People are very passionate about what they put on their body—especially something as permanent as a tattoo. Tattoos often have impactful and powerful meanings behind them. Ethyn Ludwigs’s (‘22) tattoo may only look like a tree, but there a much deeper story to his tattoo, and even more to be added.

Ludwig has put a great deal of thought into his tattoos. His parents have only one rule: when it comes to getting a tattoo, find what you want first, print it out and put it some place where you’ll see it for a year. By the end of that year if you still love it just as much you did a year ago, you can put it on your body with no regrets.

Doing so has helped him — he absolutely loves his tattoo, and he plans on getting more. He has put an incredible amount of consideration as to what he wants tattooed on his body.

With his world tree tattoo, he didn’t have a picture of what he wanted.

“Me and my tattoo artist talked over the phone and through email, and we found the perfect idea to get everything I want,” said Ludwig (‘22).

Even with bypassing his parents’ rule, they fully supported this tattoo because of how much meaning was behind it.

So what is the world tree, and why did Ethyn get it? 

The world tree, also known as the Yggdrasil, is the tree of Norse mythology; it connects the nine realms or worlds. There is Midgard (Earth), Asgard, Jotenheim, Svartalfheim, Vanaheim,  Muspelheim, Niflheim, Nidavallir, and Alfheim. 

In addition to this unique symbol, at the bottom of this tree, Ludwig put his grandma’s name, Debbie Bogner. His grandma meant and still means a lot to him. He only knew her until he was three years old, but he holds precious memories with her.

“I do know she is the one who gave me my coffee addiction. She would always let me have a sip, which ended [with] me drinking her entire cup,” he said.

With his grandma’s name, Ludwig will always know she is there with him. 

“She had a tattoo on her right wrist, that was a white winged butterfly. When me and my family see one we know she’s checking up on us,” he said. 

To make his tattoo more meaningful Ludwig chose a very special date for when he went under the needle. Ludwig (‘22) said, “I decided to get this tattoo around the anniversary of her death and birthday.”

Not only does he showcase the name of his grandma, but the roots at the bottom of the tree symbolize his family. Later, in the future Ludwig plans “to have tree branches come out, then the leaves will have the names of [his] kids and whoever [he marries] on it.” 

Ludwig’s (‘22) advice to students is, “No matter what anyone says, follow your dreams and don’t let anyone stand in your way.”