Birds have been a source of much fascination among us as they
represent the ultimate freedom. As human beings we cannot imagine a
bigger freedom than being able to simply stretch your wings and fly off
into the sky. Plus there is the belief that birds are creatures closest
to the divine as they fly high in the sky and it is believed that brings
them closer to the heavens. It is also believed that our feathered
friends have also been endowed with powers that let them carry spirits
to the skies.
These beliefs and the fact that a bird carries
tremendous visual impact, makes them ideal for being chosen as a tattoo
motif. Plus there is the role of birds in the mythological tales of old,
where the hero would be helped and aided by birds as they set off
looking for the villain, be it a demon, an ogre or any other kind of
evil creature. In most tales it would be the bird that would fly ahead
and scout for the hero. It would inform the hero about the situation
ahead and even warn him about the dangers that lay ahead. In fact it is
this quality of our feathered friend that gave birth to the phrase “A
little bird told me”.
Since birds have been part of folklore,
mythology and history, tattoo motifs with birds as their central theme
are very popular. Birds and their powers are so enmeshed in our history
that you can find artistic renditions of birds since the existence of
Neanderthals. In fact they play a huge role in the hieroglyphics that
Egyptians from the time past had drawn on the walls of the tombs that
were hidden inside the legendary and mysterious pyramids. Birds have
been part of Arapaho Ghost Dance costumes, in many ceremonies and even
the nuptial rites in Africa. In the Christian art where angels and
satyrs play a huge role they are endowed with bird like qualities by
giving them wings.
Since birds represent so many good things like
freedom of the spirit, a helpful and active nature, they have become
popular as tattoo designs. Statistically speaking many people choose a
bird based design for their very first foray into tattoos. Most people
choose designs that depict the bird as a pair than as a single one.
Usually each bird will be shown as the opposite of the other.
Symbolically speaking this shows the nature of most things in the world –
like the existence of good and evil or day and night. You can also show
a bird tattoo design where the bird (good) battles a snake (evil).
Since
there are so many species of birds, the design possibilities with
reference to a tattoo are infinite. Plus with different cultures
endowing different birds with different characteristics, you can pick
the one you want to go with. There are even bird tattoo designs
available that verge on the weird and bizarre.
For instance in
China, there is a certain bird whose name also means the phallus; this
brings in carnal meaning into the tattoo design. Plus the male
counterpart of a hen which is a rooster or cock also means the male
organ, once again bringing sexuality or virility into the meaning of the
tattoo. The bird tattoo designs are not without negative overtones where sometimes having bird like qualities is equated with being stupid.
But
broadly speaking when it comes to tattoo designs depicting the bird as a
central element, it is always done in a positive manner. Among the most
preferred bird tattoos are ones of eagles, doves, peacocks, sparrows
and hummingbirds.
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