The moment you hear the majestic chirping of the cardinals echoing through your ears, you know something good is about to happen. Just the sight of these majestic birds can create a feeling of happiness. For years, these creatures have put a smile on people’s faces as they believed that the bird is a carrier of good news and messages from their deceased loved ones.
Don’t you think such a beautiful species deserves a spot in the sensual body of yours? Even if you put aside the symbolism, the magnificent exterior of the cardinals further propels you to get the tattoo etched on your body canvas.
If you are a bit idiosyncratic, the cardinal tattoos are just for you. These delicate emblems have their unique way of appearing in front of others. The fiery red color along with their intense aggression in the face can symbolize how exclusive you are.
Your confidence level will instantly elevate when you have such a phenomenal tattoo to showcase to the world. Today, we are here to take a deep dive into the astonishing world of cardinal tattoos to reveal everything about them. Stay with us till the end.
One Flew Over The Cardinal Tattoos Nest: Beautiful Meanings Of These Emblems!
Aside from being majestic in appearance, the cardinal tattoos carry a significant meaning with them. From spiritual aspects to contemporary ones, the tattoo portrays a wide range of symbolism. Each tattoo expresses a unique story that often bridges the gap between realism and the spiritual world.
Without beating around the bush, let's look at some of the incredible meanings of the cardinal tattoo that will move you to your core.
The Gateway Between Life And Death
In many depictions, the cardinals are represented as the hinge between the mortal life and the afterlife. They are considered to carry the messages of those who have passed away. Because of their supposed role, many people often associate them with the notion of death. You will see in the later stage of this essay that there are some designs depicting such a notion.
How Cardinal Tattoos Portray The Notion Of Love And Devotion
The red color has always been synonymous with love and passion. There is nothing redder than the plumage of the cardinals. Because of their velvety color on the exterior, they are always thought to be amulets of love. If you deeply love someone and wish to surprise them then you should get a cardinal tattoo. The vibrant red color will symbolize just how much they mean to you.
An Amulet Of Good Luck
Whenever there is a cardinal flying nearby or sitting majestically on the twig of a high tree, we instantly think that something good is about to happen. For a long time, people have been keeping this belief. Therefore, cardinal tattoos have also become motifs of good luck and prosperity.
Remembrance Of Your Loved Ones
If you are looking for a design to immortalize your loved one then there is no other alternative to the cardinal tattoo. Many people in the death bed have exclaimed that they witnessed the sight of a cardinal just before passing away. So, if you want to keep your loved ones beside you at all times, the cardinal tattoo is your best bet.
Charming Cardinal Tattoo Designs To Embark On A Peaceful Journey
The tapestry of colors in their plumage along with their idiosyncratic behavior and posture makes them one of the most sought-after tattoo designs. Everything from their stout beaks to their aggressive expression portrays a notion of strength and resilience.
While there are many varieties of cardinals in the wild, the most charming and elegant-looking bird is undoubtedly the red cardinal. Along with their resemblance to fire and sun, they look much more majestic compared to their evolutionary relatives. The red cardinal also portrays a wide range of emotions and stories which makes the overall tattoo deeper and more symbolic.
So, if you are choosing to etch the cardinal tattoo, you should always go for the red cardinal. Aside from the bird, you can include a handful of other elements that are somehow associated with the bird both historically and ecologically. Butterflies, skulls, and flowers are quintessential components to accompany the cardinal tattoos.
Now that we have preliminary knowledge of what they are about, let's look at some of the most beautiful cardinal tattoo designs to go with your sensual body.
Small Cardinal Tattoo
Let's start our list with a brilliant small tattoo featuring the enigmatic bird that looks like it has descended directly from the heavens.
The small version of them is perfect because they are typically 7-8 inches in length in the wild. Therefore, drawing them in an unrealistic proportion will completely butcher the purpose of the tattoo.
The discreet emblems are solely for the wearer. The artwork gently saunters into your body canvas looking for a home. The subtle coloration on their plumage will bring you a sense of calmness.
Red Cardinal Tattoo
Although there are a hefty number of cardinal varieties that are in blue or yellow color, the red-colored bird stands out because of their fiery aura.
When you get the tattoo on your body, it doesn’t look like a mundane bird anymore. The plumage slowly turns to become a shape of fire. This fire represents your burning passion for something.
As the central imagery is so thought-provoking and elegant, you shouldn’t bother including any other elements. The sole image of the red cardinal is enough to steal all your attention.
Cardinal Tattoo Black And White
Cardinals are often seen to sit in tree twigs with their spindly legs. Compared to the other bird species, they are quite indolent. They will assess the surroundings from the twigs and then decide if it's proper to take their next flight.
This phenomenon of theirs is accurately captured in the black-and-white version of the tattoo. The depiction of their behavioral characteristics often resembles ours. Their keen sense of assessing the environment further teaches us to always keep an eye open.
Traditional Cardinal Tattoo
If you are an avid tattoo enthusiast then you already know what this tattoo features. The main aspect of such design is to make the cardinal look as whimsical as possible by including a wide range of colors.
As deviating from the typical colors can create confusion, you should play around with the leaves on the twigs. You can color them as many ways as you want. The beautiful orientation of colorful leaves just behind the red cardinal is a sight to behold.
Watercolor Cardinal Tattoo
Such colorful birds roaming around in the wild deserve a style that appropriately depicts their magnificence. The watercolor style puts your entire skin on fire.
The beautiful colors truly accentuate the already alluring patterns on the cardinal's body. As already mentioned, twigs are an important part of their habitat. The watercolor turns the ordinary-looking twigs into something that looks like it is from outer space.
Black Cardinal Tattoo
Our heart instantly gets hooked when we see something in black. It is the pinnacle of fashion and style. The rawness of the color brings out the true beauty of any imagery.
The same goes for the black cardinal tattoo. The absence of other colors can help you distinguish each part of the body. You can add a tinge of red in some parts to add a bit of a twist to the imagery.
Cardinal Feather Tattoo
Cardinal feathers are a sign of exclusivity. In the prehistoric days, people from the higher echelons often wore headdresses and attires made of cardinal feathers. Even today, many higher-ups in the military carry a cardinal feather to showcase power.
Therefore, it's quite easy to understand just how significant the feathers are. Apart from their meaning, the feather tattoo is quite alluring because of the many twists and spikes on the edge of the object.
Flying Cardinal Tattoo
When the Cardinals fly, the whole world rejoices with them. It feels like time has stood still when they start to take their flight.
Because of their majestic posture while flying, the occurrence is often captured in the realms of the body canvas. The audacious nature of their flight often commemorates how you desire to be free where the social conformities are slowly slithering towards you to grapple and clip off your wings.
Simple Cardinal Tattoo
While the coloration on their plumage is quite elusive, the outer morphology of the cardinals is quite straightforward. Therefore, the simple version looks far more compelling than an extravagant one.
Because of their lack of details, such tattoos look quite cute. The adorable bird hanging in the realm of your body will compel you to give it a huge hug. They deserve it.
Abstract Cardinal Tattoo
Aggressive and tenacious. These are the perfect two words to symbolize the abstract cardinal tattoo. Aside from the highly stylized rendition of the bird, the tattoo features a wide range of shapes floating around the bird.
The symbolism of the cardinal is already quite well-known to us. The tiny shapes ranging from crystals to straight lines depict how focused you are in your life. Once you have an eye on the prize, there is nothing to stop you from achieving it.
Realistic Cardinal Tattoo
We often blatantly describe realistic tattoos by saying that they need to be full of details. However, these are vague descriptions that add nothing to the design.
To perfect a realistic cardinal tattoo, you need to look at a scenery featuring the cardinal. Then you have to capture the scene in your body just like you would do with a high-resolution camera and voila. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, it is when you put your heart and soul into the artwork.
Cardinal Outline Tattoo
The outline tattoo is a dainty design that becomes your life companion. These tiny portrayals of the majestic avian species will become your best friend in no time because of how discreet they are.
The lack of colors in the tattoo works as a benefit as the artwork blends right with the skin. The subtle parts of their body only stand out creating quite a psychedelic vibe that takes you on a spiritual journey.
Cardinal Memorial Tattoo
One of the most well-known stories about the cardinals is that they are often considered to be positive omens that carry the souls of the dead. Whenever you see them flying around, you can think of them as your deceased loved one trying to make contact with you.
Because of this belief, many people opt for this cardinal tattoo. When you have a tattoo, you will feel like your loved one is always beside you. You can add the date of passing to further commemorate this incredible notion.
Tiny Cardinal Tattoo
Thinking of a design that looks fantastic in any part of your body? Then this cardinal tattoo is perfect for you. From the region in your shoulder blade to your chest, the tattoo looks perfect anywhere you desire.
Although the cardinal is tiny in size, the tattoo doesn't shy away from showcasing its whimsical colors. The dainty tattoo full of colors represents how it's willpower that matters, not your size.
Cardinal Wrist Tattoo
In the gloomy days of sorrow and misfortune, sometimes all we need is a wrist tattoo consisting of the elegant cardinal bird. The fantastic imagery along with the velvety plumage will elevate your mood in an instant.
The red color is prominent in the tattoo because of how intense it is. The burning color commemorates how much you are devoted to bringing your dreams come true.
Sometimes, a tiny little detail can make all the difference. If you add a straight line just beneath the imagery of the cardinal, the overall dimension of the tattoo will change drastically. It will find a new life.
Cardinal Rose Tattoo
Because of the jarring similarity in colors, the cardinal tattoo is often accompanied by a solid imagery of a rose. Now you may be scratching your head thinking about how to combine such distant motifs.
Well, you can illustrate a tiny branch protruding from the inner sphere of the flower. The cardinal can sit on the small branch looking as majestic as ever. The soothing red color of the bird and the flower will mix creating an image to die for.
Geometric Cardinal Tattoo
This is undoubtedly one of the most artistic-looking tattoos on our list. Most other designs generally feature the ordinary depiction of the bird.
However, the geometric tattoo takes things to a whole new level. The inclusion of jarring shapes in the outline of the bird makes the tattoo look quite aesthetic. The alluring patterns often resemble the ups and downs in our lives. The tattoo teaches us that no matter how big the hindrance is, you can always turn things around by being resilient and focused.
Cardinal Hand Tattoo
Because of how visible the hand tattoos are, it's an excellent choice to include a beautiful cardinal in the artwork. The symmetry of your hand is quite similar to the nest the cardinals reside in.
So, when you etch the tattoo on your hand, you will feel like you have given the bird a home to stay in. Whenever you look at the timeless hand tattoo, you will be reminded of the generous act and this will eventually propel you to conduct more noble acts such as this.
Cardinal Neck Tattoo
Aside from their beautiful plumage and coloration, there is one thing that makes the cardinals the queen of the avian species.
That is their characteristic posture. Their attitude signifies that they are not something to be trifled with. The tenacious expression on their faces along with some beautiful poses make them look like ballerinas of the sky. Such mesmerizing neck tattoos deserve an auspicious spot in our body such as the neck. That’s why neck tattoos are so sought after by many.
Cardinal and Butterfly Tattoo
Both butterflies and cardinals play some of the most important functions in natural ecology. Oftentimes, they collide and that’s where the inspiration of this tattoo stems from.
The brightness of the plumage single-handedly steals all the attention of the cardinal. That’s why, it's better to illustrate the butterfly in a much more subtle color. The tattoo doesn’t portray any sort of competition between these two elegant creatures. It just showcases how harmoniously they coexist in the natural setting.
Cardinal Chest Tattoo
If you truly believe in something then get its picture etched near your heart. We don’t know who said this but it's something that holds quite true in terms of artistic perspective.
While the chest area is painful, it opens up a lot of opportunities because of how spacious it is. Therefore, you can illustrate a beautiful cardinal tattoo without thinking much about the space. Just take the stencils and ink away until the charming chest tattoo manifests your most intimate desires and ambitions.
Cardinal on Lavender Tattoo
One of the most soothing flowers gently moving in nature due to the breeze is lavender. Because of their velvety color, they are often considered to be motifs of exclusivity and strength.
Equipping the tattoo with lavender brings a certain sense of calm to the artwork. The tattoo also tends to be a bit comical as it feels like the lavenders are protruding from the inner feathers of the bird. It will surely make you smile on a bad day.
Cardinal Tattoo On Thigh
Just like the chest tattoos, your thigh offers you a lot of space to truly showcase your creativity. While most designs feature a small-scale bird, you have the luxury of depicting an extravagant-looking cardinal sitting on a twig.
As there is quite a lot of meat in the thighs, your cardinal tattoo will look like it's moving when you walk around. The cute thigh tattoo will almost give you a feeling as if the bird is gently flapping its feathered wings and flying alongside your locomotion.
Desert Cardinal Tattoo
In the region of southeast America and Mexico, you will often come across cardinals hanging in cactuses. These creatures are quite unusual because you never expect to see them in a desert.
However, to our surprise, there is a particular species with a short and stout bill called the desert cardinal. The tattoo of them features the spiky cactus and the majestic pose of the cardinal. The imagery artistically represents a quote of deep and stoic philosophy.
Cardinal and Hummingbird Tattoo
These two small birds are quite synonymous with each other because of their adorable sizes. Paired together, they look like distant relatives that have reunited after being apart for a long year.
While the cardinal is full of colors, the hummingbird is completely the opposite, having a minimal number of colors in its plumage. Together, they complement each other beautifully and create an amazing tattoo design.
Samurai Cardinal Tattoo
In Japanese culture, the cardinals have quite some significance. They are often considered to be tokens of good luck and fortune. That’s why before going into war, the samurais would often look for cardinals and when they saw them, they instantly thought that they would win the battle.
This tattoo features a samurai wearing their typical, badass attire and the cardinal sitting in the distance. You can also include some Japanese alphabets to bring more traditional vibes into the tattoo.
Cardinal IGY6 Tattoo
The IGY6 is an initiative that tries to prevent the suicide of those who have served in the military. While we often glorify military life, it is not easy. Being constantly in the middle of chaos and death can take quite a toll on you.
So, when someone returns from the war, they carry a lot of baggage with them. The emotional distress goes through the roof. The traumas of the past often haunts and compels them to take their lives. The IGY6 attempts to stay beside their side by portraying that they are not alone. The cardinal IGY6 tattoo not only will look good on you but it can save the lives of many veterans.
Electric Cardinal Tattoo
We all watched Pokémon. The eccentric abilities of different beasts made us stare at the TV screen for a long time. We are obsessed with them.
What if the cardinals had a superpower such as manipulating electricity? It would be quite awesome. The electric cardinal tattoo brings this fantasy to life. The tattoo features the fiery cardinal erupting electricity from the inner portion of their body. The unique pattern of the lightning makes the tattoo look amazing. The artwork surely will excite you on a mundane day.
Cardinal Cross Tattoo
If we meticulously see through much of the literature, we will come to know that the cardinals are often interpreted as a religious symbol. In some cultures, they are believed to be messengers of God.
So, it's quite understandable to pair the illustration of the birds with one of the most auspicious motifs of Christianity. The beautiful cross along with the cardinal will compel you to lead a path that is devoid of any sort of mortal disturbances or evil thoughts. It will be a path of solace and peace.
Cardinal and Skull Tattoo
We started our list with a small tattoo and let's end with something quite utterly terrifying. The cardinals are often viewed as omens of death.
Back in the day, people immediately presume that someone close is about to die when they see cardinals nearby. Because of their association with death, the tattoo is often menacing to look at. The imagery is accompanied by the motif of death which is the skull. You can also add some greeneries to bring a natural vibe to the tattoo.
FAQ
Throughout our article, we touched on many aspects of the cardinal tattoos. In our mind, we feel like we have left no stones unturned. However, there can still be some questions revolving in your mind.
We seek to answer them all. With our extensive expertise and knowledge of the subject matter, we are sure that we will be able to clear all your doubts with our answers.
Q: Which Is The Ideal Spot For A Cardinal Tattoo?
Ans: It completely depends on your preference. If you are keen on showcasing your cardinal tattoo then you should opt for the back or the chest.
On the other hand, you should look for a much more delicate and small area such as your neck or ankle if you are looking for something much daintier.
Q: What Component Looks Best In A Cardinal Tattoo?
Ans: There is a wide range of secondary components that you can equip with the cardinal tattoo to enhance its aesthetics and symbolism. Flowers are always a safe bet as the beautiful petals truly accentuate the overall style of the tattoo.
You can also accompany other ecological elements such as butterflies or celestial stars to make the tattoo appear more in touch with the natural side.
Q: What is Some Advice To Someone Considering A Cardinal Tattoo?
Ans: A cardinal tattoo is going to stay with you for a long time. Therefore, you should think carefully before selecting a design. Upon getting the tattoo etched on your body canvas, you need to properly take care of it.
Without proper care, the tattoo will fade away in no time. You should always refrain from using any sort of moisturizer in the first few days. Even showering is prohibited as the water can drip down and aid in the fading process of the cardinal tattoo.
Conclusion
Cardinals are as aesthetic as they are poetic. From their elegant flight patterns to their alluring plumage, just one sight of them can melt your heart away. Having such an amazing tattoo can make you feel peaceful even in today’s hectic world full of chaos and war.
Furthermore, the tattoo’s symbolism will make you more thoughtful and change your outlook on life. The radiant colors on the exterior of the bird will make you a much calmer and more reasonable person. With the help of the tattoo, you will soon start to be the persona that you always aspired to be.
