A few decades ago, tattoos were associated with incarceration, piracy, or just plain indecent living, but now anyone can get a tattoo. Moreover, such body art can even be called a separate kind of art.
Technical possibilities which have brought together with itself the twenty first century, have allowed to improve and diversify the appearance of tattoos. It is worth noting that the choice of tattoo - a very responsible question.
Not in vain many masters advise to think twice before making yourself a tattoo and also to study the meaning and symbolism of the desired image. Sometimes people resort to the services of a master to create a sketch, but also they are not difficult to find on the Internet.
Very many clients of tattoo salons prefer not to get wise, and choose one of the popular drawings. One of these is the raven tattoo - a bird that is probably familiar to everyone.
However, despite the external simplicity of the raven, the tattoo with its image has a very deep meaning.
What are tattoos with a raven?
Most often the tattoo with a raven is done in black. Sometimes you can see options with small flecks of colored accents. The most suitable place on the body can be, for example, the shoulder or forearm, back, arms, chest.
Also no less effective raven tattoo will look like a neck or leg. The choice of location depends primarily on the wishes of the client, as well as on the technical complexity of performing a tattoo on this or that part of the body. Often there are also quite creative variants of execution of such a drawing - for example, a raven sitting on a finger.
Sometimes people prefer to stuff not the whole bird, but only separate, but recognizable parts of it, such as a wing, a beak or a foot.
Raven and crow are different kinds of birds. Therefore, if you want to get a tattoo with a raven without losing its meaning, it is worth making sure that the bird in the sketch or selected drawing is really a raven and not a crow.
Male and female tattoos
It is worth recognizing that girls more often than men are interested in such tattoos. Some experts believe that the meaning is different for men and women. In general, if you delve into the specifics, the raven itself is both a male and female sign. He represents the dark feminine side, the yin.
The masculine side of this symbol is wisdom and awareness of mystical mysteries, the ability to see what is inaccessible to the eyes of ordinary people.
The raven is a strong bird, but rarely engages in open confrontation. First of all, it is a scavenger, waiting for its prey to be "ready. He always senses when and where the next feast of flesh and blood will be. Consequently, it has the gift of foresight, or the strongest intuition.
Girls often choose sketches with flying birds. They also like options with trees, old houses, the moon, candles, or a lantern, a pocket watch. In a trend such as steampunk, a raven can wear a watch, clothes, hat and monocular by itself.
Fans of ethnic drawings are found among both genders. These are stylistics reminiscent of drawings of the Celts, tribal, Romans, ancient themes.
The meaning of
If the choice fell on the image of this animal, it is still worth to understand to the end, what a raven tattoo means for a man.
Tattoo of a raven on his back
Despite the rather great popularity of this tattoo, its meaning and meaning is not as simple as it may seem at first glance. The history of this symbol stretches back many centuries, and for all the time of its existence in different peoples and countries has undergone a lot of changes.
It is difficult to say whether the meaning of the raven tattoo is positive or negative. An important fact will also be what kind of symbol the raven will be depicted as.
The meaning of the raven tattoo will be quite different, in case it is:
- totem animal;
- spirit-helper of the upper world;
- magical symbol;
- artistic image.
Plus, you should not neglect the meaning of not only the raven itself, but also the entire composition of the tattoo and its neighbors.
So, it is possible to strengthen or weaken the influence of the raven symbol with certain words or additional symbols that can be added to the drawing. For example, a raven of dark color but with a white feather is a good symbol. It can bring good luck and good fortune.
In different cultures.
Many people tend to believe that all the energy and meaning of the raven tattoo for a particular person, as well as its subjective meaning, he ultimately determines himself.
It is not at all superfluous to find out what such a tattoo carried in itself in other cultures and at other times:
- The Celts. The Celts are the first who endowed this bird with magical features. They made the raven a symbol that has always been associated with dark and evil forces. In our myths and legends, we often find the raven mentioned in descriptions of the gods of death and war, as well as in the image of the goddess of war, The Morrigan. In addition, the Celts used the symbol of the raven, which was sacred to them, to perform magical rituals;
- In ancient Greece. The significance of the raven tattoo among the ancient Greeks was no less meaningful and profound. However, in a much more positive light. This bird was associated mainly with fertility and longevity. Another distinguishing feature, which he was endowed by the Greeks, was the ability to prophecy and prediction of the future. That is why, in ancient Greece and its culture, the raven often served as an aide to travel and fortune telling. According to myths, he was the messenger of many Greek gods, such as Apollo or Athena;
- In ancient Egypt.. With the Egyptians, the raven itself, as well as the tattoo with its image, did not carry the brightest and best meaning. The bird symbolized evil, chaos, and destruction. At that time, according to folk omens, to see a black raven meant soon to suffer great loss and pain;
- Africa. The Africans thought very differently. For these people, the raven is primarily a symbol of unity, of universality, and also a guide in all the troubles of life. Killing a real raven could mean the soon to be bad weather. In Africa, the black raven was a sacred assistant to magicians and shamans;
- in ancient Rome.. For the ancient Romans, the raven and its significance were also mostly positive. Its cry reminded people of the word "tomorrow" ("cras"), and so the bird rather quickly became associated with hope and faith in a brighter future;
- The Japanese. The meaning of the raven tattoo in Japan can be called perhaps the most innocuous. In this country, the raven is a symbol of family, love and fidelity;
- In China.. On the territory of the Celestial Empire, the raven and its symbol is a personification of power, strength and authority. According to ancient Chinese legend, there is one sacred raven that lives in the sun. So it began to mean for people the rising, setting and zenith of the celestial body. Later the raven even became the emblem of the Shuya dynasty;
- Scandinavia. In Scandinavian mythology there are many references to the raven accompanying the god Odin in all his battles and battles. With these northerners, such a bird is a symbol of memory and fine intellect. The two personal ravens of Odin, Hugin and Munin, represented intelligence and memory respectively.
With the Canadian Eskimos, the raven was considered the original ancestor of humans.
In Slavic culture.
Not everything was so rosy with Christians, for whom the raven is a symbol of evil and an assistant of the Devil himself. In Russian fairy tales and legends, the black raven is often mentioned as a companion of magicians, witches and evil sorcerers.
It is also the antagonist to the white dove - an ingrained symbol of light, faith, justice and goodness. Although it is worth noting here that, despite its rather gloomy image in Slavic culture, the raven often acts in a good light as well. For example, a savior and messenger of hermits and wanderers.
Such an ambiguous and suspicious image was formed among people concerning the raven for a reason. The reason for this is the long-standing belief that crows are long-livers, with a lifespan of about three hundred years. In addition, their tendency to a solitary way of life and eating carrion has finally formed a preconceived notion about this bird.
Despite widespread information that crows can live for several hundred years, the officially recorded lifespan of these feathered birds is no more than 70 years.
Overall, even given the conflicting interpretations of this symbol, it still remains a desirable tattoo for many people.
Styles for tattooing
In order to decide on the style of the sketch, there is not even a need to watch a video, how to stuff a tattoo raven or study a whole gallery of photos of the owners of the drawing on the body. It is enough just to come to a tattoo salon, address to the master and study a little bit the catalog presented by him.
It is not at all necessary to know what style of tattooist uses in his works, you can just choose any option you like and fill it up. If you are looking for a specific technique, we offer you some interesting options for your sketch.
Realism is one of the most common styles of tattooing. The quality of the master's work is quite easy to assess, you should only compare his drawings with real life. If the sketch takes into account even the smallest details, and the raven is similar to the real thing, you can trust the tattooist.
If the raven tattoo means a symbol of aggression and hatred for anything, then you can't find a better option for the sketch than a thrash polka dot. To recognize this technique among others is simple: it differs in the use of only two colors (black and red), some carelessness and gloominess. The sketch often has a lot of sloppy paint strokes.
Those wishing to score a small and neat tattoo can be advised to pay attention to such styles as minimalism, graphics, Dotwork. Such techniques are also often decorated with watercolor elements. Such a combination makes the drawing more vivid and not so sinister. Minimalism is ideal for girls who want to wear a small but meaningful tattoo on their bodies.
Tradition is a style that can be considered individual to each nation. In world culture, traditional is one of the American primitive techniques. However, we can not deny that traditional representations differ from one nation to another, and the Scandinavian raven tattoo will be quite unlike the Russian or Chinese "counterpart".
What does the tattoo on the zone mean?
It's no secret that tattoos in prison have a separate meaning, and a tattoo with a raven is no exception.
In such places, little attention is paid to the mystical or magical symbolism of the bird. Here everything is much simpler: the main carrier of meaning will be the word itself, which when divided into two parts becomes quite clear - "he is a thief".
Tattoo with the image of a raven in the zone most often do those prisoners who are serving time for theft of another's property.
Also common is the following transcription based on the first letters: "Thief - He was born of One Hatred". It is believed that such a tattoo is made by only particularly dangerous and aggressive criminals, whose behavior in the area is characterized by unpredictability. In any case, the tattoo of the raven in the zone carries only a negative connotation.
Colors for the tattoo
The color of the plumage of the raven plays an important role in the meaning of the tattoo. The resinous black shade only enhances the effect of the negative symbolism of the drawing, as if it accumulates negative energy.
The use of white shades, even the addition of "gray" feathers dramatically changes the meaning of the drawing, making it positive. The white raven is considered a good sign, it will be an excellent companion in life and will bring good luck.
In nature, albino crows do occur, so this color solution will not go against the laws of nature. An example of a neutral option - a sketch with a black bird holding a white feather in its beak, or sitting on a flowering branch.
Men's tattoo of the raven, despite the recommendations of professionals, still often black or with a predominance of dark shades. Girls also choose a beautiful colored sketch and, to make it more gentle and feminine, dilute the gloomy colors with bright colors, such as red or yellow, although this version of the raven performance occurs not often. In prison culture, the use of gray, black and blue colors is common.
The most common images and their meanings
So, let's look at a few of the most common options for the crow tattoo.
Some insignificant, at first glance, details can significantly affect the meaning and meaning of the final drawing:
- A raven sitting alone on a branch. Means care in their own thoughts, rethinking, wisdom, solitude;
- Raven and skull in one tattoo. Usually interpreted as a deadly threat and danger to humans;
- A flock of ravens in flight symbolizes turmoil, confusion, haste and unforeseen changes;
- Raven with roses or in the nest means harmony, family happiness, idyll and love;
- Tattoo with a flying raven, which has wings wide open, embodies the freedom, strength, ambition and serious intentions.
These are just a few of the possible subjects for a tattoo with a raven. Many masters can prepare a unique sketch, according to the needs and desires of their client, and thus add something special to the meaning of the tattoo.
Who wears a tattoo of a raven?
Such a tattoo is universal, it is suitable for both men and girls. As usual, the place of the raven in a woman's shoulder, like a witch's counselor, and a young man's chest or back, where spectacularly arranged raven, spreading his wings in imitation of flight.
