Flying will always be one of man's greatest desires of all time - we have been fascinated with anything capable of being airborne forever. That is why inking wings as body art has always been so popular. They can mean many things depending on their bearers - a manifestation of religious beliefs, an insignia for protection, or a passion for freedom - but wing tattoos somehow primarily serve as an outlet for a fantasy of flight. So if you're thinking of getting one, read on to learn more about the most popular choices for wing tattoos and the symbolism behind each.

Angel wings are the most popular designs of wing tattoo art. Angels are religious characters – they are mentioned in various religious scriptures, such as Judaist, Christian, and Islamic writings. They are portrayed as the protectors of men, and also guide people to safety and the right path. As such, angel wing tattoos are recognized as spiritual symbols.

The most popular spot for angel wing tattoos is between the shoulders, the location where wings would be if humans had them. Men usually want to have angel wings tattoos on the chest or arm, while women choose to have it placed on the shoulder or abdomen.

Many people opt to have wing tattoos that cover the whole back. Others choose designs of smaller proportion to decorate the shoulder blades or the central upper back. An unwritten rule is the bigger the wings, the bigger the statement.

Butterfly wing tattoo designs cater to an almost entirely female population and rank as one of the most sought after designs today. Butterflies are powerful symbols of religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions. The winged form of a butterfly has even been used as a symbol for the human soul since ancient times. For instance, during 1600s in Ireland, killing a white butterfly was prohibited because it was believed to be the soul of a dead child.

Writings about or related to butterflies are so extensive that there are only a handful of cultures that do not give any reference to these beautifully winged insects. In Japan, the butterfly is favored as a family crest or emblem (ka-mon). Among the Aztec and Maya, it is the symbol of Xiutecutli, the god of cosmic fire. On the other hand, the ancient Greeks used it to depict the human spirit In the Urals, the people considered butterflies as spirits of fertility.

For Christians, the butterfly’s stages of metamorphosis – a pupa, caterpillar, and winged insect – are evocative of spiritual transformation. In the several portraits of Madonna and Child, the presence of butterflies represents their compassion for human souls. Moreover, the Gnostics depict the Angel of Death by showing a winged foot stepping on a butterfly.

A butterfly also represents human frailty, both moral and physical. It is also a symbol of woman's delicacy. It can serve as a reminder to treat her with gentleness. In Japan, a beautiful woman wearing a kimono is often likened to a butterfly. The butterfly is symbolic of rebirth after death.

In the past, it was common to see birds as the guides that transport the spirit of the dead into the heavens. Ancient tales of birds seen faithfully by the side of heroes were viewed as beacons of hope, as they possessed the ability to fly ahead and alert warriors of impending danger.

The most popular birds of choice are the following:

Bats -a symbol of longevity and joy, psychic ability, vampires (Pagan)

Bluebird - represent happiness, safe journeys, a classic "sailor" tattoo

Crane - a Chinese symbol of health, fidelity and marriage

Crow - a Celtic and Roman messenger of death, a Native American Indian Spirit Guide, a Chinese symbol of occult wisdom

Cuckoo - a pagan symbol of weddings, second sight and transformation

Dove - a universal symbol of peace and love, a symbol of Christ Consciousness in Christian religions

Eagles - a biker and patriotic symbol, a Native American symbol of strength, a Greek and Roman symbol of a leader, an Egyptian and Celtic symbol of the "carrier of souls" past death

Geese - a symbol of Canada, a symbol of new beginnings

Hawk - a symbol of divine intervention and second sight in many cultures

Hummingbirds - a love charm in Celtic and African Voodoo traditions

Magpie - an American Southwest symbol for wealth and protection

Owl - a symbol of wisdom and wisdom from the Gods in all cultures

Peacock - a symbol of immortality, dignity and authority in most cultures

Ravens - a Celtic symbol for victory in battle, a pagan symbol for messages from the dead

Robin - an ancient symbol for compassion and fertility

Sparrow - a Christian symbol for faith

Storks - traditionally announce the arrival of a baby, a universal symbol of fertility, a guardian of the elderly (North American Indian), a symbol of justice (Greece)

Swans - a traditional love symbol, a messenger of the communication God Apollo (Greek), a symbol of the moon (Celtic and Pagan)

Wren - a charm against drowning (Sailor), magic or occult powers (Wiccan and Pagan)