What Do Different Feather Tattoos Mean? - Next Luxury

Feather tattoo ideas are connected to travel, freedom, and yearning to fly unfettered, while in Native American culture the feather signifies trust, honor, strength, and wisdom.

Meanwhile, some people attach supernatural connotations, historical meaning, and even aspects of luck and superstition in the depiction of their feather tattoo idea.

The tattoo feather is one of the simplest but most poignant symbols used in almost every application style. Its meaningful origins appealing to every type of body art collector.

There are also different technical and application aspects of feather tattoo design that you can utilize to give extra symbolic or aesthetic significance to your idea.

Check out the article below for a deep dive into the possible feather tattoo meanings you can apply to your own body art concept.

Symbolic Feather Tattoo Meanings

1. Wanting To Fly

A feather tattoo can be simply related to a love of different types of birds, various sporting teams and their mascots, or the simple wish to fly.

The significance varies depending on the feather being engraved, and/or how it’s used in a wider image by your tattoo artist.

In traditional tattoos, for example, a swallow is linked to the sight of land, while an eagle means freedom and rebellion. An owl feather tattoo is linked wisdom.

For many collectors, the idea of flying is a desire that will never be achieved. For these tattoo lovers feather design body art may be the next best thing to having wings.

2. Feathers As Freedom

The most common meaning of a bird feather tattoo is just what you’d expect: freedom. Since time began immemorial man has looked up at the flying bird and longed to join in the sky.

Feather tattoos also represent characteristics found in various birds such as truth (raven feather), courage (falcon), bravery (eagle), and ferocity (hawk feather tattoo).

The most common type of feather (and general bird tattoo) linked with freedom is the American Eagle because of its use in politics, pop culture, and link to ancient Native American culture as well (see below).

3. Quill Tattoo Designs

Another major feather tattoo – often deployed with an inkwell – is the quill, which is used to symbolize communication and the written word.

The quill pen is a writing instrument that’s made from the flight feather of a large bird. Quills as a device were in use between the 6th and 19th century, with goose feathers primarily used.

The elegance of the quill lends itself perfectly to a tattoo perhaps even with the quill writing out a portion of a word or phrase.

I have a quill tattoo on my right forearm that’s scribbling into a notebook that contrasts to The Sword in the Stone on my left forearm.

4. Peacock Feather Tattoo Meanings

The “thousand eyes” contained in the peacock’s tail feathers reinforce the mystical nature – inspiring deeper significance in many peacock feather tattoo designs.

Peacocks are native to the subcontinent and in Hinduism (and Indian feather tattoo meaning) are associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, beauty, and fertility.

In Ancient Greece the peacock pulled the chariots of the Goddess Hera, and were said to carry the eyes of the stars in their plumage.

In Christian themed peacock tattoo designs, there is more complex and multifarious significance. The “eyes” in the tail feathers represent the all-seeing nature of the church, while the way male birds shed their feathers, only to regrow them each year, is associated with Jesus’ resurrection.

5. Feathers and Luck

Despite their stunning beauty and royal connotation, many consider the peacock feather symbol to be bad luck – thought to contain the “evil eye” of the demon Lillith.

In Eastern Europe, the peacock feather gained negative connotations thanks to the fact that they were worn by the invading Mongols in the 13th century, while woodpeckers, owls, ravens, and crows are also considered birds of ill omen.

A white feather tattoo (such as a dove) is considered good luck due to its association with Christianity and use as a peace symbol. There is also the old saying “when a feather appears an angel is near.”

6. Feather and Arrow Tattoo Meanings

The combination of single feather and arrow images in a tattoo design is often depicted to represent independence, freedom, and clarity of self expression.

On its own, the feather symbol is often associated with wisdom, strength, and honor, while an arrow tattoo meaning is connected to direction and power.

Another reason why feathers are incorporated into tattoo ideas with arrows is that without good quality fletching – which is the feathered part of the arrow glued on to the shaft – the arrow will not fly true when fired from a bow.

7. What Is the Symbolism of an Infinity Feather Tattoo?

In contemporary Western tattoo tradition, bird tattoos and feathers are often associated with a freewheeling independent spirit, serving as symbols of the impermanent nature of life.

When combined with an infinity symbol an interesting symbolic contrast is created that centers on repetition and rebirth.

An infinity feather tattoo is meant to be a symbol of the endless nature of the cycle of life, being born, growing old, and finally dying.

8. Wings Tattoos

Wings have many meanings but are most commonly associated with bird tattoos and angels. Depictions of these in tattoo design often look very much alike, with the color and style of feathers differentiating them as light or dark aspect depictions.

Wings can also represent a desire or a past accomplishment of “flying” away from something. This might connote a dysfunctional childhood, a dead-end hometown, or simply an old version of yourself which you’ve left behind.

One very specific type of wing belonged to Hermes, a figure in ancient Greece. Both a deity and a mythological figure, Hermes effectively ushers souls into the afterlife, aided by his winged sandals. Tattoo feather wings depicting Hermes are either full-on sandals or a pair of wings tattooed at or near the foot or ankle.

Native American Feather Tattoo Meanings

9. Colorful Feather Tattoo Designs

Every Native American tribe carries a rich history that is loaded with iconography, and the feather’s symbolism is a huge part of their story.

Feathers symbolize freedom and inspiration, and in Native American cultures were worn to show one’s connection with the Great Spirit.

Nothing brings an image to life quite like color, which makes it a great choice for your upcoming Native American tattoo.

If you want to add color in an uber-traditional way, check out the ways in which Native Americans used color in their everyday lives. There are many beautiful examples online of native beadwork, blanket weaving, painting, and other mediums (such as a protective dream catcher) in which the Native Americans use color to brighten their lives.

10. Eagle Feather Tattoo Symbolism

In Native American culture, a feather is far more than something that helps birds fly. It symbolizes many things, among them trust, honor, strength, freedom, wisdom, and power.

An eagle feather – traditionally Bald or Golden varieties – is extremely special. Since the Native Americans believe that these birds have a connection to the heavens, these feathers symbolize spirituality.

The Iroquois made offerings of feathers during seasonal ceremonies to give thanks for their bounty.

Feathers are to be respected. Much like a flag, a feather received as a gift is to be treated carefully, proudly displayed and never allowed to touch the ground.

11. The Headdress Tattoo

The headdress (warbonnet) was worn by Native American Warriors in battle, but are more representative of being a chief or tribal leader. Its use in tattoos is often meant to reflect strength, honor, leadership, and wisdom, with the Eagle feather representing the most sought after plumage.

Many tattoo collectors get headdress tattoos of famous Native American warriors and leaders, such as Sitting Bull or Geronimo, or use photorealism style to reproduce historical scenes of battle and defiance.

Many Native American cultural representatives have expressed offense at what they deem the cultural appropriation of wearing and displaying headdresses, and this extends to tattoos.

Whether native American or not, make sure your headdress tattoo design choice is suitable for your concept – check with cultural experts – otherwise look at alternatives that may not be considered divisive.

12. Feathers and War Paint in Warrior Tattoos

The war paint used when going into battle was often quite bright, and represented two main aspects of battle.

Braves used war paint and feathers as a way to mentally prepare for combat, applying colors, patterns, and fetishes which aimed to strike fear in the hearts of their opponents and to protect them spiritually while in battle.

Warriors were also given feathers as symbolic rewards for bravery and skill in battle, or as part of coming of age rituals. These aspects could become a personalized use of color in your Native American tattoo design.

The Feather in Tattoo Style and Technical Application

13. American Traditional and Neo-Traditional Feather Tattoos

Feather tattoos are popular in this type of application due to the traditional links with Native American culture, old school artistry, and the traditional feather symbolism of freedom and independence.

These styles represent the most popular types of tattoo choices in the US.

A collector can cleave to the traditional ethos of tattoos – crisp heavy lines, a limited color palette, bold fill, or black feather tattoo ink – or build on simple feather tattoo concepts with new techniques and vibrant color.

14. Geometric Feather Tattoos

The sophisticated beauty of the geometric style is founded on the principle of mathematical balance and aesthetic harmony, making it ideal for translating the feather into stunning tattoo art.

With its series of symmetrically interwoven and evenly layered squares, triangles, and abstract figures, a geometric feather is at once deconstructed and reinterpreted in a new light, wholly dependent on the vision of the collector and tattoo artist bringing the piece to life..

The feather represents liberation and freedom – giving your tattoo a geometric feather worn on the bicep, shoulder, or leg acts as a powerful totem for manifesting similar aspirations.

15. Watercolor Feather Tattoo Art

One design trend that continues to gain traction are watercolor tattoo designs, which provide a great style choice for feather tattoo art.

Watercolor style uses bright colors and a loose application approach to create images reminiscent of watercolor paintings.

Watercolor feather tattoo takes a slightly different approach to this colorful style – some add colors to more realistic central pieces while others take a more abstract design approach to a compelling bird feather.

16. Realism Style Feather Tattoo Application

Feather tattoos in the realism style tend to go in two directions: folded into Native American warrior/battle ink, or realistic reproductions of bird tattoo (or individual feathers).

The large pieces incorporating Native American warriors are some of the most visually stunning tattoo art you’ll find, whether in color or black and gray, emphasizing believability.

Realistic bird feather ink is no less impressive, showing off skill and artistry by creating a reproduction that looks almost real, whether it’s mutlicolored hue or more simple feather tattoo.