Many times when we’re out looking for butterflies, we find another animal that looks a lot like a butterfly…but it’s not.
Can you think of another small insect with big wings? That’s right — a Moth !
Although small, Moths are feisty creatures. Their ultimate quest is to forevermore reach toward the light. Do you feel drawn to something the same way as the Moth is drawn to a flame? Are you ready to patch up your wings just to burn once again?
If that’s the case, then a moth tattoo is ideal for you. Here’s everything you need to know about moth tattoos.
What is a Moth?
Moths are amazing, surprising, and mysterious animals. They come in all kinds of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some of them are bright orange with blue eyes and intricate black spots, others are vibrantly colored in purple and red.
They may be millions of moth species in the world, but we don’t know for sure because they are so understudied. Moths are also oftentimes thought of as pests, but they are actually very important for humankind — they pollinate and produce silk for humankind.
The many beautiful forests around us might not be here if it weren’t for pollinating insects like moths. They come to flowers to drink their nectar and in doing so they pollinate the flower which leads to seeds and fruit. All in all, the might not be any fruits on the planet if it weren’t for months.
Why Moths Are Creatures of the Night?
These primarily nocturnal insects have evolved to travel by the light of the Moon and the stars. This way of travel is called transverse orientation. An easy way to understand transverse orientation is to imagine a sailor, the OG of American traditional tattoos, traveling in the direction of the North Star. In theory, moths similarly follow the light source at a precise position and precise angle to their bodies. This is how moths would navigate for millions of years — by the light of the Moon.
What moth evolution couldn’t account for was the proliferation of constant electric light in our modern world. When Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric pen a.k.a the tattoo machine, patented the light bulb on January 27th, 1880, it was a bad day in moth history. These light bulbs began to act as artificial moons, confusing moths and overwhelming their senses. Hence, they become an easy target for predators like birds, bats, and many other animals.
The symbolism of a Moth Tattoo
What does a moth tattoo signify? The answer lies in their nature. The switch from a caterpillar to a beautiful winged creature is enough to tell you that they signify resurrection and transformation.
They are also creatures of the night & worship the Moon, but sometimes get burned if they aren’t careful enough. Hence, a moth may signify one’s blindness towards something unreachable or “fake” and get damaged along the way. Moths don’t fly, they dance. The way they fly around the light is an indication to enjoy life while dancing in the fire, to learn to not take life too seriously and even in the hardest of times — to seek the light & dance your problems away.
According to Insect Mythology, the moth represents the soul’s journey for truth. The soul, like a moth, is always drawn to the light. For the Blackfoot Native American people, moths symbolize sleep, dreams, and the souls of the deceased. Moths teach us that a part of us must die in order for resurrection and growth to happen.
Moths also represent the suppressed shadow sides of ourselves — the rejected wild nature. They also teach us that darkness and light are co-creative life factors. Although the moths emerge at night, they are lured to light. Moths are associated with death and decay in Celtic mythology, as evidenced by the hawk-thorax moth bearing a skull marking. Children were warned not to let moths inside their homes because they represented ‘death in the family.’ In Gaelic customs, a butterfly or a moth flying over a body was thought to be its spirit.
Moth Tattoo vs Butterfly Tattoo — What’s the Difference?
Let’s start with the looks. Even though moths and butterflies are often considered to be the same, if you look close enough you’ll see that they look nothing alike.
The butterfly’s antennae, for instance, are long and smooth with a tiny hook or bump at the end while the moth’s antennae are more feather-like. Furthermore, moths and butterflies are active at different times of the day — in other words, butterflies are daytime moths. Moths and butterflies rest their wings in different positions. Moths will often rest their wings spread out flat. Butterflies usually rest their wings held up together.
Now let’s move on to the spiritual difference. The main difference between a moth tattoo and a butterfly tattoo is that butterflies are the children of the Sun, while Moths are lovers of the Moon. Still, both are symbols of transformation. Butterflies are powerful symbols of life, representing things spiritual rebirth, creativity, and joy, while moths are often regarded as symbols of the subconscious, the strength to find light in the darkness.
Moth Tattoo Design Ideas
Moths are truly mysterious creatures. What’s even more interesting is the artist’s depiction of moth tattoos. Plus, they are a great idea for planning a custom tattoo design, a sleeve for instance.
Below we show different moth tattoo designs, but also how they look when placed on different parts of the body. Be careful when picking the placement tho, as some of the most painful places to get a tattoo are oftentimes the best ones for a moth tattoo.
Moth Calf Tattoo
Moth Hand Tattoo
Moth Head Tattoo
Moth Shoulder Tattoo
Traditional Moth Tattoo
Moth Sternum Tattoo
Moth Forearm Tattoo
Moth Stomach Tattoo
Moth Arm Tattoo
Moth Chest Tattoo
Moth Neck Tattoo
Moth Thigh Tattoo
Moth Hip Tattoo
Moth Back Tattoo
Conclusion: Are You Ready for a Moth Tattoo?
Some people, like myself, are more moth than butterfly. I love to unveil my colorful wings in the moonlight. Why? Because only the one who isn’t afraid to enter the darkness is worthy enough to adore them.
If I haven’t read more about their spiritual significance, I would never have thought to consider writing about a moth tattoo. Plus, they look absolutely stunning on the skin. Which one is your favorite? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
