Phoenix Tattoo Idea

I grabbed a piece of scrap paper (which you can tell by the black words peeking through the white), and had about 4 different images of phoenixes that other artists had drawn.  I picked up a pen (which happened to have bright blue ink), a white-out tape dispenser, and just started drawing.  I was using certain ideas from the drawings I had in front of me, but most of this came from my imagination.  For the first time in a long time, I had a surge of creativity and the desire to create.

I found out that the phoenix is my spirit animal without even really trying to.  It just happened.  I don't quite remember exactly how, but I remember getting this feeling when I learned more about phoenixes.  I always just thought they were fiery birds that looked pretty.

Upon researching them, I figured out that if there was one creature that I could relate most to, it is the phoenix (even if it is mythical).

Here's the history behind the phoenix. (Yes, that's a link.)

Anyway, I suffered from severe depression starting in junior high school which later progressed into Bipolar Disorder with a tendency to depression, along with anxiety.  I still struggle with it every day.  The phoenix is such a strong symbol to me because phoenixes represent a death and a rebirth.  They represent a new life, and I like to think of the flames as a symbol for strength.  Relating that to myself, my illness was my "death" of sorts.  My getting through the depression and my perseverance was the rebirth.  I have come out stronger, with even brighter flames than before.  I went through hell  for a very long period of my life (phoenixes were fabled to live over 1400 years before rebirth), but I made it through and now I am anew and ready to face the world.

Since drawing this, I realized it would make a great tattoo for my back (probably not in blue, though).

As you all probably know, I have a semicolon tattoo on my left wrist, which is also very meaningful for me.  A semicolon is symbolic of a sentence an author could have ended, but chose not to.  I am the author, and the sentence in my life.  Here's a picture of said tattoo:

I honestly never would have guessed that I would ever get a tattoo of any kind, but now I am seriously considering getting the phoenix one I drew.  I get excited just thinking about it, honestly.  The tattoo of the phoenix will probably cost somewhere from $400-$700 depending on the size and the colors used.  Looks like I have some saving to do.