Feather tattoo meanings
One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of a feather is how they are commonly used in the construction of dream catchers, a handmade object based on a willow hoop, over which is woven a loose net or web. Because of the spiritual and beautiful nature of feathers, these objects have become one of the most popular images to use in tattoo designs for men and girls alike, whether the feather tattoos depict dream catchers or other images like eagle feathers or peacock feathers. Women in particular enjoy getting feather tattoos inked on their bodies, since the feather tattoo meaning often evokes beauty and elegance. Since feather tattoos date back to 2000 B.C., it isn’t hard to imagine that the meaning of feather tattoos has changed at least slightly throughout the years. Regardless of what feather tattoos mean for each individual wearer though, the meaning of a feather tattoo will always represent some kind spiritual freedom or freedom of the mind.
Native American meaning of a feather tattoo
In Chippewa culture, dream catchers were typically decorated with personal and sacred items like beads and feathers, and were hung above the beds of children. According to dream catcher legend, the charm would only allow good dreams to filter through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper; bad dreams would be captured in the net, disappearing with the light of day. Feathers were also worn by Native American chiefs as a symbol of their connection with Spirit and as an expression of their celestial wisdom. Also, in Native American culture, feathers represented the power of the thunder gods, symbolizing the power of wind and air. For this reason, a feather tattoo meaning may have something to do with the mystical nature of air, including the soul or spirit. Native American Pueblo Indians in particular paid homage to the Feathered Sun, which represents the cosmos and the center of existence.
Celtic feather tattoo meaning
As a Celtic symbol, feather tattoos also date back to the Druids. Ornate robes made out of feathers were worn by the Druids in ceremonies intended to call upon the sky gods and gain knowledge of the celestial realm. The Druids believed that the sacred feathered cloak in addition to the presence of the sky gods would allow them to transcend the earthly world and enter the ethereal realm. Because of legends like this, the feather tattoo meaning dealing with spirituality is probably one of the most popular, sometimes used to facilitate communication between this world and the spirit world.
Egyptian feather tattoo meaning
According to the Egyptians, feathers were also a symbol of the sky gods. As Egyptian legend goes, Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of justice, would weigh the hearts of the dead in the underworld against the weight of a feather, in order to measure the dead’s sins and determine the worthiness of his or her soul before allowing entrance into the afterlife. Ancient Egyptian mythology dictates that if the heart was free from the impurities of sin, and therefore lighter than the feather, then the dead person was permitted to enter the eternal afterlife.
Christian meaning of a feather tattoo
In Christianity, feathers represent virtues. In fact, signet rings were created with an image of three feathers, symbolizing hope, charity and faith. These rings were meant to represent a virtuous soul and were commonly used as wax seals. The owner of the ring would dip it in warm wax and then use it to seal a document. Recipients of letters sealed with the three feather symbol would then know that the document came from a virtuous man.
Meaning of a peacock feather tattoo
In Native American heritage, the meaning of a peacock feather tattoo represented creativity and emotional beauty for women. In general, the peacock represents immortality, glory and royalty, as well as integrity and beauty. For this reason, peacock feather tattoos are extremely popular tattoo designs, especially for women. Throughout history, peacocks have also stood for protection, guidance and nobility. The male peacock is the one that displays his beautiful and flamboyant tail feathers as a mating ritual, which is why peacock feather tattoos have also come to mean vanity, arrogance and “proud as a peacock.”
Eagle feather tattoo meaning
In many cases, eagle feather tattoos are meant to represent strength, courage and conviction, and are sometimes incorporated into Native American-inspired armbands or other feather tattoo designs. Eagle feather tattoos were often worn by warriors as a symbol of their valor and power, and eagle feather tattoo meanings also traditionally represent honor and loyalty. Other popular meanings of eagle feather tattoos include freedom and wisdom, which makes eagle feather tattoos popular tattoo designs for men in particular.
Other meanings of feather tattoos
Feathers that show up in dreams often symbolize travel or freedom, and white feathers in particular represent innocence or a fresh start in a spiritual sense. Some people get feather tattoos to symbolize a desire to be unburdened, unencumbered, or “light as air.” Since birds are often seen as spiritual and even mystical symbols, feather and bird tattoos are also common tattoo designs. The ability of birds to take flight and glide gracefully through the air makes birds a popular image to use in feather tattoos.
Feather tattoo designs
The most common feather tattoos are inked in black and white, although there are other types of feather tattoo designs that hold different meanings. For example, a red feather tattoo could stand for passion and love, while yellow feather tattoos represent intelligence, and white feather tattoos symbolize purity. Furthermore, the type of feather tattoo design often depicts the feather tattoo meaning, as we can see with Native American feather tattoos, dream catcher feather tattoos, peacock feather tattoos and eagle feather tattoos. Although feather tattoo meanings typically vary depending on the wearer, feather tattoos representing freedom, spirituality and strength will always be popular, even for male and female celebrities! In fact, celebrities with feather tattoos include Zac Efron, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus. Some of the most common locations for feather tattoos include on the ankle, arm or behind the ear for girls and on the arm, leg, chest or back for men.