If you see one of the many women walking around with a tattoo, chances are good that they will be sporting flower tattoos. You may have heard that different colors and types of flowers have different meanings, and this is true of these types of tattoos, too. Generically, the flowers can mean many things, while particular flowers like the lotus and rose can mean more specific things.
The flower tattoo gives a sense of connection to nature, life, birth, procreation, and vitality. As we interact with flowers, we see them emerge from a seed, grow and bloom, and eventually, dry up, wilt, and die. Naturally, with a tattoo of a flower, we are reminded of the simplicity of the natural life cycle. A lot of the meaning can depend upon the color of the flower, also. You might pick a white flower tattoo, for instance, because it represents purity, whereas a red flower tattoo can represent passion or the color of Christ’s blood.
A rose flower tattoo symbolizes a pure love. In the 16th century, people who were condemned to death would have a rose tattooed on them so they could be instantly recognized if they escaped. Today the rose has returned to its status as a sign of love and passion. Much of the tattoo symbolism of this flower has to do with the rose being a flower that is given during romantic occasions. This is why we often get a rose tattooed to show our love for an individual. These days many men are getting tattooed too, and the rose is the most common of all the flowers that people choose to get a tattoo of.
A rose tattoo symbolizes love and purity in the west, while the lotus flower symbolizes the same in the east. However, the lotus flower has additional meanings. Beauty and goodness, along with fortune, enlightenment, and peace, are all items which the lotus symbolizes. An acacia tattoo represents chaste love and friendship. It is sometimes chosen because it represents good luck, and other times chosen because it is a symbol of the bells of freedom that many wish to ring over Ireland’s shores.
A tulip is usually tattooed by people who wish to show the world that they are a widely well known lover. In looking for the right flower for a shy or timid person, you would look towards a violet tattoo. The Iris stands for faith, wisdom and virtue whereas magnolias symbolize a person’s love for nature and gives a sense of nobility. Getting tattooed with a flower can have these different meanings along with being quite beautiful and elegant. A flower tattoo can vary in size, and be as bold as you like, but whichever flower you choose, make sure it says what you want it to.