Maori tattoo: 100 photos, male and female sketches, meaning

Tattoo - body art, the history of which began more than five thousand years ago. The purpose of tattooing is to protect the human body from evil spirits, using tattooing as a talisman. The Polynesian style is one of the directions that is in demand even today.

Tattoos that are called Maori come from the tribe of the same name that lives on the islands of the Pacific. The history of the images goes far back in time and has a deep hidden meaning. Initially, tattoos were used to represent the status of their owner, which could be seen by everyone around.

The first to use body art were Maori tribal leaders, who used tattoos to gain courage and bravery, because at that time tattooing on the body was a very long and painful process. At the moment, the Maori tattoo is an original and bold solution, which refers to the Polynesian style.

Maori tattoos and their meanings

For inhabitants of the Pacific Islands tattoo served as an essential attribute, its absence on the body was considered a sign of bad form and was equated with sin. Moreover, a man without a tattoo was considered a coward who had no respect for the gods and revered leaders. At the time, the ritual of tattooing the body was harsh and painful, only a brave and full of strength could cope with it.

The Maori tribes have a special name for their tattoos: mocha. They believed that the body art is the only thing that is eternal and it is impossible to take it away from anyone. At the same time, tattoos were equally popular among both males and females. The tribesmen thought that the body was an analogue of the universe, that's why tattoos were drawn on the lines of energy flows, thanks to which it was possible to change your own destiny. Thus, they protected themselves from misfortune, corrected the character and deprived themselves of bad habits, attracting success, joy and good luck in life.

Popular Feather Tattoo Combinations

The feather tattoo changes in meaning from the combination with other objects. The most popular and common combinations:

With an arrow - purposefulness;

With a bird - elevation of the soul;

With an inscription - meaning depends on the text;

with Indian symbols - a talisman;

with ink and inscriptions - creativity.

Application technology

Sharp bones of fish and birds (such as sharks) as well as knives, shells and special stencils were used to draw images on the body. Often drawings were depicted on the face, demonstrating their courage, life history and battles. At the same time, a tattoo on the face looked intimidating than horrified enemies. The ritual of tattooing was very painful and life-threatening, and sometimes even fatal.

In today's world, a Maori tattoo is nothing more than an original piece of jewelry that only the brave can dare. Now for the application of Maori tattoos, special Indian needles are used, which made the process safer and not so painful. Tattoos now heal much faster and the risk of infection is reduced to zero. However, if you travel to find the true followers of the Maori tribe, you can see that they still apply tattoos to the body using a stencil and a knife or shark's tooth.

Does it hurt to get such tattoos

Māori tattooing has always been associated with pain. Tattoos were applied with a coarse chisel and hammer, thus obtaining an incision on the skin. The degree of pain depends on the place of application and the style of the master. The sensitivity of a person and his or her mood play a role. Anesthesia is used as a last resort.

This is interesting

The indigenous peoples in New Zealand to this day nobody open the secret of preparation of paint for tattoos, "firm" technology of application of sacred drawings and the choice of places on the body.

Maori female tattoos and their features

Tattoos on the body of girls also took place, however they were cardinally different from the male tattoos. First of all female tattoos were more accurate, occupied a small space on the body. Usually girls placed different images on the lips, near the nose or chin. In this way, they encoded information about themselves and their family. According to the drawing on the girl's face, you could tell how many children she had and how successful her chosen one is.

The Maori women also tattooed on hidden parts of the body like the thighs, groin or stomach. Such drawings were personal, used as an ornament, attracting the representatives of the stronger sex. At the same time, girls were forbidden to put tattoos that did not correspond to the real information about them. Deception was punished by death, as it was impossible to remove the tattoo.

Brief tips on the placement of the figure

Foot and Thigh. It is believed that the tattoo on the left leg is stuffed by lonely girls who want to win the attention of others. A feather, painted on the right or left thigh (leg), on the contrary, can indicate a playful disposition and emotional openness.
Abdomen. Psychologists believe that the picture, located in the abdomen area, indicates secrecy and independence, and can also report on the determination of its owner.
Tattoo feather on the hands for a girl symbolizes: on the right - adamancy, determination, initiative; on the left - self-expression. Neat and small tattoos on the wrists may indicate a love of life and kindness, and flashy or large pictures in this area report extravagant views.
Permanent feathers in the waist area act as personal amulets or talismans. Women who decorate the back with a drawing, most often strive for power and perfection, wealth, self-development.
Tattoo on collarbone, neck or behind ears can be worn by girls with delicate mental structure and high aesthetic needs, creative natures and those who never stops searching for the meaning of life.

A pen tattoo can express one of the many facets of your personality. Choose your body art consciously so you can wear it with pride.

Past and Present for Polynesian Tattoos

As you know, Maori tattoos used to be usually applied to the face, other parts of the body were used much less frequently. The color pigments were extracted in two ways:

Black was extracted from trees and their bark, and drawings in black were applied only to the face.
Colored paints were made from caterpillars that had died of fungus infestation, mixed with various local plants.

Today, more civilized methods are used to create Maori-style tattooing. Modern paints and pigments are used to create original patterns and designs that convey the appeal of tattooing of that time, but they are less painful and completely safe.

Courageous men prefer to put an ornament on their face, showing their courage and manliness. By the way, in the past tattoo on the face was analogous to a passport, because by understanding the symbols you could learn the status of the person, his occupation and age, marital and social status, the history of battles and victories.

More about the Maori tattoo on the face:

Tattoo around the eyebrows - demonstrates social status.
Center of forehead - describes personal discharge.
The area under the nose - the signature of the owner of the tattoo.
Cheeks - displaying the occupation.
Cheekbones and jaw contain information about birth and parents.
Temples - family status, number of children.
Chin - the tattoo symbolizes belonging to one of the estates.

What does the feather mean in tattoos

This is interesting: Tattoos for men: sketches on the arm, wrist, shoulder, leg, forearm, neck, chest + 200 PHOTOs

Images of a feather has a deep and varied meaning. It can mean wisdom, inspiration, reflection. Many people associate the pen with poets or writers. Others have it with the ornaments with which the garments and hats of the rich were furnished in former times. But, there are many more meanings of this symbol.

Feather

1People who prefer to experience positive emotions and enjoy life prefer to apply this sign to different parts of the body. It signifies joy, love of life and a positive attitude. These people are always open to something new, ready for new emotions and experiences.

2For Native Americans, for whom the feather is an essential attribute of many things, including clothes, shoes, and jewelry, the feather still means a lot. For centuries, Native Americans have painted feathers on their bodies to placate the gods and give themselves courage and confidence. They still do so to this day, but now to pay tribute to their ancestors and to honor their culture.

3Many people tattoo feathers on their bodies to attract good luck. Such a tattoo comes in handy for avid gamblers, risk takers.

4If we talk about what kind of feathers are most often depicted on their bodies, eagle feathers will probably take one of the first places. They were stuffed on brave and courageous warriors in ancient India. In this way, they instilled all the power and majesty of this free and incredible bird into themselves. They believed that for the duration of the battle, the spirit of the eagle would be able to inhabit each of them.

Black and white tattoo

5Another example of a successful and popular tattoo is the feather of an owl. Everyone knows that these birds are excellent nocturnal hunters. The special structure of the feathers allows owls to land completely silently for their prey on the ground. Fluffy and voluminous, these feathers make owls especially attractive. This is why owl feathers on a person's body can have a hidden meaning. It lurks in duplicity. Soft and calm in appearance, the owner of an owl feather tattoo may turn out to be cunning, enterprising and not as simple as it seems at first glance.

Owl Feather

6Falcon feathers deserve special attention. One of the brightest representatives of this species is the kestrel. This is a very small falcon that has bright and conspicuous plumage. The feathers of this feathery bird can adorn the body of a person who has lost faith in himself, but is trying to regain it. He believes that a failure and a fall will be followed by an upsurge and a white streak. This is due to the fact that the kestrel is considered by everyone to be one of the weakest birds of its species. But this is far from the case. This falcon is incredibly nimble and learns quickly. It boldly and successfully attacks its prey when it is not expecting an attack.

7Don't discount the creative types who also love feather tattoos. In this case, they display creative flight and inspiration.

Colorful Feather

8The feather of the firebird will suit those who want to emphasize their creativity and mystery of the nature. This fairy tale character also bodes well for luck and success in creative endeavors.

9The peacock can mean arrogance and narcissism. Also, it is depicted on themselves by people who belong to high society or so-called "blue bloods".

The Peacock Feather

10If you see a split feather on someone, there is no doubt that this person has suffered a loss in their life. It could be the loss of a close friend, a loved one, or a family member.

11The feather of the Phoenix bird is said to grant its owner immortality or at least longevity. Also, it denotes rebirth from the ashes. The feather of the Phoenix bird is said to grant immortality or at least longevity to its owner. Also, it denotes rebirth from the ashes. Therefore, a person who has "fallen" spiritually or physically, and then regained himself, may depict the feathers of the Phoenix on his body.

Phoenix feather

12If the tattoo combines both a feather and a bird, it shows the freedom of the person.

Maori tattoo designs and their meanings

The most popular tattoos used by the inhabitants of the Maori tribe:

Shark - protection and amulet from evil forces.
Dolphin symbolizes the unity of man with nature.
Twisted spiral - loyalty, devotion.
Maori masks - applied only to the face and used as a protection against evil spirits.
The Sun is a source of wisdom and male power, used as a talisman, and also represents life, the process of rebirth.
A heron is a sacred bird capable of guiding a man to the afterlife. In the same time, a heron also symbolizes the purity of man's spiritual world.
Turtle symbolizes peace of mind and morals, wisdom and longevity.
A lizard or iguana symbolizes strength, resilience, and speed. Usually used as an amulet for warriors, giving them strength and confidence.
Scat - a dangerous inhabitant of the depths, which serves as a talisman and protects against enemies.
A disk is a circle symbolizing infinity. Usually the space inside the circle was filled with patterns, increasing the protective power of the amulet.
A white heron and a magpie - a symbol of pure spirit and prosperity. At the same time it was believed that this tattoo allowed everyone to find peace, to find their way in life.

How to Distinguish Maori Style from Polynesian and Haida

Maori is considered in many treatises to be a sub-style of Polynesia. It is distinguished by the fact that in it the image of animals, plants, natural phenomena is clearly traced. Polynesia tattoo resembles the art of woodcarving.

Haida also has its own system of symbols, the drawings are larger, generously diluted in red and leave a feeling of "scattered". Animal images are realistic, unlike the Maori.

Every curl in the Maori is a reflection of the real world, translated into a system of signs. A distinctive feature of the tattoo is the cyclic nature of the image.

Other ideas for a sketch

In the world of tattoos, among the averting symbols, pictures of masks are very popular. It is believed that such a picture deceives the unclean force and takes all the negative on itself.

Clover-four-leaf clover is also in demand now. It is a symbol of luck and wealth.

Zodiacal symbols can perform a protective function. Moreover, such tattoos will weaken the negative manifestations of character and activate the strengths of its possessor.

Solar motifs will always be relevant. The image of the sun will endow with love of life, mental warmth, will help to overcome the difficulties of life, will protect against envy and betrayal.

Esotericists are convinced that the optimal area for the application of the sacred images is the hands. On the left side should be applied protection tattoos, that is, symbols of protection. And on the right hand, it is recommended to place tattoo talismans, which are designed to attract the necessary resources.

Where to make a tattoo of Slavic amulets

You can get a tattoo on any part of the body. Slavic amulets tattoos look good in any color and size. However, there are certain rules. So images of pagan gods are accepted to do in a large size. For this purpose, most often choose the back, chest or arm. Very effective looks ukav covered with Slavic symbols.

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Tattoos of Slavic amulets on the arm - a classic option. Here you can place both a miniature rune inscription on the wrist, and any of the symbols on the shoulder or forearm.

It is not uncommon to make Slavic amulets tattoos on the neck, shoulder blades, legs.

Suitable Slavic symbols and as a tattoo on scars. Versatility is due to the fact that the image can be any size and it is easy to combine with other Slavic designs. Therefore, Slavic tattoo amulets easily disguise even complex and numerous scars.

You should pay a special attention to the choice of the master. He should not just draw well, and understand the Slavic mythology and know the intricacies of pagan symbolism. In this case, it is very easy to spoil the drawing with one wrong detail. Then the process of tattoo restoration will be required.

Tattoos Slavic amulets in incorrect execution can lose its protective effect, or even change its meaning to negative. In this case, it will be necessary to remove the tattoo and only after that make a new one, overlapping in such cases does not help.

The Old Russian god

The ancient Slavs put on the body and divine beings.

Each divine has its own meaning and a certain power:

Perun. Power and patronage. Endows a person with determination, strength of spirit and courage.
Dazhbog. He was turned to when it was necessary to make the right decision. Gives a warm energy, which helps to change yourself and your life for the better.
Veles. Provided assistance in land affairs and medicine. A man with such a tattoo can do any affairs, he will learn everything and master any profession, despite its complexity.
Svarog. Believed to be the creator of all living things. God unites the two worlds: the real and the otherworldly. Most of all, a tattoo is needed for those who desire harmony in life.
Yarilo. Symbolized fertility. A person with such a tattoo can change life completely, as if reborn into another being.
Makosh. This goddess was approached for family happiness. She helps to foresee troubles and misfortunes, to cope with them easily and to preserve the family.
Stribog. Protected from evil thoughts and actions. After applying such a tattoo, it was believed that a person received the ability to influence the fate of other people.

A gallery of examples of photo tattoos for sketches:

Makosh Perun on the shoulder Svarog tattoo on the arm Stribog sketch tattoo Veles