Harry Styles’ American Eagle Tattoo: Is There A Hidden Meaning?


One Direction star Harry Styles has a new tattoo. It is more perhaps more accurate to say that Harry has a new tattoo that covers up an old tattoo. Until recently, Styles had the words “Things I Can” tattooed on his right forearm, but Harry is now sporting some new ink which has been used to cover up those words. In the tattoo world, “cover-ups” are used to hide tattoos that people later regret. Often, this can be the name of a former partner or ink that was added in bad taste.

According to PopStarTats, Harry has never revealed the meaning for the “Things I Can” tattoo, but he has a similar design on his left forearm that reads “Things I Can’t.” It is believed that Harry’s matching ink may be an allusion to the serenity prayer that reads “God, grant me the serenity to accept the ‘things I can’t’ change, the courage to change the ‘things I can,’ and wisdom to know the difference.”

The Daily Mail reports that Styles now sports an American eagle on his right forearm, which covers up the old tattoo. Styles has not revealed the reason for his cover up, but the new design was clearly visible when Harry had his picture snapped with a group of fans whilst he was having a post-Christmas break in the Caribbean.

According to J-14 magazine, Harry also had his “Things I Can’t” tattoo covered up, so perhaps the new tattoo was inevitable, but many fans believe that Harry’s new tattoo has a special significance.

According to the Universe Of Symbolism, the eagle totem is symbolic of a “great visionary,” a master of timing and accuracy, and the eagle brings the essence of “flying high and free.” The eagle’s powerful talons are symbolic of the ability to take what you need. In native American symbolism, the eagle is an animal that invites you to fly high and free and to see things with new eyes.

“The eagle is the brother who flies highest and closest to the Creator. His vision, wisdom and courage are gifts that we each possess.”

In heraldry the eagle symbolises courage, strength, and immortality. There can be no doubt that 2015 has seen huge changes for Harry Styles and his One Direction bandmates. Harry lost a bandmate when Zayn Malik quit the band shortly after the commencement of their latest world tour. Harry, Louis, Liam, and Niall spent nine months of the year on tour and released their fifth album, but of course, most significantly, Styles and his band-mates are now heading into a hiatus of indeterminate length.

Many of Harry’s fans believe that Styles and his bandmates have been exploited and overworked by their management and by Simon Cowell’s SyCo. It is thought that when the forthcoming music industry award season passes, Harry and his bandmates will be free of their current contracts and free to determine their own future. Harry’s eagle tattoo could be symbolic of the end of that relationship.

Of course, many of Styles’ fans are convinced that Harry’s image is totally manipulated by the band’s management. The sony email leak showed that Harry should be portrayed as “witty, cheeky and adorably slow.” Perhaps Harry’s eagle tattoo signifies Styles’ desire to break free of that image and to be free to show the world who he really is.

According to PopStarTats, Styles has a total of 62 tattoos, on his left wrist Harry had a tattoo that said “I can’t change” in capital letters. Perhaps by covering up these tattoo’s Styles is showing us that 2016 is the year that he can and will change. Many of Styles’ fans will hope that 2016 will see Harry fly high and free, just like his new tattoo.

[Photo by John Davisson/Invision/AP]

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