I liked to see them there and see them in other people, only that. At that time I still did not have the tattoos of the forearms, those do have a meaning for me besides the artistic one.

Right forearm
I am Sagittarius and I was looking for a tattoo that represented this sign in a different way than the one usually seen. Until I found this centaur with his bow that captured the essence of what I wanted, but also aesthetically and artistically it was very good.

Closer view

Left forearm

Closer view(Don't lose the north, says the writing in spanish.
This captivated me both ways, because seeing it represented the focus on the goal, the discipline to maintain it and the determination to fight for it without losing sight of it for a moment, in addition, I repeat, of the artistic and aesthetic value, which visually is, in my opinion, very attractive.
It was the first time that I remember hearing the voice of my brother-in-law, who maintained (in a slightly arrogant way) that having made tattoos without specific meaning was nonsense, he added that tattoos have always been, in any of its manifestations or population segments of use, bearers of a meaning.
His tattoos (those of my brother-in-law) were religious.
He was not far from right in his dissertation on the history of tattoos and their meanings, but in my view, the value and meaning that mine had for me when it came to making them and that they still have, is also valid and does not necessarily have to be linked to a religion or a specific population segment.

My Right shoulder

My Left shoulder

My back
Art as an expression form itself is the bearer of a meaning and a value. Tattoos are one more beautiful and ancient art manifestation. We, those of us who choose it and are ok with it, we are simply...Moving Canvases.
What about you, do you have any tattoos? What was your motivation to do it? What do you think of its meanings?
I'll be happy to read you down in the comments if you want to share your opinion.