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Sun Tattoo Meanings

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Sun Tattoo Meanings

Sun Tattoo Meanings

Sun Tattoo Meanings
at-a-glance
:

  • Energy
  • Warmth
  • Vitality
  • Unification
  • Radiance
  • Spirit
  • Power
  • Focus
  • Abundance
  • Rejuvenation
  • Growth
  • Radiance
  • Illumination
  • Enlightenment
  • Glory
  • Strength
  • Divinity
  • Masculinity
  • Dominance
  • Wealth
  • Seasons/Time/Cycles
  • God

The sun is a provisioner of life.  Think about it, centuries before the advent of electricity, the sun predicted human cycles of life, availability of food, and therefore was a symbol of general well-being.

It still serves these purposes for the less technologically inclined cultures, and certainly this sense of well-being has not changed in the plant and animal king/queendoms.

In this line of thought, the sun is symbolic of productivity, vitality, energy and the ability to sustain vibrancy.  Are you a natural cheerleader?  Do you easily energize others? Are you able to project your passion as brightly as the sun and inspire others along the way?  If so, a sun tattoo might be a great way to convey these gifts.

The sun is the male (yang) counterpart to feminine moon.  It has a dynamic brilliance that is undeniable.  In generalized symbolic terms the sun represents an outgoing, radiant behavior.

Are you a leader?  Do you provide for your tribe or clan?  Are you always buoying, supporting and shining a light of clarity out for others to see?  If so, a sun tattoo may really resonate with you.

In early cultures, and even in certain spectrums of worship today, the sun is a representative of the divine.  In its male form, it was known as a god with very dominating, commanding, forceful influences. 

As a spiritual symbol, the sun is symbolic of consistency on our spiritual walk.  It also reminds us of our ability to radiate with the power of essential, spiritual beatitudes (truth, love, patience, compassion, etc).  The sun is also an icon of illumination and enlightenment in spiritual symbolism.  Is your spiritual evolution a primary focus in your life right now?  These sun tattoo meanings may brighten your objectives in a permanent way.

The sun has a very dynamic, vibrant personality and so those of you who lean to the sun tattoo may mimic this kind of active, energetic behavior.  If you were born under the sun signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius you may also gravitate to sun tattoos as these astrological signs are associated with the element of fire. 

For thousands of years the sun has featured prominently in the human consciousness.  This makes it “numero uno” in symbolism and so attributions of unification, solidarity, centering and singular view play a big part in sun tattoo meanings.  The sun sits in a throne in the center of our solar system – this makes it a prime focal point.  If you have something in your life that is central, perhaps a sun tattoo can convey this importance. 

In all cases, we all revolve around the sun, so its symbolism is going to be gargantuan and blindingly spectacular.

If you need more information on sun symbolism, like how various cultures viewed the sun as a symbol of life, strength and power…check out my other pages on the sun:

Sun Symbolism

Fire Symbolism

Native American Sun Symbols

Sun Animal Totems

Sun Yantras

Sun Symbolism in the Tarot

Caduceus Tattoos

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Caduceus Tattoos

Caduceus Tattoos

Caduceus Tattoos
(meanings at-a-glance):

  • Healing
  • Renewal
  • Life
  • Vitality
  • Harmonization
  • Unification
  • Integrity
  • Authority
  • Health
  • Circulation
  • Honor
  • Travel
  • Protection
  • Fair trade
  • Commerce
  • Transcendence
  • Dualism
  • Magic
  • Wisdom
  • Equilibrium
  • Fertility
  • Transformation

Caduceus tattoos should not to be confused with the Staff of Asclepius tattoos.  Even though both have come to be known as symbols of healing and the medical field, the caduceus is much more dynamic in its meanings (as you will see while comparing the at-a-glance symbolism between the two tattoos).

At its core, caduceus tattoos are symbolic of unification of opposites: Male/Female, Yin/Yang, Light/Dark.    The harmony of dual forces is seen by the opposing snakes wrapped around the staff. 

Themes of healing, homeopathy, nature and holistic approaches to health are captured in the serpents too.  Snakes in ancient Greece, where this symbol originates, were symbolic of transformation. 

The shedding of the serpents’ skin is symbolic of slipping off the old self (illness) and moving freely in the fresh, newly healed self (wellness).

The wings of caduceus tattoos symbolize higher thoughts, higher mind, high integrity and the intent to serve others in a higher capacity.

The staff or center rod in the caduceus symbol represents power, unification, and connection between heaven and earth (as well as the point of focus between duality).  The staff is the connection between high and low (thought and body) and facilitates easy communication between the two. 

Caduceus is a symbol of messengers in myth such as the Greek Hermes (Mercury in Roman myth) because the center staff conveys transportation of energy between mind and body (heaven and earth, male and female, shadow and light, etc.).

Deities who adopt the caducues include:

  • Hermes (Greek): Travel, Commerce, Trade, Speed, Messenger
  • Mercury (Roman): Speed, Intelligence, Youthfulness, Health
  • Anubis (Egyptian): Afterlife, Spirit, Protection, Preservation
  • Baal (Phoenician): Fertility, Abundance, Agriculture, Leadership
  • Ishtar (Babylonian): Fertility, Sensuality, Military, Love, Passion
  • Isis (Egyptian): Magic, Femininity, Motherhood, Fertility, Protection, Beginnings, Nature

For more information on this subject:

Caduceus Symbolic Meaning (full article)

Staff of Asclepius Tattoo Meaning

Snake Symbolism

Staff Symbolism in Tarot

Symbolism of Wings

Staff of Asclepius Tattoo Meaning

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Staff of Asclepius Tattoos

Staff of Asclepius Tattoos

Staff of Asclepius tattoo meaning
(at-a-glance):

  • Healing
  • Faith
  • Medicine
  • Apothecary
  • Renewal
  • Life
  • Magic

The staff of Asclepius tattoo meaning will most likely convey healing as it is a symbol of the medical field.

Asclepius was a Greek god of healing and medicine.  His name means “to cut open” which is mistakenly thought to be associated with surgery.  In actuality, Asclepius was cut open from the womb of his mother (while she was burning on a pyre because of infidelity to her husband and Asclepius’ father, Apollo).

Temples for healing are named after Asclepius, and called asclepieia.  

Legend states the legendary physician, Hippocrates invoked the god Asclepius to provide the purest form of healing to his patients.  Indeed, some versions of the physicians oath (also known as the Hippocratic oath) require the initiate to swear upon the name of Asclepius to always heal with highest integrity and intent.

Snakes are associated with the staff of Asclepius tattoo meaning for their healing symbolism in ancient Greece.  Snakes (both venomous and nonvenomous) were used in healing rituals by Greeks because their venom was thought to be medicinal.  Furthermore, the shedding of a snakes skin is symbolic of sloughing off illness and transitioning into new health.

People interested in healing of all kinds: Physical, spiritual, emotional, mental will be keenly drawn to the staff of Asclepius tattoo.

The staff of Asclepius should not be confused with the Caduceus symbol.

For more information on this subject, click on:

Caduceus Tattoo Meaning

Caduceus Symbolic Meaning (on my blog)

Symbolism of Snakes

Staff Symbolism in Tarot 

Fox Tattoo Symbolism

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Fox Tattoo Symbolism

Fox Tattoo Symbolism

Fox Tattoo Symbolism
(at-a-glance):
 

  • Clever
  • Playful
  • Focused
  • Shapeshifting
  • Skillful
  • Secretive
  • Resourceful
  • Health
  • Sexuality
  • Lucky
  • Vitality
  • Guile

Symbolism of the fox has tricky connotations.  In fact, the fox is connected with the trickster archetype, Loki in Norse myth.  Native American mythology of North America indicates the fox as a trickster too – but of a morally neutral position – ambivalent to consequences too.

In truth, the fox is incredibly intelligent.  It gets its tricky symbolism because it’s astoundingly adept at escaping traps, evading predators and moving around (particularly at night) in its environment.

Symbolism of shapeshifting comes into play from Chinese symbolism as well as Japan, Native North American Indians, Eastern India, to name a few. These and other various cultures recognized the fox’s ability to adapt to its environment and escape from harm by seemingly supernatural means. 

Fox tattoo symbolism in this light will indicate: Intelligence, adaptability, strategy – and a stealthy (but lovable) way of moving in social circles.

As a symbol of sexuality, we think of the term “foxy” as an adjective for sultry beauty.  Indeed, Chinese lore indicates various fox parts (testicles, tail, teeth, claws) were used as aphrodisiacs.  Thankfully, we have tattoos to convey sexual prowess- no need to go chopping up fox parts.  Sheesh.

In European folklore the fox is symbolic of stealth, cunning and slyness. 

The red fox is particularly symbolic of sexual prowess (red being a symbolic color of the root chakra, or primal energy).  The red fox is also associated with the realm of solar animals and carries meanings of: Vitality, Life, Energy and Health

It’s black feet and legs are symbolic of that sneaky nature I’ve been talking about here.  It conveys a feeling of being able to shadow about, and obtain things in a cloaked manner.

Here are a few other pages that will enhance your thoughts about fox tattoo symbolism:

Sunflower Tattoo Meaning

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Sunflower Tattoo Meaning

Sunflower Tattoo Meaning

Sunflower Tattoo Meaning
(at-a-glance):

  • Faith
  • Longevity
  • Spiritual knowing
  • Healing
  • Nourishment
  • Focus
  • Good luck
  • Magic
  • Worship
  • Flexibility

Sunflower tattoo meaning is mostly derived from solar (sun) symbolism which deals with:

  • Vitality
  • Life
  • Warmth
  • Provision
  • Pleasure
  • Light

The sunflower moves itself in the most direct position in front of the sun so it can get the maximum amoung of sun rays.  This is symbolic of spiritual faith, and worship because we follow our belief system as the sunflower moves to face the life-giving rays of the sun.

The sunflower is the Greek symbol of Clytie (a water nyphm) who turns into a sunflower after grieving over the loss of her love (Apollo). 

The mythological symbolism here is that Clytie (in the form of a sunflower) is always facing the sun, looking for Apollo’s chariot to return and she might be joined again with her love.  The sunflower is also a symbol of Daphne (another Greek nymph).

In Chinese symbology, the sunflower (and sunflower tattoo meaning) deals with long life, good luck and is considered very auspicious.  It’s yellow collor signifies vitality and intelligence.  It’s a symbol of happiness too.

In esoteric Christianity, the sunflower is a symbol of Gods love.  This tattoo can also represent the unwavering faith that guides the soul to the highest spiritual attunement.

For more resources:

Flower Meanings, including Sunflower Meanings

Flower Color Meanings