23 Cheerful Compass Rose Tattoo Ideas

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Tattoos are an interesting way of skin adornment. The pigment of the skin is changed by injecting colorful inks into the dermis layer of the skin. It bears an ancient heritage. It has been an Eurasian practice since the Neolithic times. Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic and other central and north European tribes were often heavily tattooed. Evidences also show that the tribes used to have special tattoo ceremonies. Various cultures have their specific tattoos bearing particular symbolic meanings.

The compass rose tattoo is a symbol of good luck, and first started as a popular design among sailors more than a century ago. Combining the shape of a star and finding a direction on the high seas, a Compass Rose Tattoo comes in many creative designs and variations. Tattoo artists play with the basic design and use the North Star as the center of the pattern. Around this star which is believed to be a guiding star, the four cardinal directions are inked. The form of this tattoo is usually a circle and can indicate that a person has found a direction in life. Being in the circular shape it also shows that a cycle is over, or a chapter in life is gone, and now it is time to start a new chapter. This tattoo, whether it is done in a simple black and white design, or filled with colors, is a message about hope and looking forward to the future. In the olden days the compass rose held a promise that the sailors would come from the stormy high seas to the shores. In modern times it signifies that the wearer has found a way out of the storms and is ready to head to more peaceful shores of life. The tattoo can be done in a very intricate way with the compass hands and face styled with traditional motifs. Often color combinations like aqua blue and black or bright red and green can be used to give a bright look to the design. With the basic form of the compass in place, leafy motifs or abstract geometrical patterns can be added to make it more interesting.

If you like this article, you might be interested in some of our other articles on Free Tattoo Pictures, Face Tattoos, Eyebrow Tattoos and Russian Prison Tattoos.

Circle Arm Tattoo

The large circle shows the form of a traditional compass in this woman’s forearm tattoo. The Northern Star is multi-pointed in the design.

Circle Arm Tattoo

Circle Arm Tattoo

Colors Of Compass Rose

The Northern Star is shaded in black and gold in this tattoo with the light brown pigment surrounding the circular design.

Colors Of Compass Rose

Colors Of Compass Rose

Golden Compass

A compass with a matte gold metallic surface is inked on the upper thigh in this tattoo. The banners hold names with dates in the intricate tattoo design.

Golden Compass

Golden Compass

Ideal Compass Rose

The foot compass rose inked in bright colors sends a message to walk on and enjoy the amazing opportunities that open up in life’s journey.

Ideal Compass Rose

Ideal Compass Rose

Simple Compass Rose

The compass rose tattoo is inked with narrow black lines. The sides of the star are filled in with solid black pigment to give a distinctive look to the design.

Simple Compass Rose

Simple Compass Rose

Basic Directions Tattoo

The directions are named in a traditional lettering style in this basic geometric compass rose tattoo done in black.

Basic Directions Tattoo

Basic Directions Tattoo

Bold Geometry

Bold black areas in the sides of the Northern Star give a dynamic feel to this confidently inked compass rose tattoo.

Bold Geometry

Bold Geometry

Marine Theme Compass Rose

This is an intricately inked tattoo with faces of crocodiles on both sides of the traditionally designed compass rose.

Marine Theme Compass Rose

Marine Theme Compass Rose

Compass Rose Old Design

The bold black outer circle done in a basic style gives a comfortably old-fashioned feel to this compass rose forearm tattoo.

Compass Rose Old Design

Compass Rose Old Design

Compass Rose Shades

The shaded areas in this compass rose tattoo on the arm give a metallic feel to the design, making the compass look very real.

Compass Rose Shades

Compass Rose Shades

Aqua Compass

The shade of aqua green used in the design gives a unsual look to this compass rose. The stylized motifs of leaves complete the design.

Aqua Compass

Aqua Compass

Arrow Compass Rose

You can see the series of sharp arrows pointing to the directions in this stylish compass rose tattoo.

Arrow Compass Rose

Arrow Compass Rose

Northern Star Tattoo

This tattoo is elegant in its design primarily done with straight lines. The black shaded areas give a three-dimensional look to the design.

Northern Star Tattoo

Northern Star Tattoo

Symbolic Compass Rose

Gorgeous shades of red, green and gold color this upper back compass rose tattoo designed with knots and intricate runic symbols.

Symbolic Compass Rose

Symbolic Compass Rose

Two Circles Compass

Two elegant narrow lined circles frame this Northern Star in the compass rose tattoo on the back of the leg.

Two Circles Compass

Two Circles Compass

Patterns Compass

A pattern of squares and triangles gives an elegant look to this colorful compass rose tattoo inked on the hand.

Patterns Compass

Patterns Compass

Small Compass Rose

The upper thigh is inked with a small and intricate compass rose done in black shades in this tattoo design.

Small Compass Rose

Small Compass Rose

Religious Compass Rose

Patterned around the circular face with messages about keeping the faith strong, this compass rose tattoo is full of religious significance.

Religious Compass Rose

Religious Compass Rose

Compass Rose Lines

You can see the straight lined strokes giving a spread out look to the design in this simple compass rose tattoo.

Compass Rose Lines

Compass Rose Lines

New Life Tattoo

Let go and move on in life by being in flow, is the message of this powerful compass rose text tattoo inked on the arm.

New Life Tattoo

New Life Tattoo

Blue Black Compass Rose

A deep shade of blue combines with black in this two colored compass rose tattoo design.

Blue Black Compass Rose

Blue Black Compass Rose

Love Compass

A romantic rose blooms at the center of this elegant traditional design compass inked in delicate colors on the arm.

Love Compass

Love Compass

Powerful Compass Rose

The fine lined compass rose has deeper areas of solid black in this striking arm tattoo design.

Powerful Compass Rose

Powerful Compass Rose

6 COMMENTS

  1. Beautiful compass tattoos i like the love compass tattoo very much as it shows the meaning that wherever you will take that love compass it will show love in all directions.

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