A blackwork style tattoo an occult sigil inside a rough edged shield shape at the top a stylized skull wearing a minimal military helmet partially erased or cracked represents an ex soldier with ptsd below the skull a vertical black bar like a blackout stripe crossed by a thin white line symbolizing the breaking of the cycle of pain around this bar small occult and abstract symbols reminiscent of runes but not directly copied conceal the tattoo artist s initials and words like limit truth and presence the base of the design features a small broken chain and a small empty circle in the center like a target symbolizing i was once the target now i am the center all in solid black with well thought out negative areas without gray tattoo idea - made by Ink Studio AI