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Scorpion Tattoos

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

Scorpion Tattoos and Scorpion Meaning

Scorpion Tattoos and Scorpion Meaning

Scorpion Tattoos and Symbolism
(at-a-glance):

  • Protection
  • Rebellion
  • Attachment
  • Retaliation
  • Aggression
  • Power
  • Warning
  • Mystery
  • Energy
  • Transition
  • Calculated
  • Stealth
  • Healing
  • Logic
  • Survival
  • Mysticism
  • Resilience
  • Guardianship
  • Self-defense
  • Altered perception

If you’re zealous about researching tattoo meanings to personal satisfaction, you’re going to run into sources touting scorpion tattoos as representations of dark traits like death, darkness or treachery.  If you want more of those kinds of meanings for scorpion tattoos, you can look elsewhere.

I’m not of the same mind, as I don’t believe in death.  Rather, we can look at the death theme associated with the scorpion as a time of transition from one phase of life into another. 

In this way, the scorpion tattoo can be a symbol of freedom from limiting beliefs about death.

The Egyptians were big on one life ending as a means to begin another life in the Afterworld.  And the scorpion was a powerful guardian to the ancient Egyptians and their concept of  life-after-life.

In fact, the scorpion was an attribute of the goddess Selket who was a guardian of transitioning souls.  Selket also protected canopic jars and various rituals of the mummification process that insured transition from one life to the next. 

This makes the scorpion a powerful guardian of soul-evolution.  – A protector of different kinds of life.  It also makes the scorpion a symbolic sentinel of the mysteries of the Afterworld.

In African aboriginal lore, the scorpion is associated with life and so-called death too.  The sting of a scorpion is said to have intense healing qualities and so this creature was greatly honored.  It was both highly respected because one sting could also prove lethal. 

Scorpion stings can also trigger hallucinogenic effects and so the theme of transition continues.  In this light, the scorpion (sting) is a catalyst for reaching altered states of consciousness

This puts scorpion tattoos in the psychedelic category – a message of limitless perception.  It’s also a shamanic creature due to its hallucination-sparking stings as shamans could utilize their venom for spirit journeying.

The scorpion is a master at survival.  It takes advantage of every opportunity for the sake of its existence as many kinds of scorpions live in brutally harsh environments.  This makes the scorpion a symbol of victory over adversity.

Scorpions are also associated with the sun.  Therefore, scorpion tattoos will have sun-like qualities including: Energy, Vitality, Clarity, Focus and Radiance.

The scorpion is a representation of the zodiac sign of Scorpio, and in this context a scorpion tattoo will convey attributes of: Boldness, Dynamism, Mystical Power, Secretiveness and Seduction.

Read more about this topic to fill out your research on scorpion tattoos:

Scorpion Symbolic Meaning (full article)

Scorpio zodiac sign meanings

Solar Animals: Radiating Symbolism

Insect Totems and Meanings

Meaning of Ladybug Tattoos

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Meaning of Ladybug Tattoos

Meaning of Ladybug Tattoos

Ladybug Tattoo Meaning
(at-a-glance):
 

  • Protection
  • Happiness
  • Luck
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Good deeds done

In Christian symbolism the ladybug is often associated with the Virgin Mary.  This connection comes about from the ladybug’s protection of plants (it’s a natural voracious consumer of pests in the garden). 

In Chinese symbolism the ladybug is very auspicous and consdiered very good luck.  Asian lore indicates if a ladybug lands on your clothing, your true love is sure to come to call.  The number of spots on the ladybug is an indication of how many months will pass until you meet your true love.

The ladybug is a common symbol of friendship because it is a natural helper in gardens, and works in harmony with nature (and gardeners).

There are several superstitions around ladybugs that enhance the meaning of ladybug tattoos:

  • Finding a ladybug is very good luck and is a sign of good fortune coming your way.
  • Killing a lady bug is (obviously) back luck.
  • Number of spots on a ladybug is suppose to tell how many years of good fortune you will have.
  • A ladybug landing on your hand is a sign of good weather coming.

As ladybugs are commonly red in color, this is symbolic of vitality, love, passion, heat and energy.

For more information and meaning of ladybug tattoos visit:

Ladybug as a Love Symbol

Ladybug Meaning

Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Meaning of Buttefly Tattoo

Meaning of Buttefly Tattoo


Meaning of Butterfly Tattoos
(at-a-glance):
 

  • Metamorphosis
  • Beauty
  • Peace
  • Immortality
  • Dreams
  • Spirituality
  • Transformation
  • Thoughts
  • Life
  • Playfulness
  • Tranquility
  • Delicateness
  • Fertility
  • Love
  • Intuition
  • Resurrection
  • Tenderness

When considering the meaning of butterfly tattoos, I always think of psyche in Greek thought, where the term psyche is alternatively used with life.  In fact, the term psyche is translated to mean “breath of life.”  Further, Psyche in Greek myth is companion to Eros (think Cupid).  All this  plays nicely with the ephemeral butterfly symbolism of love, intuition, life, peace and beauty.

Meaning of butterfly tattoos may also deal with transformation because of the butterfly’s impressive evolution through life.  Follow this path of metamorphosis:

  • Egg (beginning/birth)
  • Larva (dependence/socialization)
  • Caterpillar (independence/awareness)
  • Chyrsalis (withdrawal/death to pettiness)
  • Butterfly (emergence/illumination/awakening)

Pretty impressive, when we look at this amazing transformation with spiritual eyes.  Indeed, if you’re getting a butterfly tattoo – it is a symbol of significant transition and change in your life.

Japanese consider the buttefly to be a symbol of fine beauty and delicate feminine qualities.  Geisha’s are commonly identified with butterflies.

In esoteric Christian symbolism & art the butterfly is an icon of immortality and the resurrection of not only Christ, but an awakening to the higher love each human holds in his/her heart.

In Celtic symbolism the butterfly holds similar attributes and represents beauty, love, honor.  It is also a symbol for the soul in the Celtic mindset. (more on the Celtic meaning of butterfly can be found here).

In Chinese symbolism the butterfly is a sign of good luck, joy, abundance, health and blessing.

Follow these other pages for information on learning more meaning of butterfly tattoos:

Symbolic Meaning of Butterfly (full post)

More Butterfly Meanings  (including butterflies in dreams)

Spider Tattoo Meaning

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Spider Tattoo Meaning

Spider Tattoo Meaning

Spider Tattoo Meaning
(at-a-glance):

  • Thouroughness
  • Connectivity
  • Secretivness
  • Thoughtfulness
  • Practicality
  • Magic
  • Creation & Creativity
  • Simplicity
  • Luck
  • Motherhood
  • Progess

Spiders (and therefore spider tattoo meaning) share their symbolism with the webs they weave.  Countless ancient cultures hailed the spiderweb as a connective matrixfrom which all of creation emerged.  As the web mimics the interconnectivity of life/nature – the spider, then, is the creatrix.

For example, in India the spider is a weaver of reality and is a symbol of cosmic order.  In this light, the web of reality is spun from the womb of the spider and so, the spider is also a representation of the Upanishads (spiritual wisdom) because the spider is both the creator and the inhabitant of wisdom.  Spider tattoo meaning can also be connected to the Hindu concept of Maya (illusion) too as spiders weave crazy webs affecting perception. 

The spider is often considered a solar creature and is associated with the sun because of its radiating legs & radiating webs.  In this respect, the spider is also symbolic of: Life, vitality, health, radiating energy.

In Islam, white spiders are considered good luck symbols.  Black spiders…not-so-much.  :)

Alternatively, the spider is also thought of as a lunar creature and is linked with moon symbolism too: Passivity, intuition, mysticism, shadows, cycles, time.

Mythological deities associated with the spider:

  • Neith (Egyptian – the great weaver goddess)
  • Anansi (African – spider god who tutored humans how to weave)
  • Grandmother Spider (Native American Indian of Southwestern tribes - nature spirit connected to creation & wisdom)
  • Arachne (Greek goddess turned into a spider after she bested the jealous Athena in weaving skills)

Furthermore, the spider has eight legs which is symbolic of infinity, cycles, time, progression and harmonic balance (more on meaning of number eight here).

For more information on spider tattoo meaning follow these links:

Symbolic Spider Meaning (full article)

White Widow Spider Meaning

Good Luck Animals (including spiders as lucky omens)

Snail Tattoo Meanings

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Snail Tattoo Meanings

Snail Tattoo Meanings

Snail Tattoo Meanings
(at-a-glance):

  • Progress
  • Groundedness
  • Whimsy
  • Awareness
  • Observation
  • Patience
  • Expansion
  • Residual effects
  • Dreams
  • Consciousness

The snail is the steady-as-she-goes symbol in nature.  Slowly but surely the snail gets to her destination, and this can be a prime point in snail tattoo meanings if you want to convey steady progress on your life-path.

Snail shells are typically spiral in nature. Spirals are symbolic of expanding consciousness.  Alternatively, spirals can also imply a process of going within (spiraling inward) to seek inner consciousness for answers.

Snail tattoos can represent awareness, and an ability to effectively interpret dreams and unorthodox realities.  This is because of the snails attenae which are hugely exploratory.  Further, the entire body of the snail is a sensory tool.  This is symbolic of experiencing reality via uncommon sensory perception.

The snail is also a lunar creature.  Aboriginal cultures observed the snails ability to hide itself within its shell, or reveal itself.  This behavior is likened to the waxing and waning of the moon.  Similarly, the snail shares themes of progress, cycles, and fertility with the moon too.

In Mesoamerican lore, the snail is associated with the wind.  Indeed Mayan symbolism indicates various wind gods riding in snail shells – descending upon the earth in tempestuous, unpredictable undulations.

The snail is also associated with new beginnings – specifically spring-time energies as it is the first to emerge from the earth in the spring…coaxed out by spring rains.

Here are a few other pages that may inspire you as you consider further snail tattoo meanings:

Symbolic Meaning of the Spiral

Lunar (Moon) Symbolism

Native American Wind Symbol

Mayan Symbolism