When people talk of evil tattoo designs they are usually referring to either horror tattoos, as the one shown in the picture, or tattoos that use pagan symbols. This latter category of tattoos mainly deals with the fact that what may be called as "occult". These images are in association with the white witchcraft which has another name called Wicca, the Viking Runes, The Tarot and other magic craft and prophesy. Images like the pentacle which is a five pointed star, or the Athame which is a double edged blade that is used for white witchcraft. There are also images in relation with the four elements which are the fire, water, earth and air. All of the above mentioned images fall under the Wicca tattoos. Many people tend to think that these occult gothic tattoos are evil tattoos. For all those who think like this let me make you clear that what you think is absolutely wrong. These images neither have evil qualities nor do they have anything to do with so called ‘Satanism’. These images are just the signs of prehistoric religions in the medieval period, which gothic tattoo lovers dig out and celebrate by getting these designs etched on their bodies in ink. And the horror designs are not evil tattoos either, nor they do they represent a serious sociopathic personality. It’s just a design that’s cool and shows one’s love for the horror genre.
When the topic of evil tattoos are mentioned in public circles, it’s usually in reference to classic horror designs depicting demons and ghouls or tattoos that are of an occult nature. The former characterization is what the grim reaper design in the photo alludes to. It’s a cool design but is far from being an evil tattoo. The grim reaper is a potent symbol of death and a graphic reminder of the transitory nature of life. The grim Reaper and the skull were often used as symbols in medieval and renaissance art as a stark reminder of the fact that life is finite and hints powerfully at the afterlife that awaits us. The grim reaper is often associated as an agent of Satan or the devil, but this is not necessarily the case. The grim reaper is death. Whether the soul goes to heaven or hell or ends up in purgatory depends on the kind of life lived by the recently deceased. So, as you can see this design is by no means an evil tattoo. It’s just symbolic of it’s deeper intrinsic meaning and because of that it often stirs feelings of discomfort in people who view it. But, how seriously can you take the design when it features the grim reaper riding a motorcycle. A cool tattoo? Most definitely. An evil tattoo? I really don’t think so.
