Tattoo a wind rose: the meaning of the symbol for men and women

Tattoo wind rose

Tattoo wind rose The tattoo winds rose as a negative and positive symbol. A few centuries ago, the rose of the winds was the destiny of sailors, who made it hoping for good luck in the sea voyages. After a while it became a symbol of prisoners, and now it can be seen on both, the criminal element and the common man. Why so? Let's look into it.

History of the tattoo wind rose

Its appearance in the form of a tattoo, the wind rose is obliged to the sailors. In ancient times, navigation at sea was carried out by stars, underwater currents and other natural signs, the compass was invented much later. That is why seafaring was the destiny of real men, sea wolves, who could withstand many ordeals in dangerous voyages. This tattoo was made for good luck, was a symbol of victory over the difficulties of marine life. Delavshey its believed that, having overcome all the ordeals, it will certainly reach the desired goal and return home.

Wind Rose Tattoo on Hand

Tattoo of the wind rose on the hand.

Very soon it moved to the pirates and became a symbol of fearlessness, courage and recklessness, which was in those days of pirate life. Only in the 20th century did the tattoo of the wind rose, the sketches of which underwent some changes and became almost similar to modern ones, became the fate of prisoners and acquired its specific meanings in prison.

Meaning of the tattoo

The meanings of the wind rose tattoo can be distinguished from the three main areas where it was used. These are

  • Navigation, cartography;
  • Heraldry;
  • esoteric and occult books.

In seafaring it is a traditional symbol, suffice it to say that it was sailors who were the first to tattoo the wind rose.

The earliest symbolism proved to be the most enduring, so even today such a tattoo would primarily mean:

  • amulet in wanderings;
  • the ability to navigate in all situations;
  • that one always returns home, from any wanderings and adventures;
  • love for the sea;
  • belonging to the maritime cause;
  • love of adventure;
  • craving for wanderings, change of places.

Heraldry has endowed the once maximally straightforward symbol with some metaphorical meanings, made it more complex and interesting. So the tattoo, especially if done in a heraldic, simplified form of a stylized star, can now mean:

  • freedom, that one is "free as the wind";
  • the right way, the most correct decision of all possible;
  • It is impossible to "throw off course" - a person knows exactly what he or she is going for, what he or she aspires to;
  • A reminder of the life path that one has chosen for oneself;
  • The spirit of adventurism.

There is one more interesting feature of the symbol, which was quite widely used before, but is now almost completely forgotten. Above the ray, which pointed north, there was some symbol of what one was striving for. For example, something that symbolized home, power, love-it doesn't matter.

Any more or less interesting symbol sooner or later becomes involved in the esoteric system. So it is not surprising that this is the case with the sea rose. What is rather interesting is that usually symbols come later in tattooing than in esotericism, but here it turned out to be the opposite. Much later than sailors, and following them pirates, began to do tattoos with the wind rose, the symbol had new meanings. The four main rays of the sea rose connect:

  • with the four types of temperament (perhaps their unity);
  • the four elements and their power.

The meaning and characteristics of the prison rose of the winds

In prison, such a symbol is made to denote the character and caste of a certain prisoner. As a rule, the tattoo of the wind rose in the zone has the following meanings:

- A drawing made in black and white in the form of an eight-pointed star (4 long rays and 4 small ones between them)without excesses in the form of additional elements and shades of other colors;

Wind Rose Tattoo

Jail tattoo of the Wind Rose

Jail tattoo wind rose

Wind Rose Prison Tattoo

- This is a paired tattoo, i.e. it is applied on the shoulders, on the collarbones or on the knees. Made on the shoulders, it denotes a person belonging to the higher castes of the prison world, "thieves in law"; under the collarbones - the denial of prison laws, disobedience to the prison order, on his knees - means that the person is against any order in the zone and will never kneel before the law.

Criminal gangster Gursel Sayfullov - Guram Tashkent

Gursel Sayfullov, a thief in law - Guram Tashkent and a prison tattoo of a wind rose

Thief in law Gocha Maisuradze - Gogita with a thief's wind rose

Criminal suspect Gacha Maisuradze - Gogita with a prison rose of the winds

Wrestler of the law Nodar Aloyan - Nodar Tbilisi with a prison tattoo of a wind rose

Crime boss Nodar Aloyan - Nodar Tbilisi with a prison tattoo of a wind rose

Criminal tattoo of a wind rose on his knees

Criminal tattoo of a wind rose on his knees

The process of tattooing the wind rose on his knees

The prison tattoo of the wind rose, photos of which are presented below for comparison, is very different in both appearance and meaning from what is commonly done now.

Sailors, pirates and tourists

The first to apply the rose of the winds were sailors, because they attached great importance to the stars, they were their guides and sometimes even saviors. Wind and stars often saved the lives of sailors, helped to overcome storms and navigate the area.

The six-pointed star symbolized determination, the desire to reach the goal, to achieve the desired goal, to reach home. Compasses were not always available, so they had to learn to find their way according to the stars and hand over their lives to them, relying on their mercy.

Sailors were not very superstitious - they often attached special significance to a particular star and deified it. The same with tattoos - their superstitions have migrated from the sky to the body.

In their opinion, the right tattoo will help intuitively choose the right path, to overcome the dashing temper of the sea, to cope with the storm.

Pirates fell in love with a special love for the wind rose, it became their talisman, morally supported and gave strength.

Risky tourists, lovers of adventure and freedom, people with a wide range of interests also applied themselves a wind rose.

The Wind Rose Tattoo in Modern Society

At this point, the wind rose has almost ceased to be a symbol only of the prison world. This is due to the popularity of artistic tattooing and the availability of information about its origin.

Wind Rose Compass Tattoo

Tattoo compass rose of the winds

Tattoo wind rose on hand

Tattoo a wind rose on your arm

Tattoo wind rose on hand - photo

Tattoo wind rose on the arm - photo

Wind Rose Tattoo - photo

Tattoo Wind Rose - photo

Tattoo wind rose

Tattoo Wind Rose

Today, creatively designed tattoo wind rose - a symbol of a brave man-traveler, an eternal bachelor or just a libertine. And, do it as men, and girls, women. For the latter, it is often drawn in the form of a rose with rays. Also quite often it is a colored tattoo in the style of old skool.

Tattoo wind rose for girls

Tattoo of a wind rose for girls

Tattoo wind rose

Tattoo wind rose

Tattoo compass wind rose

Tattoo compass rose of the winds

Tattoo compass rose of the wind

Tattoo compass rose of the winds

Unfortunately, not always young people consciously approach the choice of a tattoo. Among teenagers there are those who like dangerous jokes and activities, and it often happens that a prison winds up on the shoulders of a young man who is quite grown up, but has not yet wised up, as such a joke-joke. Here we must remember that the criminal romance can go sideways, since those who wear such prison "insignia" and do not comply with them, can be severely punished by former prisoners, if those in any way find out about this tattoo and its illegal owner. Always keep in mind that you will probably go on vacation, sunbathe on the beach or, for example, undergo a medical examination in the hospital, and just the summer weather will force you to wear a minimum of clothing, which can be very harmful to you and your loved ones.

And what will the criminal world say?

For all that, over the last century, the wind rose has taken on a different meaning and has entered criminal life. I guess the pirates decided to leave a reminder of themselves in the modern world after all.

This echo of past pirate outrages has now become inherent in prisoners, the rose of the winds can be seen on the knee or shoulder and symbolizes the "blatnaya diaspora. The image on the knee means "I will never kneel down before anyone!"

Interesting Facts

The symbol of the wind rose is very common and is found at times in the most unusual spheres of society. The Russian EMERCOM and the Russian Ministry of Transport have an emblem in the form of an 8-beam wind rose, the emblem of NATO and the CIA - a 4- and 16-pointed wind rose. African Special Forces also have a similar symbol in their insignia.

Tattoo windrose - sketches

Tattoo of the wind rose - sketches

Sketches for Tattoo Wind Rose

Sketches for Tattoo Wind Rose

Sketches for Tattoo Wind Rose

Sketches for Tattoo Wind Rose

Wind Rose Tattoo Sketches

Tattoo Wind Rose - sketches

Sketches for Wind Rose Tattoo

Sketches for Tattoo Wind Rose

Wind Rose Tattoo Sketches

Tattoo Wind Rose - Sketches

Style solution

To date, the most successful style for the wind rose tattoo is an old skool. It originated in the XIX century, and it is among sailors. Until our time, the style has undergone many changes not only in appearance, but also in the process of padding, but has remained the best option for those tattoo lovers who want to see on their body a real seafarer nail.

One of the other popular styles used for this design is minimalism. The peculiarity of this technique is the use of only black paint and maximum simplification of the symbol, turning it into a small and understandable graphic drawing for everyone. Occasionally, minimalism is also supplemented with elements of graphics, dotwork, watercolor, realism and other styles.

Additional elements for the tattoo

When the sketch is made in the technique of old skool, it is often supplemented by other drawings characteristic of this technique. These include a swallow, a rose, an anchor, a map, skulls and others. If the tattoo means the desire to find his place in life, it is better to complement it with an anchor, and in the case when the owner of the tattoo - a traveler, it will be interesting to look a combination of the wind rose with a map. Tattoo wind rose for girls can be decorated with stars, flowers or a beautiful ornament. However, the final choice depends primarily on the imagination of the master and your vision of your sketch.

Women's Tattoo Compass - Compass Tattoos for Girls

Girls give preference to colored compass tattoos in watercolor style or miniature symbolic sketches. Popular places for tattoos: forearm, back, wrist. It is not uncommon for girls to choose a drawing of a compass in combination with flowers.

Use of the symbol

Magical talismans

As a talisman that will bring success, practitioners recommend choosing pendants or bracelets in the form of a wind rose. The most suitable material is gold or silver, which symbolizes wealth. Stones associated with the water element will do well: aquamarine, coral, or alexandrite. A stone talisman of blue and blue colors is especially useful for sailors and fishermen. Wood is considered insufficiently suitable base.


The amulet will begin to work after the owner asks for it and holds it in his hand.

It is important that the wind rose touches the skin as often as possible. At the same time, you should not tell others about magical properties of the symbol, as well as give to hold and try on the ornament. In order to activate the talisman, it is enough to squeeze it firmly in the palms of your hands and mentally ask for help. The purpose is formulated concretely. To strengthen the action of the wind rose, you can additionally charge the energy of water and air elements. To do this, put the talisman in a bowl with water and say: "Absorb the power of Water", and then fume it with an aroma stick symbolizing the mighty winds. Activation by the element of fire and earth is undesirable.

Tattoo: can I get one?

Despite the powerful energy of the sacred symbol, practitioners are allowed to make eternal images on the skin. To an adult, a magical image will not bring any harm or side effects. However, if there are other tattoos associated with flame, it is better to refuse such an image, because it will be less effective. In terms of color scheme, preference is given to blue, white and blue shades. A soft watercolor style will do. A black and white image is acceptable, but has less power. The place for the tattoo can be anything, but usually the neck, chest or arms are chosen. Ships, seagulls and other images of marine themes are recommended as additional elements.

Who is suitable for whom?

Practitioners do not advise using a magical image for children, because the aggressive energy will negatively affect the psyche and emotional stability. To recover and achieve success in school, choose softer symbols.


The protection of such a talisman can be used by people born under the sign of Taurus.
Astrologers believe that the best way to use the power of the wind rose will be Capricorns and Taurus, whose activities are aimed at achieving career heights, as well as representatives of the following professions:

  • bosses;
  • journalists;
  • lawyers;
  • politicians;
  • actors;
  • sailors;
  • athletes.

Nature

For women

For men