Butterfly Tattoos

What does a butterfly tattoo mean?

Butterfly symbolism grows out of metamorphosis: a caterpillar becomes a winged creature, so the motif stands for transformation, rebirth and a new chapter. In Ancient Greece the word psyche meant both soul and butterfly, and the goddess Psyche was shown with butterfly wings. In Japan the butterfly was seen as the soul of the living or the dead, and two butterflies together are a popular sign of a happy marriage. In Christian tradition the butterfly reads as resurrection. Many people get one after a hard period, after leaving a difficult relationship, or in memory of someone they lost. Color adds a personal layer too, from black for remembrance to red for passion. Styles range from minimalism and geometry to watercolor, realism and neo-traditional.