A rainbow is a natural phenomenon that occurs when light is reflected off droplets of water. The effect is an arc, or bow, of color that reaches across the sky. The beautiful bow of color has fascinated people for centuries, and appears in ancient stories and myths as a magical force. Rainbow tattoos can mean different things, but the sense of magic and joy created by the sight of a rainbow is what give rainbow tattoos their appeal.
Rainbow Tattoos Ink the Sky into Skin
Rainbows are generally found in a rain-filled sky, although smaller rainbows can be created by sprays of water closer to earth, such as the mist of waterfalls or in the spray of a garden sprinkler. Rainbows need air, water, and light to exist, elements that have their own symbolism and deeper meaning in tattoo art. Air is associated with freedom, truth and spirituality, water represents movement and change while light is a symbol of heaven, spirituality and clarity of thought.
Wings are a symbol of freedom, flight and air and are a perfect addition to a rainbow design. This stunning full back tattoo shows a combination of these two design elements, accentuating this sexy girl’s figure and sense of fun. [source]
The colors of a rainbow tattoo are generally referred to as ROY G BIV, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. In nature, the red band of color is found on the outer side of the rainbow (also referred to as the “top” of the rainbow), but in rainbow tattoos, the order can be reversed if the client prefers it that way. Reversing a symbol can sometimes reverse the meaning, but it’s up to the tattoo owner to decide if reversing the symbol changes the original meaning of the design for them.
This pixel rainbow tattoo design shows the colors of the rainbow in the same sequence as they would be found in nature. [source]
The Meaning of Rainbow Tattoos
Rainbows have existed in myths and legends for thousands of years. In Norse mythology, a rainbow is a bridge to Asgard, home of the Gods. The rainbow bridge was believed to only be used by Gods and those who had been killed in battle. The war-like Norse men believed that warriors would ascend to heaven on this bridge of color and light, accompanied by winged horses and beautiful goddesses and therefore dying in battle was an honorable end for any man. Surprisingly, this imagery has survived into modern time in the form of children’s cartoons such as My Little Pony, in which winged horses flit about in a rainbow-filled sky.
Rainbows feature a lot in My Little Pony cartoons and pictures, as do winged horses. These are not just cute tattoo designs – flying horses and rainbows were a large part of European mythology and legends. [source]
The rainbow symbol has become the symbol of gay and lesbian rights. A rainbow flag is often flown outside establishments that cater to homosexual people, and some gay and lesbian people wear a rainbow color badge as a symbol of their sexual preference. A rainbow tattoo can be used as a permanent “flag” for lesbians and gays, symbolizing not just their sexual preference but their choice of lifestyle too.
This rainbow tattoo design sports gay flag with two interlinking symbols for women and femininity, representing lesbianism. The artist has added a shadow to create depth in the body art, making the flag appear to be sitting above the skin, rather than being a part of the skin. [source]
In Ireland, a folklore creature called a Leprechaun was said to hide a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It was rumored that if you could find the end of the rainbow you could keep the pot of gold. It’s impossible to reach the end of the rainbow, however, because as you move towards the bands of color, they appear to move away. This is where the phrase, “chasing rainbows” comes from, symbolizing an impossible ambition.
Irish Celtic knots are infamously popular tattoo designs. The above Celtic knot tattoo uses rainbow coloring to create a colorful circular design. Like the phrase “chasing rainbows”, trying to find the end of a celtic knot design is a futile endeavor. [source]
In Classical paintings, rainbows were a symbol of the Christian God, heaven and holiness. The depiction of a rainbow in a painting could mean a connection between the subject of the painting and God or that God is watching over the people portrayed in the painting. Because of this meaning of rainbows in paintings, the colorful phenomenon has become a symbol of peace and harmony.
A colorful and beautiful color wheel mandala tattoo that is a perfect choice for designers and artists. [source]
Stars in tattoos designs are often used as a symbol of God, religion or magic. Combined with the rainbow colors, this cute rainbow star tattoo could simply be a fun and colorful piece of body art, or it could have an ethereal meaning. [source]
Rainbow tattoos symbolize a fun loving person who isn’t necessarily gay. Rainbows in tattoo designs can symbolize a love of life and color and it can represent peace, friendship and joy. When added to other symbolic designs in a tattoo, rainbows can represent a whole range of things – it’s up to the person wearing the tattoo to decide what the design means to them.
Rainbow roses are a man-made curiosity. The appeal of this flower is in the colorful nature of the petals and the symbolism of roses in tattoos, representing love and passion. [source]
