One of the most popular tattoo designs for girls is the butterfly. Although the meaning of the symbol changes depending on what meaning the owner puts into it, the general interpretation always has a positive meaning.
The relationship between the place of the tattoo and the meaning of the picture
Butterfly tattoo (the meaning for girls is identical to the meaning for guys, although few of them decide to apply such a typically female pattern) is deciphered in different ways and can mean almost anything.
For instance:
- in Japan - the spiritual growth of a person or, if the butterfly is white, news from the afterlife;
- in Ancient Russia - new life (also Germanic interpretation), rebirth;
- in ancient Rome - rebirth of war after death (symbolizes feminine strength);
- in Mexico - the flame of life;
- in China - abundance, fun, summer and sunny weather;
- in Germany and the Scandinavian countries - the presence of magical abilities, connection with fairies, magic;
- unlimited freedom of action, but at the same time indecision, the desire to enjoy the moment and not think about anything constant.
It cannot be said that this is an unambiguous symbol that is interpreted by everyone in the same way. There are also those who consider such a drawing to be a symbol of easy behavior and frivolity. This is due to the fact that butterfly tattoos were often applied to geisha, who were considered readily available and stupid.
Many people forget that the main role of geisha is to entertain spiritually, but not physically, therefore, the symbolism inherent in geishas should not be interpreted in such a way. The main meaning of the tattoo will still be exactly what the owner will put in it.
The meaning of the tattoo, depending on the additional elements
The meaning of a butterfly tattoo can vary for girls depending on the composition of which it is a part. You can apply a single butterfly, but if a girl is contemplating an integral composition, the insect will fit in as its main part. Sometimes it is the butterfly that plays the role of an auxiliary element.
Flowers have their own language:
- cornflower - delicacy, grace, sophistication;
- chrysanthemum - eternal beauty;
- rose flower - love, hope for happiness;
- rose flower with thorns - loss, broken heart;
- lily - innocence of the soul, purity;
- lotus - spiritual growth, enlightenment;
- pion - good luck in business, wealth;
- sakura - the transience of life;
- water lily - kindness, lack of evil intentions.
Combining symbols of different meanings with butterflies, you can achieve unique images with your own interpretation. Tattooed butterflies, which are part of the Celtic designs, symbolize life changes. The owners of such drawings honor their ancestors and value the family hearth.
If the wings are only part of the composition, and the image of a woman plays the main role, we can say that this is a tribute to Psyche, the Greek muse of the soul. Combining the wings with the face or the appearance of human eyes on the wings usually means that inside the girl feels light and free - like a butterfly.
The color of the wings plays a huge role in the tattoo:
- blue - a symbol of the dream of immortality;
- Violet - a symbol of extravagance and eternal youth;
- red - a symbol of ardor of character, passionate love for someone or something;
- Orange - a symbol of striving for a home, a strong family union;
- the black - a symbol of life after death;
- white - for the Japanese it means the soul of the deceased who descended to earth.
Symbolic shades vary depending on the position of the insect:
- The wings of a butterfly are depicted in full swing, which means that the owner of the tattoo is distinguished by an open character and does not like to hide her feelings. Also, the image is characteristic of creative individuals who are always engaged in self-development and do not like to stand still.
- The wings are arranged symmetrically, but not connected - a symbol of a responsible attitude to life, the desire to keep everything in balance.
- A flying butterfly always strives for freedom, independence, self-expression.
- A butterfly sitting on a flower symbolizes constancy and dedication to its ideals.
The position of the butterfly also depends on which part of the body the drawing is located on.
Butterfly as a symbol of love
Among the works of tattoo artists, there are sketches depicting several identical butterflies on one flower. It is known that there are no two insects with an identical image on their wings, therefore such drawings symbolize kinship and remind their owners of family ties. Sometimes the names of beloved relatives are written on the wings - the master will tell you how to do this best.
It is also a good idea to make a pair tattoo with your loved one - it doesn't matter if they are the same insects, or they just fly towards each other. By applying 2 different wings to the backs of 2 palms, you can connect them to see the finished drawing.
Butterflies with inscriptions
Butterfly tattoo (meaning for girls is different depending on the goal pursued) can be supplemented with an inscription. Special symbolism can be achieved by making an inscription in the language of the country in which the symbolism of the butterfly coincides with the worldview of the girl herself. The inscription can be placed both between the butterfly and the pattern, and to the side, or let it go around, along the perimeter of the picture.
Important dates are often placed next to insects - for example, the birthday or death of a loved one, whom the butterfly symbolizes.
Small inscriptions - for example, in one word, are suitable for small tattoos depicting only a butterfly and nothing else. It is important that the composition is not overwhelmed, so flowers and patterns are best left for larger drawings. The magic dust of the color of its wings can follow the butterfly.
Butterflies as a symbol of death
In some sketches, you can see that the butterfly's wings are separated from the belly. Sometimes they are accompanied by an image of a spider that has destroyed an insect. Such drawings carry a more eerie meaning than the image of butterflies with skulls on their wings or abdomen.
This interpretation of the nature of insects was characteristic of the ancient Slavs - they believed that a butterfly could turn into a witch at any moment, so they feared it. Butterflies enjoyed a similar reputation in Japan - although one insect meant only good, and a swarm of butterflies brought only bad luck to those who saw them.
Butterflies, on whose wings the symbolism of death is depicted, can be interpreted as harbingers of the afterlife for those who look at them, while a dead butterfly symbolizes the death (possibly spiritual) of the owner of the tattoo. But death is always followed by rebirth, therefore, the wings separated from the abdomen symbolize a tribute to the past and a readiness for something new.
This is often why butterflies are applied at important moments in life - after a wedding, birth of a child, or graduation. The butterfly was often depicted sitting on the hand of Jesus Christ. Such a pattern can symbolize the religiosity of the owner and will look great on any part of the hand or ribs.
An overview of the most common tattoo areas
Butterfly tattoo (meaning for girls varies depending on the selected zone) can look good on any part of the body. It is better to apply single butterflies to small areas (wrist, ankle), large compositions look good on large ones (thigh, shoulder blade, lower leg).
Zone | Features: | Ideas for drawing |
Hand | Since a person sees his own hand most often, it is believed that the tattoos applied in this place have their own unique meaning. A tattoo on the working arm (right for right-handers, left for left-handers) speaks of the independence of its owner and the desire for composure and organization. Tattoos on the back of the hand look especially beautiful, although this place is very painful due to thin skin. |
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Back | The back is recommended to be used to create large compositions in which the butterfly can be the main element. It can be located both in the upper part and in the middle, and the details surrounding it will have their own symbolism. The image of butterflies in the upper or lower spine allows you to favorably emphasize the symmetry of the wings. |
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Neck | The meaning depends on the part of the neck on which the tattoo is applied. Risky people, for example, can paint 2 symmetrical butterflies on both sides of the neck, and the drawing on the back is often interpreted as a desire to obtain protection or patronage from the creature depicted. |
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An ear | Despite the fact that it is very difficult to work with the area, the shape of the auricle allows for the original arrangement of the insect tattoo. The torso, for example, can bend along the shell itself, and the main idea of the tattoo will be in the wings or the trace from them. |
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Small of the back | The loin is one of the most common application options. For some reason, it is believed that the butterfly in this place means the frivolity and frivolity of the owner. Others note that the tattoo in this place symbolizes the desire to stand out from the crowd and look for your own path in life. |
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Chest | It is very difficult to apply tattoos on the chest, since the skin in this place is very thin, but the finished drawings look amazing. However, butterflies in any style will look great here. |
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Stomach | A small bow tie, stuffed on the side of the belly, can attract attention if, for example, it looks out from under a short T-shirt. |
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Scapula | The spatula is suitable for drawing, as it has a large and level area. In addition, tattoos on the shoulder blades are less painful due to the thickness and density of the skin. |
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Hip | Small tattoos on the thigh stick out nicely from under the skirts - especially if you wear stilettos under them. They can also be part of a larger composition that starts on the belly. |
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Shin | There is a lot of space on the shins, so many options can be used when developing a sketch. |
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Ankle | In cold seasons, ankle tattoos can be hidden under shoes and trousers; in summer and spring, they become a kind of accessory. The size and length of the legs allow the artist to apply compositions of various sizes. |
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Foot | Most often, single tattoos are located on the upper instep of the foot or in the ankle area, but symmetrical designs look much better on the feet, especially those surrounded by ornamental designs. |
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Side | The length of the zone makes this area ideal for drawing oblong patterns. |
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Most often, girls choose open places of the body, which will allow them to show off their pattern in the warm season. At the same time, the drawing should be easy to cover if required by the dress code at the place of work.
https://youtu.be/xG29kRNksOg
Realistic butterfly
By applying an image to the body in the style of realism, you can create the impression that a living butterfly is really sitting on the body, ready to flutter at any moment. The result depends on the brightness of the colors, the choice of location and details. Wing shadows are often present in sketches.
Butterfly in watercolor
The watercolor butterfly is popular for the following reasons:
- smooth contours do not attract much attention;
- strokes are applied carelessly, but it's still beautiful;
- watercolor allows you to create colorful smudges;
- paints allow you to combine different tones in the picture.
Unlike realistic drawings, watercolor butterflies leave room for creativity and additional detail.The image itself can be more abstract than realistic, as a result of which the tattoo turns into a pictorial work of art.
Old school style
Old School tattoos imply a riot of colors and deep symbolism. Even if the drawing has the shape of a butterfly, you can add symbols on various topics to it. It can be faces, skulls, flowers - whatever. The location is limited solely by the imagination of the owner of the tattoo - wings, abdomen or the space surrounding the insect.
Taking a few traditional images, you can pay tribute to something specific, not necessarily related to nature. For example, by placing images of a lighthouse and a ship on both wings, you can express your love for the sea and travel. By depicting other people's faces on the wings, you can perpetuate on your body the memories associated with these people.
Not all artists know how to draw in this style and often an individual sketch will be required, but this way you can make sure that the tattoo will be unique, and every detail in it will be worked out with special care. You can understand whether a master knows how to work in the chosen style by looking at the portfolio of his works and indicating the ones you like most.
Henna butterfly
Butterfly tattoo (meaning for girls does not change depending on the method of application) can also be done with henna. This option is suitable if you want to check a specific drawing and understand whether it will look good on the body. As a rule, henna butterflies are depicted with simple straight lines and are not painted over. The drawings are often surrounded by patterns or representations of flowers.
The advantage of henna is that it can be made at home. Unlike a hand tattoo, it is harmless. Knowing how to draw or outline patterns at the same time, you can make mehendi yourself and understand how the patterns will look on the selected part of the body.
To prepare henna solution at home, you need to do the following:
- Prepare tea leaves. The stronger it is, the darker the color will be.
- Cut the lemon into 2 parts, squeeze out the juice. Mix it with half the tea leaves and add 2 tbsp. l. Sahara.
- The mixture is poured into a henna solution and mixed until it turns into a thick porridge.
- Insist for 15-20 minutes. (if necessary - as long as possible).
The solution is stored in the refrigerator for 2 days, after which it deteriorates.
Ornamental butterfly
The ornamental style (patterned) implies clearly drawn lines and symmetrical patterns. Although it is not easy to apply such drawings, the finished work looks unusual without giving a clear explanation of the meaning. The advantage of ornamental design is the ability to combine different techniques: linework, dotwork and tribal.
Depending on the style of implementation of the idea, the meaning of a butterfly tattoo for girls can be changed and supplemented with various elements. You shouldn't dwell on a simple image if there is an opportunity to do something more multifaceted.
Article design:Lozinsky Oleg
Butterfly Tattoo Videos
Different meanings of butterfly tattoos:
Thanks for the helpful and interesting article!
Tattoos depicting stars are very popular, diverse and symbolic a lot. The meaning of a star tattoo primarily depends on what kind of star is chosen for the tattoo, and in what context it is drawn. Star tattoo is equally popular among men and women