Symbolism of Heart Tattoos
Heart Tattoo Meanings: Love, Acceptance, Central, Whole, Vitality, Friendship, Compassion, Spirituality, Honor, Sacred, Emotion, Courage, Life, Hope, Passion, Luck, Faith, Trust
Heart tattoo ideas typically convey love, friendship and they commemorate our feelings of adoration.
The heart symbol itself is a vessel holding pure potential of love. In Tarot the suit of cups (hearts) is associated with love, connectivity, intuition, emotion and passion.
The heart symbol also means procreation; creating something wholly unique and divine like the birth of a child from a union.
Hearts can also represent a deep spiritual love.
Heart tattoos with feathers represents the legendary "weighing of the soul" ritual performed by Egyptians during mummification. Anubis weighed the heart against the weight of a feather. If the heart was lighter than a feather, then the spirit of the deceased was light enough to ascend through the Corridors of Judgment. This is symbolic of purity in spirit, integrity and a soul worthy of progressing into the Afterlife.
In Buddhism, the heart is associated with the Dharmacakra; the Wheel of Law the heart is symbolic of the perfection of the Universe. It also conveys mindfulness, spiritual devotion and compassion.
In Christianity the heart continues its theme of love and unity.
The Sacred Heart is symbolic of the capacity of Christ's compassion - a symbol of his enduring belief in the potential of brotherly/sisterly love. It is an icon that beckons humankind to keep the fire of the soul well tended - even in the face adversity.
Hearts with arrows through the heart hold similar meanings. These typically represent lasting love in the face of hardship. They are also symbolic of Cupids (Eros in Greek myth) arrow piercing the heart and forever joining lovers with his amorous aim.
