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Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Stag Tattoo Symbolism
Stag tattoo meaning
(at-a-glance):
- Heroism
- Confidence
- Pride
- Nobility
- Strength
- Virility
- Cycles
- Provision
- Protection
The stag is a symbol of strength in countless cultures, legends and myth throughout history and across the globe. Why? Gee, just take a look at one – in the wilderness or even in a National Geographic mag – these beasts are stunning to behold.
Most notably, their antlers are symbolic of their dominance within the ranks of Nature. The bigger the rack – the more virile they are considered (by both doe and in human archetypal understanding). In their environment – antlers are tools and weapons. In a battle of territory and sexual conquest, size does matter and a massive antler-arrangement goes a long way to insure proper respect. Same holds true with a stag tattoo sporting an awesome fan of antlers. They’re symbolic of age (wisdom), elitism and superiority.
Antlers are also considered a solar feature by many Native perspectives. It’s because antlers resemble expanding rays of the sun. If we add solar symbolism to stag antlers, we get a symbolic mix of: Vitality, Energy, Radiance and Right-Action.
A stag tattoo meaning can also point to the recycling nature of all life. Here again, it’s their antlers that point to this aspect. Stags grow antlers in the Spring (symbolic of birth, renewal, the return of life), and fall off in the Fall (symbolic of death, introspection and hibernation). Are you keen about your own personal cycles of being? Do you profoundly feel the rise and fall of Nature and Time? The Stag might help you express these stirrings in a bold way.
Of course, if you’re a hunter, a Stag tattoo might be common sense. Let’s hope you’re in touch with the ancient history behind hunting, and the fact of interconnectivity of all life. Maybe a Stag tattoo can galvanize the concept of becoming one: The hunter and the hunted sharing an infinite bond – a shamanistic sharing of souls.
Celtic symbolism hold the Stag in high regard. A symbol of masculine fortitude and an icon of virile power. In their myths, a white Stag was considered a message of divine importance. Tons of heros of Celtic legend were lead to (enlightenment?) victory by a white stag.
More information about this unique symbolism can be found here:
Symbolism of the Deer
White Deer Symbolism
Posted in Animal Tattoos, Celtic Tattoos, Mammal Tattoos, Native American Tattoos, Personal Observations, Symbolic Tattoos | No Responses »
Tags: bold, confidence, cycles, fertility, heroism, honor, noble, protection, provision, sacrifice, sexuality, strength, stud, survivor, virtue, vitality
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Falcon Tattoo Meaning and Symbolism
Falcon Tattoo Meanings
(at-a-glance):
- Freedom
- Focus
- Vision
- Determination
- Divine Messages
- Royalty
- Devotion
- Nobility
- Honor
- Strength
- Skill
- Aspiration
- Strategy
- Vitality
- Clarity
- Higher Ideals
Vision, vision, vision. That’s what a falcon tattoo meaning says to me. What kind of vision? A passionate one. An empirial aim for a higher ideal.
Why do I feel that? Because the falcon is a noble bird whose acumen for reaching greater heights is legendary.
The Egyptians knew it. That’s why the falcon is a noble companion and consort of their sun god, Ra. With its association with solar power, Ra (and the falcon) were tantamount to superior vision. They weren’t just one step removed from god – they were god. We’re talking divine embodiment here – tapping into raw, primal heat. Egyptians were savvy about the ways of the falcon, sure – but they were more aware of the spirit of the falcon which seemed to circle the sun with ferocious determination and ceaseless courage.
That’s what I’m talking about when that concept of “vision” keeps flying through my observations about the falcon. Falcon tattoos encourage us to scale the heavens of our own potential, fly fearlessly into the fire of the sun, and keep reaching higher – reaching for more – keep rising to hit the target of personal vision.
We get the sense of this in ancient Europe too where the falcon is a symbol of obtaining the “prize.” The sport of falconry – training a raptor in the art of the hunt is highly honorable (when executed in the authentic tradition). Training a falcon takes time, devotion, commitment – it requires focus on the skills and talents inherent in the bird too.
True, the falcon does what it does naturally: Hone in on the prey, and master the capture. However, it takes the vision and focus of the falconer to refine these primal impulses in a falcon. It also takes cooperation. That’s one of the reasons falconry is relegated to royalty – because it recognizes respect and honor between man and beast.
That spirit of collaboration between human and raptor is key in a falcon tattoo. It talks about communion with a divine essence with a bird of indomitable courage and ceaseless gumption.
Furthermore, if you’re thinking of getting a falcon tattoo, know that it’s more than a statement of power. Know that you’re invoking the fine-bright, blinding power of the sun within that tattoo. Know that the falcon can aid in your journey of commitment to your highest vision. Know that in your flights of higher ideals, the falcon is a companion in your vision. A true, revolutionary ally on your path to clarified focus.
These are just a few (rather passionate) thoughts about the falcon tattoo meanings.
Do as the falcon does, and climb to ever higher reaches in your understanding by taking a look at a few other pages I’ve written about falcon symbolism:
Falcon Meaning and Symbolism (on Whats-Your-Sign.com)
Falcon Symbolism in the Tarot(on TarotTeachings.com)
The Peregrine Parable(a story of the spirit indwelling all of us, including the falcon – on my TokenRock blog)
Posted in Animal Tattoos, Bird Tattoos, Egyptian Tattoos, Personal Observations, Spiritual Tattoos, Symbolic Tattoos | No Responses »
Tags: ascension, aspiration, clarity, cooperation, courage, determination, devotion, divinity, focus, freedom, honor, passion, power, royalty, skill, solar, spirit, strategy, strength, sun, tradition, vision, vitality
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Hourglass Tattoo Meaning
Hourglass Tattoo Meaning
at-a-glance:
- Waiting
- Patience
- Impermanence
- Death
- Transition
- Time
- Temperance
- Cosmos
- Cycles
- Balance
- Inevitability
- Mortality
I have a 3 friends with hourglass tattoos.
Steve is serving life in prison – no parole. His hourglass tattoo signifies the inevitability of his situation. In his case, the tattoo is a stern marker of the unchangeable truth of his future. There is only time. This is his harsh reality: His scenery will not change until his death.
If life finds you waiting, waiting, waiting for the next phase, an hourglass tattoo might be a good reminder that this too shall pass – change is inevitable – and one way or another – the scenery is going to change.
Another buddy of mine, Grayson, got an hourglass tattoo for much brighter reasons. To him, an hourglass is symbolic of the balance seen in the Universe. In script font, he had this tattooed around the timepiece:
“To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.”
Of course, this passage is from the legendary poem Auguries of Innocence by William Blake.
This is a great conveyance. Ancient alchemists had similar ideas about the symbolic meaning of the hourglass. They pictured one half of the glass as symbolic of the sky. The lower half representing the earth. Energy passes between the two and expresses a pervasive feel of balance, duality, and the infinite cycles of life passing between experiences of mundane and ethereal.
Are you awestruck by the wonder and inevitability inherent in the cycles of life and the cosmos? Are you needing to memorialize your knowledge that all life prevails (one way or another) with the passing of time? If so, an hourglass tattoo might be your thing.
Most of us are familiar with the saying “she has an hourglass figure.” The hourglass has a curvaceous appeal, very feminine.
My friend Sable picked up on this sensual look with her ink. Her hourglass tattoo represents the Divine Feminine and how power can be derived through specifically female cycles of life. She understands female rites. From maiden, mother to crone and beyond – her hourglass tattoo captures all the elements of feminine progress. Her piece galvanizes her understanding of what it means to be a fully developed woman. Fascinating, really.
Speaking of gender, another view at the hourglass can reveal two triangles: One erect and one inverted, each meeting tip-to-tip. This is a common motif of male (erect) and female (inverted). An hourglass tattoo might be a unique way to convey the timeless connection between male/female. Or, perhaps even a way to express the endless dance between polarity (yin/yang, light/dark, creation/destruction, moon/sun, etc).
Whether you are wanting an expression of “tempus fugit” (time flies) or looking for an unorthodox expression of the phases of life-at-large…I hope these observations help you in your tattoo research.
Posted in Alchemy Tattoos, Personal Observations, Prison Tattoos, Symbolic Tattoos, Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: balance, cosmos, cycles, death, duality, feminine, femininity, honor, impermanence, inevitability, infinity, life, mortality, patience, phases, polarity, spirituality, temperance, time, transition, union, unity, universe
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Om Tattoo Symbolism
Om tattoo symbolism
at-a-glance:
- Totality
- Sustaining
- Perpetuation
- Threefold/Trinity
- Sacred
- Divine Expression
- Indestructible word (truth)
- Creation
- Evolution
- Manifestation
It’s amazing how a whole procession of meanings can tumble out of one little symbol. The om symbol (a.k.a.: ohm, aum, omkar) is one such symbol – proof that BIG symbolism often comes in tiny packages.
Getting an om tattoo will convey an understanding of very primitive, ancient universal principles. This symbol is actually a conveyance of sound – the sound of life. Emitting the aaaaaauuuuuummmm sound from the vocal chords, is mimicking the harmonic tone of all creation.
There are theories that the core of existence vibrates at a set-point. From an abyss of nothingness there is uttered a divine call. It is as if the cosmic mouth opens and presses out a sweet song of creation across the void.
So, we can see how this one symbol packs a lot of power. The song of creation is nestled in the sound of “om” actually, there are three sacred vocalizations “ah” “uh” and “hmmm” – each slight nuance is made through the movement of the mouth & the focus of high intent.
This three-part verbal expression of the om is symbolic of so much. The advent and culmination of triangular principles like:
- dawn, afternoon, dusk
- creation, sustaining, destruction
- conscious, unconscious, subconscious
Vastly powerful concepts all rolling around in verbal expression, tied to this sacred symbol. The om is expressed most commonly in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
To be sure, the om tattoo symbolism conveys a reverence for life, an honor for creation and an understanding of the divine motion of the Universe.
Getting an omkar tattoo will galvanize these really heady concepts. Permanent, ritualistic ink of this symbol is an appropriate conveyance of sacred awareness – timeless awareness – affinity for unifying forces scintillating within the core of natural progression.
Am I being over-dramatic about this om tattoo symbolism? Maybe. But to me, this symbol (and every symbol we boldly brand upon our bodies) is a very, very big deal.
If we are going to ink it, we had better have an understanding as permanent and deep as our ink is.
Don’t stop here with your research. Keep exploring this magnificent Check out the Wiki on om symbolism here. I think you’ll like what you read there.
Posted in Celestial Tattoos, Good Luck Tattoos, Indigenous Tattoos, Personal Observations, Spiritual Tattoos, Symbolic Tattoos, Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: ancient, communication, creation, creativity, divine, divinity, expression, harmony, honor, life, manifestation, motion, perpetual, power, reverence, sacred, sound, sustaining, totality, unification, union, universe, voice
Monday, January 18th, 2010
Panther Tattoo Symbolism
Panther tattoo symbolism
at-a-glance:
- Power
- Stealth
- Action
- Protection
- Dark Mystery
- Attraction
- Sensuality
- Deep Magic
- Feminine Power
- Solitary
- Stealthiness
- Invincibility
- Shadow Self
- Shamanic Sight
- Secret Keeper
- Sorcery
- Intelligence
- Ferocity
- Agility
- Stamina
- Patience
- Silence
- Honor
In order to familiarize ourselves with the power and purpose that backs up panther tattoos, it behooves us to observe a bit about the panther in the wild.
In their natural habitat, panthers are stalkers. They track movements of their prey, stealthily prowl and ambush the object of their hunt from a blind-side. This is symbolic of strategy. The panther contemplates its most advantageous tactic. Are you a calculating individual? Do you sit back and observe your surroundings before you act? Do you take in the details, and then pounce on opportunities when the timing is right? If this sounds like you, then the panther may be the perfect totem tattoo for you.
Not only do these magnificent creatures symbolize intelligence and tact, they also represent deep aspects of magic. This is largely due to their native habitat. The panther dwells within the deepest regions of the darkest jungles. In ancient cultures the panthers home is within the richest wombs of the earth – where moist emerald jungles teem with life, breathe with diversity and glisten with rich vitality.
It is here the panther claims its kingdom and silently roams its dense and exotic realms. There is much that remains unknown within the folds of the jungle – and the unknown is the gateway to magic. It makes sense the panther is the keeper of this dark, sacred magic. Do the realms of shadow, and the lands of exotic unknowns excite you? The panther tattoo is a fitting memorial for this kind of fascination.
The sense of magic and the idea of the panther as a sacred “secret keeper” is enhanced by it’s obsidian hues. Black panthers are symbolic of the night – where secrets are kept tightly locked away from the light of the sun. Black is a color of mystery and silence and deep secrets. Black is also a very lunar energy and can be associated with the Divine Feminine.
Interestingly, the panther is a solitary creature, preferring its own company over anyone else’s. Outside of a mother raising her cubs, panthers live, hunt and evolve alone. This is symbolic of the Hermit - an ancient archetype of one who contemplates and evolves in unique understandings due to living a solitary life. Living in this manner causes unorthodox insights, and brings one closer to understanding various precious secrets of life because there are no distractions.
Just something to consider as you embark upon your exploration of getting a panther tattoo. If you tend to enjoy solitude, contemplating the deeper mysteries in life, the panther may be calling to you.
The panther is also considered a symbol of protection, and many South American myths identify the panther as the guardian of spirit worlds. In the wild, panthers hunt during dusk and dawn – these are considered to be powerful moments in time among ancient cultures. Dusk and dawn are moments of transition and magical metamorphosis – moments of infinite potential.
This, combined with it’s sleek black coat, piercing eyes and consummate hunting skills makes the panther a legendary guardian of other realms, and spiritual worlds. Are you the protector of your own special worlds? Are you the guardian of your clan or tribe? Perhaps a panther tattoo is the right emblem to convey your powerful ability to guard that which is precious to you.
On the prowl for more information? I don’t blame you, I’m always prowling around for more too. Take a look at my Panther Symbolism page for more intriguing symbolic tidbits.
Posted in Animal Tattoos, Indigenous Tattoos, Mammal Tattoos, Mythological Tattoos, Native American Tattoos, Personal Observations, Spiritual Tattoos, Symbolic Tattoos | No Responses »
Tags: action, agile, attraction, faith, feminine, guardian, honor, infinite, intelligence, invincible, magic, mystery, patience, power, protection, secret, sensuality, shadow, shamanism, spiritual, stamina, stealth, strength, wisdom
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Rose Tattoo Meaning
Rose tattoo meaning
At-a-glance:
- Honor
- Heart
- Devotion
- Purity
- Love
- Revelation
- Expansion
- Resurrection
- Beauty
- Divinity
- Victory
- Passion
- Balance
- Sensuality
- Spirituality
- Duality
- Romance
- Memory
- Secrets
- Vitality
- Trust
- Creativity
I see rose tattoos a lot. It’s no mystery why. The rose is an incredibly powerful image whose symbolism transcends in elegant ways.
Interestingly, many people with rose tattoos adore their personal blossoms, but are unaware of some of its ancient mysteries. Let’s take a moment to smell the sweet scent of rose symbolism through the various perspectives:
Roman – Honor the Fallen: In the height of their time, roses and rose petals were strewn across the bodies and/or grave sites of soldiers. Red roses were used to symbolize blood shed for the Roman Empire. Red is associated with Mars, the god of war. It’s also associated with Venus, goddess of love. The intoxicating scent of roses lifted through the air, and carried the spirits of fallen heroes into the loving arms of Venus with Mars looking on with fierce pride. There are themes of resurrection here, which can be incorporated into your own ideas of rose tattoo meaning.
Greek – Erotic Creative Vision: The rose is associated with heavy-hitters in Greek myth like Aphrodite (lovely love goddess), Hecate (the insanely powerful dominatrix of the intangibles), Dionysus (that affectionate hedonistic party animal). We see themes of eroticism, mystery and sensuality in these Greek gods who partake of the velvet realms of the rose. I’m particularly intrigued by the rose’s association with the classic Greek Muses, especially Erato who was a heart-stopping beauty. She was gifted with spectacular creativity too. Roses are symbolic of her ability to pierce the heart of man with her intoxicating song and beauty. And so, your rose tattoo can woo the creative, sensual muse and goddess from within.
Rosicrucian/Alchemical - Unfolding Progress: The Rosicrucian’s, an elite fleet of visionaries formed under the fatherly tutelage of Dr. Christian Rosenkreuz held the rose at the center of their symbolic focal point. The rose is featured as a symbol of spiritual progress – an unfolding or blossoming to ever grander heights in human evolution. Traditional rosy crosses are multi-layered. The center section of the rose is symbolic of unity and reminds the observer that god is the glue of all life. Other layers will point to initiation and progress along the pilgrimage to enlightenment. So, if you are experience a resurgence of the soul – a rose tattoo meaning may convey a sense of transformation, blossoming and unfolding beautifully to share new depths of yourself with the world.
Christian – Unblemished Bliss: The rose often adorns the beloved Mary in Christian art as a symbol of purity, innocence, beauty, sacrifice and perfection. From fragrance to visage – the rose is a fitting brand for the blessed Mary. The “Rose of Sharon” is symbolic of the Church. Colors also play a part in rose meanings in Christian thought. White roses are symbolic of purification. Red roses serve as a memorial to the blood of the slain Christ. If you have aims to express your faith in deeply symbolic ways, then a rose tattoo may be for you.
This is a little trip around the world in terms of seeking rose tattoo meaning.
Want more?
I don’t blame you – I always want more too. . . and here are some links that provide exactly that:
Symbolic Rose Meaning
Language of Flowers (including the rose)
The Rose as a Flower Zodiac Sign
More Symbolic Meanings of the Rose (on my blog)
Symbolism of Flower Colors
Posted in Alchemy Tattoos, Christian Tattoos, Flower Tattoos, Mythological Tattoos, Plant Tattoos, Religious Tattoos, Spiritual Tattoos, Symbolic Tattoos | 4 Responses »
Tags: beauty, devotion, divinity, duality, expansion, heart, honesty, honor, life, light, love, memorial, memory, passion, resurection, romance, secrets, sensuality, spirit, spiritual, spirituality, transformation, trust, truth, victory, vitality
