Tattoos featuring feathers are very common nowadays. Feathers can symbolize beauty and freedom, but also power and sacredness.
Depending on personal taste and the meaning you want to attribute to the feather, its design can be inspired by different birds such as the peacock, swallow, phoenix, or eagle.
Some of the most popular places on the body for a feather tattoo are the forearm, shoulders, fingers, and neck.
Historical introduction
The feather symbol, used in modern times to embellish the body or express a feeling, has been widespread since ancient times. The ancient tribes that populated our planet, such as the Egyptians and the Maori, used these and other symbols on their bodies as a means of social communication.
The American Indians used them to represent the wisdom of their elders, while in Hindu culture feathers were and are a symbol associated with eternal love.
Why choose this tattoo
The feather is one of the symbols most frequently chosen for tattoos. The shape of the tattoo lends itself very well to medium to large designs, which can be done on the shoulders or forearm, but also smaller tattoos, which are always popular, for example on the fingers or neck.
The decision to imprint this design on the skin can have very different origins.
On the one hand, the feather is undoubtedly a very aesthetically pleasing tattoo. On the other hand, the meanings associated with feathers can vary from wisdom to rebirth, from freedom to immortality.
The symbol of the feather is also very often associated with religion, such as in Christianity, where it denotes aspects such as faith and hope.
What types of feathers can you choose?
What characterizes feathers as tattoos is the possibility of choosing which bird to take inspiration from. In fact, each bird has a unique feather shape and is also associated with different meanings.
Eagle feather
The eagle, one of the main tattoos of the old school tattoo style, is frequently chosen for its feathers. The animal is known for its ability to fly high in the sky and catch prey with ease. For these reasons, the feathers of this animal are attributed with meanings such as power, strength, speed, and sacredness.
Swallow feather
The swallow is one of the most popular tattoos today. The reason is linked to the various meanings associated with the animal, such as the desire to travel, determination, but also fertility.
Peacock
Peacock feathers are among the most aesthetically beautiful. The animal is known for “showing them off” to females before mating. In addition to their attractiveness, these feathers can also be used by couples to celebrate their love, as in couple tattoos.
Other very famous feathers
In addition to those mentioned above, other bird feathers are also widely used. This is the case of the phoenix, an objective symbol of resurrection, the owl, which denotes mysticism but also death, and the seagull, associated with freedom and the sea.
