Blue butterfly tattoos are often associated with good luck. These tattoos can also be symbolic of transformation, femininity, or healing. Some blue butterfly tattoos are done in memory of a lost loved one.
This article will explore the various meanings of a blue butterfly tattoo and show you some beautiful examples.
All About Butterflies
Butterflies are a type of insect known for their delicate, colorful wings. There are over 18,000 species of butterflies and they can be found in almost every part of the world. Butterflies have four stages in their life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly.
Butterflies come in all sorts of colors and patterns. Some of these insects use their color for camouflage purposes. Others have bright colors that act as a warning to predators that they are toxic.
One species of blue butterfly is the Polyommatinae, which is a type of gossamer-winged butterfly. Some Riodinidae butterflies are also blue. The Karner Blue is another kind of blue butterfly–this endangered species is the official state butterfly of New Hampshire.
Blue Butterfly Tattoos
Tattoos of butterflies are popular because of their bright colors and striking patterns.
Most tattoos feature one blue butterfly, though some have two or more. Blue butterfly tattoos tend to be smaller in size and are commonly done on the wrist, forearm, or back of the shoulder. Larger pieces are usually seen on the back.
Women are more likely to get a tattoo of a blue butterfly than men. While some of these tattoos have a flower with the butterfly, the vast majority feature the insect alone.
The Color Blue
Blue butterflies are often chosen for a tattoo because of the meaning behind their color. Many people associate the color blue with nature, especially the sky and the ocean. People who enjoy spending time outdoors may choose to get a blue butterfly tattoo to represent their interests.
The color blue is also connected to calmness and peace. Someone might choose the color blue for their butterfly tattoo because they want it to represent tranquility or a sense of relaxation.
In some cultures, blue is believed to be a healing color. If an individual is seeking physical or emotional healing in their life, they may pick the color blue for their butterfly tattoo.
Good Luck
Blue butterflies are considered to be a sign of good luck. In nature, we typically see greens and browns as well as brighter colors like yellow or orange. But blue is the rarest color in nature.
While there are thousands of species of butterflies, it is not common for them to be blue. Since they are so rare, it is said to be good luck if you see a blue butterfly because the odds of coming across one are low.
A person may opt for a blue butterfly tattoo as a way to manifest more luck in their life. Alternatively, someone might choose this tattoo as a symbol of gratitude for all of the good luck they have had come their way.
Blue butterfly tattoos that are chosen to symbolize good fortune may be combined with other images that represent the same idea. For example, a shooting star, a four-leaf clover, or a horseshoe.
Transformation
A tattoo of a blue butterfly may also represent a person’s personal transformation. Butterflies change throughout the course of their life, beginning as an egg and then turning into a caterpillar. After this comes the chrysalis, and lastly, they emerge as a beautiful adult butterfly.
The transformation that this insect makes is often seen as inspirational for people who have overcome challenges in their own life. Some see the butterfly as a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings.
A person may choose the blue butterfly tattoo to show that they have moved on from their past and are starting over. Whether the individual dealt with trauma, addiction, or other difficult experiences in their life, this tattoo can be a reminder that they have overcome these things.
Remembrance
Many cultures see the butterfly as a symbol of a person’s spirit or a loved one who has passed on. In the past, Aztec and Celtic beliefs included this notion of the butterfly representing a departed soul.
Today, some cultures still associate the butterfly with the spirit, including some people of Mexican and Japanese heritage. In Mexico, it is believed that when a person sees a butterfly, it is the soul of a deceased loved one coming to bring comfort to them.
The idea that the butterfly represents someone who has passed on is related to its symbolism of transformation. After death, the individual undergoes a transformation from the physical world to the spirit realm.
Freedom
Blue butterfly tattoos also symbolize freedom in two ways. First, the way in which the butterfly emerges from its cocoon represents breaking free from what held it back. Second, the ability of this insect to fly represents the freedom to go where you like.
An individual may choose a blue butterfly to symbolize their desire for freedom or to illustrate how they have emerged from a challenging circumstance. Someone who is hoping to gain their freedom from jail or from addiction might choose a blue butterfly tattoo. Likewise, a person who has overcome significant hurdles in the past may like how the image of the blue butterfly signifies freedom.
Femininity
The blue butterfly may also illustrate femininity. The butterfly is a very delicate creature with paper-thin wings that are easily damaged. Some view this fragility as a feminine quality. The butterfly is also very graceful when it flies, which is associated with femininity as well.
The color blue is viewed as a traditionally feminine color in some cultures. The combination of the delicate butterfly and the color blue makes the blue butterfly an ideal choice for someone who wants a feminine tattoo.
Someone may choose the blue butterfly tattoo because they wish to embrace their femininity. This image may also be selected as a way of displaying a person’s gentle and tender manner.
Featured image by Alexandra Abreu, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.