Mermaid Tattoo Meaning

Mermaid Tattoo Meaning
at-a-glance:

• Seductive
• Alluring
• Feminine
• Emotional
• Tempestuous
• Wild
• Intuitive
• Reflective
• Enchanting
• Free
• Fluid
• Sensual
• Elusive

If you have an irrepressible love for the sea and this worlds’ oceans, a mermaid tattoo might be a very fitting symbol for you. 

Mermaids in myth are legendary for their unpredictability, and tempestuous ways.  Just like their home, the ocean, mermaids will never be bound to orthodoxy or convention.  Are you a wild one?  A renegade?  If so, perhaps the mermaids song sings in your soul – a song of passion and unbridled freedom.

Speaking of song, the mermaid is heralded for her enchanting voice.  Apart from her astonishingly striking beauty, mermaid song holds irresistible attraction.  Melodic narcotic. 

Indeed, she uses her looks and voice to woo unsuspecting souls at sea.  Depending on which myth you’re reading, a mermaid’s purpose for luring seafarers could be to offer refuge, salvation or pleasure.  On the flip-side, she could be offering death. 

I totally dig this whole “righteous vs. evil” two-face potential of the mermaid.  It screams duality to me, and of course underscores the theme of unpredictability.  A friend of mine, Monica, got a mermaid tattoo to convey her “flavor of the moment” attitude.  She takes a great deal of pride in her nature – which is technicolor, varied and mind-bogglingly changeable.  Her moods undulate like the seas.  She recognizes in herself the ability to be utterly charming, compassionate and kind – whilst at the same time, she  knows she is capable of dastardly deeds.  She’s okay with that, and her mermaid tattoo conveys that kind of cool self-confidence required to look with honesty at both sides of her behavioral coins.  Rock on Mon.

This kind of emotive metamorphosis is also associated with the moon, which the mermaid holds sacred.  We’ve all heard of unpredictable behavior and events around various phases of the moon….it’s why the root of “lunacy” is based on the Latin word for moon: Luna.  We know mermaids are energetically connected with the moon because the sea is influenced by it.  Also, in ancient depictions of mermaids, they are often shown with mirrors – which is a symbol of the moon.  So, we’re talking about a very yin, or femininine aspect here.

To be sure, mermaids are symbolic of sensuality, and I’ve known several people (men and women) who pressed ink to flesh in mermaid-form as a way to express their inner voluptuousness.  Where convention and taboo sometimes prohibits provocative behavior, a mermaid tattoo can speak for us in terms of eroticism and sexual confidence.  Very cool.

In myth (mostly Celtic, ancient European), mermaids were very big juju in terms of knowing.  They were thought to have deep psychic connection which makes utter sense as we learn the element of water is connected to concepts like: Dreaming, Intuition, Emotion, Deeper Knowing.  In this line of thought, mermaids are knowers of deeper, darker aspects of the soul.  Just as the sea holds unknown mysteries, so too do our own psyche’s – but legend indicates mermaids can see clear to the core of a human.  That kind of “clear-knowing” might also be a symbolic sea treasure as you consider mermaid tattoos.

These are just few thoughts about mermaid tattoo meaning for your contemplative pleasure.

Swim ’round my other page on Mermaid Meaning and Symbolism here.  You might find more inspiration for you mermaid tattoo from that article too.

Surf around a few other pages you might like:

Water Symbolism

Symbolic Undines (Water Elementals)

Nature Symbolism

Moon Symbolism

Dolphin Symbolism

More on Mermaid Meaning and Symbolism

Shark Tattoo Meaning

Shark Tattoo Meaning
(at-a-glance):

• Power
• Assertiveness
• Instinct
• Focus
• Authority
• Effectiveness
• Calculated
• Confident
• Protection
• Graceful
• Strength
• Fearlessness
• Energy
• Knowing
• Self-assurance
• Survivor

Shark tattoo meaning deals with the indomitable spirit of the shark. These creatures are built for survival, (they haven’t evolved much in over 400 million years!).   As such they are perfect for people who want a tattoo to signify they are survivors.  Symbolically, this speaks to our human hearts, and tells us:

a) We are born perfectly designed (how can you improve perfection?).
b) Whatever life throws at us, we will survive.

To the Maori, the mako shark (mako meaning shark or shark tooth) is a sacred fish because of its status as “king of the waters.”  To their natural way of viewing life, the shark is a powerful symbol of victory and superior power to the Maori.  I’ve seen a few Maori shark tattoos (shark teeth, specifically) and indeed their bold presence is equally bold in symbolism.

Celtic shark tattoos will capture the symbolism of the scythe because ancient Celts (who were quite sea-savvy) observed the dorsal fin of the shark to look a lot like a sickle or scythe (the crescent blade used to harvest wheat. Also a sacred Druidic tool).  As scythes are synonymous with harvesting and also the closing of an agricultural season, the shark to the ancient Celts would speak of respectfully gathering resources while opportunity is available.  It also speaks of transition, cycles and acknowledging the passage of one phase of life into another.

Shark tattoos are considered symbols of protection – especially for sailors, pirates and those who travel often (particularly by sea).

Interestingly, the Hindu god Vishnu is sometimes shown leaping out of the mouth of a shark.  This can be interpreted several ways.  Predominantly it signifies the dominance of Nature; that Nature and her creatures must be respected – never underestimated.  This illustration also puts sharks on a divine level, having same status as gods and goddesses.  This reinforces shark symbolism of power and authority.

For more soulful insights and other pages of similar symbolism visit:

Shark Symbolism: Living Life Full-On

Water Symbolism: Emotional Intelligence

Water Totems: Swimming with Symbolism

Dolphin Tattoos and Meanings

Dolphin Tattoos and Meanings
(at-a-glance):

• Intelligence
• Playfulness
• Friendship
• Freedom
• Intuition
• Sensitivity
• Dreaming
• Connection
• Happiness
• Protection
• Love

Dolphin tattoos may convey a sense of playfulness by the wearer as the dolphin itself is renowned for its sense of play, joy and freedom.

Dolphins are well noted for their intelligence.  In ancient Greece, the dolphin symbolized god-like intelligence and was associated with the powerful god Apollo.  Apollo is also a deity who represents light and so dolphin tattoos will convey higher thought, and an illumined life.  As an associate of Apollo the dolphin will also have kingly traits like: Strength, Power and Authority.  We also see these themes in the dolphin’s association with Poseidon.  Indeed, the Greeks dubbed the dolphin as the “King of the Sea” and with this moniker, kingly attributes will also apply to the dolphin.

The ancient Greeks also viewed the dolphin as the transporter of souls to Isles of the Blessed.  In this light we pick up symbolic themes of transition, transformation and ascending to new levels of being.  Symbolism of resurrection and dolphins also shows up in Christian art as the dolphin is also featured as a carrier of souls.  In this respect, dolphin tattoos may also represent the light of Christ comforting and guiding souls to their final spiritual home.

The dolphin may also have lunar meanings too.  It’s semi-circle body shape (notably seen during airborne flips) looks like crescent moons.  The dolphin is also a companion of Aphrodite who maintains feminine and moon symbolism.  With moon associations comes traits like: Intuition, Dreaming, Psychism, Depth, Emotion.

Two dolphin tattoos together will represent both sun and moon.  It also symbolizes duality, partnership, cooperation and balance.

Other pages of interest for your dolphin tattoo researching pleasure:

Symbolism of the Dolphin (full article)

Symbolism of Water

Symbolism of the Moon

Koi Tattoo Meaning

Koi Tattoo Meaning
(at-a-glance):

• Determination
• Aspiration
• Bravery
• Perseverance
• Success
• Luck
• Excellence
• Good fortune
• Willpower
• Transformation
• Intelligence
• Diligence

Koi is actually a type of carp or sturgeon.  Chinese legend tells us of the few, strong and proud koi who swum upstream with the promise of being transformed into a magnificent dragon. 

These courageous koi fought against raging currents of the Lung Men (known as the Dragon’s Gate) on the Yellow River.  It is said these determined fish showed grand excellence and brave-heartedness in their desire to become dragons. 

What’s more, their arduous upstream battle to become dragons was made more challenging because only during a certain time could this transformation take place.  Only during the third full moon of each year.  A small window of opportunity, but to a willing few, the promise of metamorphosis from fish to dragon was worth the risk.

Koi tattoo meanings also deal with intelligence, and in Chinese symbolism these fish represent success in academics, scholarly persuits and high acumen.

Other Koi tattoo meanings:

• Gold koi = wealth and prosperity
• Platinum or silvery koi = success in business
• Black koi = most likely to cross Lung Men and win transformation into dragons.  Symbolic of success after a change.
• White koi = advancement in social settings (career and family)
• Red koi = (red markings) success in love and romance.

I hope you have enjoyed these thoughts on koi tattoo meanings.

For more information, continue your research with:

Symbolic Meaning of Japanese Koi

Water Totems and Meanings

Symbolic Meaning of Fish (general)

Chinese Dragon Meanings