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Are you looking for a tattoo that will represent your inner spiritual awakening and wanderlust? Here are some amazing compass rose tattoo ideas for you to see!
A compass rose tattoo means the desire for journey, discovery of new things and spiritual growth.
A compass tattoo usually symbolises that the wearer will always find the north direction no matter where they are or in which direction they are going. The compass tattoo will always remind them of where their priorities lie even as they go on a journey of a lifetime.
Sailors and fishermen often got compass tattoos on their bodies as they considered the compass tattoo to be lucky and bring in good fortune. In the older days, sea travel could be quite difficult and could be full of perils as well. The compass tattoo would remind them that they had to find their north which would symbolise their home.
People often get compass tattoos on their chest, shoulder or wrists. They also get these tattoos on their biceps or tricep area sometimes.
A compass rose is the figure on the compass or map which displays the cardinal directions of north, south, east and west. This compass rose is also known as a wind rose. The compass rose became an important sign of protection and safety for sailors as it would guide them back home and to familiar territories when they would be lost.
Many people also added the flower rose to their compass tattoos as the rose tattoo meaning represents that their homes were full of love.
Simple But Stunning Compass Rose Tattoos
A lot of men often complain that there are not many great small tattoos for men. However, that is a misconception. After all, a simple compass rose tattoo would be the perfect small tattoo for the body of any man or woman.
If you are looking for a deeply personal tattoo to represent your inner, personal journey through life, you can approach a proficient tattoo artist whose work you like and trust. Once you tell them of your idea, they will create an eye catching tattoo design which will show the points as well as the direction of the compass. You can also ask them to add the north star to the north direction of your compass rose tattoo. Such a tattoo would be perfect for placing on the back of your shoulder or on the front shoulder.
Vibrant And Colorful Compass Rose Tattoo Ideas
If you look at the existing compass rose tattoo designs on the internet, you will see that many of them have a watercolor effect. This watercolour compass tattoo is one of the most popular trends among people who get a tattoo of a nautical compass. The addition of colourful ink of different colours to the nautical compass tattoo makes the tattoo much more cheerful and bright. The colourful ink also makes it seem like it is a watercolour compass tattoo.
Dark And Shaded Compass Rose Tattoo Designs
If you do not prefer colourful tattoos then you can also choose not to get a watercolour compass tattoo. Instead, you can opt for a more muted, dark and shaded nautical compass tattoo design. As seen in the picture, the tattoo artist has done a wonderful job of giving the perfect shaded effect to the compass rose tattoo and has turned it into body art.
Gorgeous And Elaborate Compass Rose Tattoo Designs
In the traditional style of the past, the tattoo artist would create a large and complex compass rose tattoo design. Sailors and fishermen would get these designs inked on different parts of their body including their shoulder. Their tattoo would represent their wish to travel in the right direction. The compass rose tattoo was also a way to firmly anchor them back to their home which would be symbolised by the north star. Consequently, the elaborate tattoos would be full of significant meanings.
Lovely Ideas Of Compass Rose Tattoo Outline
If you are fond of neat and precise outline tattoos, you can ask your tattoo artist to create a traditional design related to the compass tattoo. The compass rose would symbolise the different directions related to navigation – north, south, east and west that the arrow points towards based on the journey and the wind direction. The elegant strokes of the compass rose tattoo will make it a beautiful body art and will be a symbol for home and longing as well.
If you are in the search for some more beautiful tattoo outlines to get inked, here are some gorgeous arrow with a heart tattoo that you can get.
Wonderful Compass Rose Tattoos With Inspirational Quotes
The compass rose tattoo designs can be quite simple but they also portray deep emotions of love. As seen in the picture, if you want, you can also get a combination of tattoo along with an inspirational quote. The inspirational quote represents the desire of the wearer and also guides them towards the things that truly matter. You will find plenty of beautiful quotes in the world from which you can choose one for your compass rose tattoo designs. However, the placement of such a tattoo needs to be thought out as it will require a lot of space to fit in all the lines.
Ideas For Compass Rose Tattoos With Other Motifs
It is understandable if you are not a fan of the traditional tattoo style. After all, the modern art style has also evolved quite a bit and it actually takes into consideration where the wearer wants the tattoo placement to be.
In addition to that, the modern style also allows a person to create a combination of tattoos where they can add other significant symbols and motifs from the world which represent good luck.
You can also add various other symbols to your rose and compass tattoo to portray emotions like love and belonging such as an hourglass tattoo that represents time.
Beautiful Compass Rose Tattoos With Meaningful Phrases
While a compass rose tattoo shows the cardinal directions, many people consider the word ‘rose’ literally and add a rose to their compass tattoo. Therefore, their rose and compass tattoo becomes a beautiful combination which shows that their journey and spiritual awakening is full of love. We often undertake difficult journeys for the sake of the people we love. We also make these journeys in order to fulfill our desires or dreams or in order to do something that we love. In that context, the rose in the compass tattoo adds a deeper layer.
However, if you do not feel satisfied with just a rose compass tattoo, then you can also opt for a nautical compass tattoo design where you can add significant phrases that means a lot to you.
After all, if you are also a sailor or a pilot who has to leave their family for days and months, the compass rose tattoo will serve as a lovely reminder for you. The meaningful phrases or lines will show you that your path will be difficult but the future where you finally meet your family again is worth looking forward to.
Floral Compass Tattoos With Important Dates
The long journeys that we take lead to an immense spiritual growth in us. Therefore, a lot of people remember the dates when their journeys began forever. Similarly, if you want to celebrate or forever remember the day on which you set out on an adventure of a lifetime, you may also want to add that date to your floral compass tattoo. As seen in the picture, you can also replace the rose in the tattoo with any other flower that you may be fond of.
If you are looking for more beautiful flowers to add to your compass tattoo, here are some lovely black and grey rose tattoo designs to look at and be inspired by.
Unique Ideas For A Compass Rose Tattoo Sleeve
According to history, marine sailors and fishermen in the past would opt for the traditional compass rose tattoo on the sleeve of their arm as it would symbolise the path they were on. It also represented the home they had left behind. Therefore, these traditional styles of nautical compasses often had deeper meanings of familial affection, being homesick but being ready to enjoy the journey ahead anyway. The nautical compass tattoo would always point towards their next destination but also guide them back home when required.
If you are wondering, “What does a tattoo of a rose and a compass mean?” then you might find a number of explanations and answers. However, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself what a compass rose tattoo might mean and signify to you. After all, a tattoo can always be left up to the interpretation of the person who is wearing it and the people who are seeing it. Therefore, if you are an adventurer or someone who loves to go on difficult journeys for spiritual growth and learning, you should definitely get a compass rose tattoo. The compass rose tattoo will guide you back home and act as a dependent friend whenever you need it.
Feature Image from Pinterest – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo
