From pentacles to Wiccan elements. I have conjured up the top Pagan tattoo designs for you to choose from!
As I am sure many people - women in particular - can relate, I too was obsessed with pagan cultures and religions when I was younger. I suppose it was a way to find alternate approaches to more traditional religions. So, it is always nice to meet a client who is also exploring such things.
Not only have I found the top pagan tattoo ideas for you, but I have also provided some history and meaning to the different designs too!
Here are the top pagan tattoos that you should check out:
Now, when most people think of pagan shapes, they think of pentagrams. Well, the pentacle is the five-pointed star within a circle. The pentacle is associated with neo-pagan religions, Wicca, in particular.
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Although the pentagram can sometimes be linked to the devil, a pentacle is more commonly associated with protection. The five points of the star can be seen as a representation of the five elements - earth, air, wood water, and fire.
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The pentagram can also be seen as a depiction of both the feminine as well as the masculine. So, in this sense, this pagan tattoo can be a symbol of balance or even pagan perfection.
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The triple goddess is sometimes referred to as the maiden, the mother, and the crone. The triple goddess is meant to represent the three most important stages of a woman's life.
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First, you have the maiden - a time immediately following puberty, when you are a young woman. This could be a time of freedom, exploration, or coming into your own. Then, you have the mother - this is a period of sensuality and fertility and is also associated with caring and nurturing.
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Finally, you have the crone. She depicts women in the later stages of life. She has wisdom and experience under her belt and can be a source of guidance to other women.
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One of the more interesting things about the triple goddess pagan tattoo is that it can be a feminist counterpart to mainstream religion. Many of the most popular monotheist religions tend to be patriarchal with male or male-like figures at the helm.
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The triple goddess, however, can be an exploration of the feminine divine. Not only does the idea of the triple goddess place power back into the hands of women, but it can also recreate the narrative around the traditional rites of passage for women.
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When it comes to this kind of pagan tattoo, you have a couple of options to choose from. If you want to choose symbols for the triple goddess, then you can do so with the moon. You can draw a waxing and waning moon on either side of a full moon to depict the triple goddess.
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On the other hand, if you prefer to simply draw the triple goddess deities as they are, then you can draw three women. As you can imagine, you have quite a lot of creative control with such pagan tattoo designs, so you can really make your pagan tattoo your own.
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In some instances, Cernunnos, also known as the Horned One, can be considered a sort of male counterpart for the triple goddess concept. He was often depicted as wearing stag antlers. However, in modern depictions, he may have more of a physical resemblance to a goat.
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Now, Cernunnos may have been one of the more widely followed pagan gods. His likeness has been found in Britain, Italy, and Denmark.
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The Christian church was very unhappy with the idea of people worshipping or following Cernunnos and they ran a bit of a smear campaign, using him as a symbol for the antichrist. This is likely why the goat is associated with devil worship and when many people think of the devil, they conjure up an image of an individual with horns, a tail, and hooves.
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For your pagan tattoo, there are a few different ways that you can depict Cernunnos. If you want, you can choose to depict him as a man with the exception of the antlers sprouting from his head. If you want to reduce his likeness to the modern-day devil in your pagan tattoo, then you can make the horns look like branches.
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In case you don't mind a slightly more gothic vibe to your pagan tattoo, then you can consider body art where Cernunnos either has an animal skull or is wearing an animal skull.
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If you are looking for pagan tattoo ideas with Nordic themes, then you are sure to be spoilt for choice. This is because there are plenty of these pagan tattoo designs to choose from!
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One of the more popular options is Norse gods and goddesses. There is a good chance that you know a fair amount about Norse gods and goddesses as they are pretty common in pop culture. Due to this, they can be considered pagan gods of old and new.
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From Odin and Thor to Freya and Loki, you can choose which god, goddess, demi-gods, or giants to get inked on you.
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If you wish to go in a different direction, then you may want to consider ancient runes as a pagan tattoo instead. This makes the perfect tattoo if you want a cool-looking tattoo with an intricate design that also has some meaning.
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Now, in case you do want to get runes as a pagan tattoo, make sure to do your research. Keep in mind that not only does each rune have its own phonetic sound, but it also has its own meaning. So, it is a good idea to make certain that you are getting an authentic design.
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You can choose to only have two runes for your pagan tattoo or you can pair them with imagery associated with Vikings, Norse mythology, or other elements associated with Nordic culture.
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It is quite difficult to find authentic Celtic pagan tattoo designs. This can be because a lot of the original Celtic religion and culture has been lost over time. What's more, many of the accounts of ancient Celtic practices have been recorded and passed down by the Romans and so these facts may have been distorted.
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To add to this, as far as pagan tattoo ideas go, people have also appeared to mix Nordic and Celtic pagan themes and mythology. If you do want a more authentic or traditional Celtic pagan tattoo, then you can consider including elements like druids, nature, and Celtic symbols like the knot into your tattoo.
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Pagan Slavic religions and rituals were practiced across many countries and cultures in Europe. However, the gods and the beliefs weren't always the same and there were some variations from one community to another.
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That being said, beings like Svarog were worshipped fairly widely. Svarog was considered a divine smith and an instigator of monogamous marriage.
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Another popular belief involves the leshy, a forest spirit. Leshy acts as a regulator and distributor of prey to hunters. The Leshy was initially the protector of wild animals and then considered the guardian of flocks and herds.
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On the flip side, you can also consider getting a Kikimora tattoo. There are a few different versions regarding the kikimora but the general concept is that she is a female house spirit and that she can either be good or bad depending on the house owner. So, if you are looking for darker pagan themes for your pagan tattoo, this is one to consider.
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Ravens do show up in many different pagan religions. While some people consider them to be symbols of bad luck, they are also often the messengers of gods. And, in the case of Huginn and Muninn - Odin's ravens - they also travel the world and are associated with knowledge.
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As ravens have also been associated with the devil, these pagan tattoo ideas can be a good option if you wish to explore darker pagan themes and want a darker symbol for your tattoo.
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It can sometimes seem that women are more likely to follow pagan practices, sometimes referred to as witchcraft. Now, this may be because there are many monotheist religions that feel male-dominated and may sometimes even refer to female roles in a derogatory sense.
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Due to this, some women may feel that that pagan practices are a better option for them. It is also may be why you are considering pagan tattoo ideas for yourself. One of the options that you can get for your next tattoo can be a naked woman - or naked women - dancing under a full moon!
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Such pagan tattoo ideas are also a great symbol of self-exploration, freedom, and even female empowerment!
Paganism is sometimes associated with witchcraft. This can be especially true when women practice paganism. If this is something that you consider to be true, then you may want your pagan tattoo to have a witchy feel to it.
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If a witch on a broomstick pagan tattoo feels a little too stereotypical to you and you are looking for something different, consider a witchy hands pagan tattoo. As you can see here, this is where the hands are depicted casting spells.
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For this kind of pagan tattoo, you can add any other occult elements that you want. This can include a pentagram, full moon, cats, a goddess, etc. You are free to customize your pagan tattoo however you feel.
Well, there you have it - all the pagan tattoo ideas that you could possibly need! It doesn't matter if you are looking for more historic designs or something a bit more contemporary, you can find everything you need right here!
