What Does The Tattoo On John Wick’S Back Mean

John Wick’s back tattoo is a depiction of the Paradox of Choice – the idea that more choices can lead to greater anxiety rather than decisions feeling easier. The tattoo is of a 3-headed dragon that is divided in two sections: The left side shows the dragon breathing fire, while the right side shows the dragon on a tightrope with the quote “Faculty of the Mind” inscribed underneath. This is symbolic of the struggle between the rational side of our minds – the desire for safety and security, and the irrational side – the desire for danger and risk. By committing to this starkly divided tattoo, John is symbolically committing to embracing both sides of this paradox and attempting to balance them.