They can represent loss and death, as well as a connection to the spirit world. Ravens and crows, because of their black feathers, are usually associated with all things dark and macabre. If you love Edgar Allen Poe, then a raven tattoo might be for you. In other words, if you choose an eagle tattoo, you don’t have to feel like you’re aligning yourself with a specific country. While the bald eagle is the national bird of the US, countries like Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Scotland, and others also have eagles (albeit of different species) as their national bird. The eagle is also a patriotic symbol, and not just for Americans. It flies higher than most other birds, which is why it’s considered the creature that’s closest to God by multiple Native American tribes. It’s a majestic creature that, in addition to freedom, also symbolizes strength and courage. Since the eagle is a bird of prey, it makes for a very powerful tattoo. These birds are also associated with innocence, especially if they’re designed as a white tattoo. This idea is also reinforced by history, since doves were a symbol of the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, Inanna. They’re a lovely choice if you want to commemorate a marriage. Over the years, it has also come to represent peace and pacifism.Ĭertain dove species mate for life, so dove tattoos can also represent love and fidelity. In the New Testament, the dove is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit. First, it can have Biblical connotations, since a dove with an olive branch in its beak was Noah’s signal that the flood was ending. Dove Tattoo MeaningĪ dove tattoo can have a few meanings that are quite different from each other. These days, we think travelers of all sorts can adopt this lovely bird as a symbol of their wanderlust or homecoming. Since swallows follow the same migration pattern year after year, they can also represent the return home. The swallow’s northward migration pattern symbolizes the distance that a sailor has traveled in his life, with each swallow tattoo representing 5000 nautical miles traveled. The sweet little swallow is a common element in the old-school sailors and navy tattoos. The following birds are especially popular in tattoo motifs, but each one sends out a slightly different message. The Meaning of Bird Tattoos by Speciesīeyond the basic meanings of bird tattoos, it’s also important to consider the meaning of each individual bird species or type. This is a very cerebral and unique bird tattoo meaning, so while it’s not commonly ascribed, it can be very powerful and profound. For that reason, birds can represent a shift in perspective and the wisdom that comes with it. Perspective and WisdomĪ flying bird can examine a situation from every possible angle. That’s why a bird tattoo doesn’t only represent independence, but it also represents the fearlessness and capability a person has to muster in order to venture out into the world freely. Going out there all by ourselves, without any safety net should we fall, requires an intense level of bravery and self-assuredness. Fearlessness and Capabilityįlying through the sky is freeing, but to us humans, it’s also terrifying. This concept of birds as messengers or connecting vessels can be separated from specific religions, so they can also be seen as creatures that connect us to the universe or even with other realities. Birds can walk on the earth and fly in the heavens, so they can act as messengers for God. The symbolism, once again, comes from flight. Connection to the Heavensįor those who are more religious or spiritual, a bird tattoo can represent your connection to God or the divine. The beautiful thing about bird tattoos is that they can represent whatever freedom you desire or want to celebrate. In the spiritual sense, it can be the freedom from earthly desires. We can be free to do something, or we can be free from something. For one person, freedom might mean being an individual who doesn’t have to answer to anyone else, while for others, it can relate to their emancipation from the systemic oppression they suffer. The entire sky is their domain, which is why bird tattoos often represent freedom, especially if the bird in the tattoo is mid-flight.įreedom, in itself, is a complex concept that connects with a wide range of ideas. Unlike humans, birds are not restricted to the earth. However, a bird tattoo can be connected to other symbolic concepts, as well, so we’ll explore all of them in this section. Bird tattoos can have a wide range of meanings, out of which freedom is by far the most overarching.
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