Three Popular Tattoos and What They Mean: (Three Tattoos’ Meaning Explained)

There are so many different tattoo options to choose from! Sometimes people get tattoos without understanding their meanings or even knowing they have a meaning. Here is a quick guide to three popular tattoos people are getting and the tattoos’ meanings for you before you get them tattooed on your body!  

The Lotus Flower Tattoo:

The lotus flower tattoo is a very beautiful and dainty tattoo design. This tattoo is often done in a pretty linework or illustrative tattoo style, though it is not restricted to those styles. The lotus comes from a very spiritual background, reflecting four major religions/spiritual cultures. The lotus flower comes from two main religions, Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhist history, the lotus represents peace and purity of the body, soul, and mind. It symbolizes balance and enrichment. In Hinduism, it represents positive vibes like beauty, prosperity, and enrichment in the body. Especially for women, fertility. As for the spiritual cultures, the lotus can be found to derive from ancient Egyptian culture and Chinese traditions. Both these cultures are known to have a great deal of spiritual beliefs. In Ancient Egypt, the lotus was associated with the god of the sun, Ra. It represented new birth and good things to come, like how the sun comes out each day “birthing” a new day full of opportunity. In Chinese tradition, the lotus represented balance, similar to the Yin-Yang concept. Altogether, the modern meaning combines these origins, and now the lotus Flower is known to represent rebirth and opportunity, awakening in the body/soul, and resilience through hardship and coming out the other side to new, positive things. 

The Phoenix Tattoo:

The phoenix tattoo is a very popular tattoo for both its looks and the tattoos’ meaning. It comes from three main cultures throughout history: Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, and Chinese. In Ancient Egypt, the phoenix was not called “the phoenix”; rather was known as a solar and heavenly bird called Bennu. This bird would help navigate the sun through the sky daily and symbolized a new day. In Ancient Greek culture, they adopted similar beliefs based on Egyptian ones but renamed Bennu as the Phoenix, which is how the bird is known in the modern day. They had the same beliefs as the Egyptians about the bird and looked at it as a symbol of life and its cycle. They brought about the classic story of the phoenix rising from its ashes in rebirth. In Chinese culture, the phoenix was a symbol of unity and grace. It was viewed similarly to Yin-Yang as well and represented balance and power. Now in modern times, we look at the phoenix as a symbol of rebirth and overcoming hardships. It also represents triumph and an eternal fire to keep going!

The Compass Tattoo:

The compass tattoo is a very popular tattoo in modern times, especially among men. It is often combined with the classic rose tattoo. The symbolism this tattoo represents is pretty straightforward. In olden times, especially during the 1600s, the compass was used as a navigation tool to help travelers find and stay on the right path. It symbolizes the means of finding your way back home, or to your “true north”. The compass in modern times is often used to symbolize personal growth and is a reminder to stay on the right, or “true”, path. 

Knowing what your tattoo’s meaning is can bring a whole other sentiment to it. They act as reminders and expressions. The more you know, the more you can relate to and love your tattoo! Next time you book your appointment, take a look at the history of your design. Many times, we don’t even realize the tattoos’ meaning and history we are about to place on our bodies.

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