Tattoos symbolize permanence, self expression, creativity, and transformation. As a result, when we dream of tattoos,
- We may be ready to make a greater commitment, with respect to a relationship, job, belief, or something else that is both personal and significant.
- We may need to express ourselves to others, show our skills, and share the fruits of our talent.
- We may yearn to explore our creative side, want to stand out, break from the pack, and step out beyond the bonds of cultural and societal norms.
- We may be looking for change and transformation, either in ourselves, in a relationship, or in some other important aspect of our life.
In the past, tattoos also served as marks to indicate a particular status or rank, membership to a particular group or religion, and an acknowledgement of certain skills or achievements. Today, this is similar to the function of badges, printed emblems on clothing, and printed cards. Tattoos were also used as talismans to protect us from harm.
In addition to the general symbolism of tattoos, the meaning of our dream will also be dependent on –
- The details of the tattoo including color, whether it is text or image, as well as subject matter.
- The location of the tattoo(s) on the body.
- Whether the tattoo appears on us or somebody else.
- Our interaction (if any) with the tattoo.
Visual Details of Our Dream Tattoos
One of the most popular subject matter of tattoos are pledges of love. For example, our dream tattoo may be the name of our spouse or partner. It could also be the name of our child, sibling, or friend. Other common love symbols include the apple, a rose, heart, dove, or cupid.
Love tattoos indicate that we are ready to commit ourselves to the person. There may also be a lack of communication in our relationship, which makes us want to better express our love and feelings.
There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.
~~[Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park]
Another popular group of tattoo symbols are of animals (real or fantasy). Many tattoo animals including the dragon, tiger, or lion are symbols of strength and power. Others may signify intellect (fox, owl, eagle), luck (rabbit, goose), or spirituality (unicorn, phoenix). Animal tattoos show a need to share or express our power, wisdom, good fortune, or faith, to others.
Finally, tribal tattoos also appear in many circumstances. Tribal tattoos were originally worn –
- As a form of camouflage,
- To indicate membership of a particular tribe, or
- To indicate rank or achievement.
When we dream of tribal tattoos, it may signal a hidden message, a need to belong, or a wish for greater status and success.
Finally, how our dream tattoo is rendered also contributes to its meaning.
- A colorful or visual dream tattoo indicates creativity, joy, and passion.
- A black or textual dream tattoo suggests simplicity, logical expression, as well as a more serious or focused purpose.
Body Location of Our Dream Tattoos
If our dream tattoo is on a part of the body that is often hidden by clothes, then we may have a secret that we are too shy or fearful to confess. For example, hiding a rose or heart tattoo in our dream, may signify that we have a secret relationship that we want to share, but are unable to.
The exact location of our dream tattoo also carries meaning-
- Hands and armsWe use our hands and arms to greet others, to protect, as well as to create great works of art, grow food, invent, and more.Dream tattoos that are situated on our hands and arms are very powerful, because they relate to friendship, protection, and creation. For example, if we have a tattoo of our boyfriend’s name on our arm, it may mean that we want to protect him and keep him safe.
- Legs and feet
Our legs and feet carry us to new worlds, allow us to explore, as well as search for that which was lost. As such, leg dream tattoos are associated with travelling, journeys, and transformation. It may represent a physical journey or a spiritual journey.For example, a dream rose tattoo on our leg may imply that we need to embark on a journey to find new love or recapture a love which was lost. It may be a physical journey, a transformation of our physical self (change of appearance), or a transformation of our spiritual self (change in thinking and belief).
- Head
Our head is where we think great thoughts, develop creative ideas, and refine our beliefs. As such, a head tattoo relates more to the emotional or spiritual, rather than to the physical and mundane. - Body
The trunk of our body is where material utilization and absorption occurs. Our lungs process air, our stomach processes food, and our heart pumps these nutrients to the other parts of our body.A body tattoo implies a material or physical relation. For example, a lion tattoo on our body may indicate physical strength and power, whereas if it is on our face or head, then it may indicate spiritual strength instead. A heart dream tattoo on the body may indicate lust, but one on the head may symbolize spiritual love or devotion.
- Neck
Our next connects our head (spiritual plane) to our body (material plane), thus it is often associated with risk, balance and equilibrium. It also contains our voice box, so it is also a symbol of communication.A neck dream tattoo may signal something that needs to be communicated with all haste, a risk that we need to take, or that there is a lack of equilibrium in certain aspects of our life.
Having many tattoos on our body implies a great need for self expression. In particular, we may have many repressed thoughts and emotions that have accumulated over a long period of time. We may also have trouble communicating our thoughts, and may need some help in this area.
If we dream of having a different tattoo design in the same location as a real-life tattoo, then we may be feeling like we are living a lie, or pretending to be somebody we are not.
Person Wearing Our Dream Tattoos
We should also pay close attention to who is wearing the tattoos.
If the tattoos are on our own body, then we are the ones who need to better express ourselves, to transform, be creative, or step outside our comfort zone.
If the tattoos are on somebody else, then –
- We may be missing or overlooking something in our relationship with that person. It can also mean that the person is trying to get our attention, or is feeling neglected.
- We may yearn to have what the other person has.
- We may need to help somebody else express their feelings, offer a shoulder to cry on, or offer support in a stressful time of change.
If in our dream, we are a tattooist, then we may be looking to have a greater impact on the lives of others. Perhaps we currently feel disconnected, and want to leave something of ourselves behind, in the people around us.
Being a dream tattooist could also express a need to experience something new, that is outside the bounds of societal norms.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
~~[Henry David Thoreau]
Our Interaction with the Dream Tattoos
Finally, we want to consider how we interact with the tattoos in our dream.
- If we are trying to remove the tattoo, then we may be having difficulties ending a bad relationship.
- If we are praising the tattoo or otherwise interacting with it in a positive way, then it may capture an attribute that we want to cultivate in ourselves.
- If we are drawing over the tattoo or trying to change it through other means, then we may be discontented with our current circumstances, and be seeking transformation.
- If we are trying to convince others to get our tattoo, then we may want to teach, share our wisdom, and perhaps guide the people around us.
Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us,
Footprints on the sands of time.
~~[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]
I had a dream that my shoulder was being tattooed of the face of a tiger with stripes and underneath the face was a tribal cuff around my bicep. Colors of black and red filled in the rest of my arm in tribal designs creating a sleeve.
I had a dream of a woman having lots of tattoos and her name saying to me use the perfume you will be rich
I had a dream where i got a (compass+ clock) tatoo on the edge my wrist of my left hand . What does it mean???
Hi it’s been 2 weeks and i kept thinking about it ,my dream was that i was with my friend (i didn’t see her face) then a member of an army (still no face) that i was crushing on came and told me he loved me he showed me his tattoo it was on his arm (when i woke up i felt that this tattoo was familiar but it was a strange sign can i somehow send a drawing about it?) and then we got married and lived in a poor house but we were happy and then my family came and told me” how can you live in this poor situation ” i told them i loved him and that this was the important /But the strange thing is that they told me he was Muslim (i am Christian and no matter what happens i won’t even date a Muslim sorry no offence for all the muslims out there but i love Jesus and i won’t betray him)
i dreamt that i got big scary black and white tatto in my rt thigh ,
i was liitle sacred how i got this tatto , in the bottom of tattoo there was some notes for me … i cant not remember clearly what was written , but in dream i could read those word clearly , word was written in english but some word was unfamiliar to me or does not carry any meaning
but i felt some part of written i know what you did
plz help me out , i am scared i did not harm any people in my knowledge in my life
I had a dream of my boyfriend who passed away this past July. He was showing me all his new tattoos in his forearms. One was a red swirl with dots, another four black Diamond almost like on a deck of cards. I wish I knew what it meant
Hello,
I just had a dream of getting a tattoo on my arm to hands. I remember it being a kite, combine with red biting lips. And I think green leaves. & a black line/string connecting them all.. For some reason it was 3:30 am.
My daughter was there and a homeless guy who draws was there. (Drawing the girl tattling me & the tattoo on my arm) It was suppose to be b&w but then the tattoo lady consciences me to be color. I’m not sure what the kite color was. Then right before I woke up I saw the face of a guy I met a few months ago, (we met and talked for 4/5 hours and never spoke again.)
Are you able to help me interpret this dream?
Thanks.
You have a deep desire to have your arms tattooed. Society has kept you from having it done. Now is the time to fulfill your dream !A kite may mean flying free of our society , as a tAttoo it has no more meaning. Advise to women; have your arms tattooed with coloful flowers !
I had a dream that my mum was tattooing a leaf on my right hand and a little later my tattoo started disappearing.
What does this mean?
I’ll be very grateful someone helped me out with this.
I am not a specialist but when I read this it seemed to me that your mom maybe was encouraging, or maybe more likely enforcing growth that you are not quite ready for. Just a thought.
I had a dream where a woman was killed and she wanted 4 tattoos on her back. I only got to see 3 of them and they were her birth date and a smile face and a sad face. I was looking from above and i dont remmember seeing anone spot me. I am also muslim
What does this dream mean?
I dream someone tattoo my right arm the tattoo was a ankh bracelet what is the meaning
What’s is the meaning of my dream : My boyfriend tattoo his mother’s name on his arm in Red??
I dreamed I saw my worst enemy with a tattoo drawn on her face some yellow and green features on the tattoo, it is not a visual but a written story. We still were not in talking terms even though I greeted
My dream was about trying to save some friends, but later ended up with me talking to person in charge. He told me to get the arrow for him.
Gave me a card. Went down hallway. They asked me a few questions. I said, I’m supposed to say I’ll take the arrow.
They tattooed two arrow heads on my neck. Close to looking like a heart. He got the actual stick part of arrow. They told me one side meant soul and other meant body belonged to him now.
Later in dream we were supposed to go to function. We were assigned different people. So, we were looking it up.
Was a picture of him and me kneeling together like a covenant. Woke up.
Hi so I’ve just woken up to a dream having a load of tattoos. I went in wanting one. looked in the mirror and I had two black symbols/ shapes on my neck and chest in a line about size of human fist and then on my left arm a canvas of spaced out randomly lots of tiny symbols all black Tatoos. Then my right arm looked amazing so details writing near wrist and then just stunning sleeve. I don’t remember what it said but pattern sleeve was soo clear and colourful. I went into bathroom…. there was something on the bathroom door hanging I took it off put it outside of the bathroom door on the floor and closed the door. (I don’t know why but I feel Like the door was important action!) I could feel myself getting excited to look in the mirror. And I looked at my tattoos on my neck it was now a tattoo of the genie from Aladdin covering half of my neck with genie laughing and mouth half open and other half genie again they were half and half but like one was laughing and other just relaxed. It was the same colour as genie the strong blue colour. I tilted my head back to see tattoo more. Then tilted it forward and just see blue line as if nothing was there. I do suffer from CPTSD and split personality and my dreams are pretty crazy would be great if someone could enlighten me on what this dream means. Thanks
I had a dream maybe an hour ago that someone I couldn’t see was making a tattoo on my left side above the heart just almost around my shoulder and wrote 197 then asked me if I see it then I said “yes” then after I woke up.
Last night I prayed before I slpy that God must show me a way and that I need help.
I have been tattooed in my dream. The tattoo says ” Not Mine” in my arm. What does it mean ?
I dreamed that my tattoo turned from black to pure white (still very visible). What does that mean?
Last night I had a dream that I was supposed to get married, and before the marriage I’m supposed to be marked. My mother, grandmother and my mother-in-law (?) Took me to a tattoo parlor and I was forced to choose one. They all looked nice. I saw a rose, a bird, other different coloured flowers, vines. Then I saw sea creatures. Since I didn’t want any tattoo because I know that having that means I can’t make it into the gates of heaven, my own Christian family that believes that as well, asked the man to give me a goldfish. He started putting the goldfish on my ankle up, but I only got to see the red outlines of it. It had no colour, and it wasn’t even black. It was just the outlines of the fish on my skin, and it was burning. What could that mean?
Fish is the symbolism of Christianity. Jesus was a Fisher or men, perhaps your calling in life is to bring salvation to people. Seek God. The time is coming for the Bridegroom Jesus to appear. He is calling you. He has marked you for his purpose.
A powerful dteam.
I need to know the meaning of a tattoo, can you help me
Frances
February 24th
I had a dream there was a wedding happening and I had scene 3 green leafy arches taken away at the end of the wedding, and put back in the ground!
I then saw myself in a room having a feather tattoo on my shoulder!