People drawn to getting a new tattoo may be experiencing a kind of awakening that is a sign something big is happening in their life.

Getting your first tattoo rarely happens in a perfectly calm, logical moment. More often, it arrives wrapped in adrenaline and emotion, with the sense that something meaningful is about to happen.

Historically, tattoos existed at the fringe of society. But today, tattoos are mainstream — gracing the skin of athletes, celebrities, professionals and everyday people. According to the Pew Research ...