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TATTOO DESIGNS & SYMBOLS - LEAF TATTOOS
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Tattoo designs - L
>> Leaf
 Leaf Tattoo Designs -
How important is the simple leaf to life on earth? Consider this --
without it, evolution would have taken a radically different course.
Light is processed through the cells of a leaf to create energy. The
process is called photosynthesis, during which oxygen is released
into the atmosphere. Leaves, from the smallest plants hugging the
earth to the mightiest trees that tower far above us, are a food
source for just about all living creatures, from the insect to the
elephant, not to mention human beings. In ancient cultures, certain
leaves were food for the gods, and why not? They constituted much of
folk medicine, and now form the basis of modern pharmaceuticals.
Many leaves are used in many cultures all around the world for the
unique properties of the oils they contain, as spices -- think of
the bay leaf, basil and oregano in your tomato sauce, not to mention
the rosemary on your lamb -- and for their fragrant scent in
perfumes and body oils, such as lavender.
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Tattoo art has embraced many
leaf motifs, one of the most popular being the Japanese maple, a
symbol of time passing. The design often conveys the leaves as
floating, carried on the wind. In Japan, it's also the symbol of
lovers. In some Japanese tattoo designs, canopies of maple
leaves float over shoulders and drift over the torso. Another
favourite for covering large areas of the anatomy are
bamboo
leaves. The samurai's sword guard - the tsuba -- was often
inscribed with a leaf motif signifying status and reflecting the
personality of the owner. |
One of the most sacred and most beautiful leaves is
the lotus, whose symbolism goes back thousands of years. In sacred
Buddha art it is depicted seated on a giant lotus leaf - an emblem
of purity and beauty. It also carries a lesson about living in the
world, since it grows in the mud yet remains untainted by it. The
lotus retains its pristine purity in part because of the leaf's
capacity to filter away dust and dirt. Apparently, nothing sticks to
the lotus due to microscopic bumps of its surface. Young lotus
leaves are edible.
 Another 'sacred' leaf is the olive, to this day
still the symbol of Olympic victory. In Greek mythology it was
attributed to the goddess Athena, and remains a symbol of peace and
security. In the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark, Noah spotted
the dove carrying an olive leaf, by which he knew that the flood
waters were receding and his people were saved. A crown or laurel of
olive leaves were awarded to the victors in the Greek Olympic Games.
The poplar, or aspen leaf, famed for its trembling
movements, was called the talking, whispering, quivering tree. In
Native American folklore, the poplar is seen as a tree whose leaves
may tremble, yet the tree does not bow, even to the Great Spirit.
That leaf symbolizes courage and respect. The willow - the tree of
enchantment - lends its leaves to young women who press them into
sachets and wear them around their necks to attract lovers.
The oak tree and the oak leaf were powerful symbols
to the ancient Celts and Romans alike. Successful Roman Commanders
were awarded crowns, or laurels of oak leaves for victories in
battle, as the oak tree stood for strength, wisdom, and longevity.
 In heraldry, a single leaf is said to symbolize
happiness, while oak leaves represent faith and endurance. Nettles,
however, are the heraldic symbol for the sting of death. If you want
to make a statement about your endurance in love and friendship, the
ivy tattoo will say it for you. As a tattoo design, the Celtic
shamrock symbolizes either the trinity or pride in your Irish
heritage. And the tiny four leaf clover is just plain lucky.
Ireland took the shamrock for its national emblem,
while Canada has more recently adopted the maple leaf for its
national flag.
 A
single leaf or a multitude of leaves are also potent symbols of
regeneration and resurrection as they cycle through the seasons. In
the temperate zones of the world, the changing seasons are most
dependably marked by the transformation of the leaves of deciduous
trees. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter are potent reminders of the
circle of life, from birth to death. From the plump buds of spring,
to the edible green leaves of summer, to their dramatic autumnal
death in a blazing show of colour, leaves are vivid reminders to us
all of the life-and-death cycle of all living things. Nothing so
thrills us with the sense of fresh hope and new beginnings as when
leaves are budding in springtime. Everything is there waiting to
burst out and begin a new life. Then follows full-leaf summer, when
a broad canopy of leaves is a shady escape from the heat. The
glories of a colourful autumn are the leaves last gasp before the
dormancy of winter. A tree losing the last of its leaves in the cold
winds of autumn, to be stripped bare for the onset of winter has a
poignancy that has long stirred the souls of poets, philosophers and
men alike. The parallels of our own human lifetime are all too
obvious. We could do worse than to meditate upon a rotting leaf on a
damp forest path, often just a ghost of its former self. 'This too
will pass," said the Buddha.
 Get
inspired by some great images and photos in our Leaf
Inspiration Galleries
See also:
Trees,
Flowers,
Fruit,
Shamrock,
Four leaf
clover, Ivy,
Bamboo,
Flower & Plant Tattoo Index
Choose your own leaf tattoo design from Tattoo-Art.com.
Find and buy the leaf tattoo design that is perfect for you.
Pick out and buy your leaf tattoo HERE at Tattoo Johnny!
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>> Leaves
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