What do compass tattoos mean

One of the main reasons sailors opted for this tattoo was that of protection. As a token of good luck, images of compasses were painted on the ships as well. The seas were rough and unforgiving and often times ships and the men onboard would disappear without a trace so these images served as a beacon of hope that they would be guided out of the treacherous waters alive.

Compass tattoos can come in a variety of styles and variations. These include, but are not limited to, the star compass, the astro compass, the lodestone compass, the Vegvisir compass and the prismatic compass. All of these tattoo designs have slightly different meanings, but the owner can decide to mix in a bunch of meanings to any of them.

The star compass is the most popular of the aforementioned designs and is said to represent the North Star. Before maps and technology existed, humans used the North Star to guide them in the right direction. Because of this, this style of tattoo stands for guidance, direction and finding a way home. Someone might get this compass tattoo design when they are very family oriented or when they are the type of people who simply never want to forget where they came from.

A way of depicting this is to include an image of a clock or hourglass with the compass in the tattoo design. Maps and the planet earth play a role as well since they, like compasses, help a user determine their location. Someone might get a compass tattoo for this reason when they want to show that they recognize that they have a short time on this planet and want to be sure they do everything they want to.

It is symbolic of staying your course in life and to not give up no matter how rough things may seem. The compass will guide you where you need to be.

It is the type of tattoo you can look at when you have lost your way and use it to turn yourself around. When someone gets the compass tattoo to represent luck, they will usually get additional designs around it to make the meaning a bit more clear. Another popular compass tattoo meaning is protection. Since compasses have long been used to help people get where they need to go, it is easy to see why someone might get it to mean security or protection.

The Story of the Four Directions. In Chinese Feng Shui , each direction correlates to the Chinese zodiac animals: North rat — adaptability, charm, creativity, sociability, wit. Best Compass Tattoo Placements. Smaller, simplistic compass tattoo designs fit beautifully on the wrists, triceps and chest.

Compass Tattoo Ideas. Take a look below to check them out all:. Compass Rose Tattoo. Nautical Compass Tattoo. Viking Compass Tattoo. Simple Compass Tattoo. Traditional Compass Tattoo. Arrow Compass Tattoo. Anchor Compass Tattoo. Watercolor Compass Tattoo. Map and Compass Tattoo. Are you looking for a custom compass tattoo design? We got you. About the author. Previous Next. Tattoo Stylist Tattoo Stylist is an online custom tattoo design service that can help you transform your tattoo idea into a unique design just for you!

Check out our Instagram for inspiration: Did you know Halloween is a quasi tattoo holiday,. We recently tackled a blog post about Medusa, and. You can get tired of French fries, but never of ge. Marigold or Calendula is the flower associated wit.

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Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. In these cultures and in pop culture, the compass is a feature of tattoo art. People who have compass tattoos are normally adventurous and outgoing. Some people, on the other hand, might be drawn to this design because they are still finding their own way. Thus, the compass is to guide them navigate through life and important decisions or choices. The other factor that links compass tattoo owners is the love of the sea.

They might have family members who were in the Navy or have worked as professional sailors. They might also simply love to travel and want something nautical as their tattoo design. Much like other designs, a compass tattoo might carry several meanings or symbols.

Customers choosing this design might find one or a few of them resonate with them and thus, lead them to opt for this kind of tattoo. In the past, the compass has been instrumental in helping sailors find their way to their destination, in a literal sense.

While people will still need maps or instructions to get from point A to point B, most people who opt for a compass tattoo are lost in a figurative sense. Thus, the compass tattoo helps them to remember their path and to stick to it. It might also help them discover where they want to go in life. Everyone is in this metaphorical voyage of life and having a compass tattoo is loved by both the lifelong wanderers or those bent on their paths in life.

Much like the sailors of centuries ago, a compass tattoo can represent their physical track and where they truly want to be. It also protects them from losing their way or losing track of their sense of self along the way. Some tattoo designs feature the North Star and the Rose of the Winds. These tattoos, specifically when combined with other elements like a star, are physical reminders of their voyage or even the way back home.

Beyond that, it might be interpreted as a way to achieve their goals. Once you know the direction and the guide to get there, you can try and make it.

Globalization has meant that people easily move away from home and work somewhere else. Homesickness is real and one of the ways to remind people of where they come from is to get a compass rose tattoo.

It might also be adopted by those whose loved ones are away or simply by couples who want to show that their partner is their true home. Travelers often find themselves in strange new places and cultures. The compass tattoo, in this case, might be accompanied by a map or other travel-related icons and thus, symbolize their love of being out there in the world. Some people choose a compass tattoo for deeper meanings. Those who have been through tough times find that this design reminds them to move forward and leave the fateful past or even an addiction, for example behind.

The tattoo might also be done as a reminder of an important life event or place. The compass itself is not a complicated icon or design, thus it can be accompanied by other elements to make the tattoo itself more interesting or meaningful.

Here are some popular designs for a compass tattoo. This design is both popular and traditional, as the pair has often been depicted together. The North Star, of course, determines which of the directions goes north. In the great and vast sea, sailors only had the North Star as their reference point for their compass. In short, this design is both aesthetically pleasing and accurate, depicting how navigators from hundreds of years ago searched for direction. Another typical design is the compass itself with the cardinal directions stated, North, South, East or West.

This design is hugely popular with younger customers. The compass is an instrument found in most sea vessels. When an anchor or a globe is added into the design, it highlights the meaning of the tattoo, which is traveling to the corners of the world. The compass tattoo can also be modified to feature a personal zodiac sign, as well as character or symbols. There are various astrological characters whether western or eastern but make sure you are aware of what these symbols mean.

The most common characters are ones featuring universal themes like peace, truth, and love. Another symbol that is significant to you can easily be incorporated into the tattoo design. While not common, this can be a playful alternative to your compass rose tattoo. You can have your tattoo artist use the rays of the sun to show cardinal directions instead. Some Celtic and tribal tattoo elements can be incorporated into any design like your compass rose tattoo design.

This is a nod to the importance of the compass to the seafaring Celts of the past. The above-mentioned designs are only some of the possibilities, but the list does not end here. Female customers, especially, might want to add some more feminine objects like flowers, feathers, ribbons, or dream catchers. The flexibility of the compass tattoo goes on. It can be impressive even in plain black color, but it will also look nice in color.

Some common color combinations include peach and green, purple and pink, yellow and peach, green and teal blue, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to designing your compass rose tattoo.