Rose Tattoo Meaning

It’s perfectly valid to pick a tattoo on a whim, but choosing one with a personal meaning adds another reason to sit through the discomfort of a long inking session. Flower designs are full of extra meaning and historical connection. If you’re trying to commemorate an important bond or add a romantic flair to your collection of tattoos, a rose might be the perfect addition.

The Spiritual And Symbolic Meanings Of The Rose

Roses don’t share much of a common meaning in flower language. The exact symbolism of this blossom depends mostly on its color, but the rose in general does symbolize:

  • Romantic love and affection, especially for women
  • The sacrifices required for love or the pain of lost love, especially when the design includes thorns or designed for men
  • Embracing love in all its forms, including self-love.

How Color Affects The Meaning Of The Rose

While practically any rose tattoo design will fit your needs for a romantic piece of skin art, you need to consider what message you send to viewers with the color of the petals. Rose color meanings include:

  • The rarity and supernatural air of the unnatural black rose, which is only available after dyeing by florist
  • The royal nature and regal bearing of the brightly dyed blue rose
  • The classic romantic love symbolism and undying affection of the blood red rose
  • The sweet nature and charming power of friendship found in the pink rose, which makes this color perfect for girls
  • The friendly and outgoing feeling of the yellow rose
  • The drive for success, especially in the worlds of careers and relationships, symbolized by the orange rose
  • The link to self improvement and constant growth found in the green rose
  • The unchanging purity and innocence of a white rose, making it a potent symbol for children who have passed away before growing up.

Other Symbolic Uses Of The Rose

Aside from being tattooed on the skin, the rose has always featured prominently in both Medieval and Victorian art. The monks illustrating manuscripts and designing cathedrals considered the intricately layered petals to symbolize the inspiration of God. The petals of red roses were linked to the drops of blood shed by Jesus as he hung on the cross. The common association of this flower with romantic love arises from the Greek myth of Adonis, who was so beautiful that even Aphrodite fell in love with him. The Victorians drew from these myths as well when creating their Language of the Flowers. Finally, many Tudor period families added roses to their heraldry because it’s also linked with war. The Roman god of war, Mars, arose from a rose during his birth.

Rose Tattoo

The Rose Tattoo Communicates The Message of…

Embracing love in any form it takes, dedicating yourself to making romantic love last instead of flitting between relationships, being brave enough to stand up for yourself and those you love, and blossoming in your life instead of letting the past hold you back.

People Who Wear Rose Tattoos Tend To Be…

  • Very romantic and focused on love and relationships, whether the rose is on a shoulder or part of a larger sleeve design
  • Trying to reconcile new and old ideas about love, especially when wearing tribal rose designs
  • Old-fashioned or at least interested in using the symbolism of the past.

Connecting Personally With The Rose

Of course, rose tattoos make even more sense when you’ve had personal experience with these blossoms in real life. Are you related or married to someone who loves to give or receive a bouquet of red roses? Did you bring someone a single rosebud to celebrate your first date? It’s even the perfect symbol for a lover of gardening.

The Inspiration of the Rose

“Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.” ~ Katharine Lee Bates

“A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.” ~ Leo Buscaglia

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