Butterfly and Dragonfly Tattoo Design Ideas Based on Myths and Legends

Butterflies and dragonflies are used in tattoo designs a lot, but they are not always put together in one tattoo design. Butterflies and dragonflies have a lot in common when it comes to their symbolic meaning and legends from around the world. These fluttery creatures are not only beautiful, but can represent many different things. Use them both in a tattoo design. Don't just pick one.

The meaning of dragonflies in tattoos. Dragonflies represent being wild and free. They can fly fast, and are free from restraint. No one can catch a speeding dragonfly. They must be patient and let the dragonfly come to them. Here are some more meanings for dragonfly tattoo designs:

-Dragonflies represent both water and air. They fly in the sky, but are most often found around water.

-In Native American legends, dragonfly spirits claim a person and become their guardian. With a dragonfly guardian, the person must make a real effort to express their hopes, dreams, and desires.

-In Japan, dragonflies represent victory in battle. They show success, courage, and strength.

-In Italy, dragonflies were believed to be sent by Satan to cause mischief on earth.

The meaning of butterflies in tattoos. Butterflies are commonly known to show rebirth and transformation. They go from a crawling caterpillar to a flying beauty. Butterflies have other meanings, as well:

-In many cultures Goddesses were really butterflies in human form. That made the butterfly the Goddess' true form.

-Butterflies represent beauty and love because of their many colors.

-Butterflies represent the spirits of the dead.

-In Greek mythology, every time a butterfly left a cocoon a human soul was released with it.

-Japanese samurai would use butterflies on their armor.

Dragonfly and butterfly tattoo design using water and air. Butterflies are connected to the sky, and dragonflies with the water. Create a tattoo design that shows both. Have your dragonfly flying over water. You can have a waterlily(with a lotus!), or cattails, to show the water. Just above the dragon would be your butterfly in the sky. You can have the sun, and some clouds, to show the sky. If you want, you can have your butterfly and dragonfly connected by the tail, making them one creature.

Dragonfly and butterfly tattoo design based on death. Choose what symbol you want to represent death. Some of the most common are the skull, the grim reaper, a cross, etc. You want a death that is meaningful for this tattoo. By adding a dragonfly, the death becomes a victory. One idea is to have a skull, and beside the skull have a bloody dagger. This would show that the owner of the dagger died, but the blood shows he succeeded first. Have your dragonfly sitting on the skull or the dagger. Flying above the skull should be a your butterfly. The butterfly becomes the spirit of the fallen, and is flying to his Heaven, wherever it may be. You can connect the butterfly with the fallen hero by making the same colors as the dagger. Place jewels on the dagger, and those same jewels on the butterfly's wings.

Dragonfly and butterfly tattoo design to inspire hopes and dreams. This tattoo design is a very personal one. The dragonfly spirit requires that you express your hopes and dreams. Butterflies represent rebirth and transformation. When a dream comes true, you are essentially transforming into that new part of your life. For the tattoo design, start with the dragonfly. Make it any color you want. Surround the dragonfly with butterflies. Each butterfly will represent one of your hopes or dreams. If you want to be a musician some day, fill one of the butterfly's wings with musical notes. A wannabe writer could have a favorite quote inside the wings. You want to be an astronaut? Put the moon inside the butterfly's wings. The tattoo becomes a beautiful, and permanent, way to express those hopes and dreams.

Dragonfly and butterfly tattoo design of transformation. Caterpillars turn into butterflies. Dragonflies turn into...dragons? Sure, why not. Dragonflies represent strength, and courage. So does a dragon. With a butterfly and dragonfly tattoo design about transformation you will end up with a meaning that represents beauty and strength. This is a perfect tattoo design for a strong woman. The first part of the tattoo would be of a butterfly leaving its cocoon. It could be sitting on its open cocoon, wings down and still drying. Next to the butterfly would be your dragonfly. The best way to show that a little dragonfly has a dragon within it is through a shadow. The shadow below the dragonfly should be of a mighty dragon. Make sure to have the sun above this scene to show that this is a shadow.

Dragonfly and butterfly tattoo design of a samurai. If you want a samurai tattoo, why not add in the dragonfly and butterfly? Those two creatures are not just for women, by the way. A samurai with a butterfly on its armor would make an amazing tattoo to show strength and courage. Add a dragonfly or two flying around the samurai(or sitting on his sword) and double the strength and courage meaning. Not to mention, the dragonfly also represents victory in battle, and that's perfect for a samurai.

Sources:

Butterfly tattoos - What do they mean?, vanishingtattoo.com

Dragonfly tattoos - What do they mean?, vanishingtattoo.com

Dragonflies in Myth and Legend, unsolvedmysteries.com