When most people sit down to contemplate a creative idea for a tattoo, they usually don’t think about getting a seahorse design. Although this unique sea creature is globally recognized, it might, in fact, surprise you that little seahorse has a very compelling history behind it.
Before you get set on your tattoo design, consider all the amazing meanings hidden in the mysterious seahorse and perhaps you may discover that you share many of the same attributes as this popular sea creature.
History of the Seahorse
To get a better understanding of why all the mystery about the seahorse, you only need to look at the genus this species is associated with.
The hippocampus, otherwise known as sea monster horse, is linked to creativity due in part to the fact the hippocampus region of the human brain is responsible for our long-term memory.
These tiny sea creatures share the common element of water with the human mind, and yogis and spiritual gurus practice their unique meditations near flowing water to connect the subconscious and creativity through meditation.
The Power of the Seahorse
One reason for the mass appeal when it comes to the seahorse is due to the fact its small size makes it easy prey and not a predator. Getting a seahorse tattoo can be representative of being able to make your own way in a challenging world by blending into the surroundings.
The seahorse is extremely cunning in the water, nicknamed the masters of camouflage. The seahorse can quickly change their color to match their surroundings and stay alive, an attribute many people connect with when they have to be quick on their own feet to outsmart others trying to take advantage of them.
These adaptive survivalists move with the flow of the sea, and in seahorse tattoos symbolize persistence, drive, power, and flexibility.
Seahorse Rich History
Dating back to ancient Roman and Greek cultures, the seahorse does, in fact, have quite a unique history. These tiny totems were referred to as messengers and servants of the god of seas, Poseidon.
The seahorse was responsible for carrying the lost souls of those who died in the dark depths of the sea. It is no coincidence in the Disney classic the Little mermaid that you will see King Triton’s messengers and servants were all seahorses, a testament to the legends from the Romans and Greeks.
In Asia, a seahorse is considered a sign of good luck and has been an important part of folklore medicine.
Understanding the Seahorse Role
Before you can understand all the unique meanings behind the seahorse tattoo, you have to get to know this amazing creature in more detail. The male seahorse bears most of the responsibility when it comes to pregnancy, birth, and raising the young. In a unique twist on popular birthing protocol, the male seahorse gets pregnant, carries all the young to term, and then utilizes their pouch to give the babies safe harbor until they hatch and grow.
The female stops by occasionally to coddle the young and then is gone. The babies are expelled from the male at night and ready to take on their roles in the deep sea.
Meanings of a Seahorse Tattoo
So now that you have a little better understanding about the secretive, mysterious, and alluring seahorse, it is time to explain why so many people feel that they connect on a deeper level with this sea creature. The seahorse is the epidemy of tranquility and patience as it glides effortlessly even in troubled seas.
The seahorse offers unique protection to their young and is symbolic of cooperation and friendship. If ever there were a sea creature that was the poster child for persistence, it would be the seahorse.
These amazing dwellers of the deep are often associated with meditation, creativity, and even fatherhood, due to the fact that the male seahorse gets pregnant and deliver their offspring.
Variations of the Seahorse Tattoo
One of the appealing reason more people are getting the seahorse tattoo is the enormous amount of variation in color, style, and design associated with this mysterious creature of the deep. Many tattoo artists can easily incorporate other marine elements into the design, like starfish, coral, and even mermaids.
Here are some examples of unique variations in the seahorse tattoo designs:
The Cartoon Seahorse
When most people think of cartoon seahorse, they tend to associate the images with those in the popular Disney classic the Little Mermaid. These colorfully depicted cartoon seahorses are symbolic of a fun-loving person, someone with a jovial side, someone who wants to tell the world that they have respect for the world. Others connect with the fact these tattoos represent friendship, cooperation, and endless love.
The Tribal Seahorse
To better understand the tribal seahorse designs, you need to know how this concept came about. Tribe shaman and elders would draw the spiritual energy of any animal into existence by tattooing themselves and others with the image.
Each tribe, however, had unique patterns and marks specific to their meaning, representing their daily life, thanking the gods for their mercy, or to evoke the help of deceased ancestors. Those who choose the tribal seahorse tattoo today recognize it represents they closely identify with their native religious culture.
The seahorse in these depictions is symbolic of weathering challenging currents, protecting the ones you love, and being able to adapt instantly to any situation.
Honoring a Child with Seahorse Tattoos
Perhaps one of the most heartfelt ways to memorialize the passing of a child is by having your body inked with a seahorse tattoo.
These fun-loving tiny animals embody the unique qualities of many children of the world and represent a permanent reminder of all those amazing attributes the child possessed. Despite the tiny size of the child, like the seahorse, they are much more than they appear on the surface.
Using the seahorse to remember the child will put a smile on your face and those who remember the child any time they see the tattoo, and you can incorporate many of the things the child loved into the design, from mermaid princesses to bubbles with tiny quotes in them.
There you have it, everything you ever needed to know about the seahorse tattoos. When you choose this elusive and adaptive sea creature as your body ink, you tell the world you are a protector, that you provide for those in your inner circle, and you face obstacles head on because you are a fighter.
The seahorse is an adept survivalist, their motions resemble that of coral drifting with the underwater currents. Part of the appeal for many is this represents a “go with the flow” attitude towards life.
What’s most important is that your seahorse tattoo remains true to your own personality and any message you’re trying to send out to the world.
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