Once you have decided to get a tattoo, the toughest part may well be choosing what image should be permanently inked onto your body. Some people choose poignant words, while others prefer objects that have special meaning in their lives. Places can be important also and if you have an affinity with desert landscapes or their symbolism, getting a tattoo might be the right choice for you.
This article lists everything you need to know if you’re considering getting this type of tattoo. This includes an examination of their history, symbolism, meaning, characteristic styles, and where people usually get them placed on their bodies.
What is the History of Desert Tattoos?
Humans have been tattooing markings onto their skin for thousands of years. Throughout history, just like today, these adornments have been both plain and elaborate as well as personal and public.
And just like today, they were inspired by:
- Religious devotion
- Romantic love
- Platonic love
- Friendship
- Group membership
- Memorialization
- Marking a key event in your life
- Their beauty, design, or colors
Desert tattoos are part of the wider tradition of landscape tattoos that have increasingly become a popular motif for people who have or want to embrace the great outdoors as a way to escape the fast-paced modern world.
This is a movement away from the more materialistic times of the 1980s and 1990s, and experiences rather than possessions are seen to be what makes life meaningful.
What Does the Desert Symbolize?
When you think of the desert, you probably imagine a sparse, arid, and stark landscape that is devoid of people, plants, and animals. By their very nature, they are harsh and uninviting places where most people would struggle to survive.
Desert symbolism goes beyond the stereotype of rolling sandy dunes, striking sun, and harsh hot winds. Rather, it is influenced by the extremes of the environment, the wide-open vistas, and the absence of distractions that are normally found in daily life.
What Do Desert Tattoos Mean?
A desert tattoo can mean many things, for example:
Freedom from confusion
The desert is sparse and unforgiving. Either you survive or you do not. There is no confusion, only the difference between life and death. Without everyday distractions, they are excellent symbols of clarity, revelation, and purity.
Honesty
The wide-open plains leave few places to hide, physically and metaphorically, and this tattoo can be a symbol of brutal honesty. This type of honesty, however, can be cruel and vicious rather than cathartic, just like the desert itself.
Harsh reality
In the desert, any frailties and inadequacies can be easily exposed to the harsh realities of life. It represents common barriers, obstacles, and challenges. However, while these harsh realities are brutal, they can also tap into a person’s deepest reserves to make sure that they survive.
Wisdom and enlightenment
The desert can be a trial but if you survive, you can be rewarded with heightened awareness and an enlightened sense of self.
Strength, adaptability, and resilience
A common symbol of the desert is the prickly cactus plant that is able to survive against all odds. It is the perfect symbol of strength, adaptability, resilience, and survival against the odds.
Why Do People Choose to get Desert Tattoos?
There are many reasons why people choose to get this tattoo. Here are some of the more popular ones:
They are meaningful
If you have had a significant experience in the desert, for example, it was a place of important work, was where you met your significant other, or had a wonderful vacation, a tattoo is a great way to treasure the location.
Of course, if you or your ancestors come from this type of landscape, it can be a poignant symbol of you, your family, and where you came from.
They represent a way of life
If you value the simple things in life or living away from the hustle and bustle of a busy urban lifestyle, a desert tattoo can be a symbol of the tranquillity you can get when you leave the modern world behind.
It is an ode to nature
The desert landscape is unique, formidable, and beautiful. With stark colors, minimalism, and a suite of rare plants like tumbleweeds and the iconic cactus, a desert tattoo is an instantly recognizable image of nature.
They are an environmental statement
With climate change an increasingly important part of all our lives, this tattoo can symbolize the nature that is most at risk. As a place of hostility and danger, it can also be used as a warning of what more of the world might look like in the near future if climate change is not minimized.
They are a beautiful image
A desert is a beautiful place. Depending on the color palette you use, a desert tattoo can be muted and subtle, naturalistic, or enhanced with over-the-top hues. If you appreciate beauty, especially as it occurs in nature, this tattoo is a great way to express your love of the aesthetic.
Where Do People Usually Get Desert Landscapes Tattooed On Their Body?
Nature tattoos like a desert landscape can be detailed and intricate and it’s important to choose a part of the body that has the space to showcase all the tiny details. If you want a large and prominent tattoo, consider your back, upper thigh, or even your forearm. If you want an elongated, long-form tattoo, the upper arm is also an option.
What are the most popular types of desert tattoos?
Apart from picturesque landscapes with strong and bold desert colors, desert landscape tattoos can also feature cactuses, scenes in the moonlight, and desert animals such as coyotes howling at the moon. A soaring bird such as the majestic eagle is also a popular desert tattoo motif.
Is This Tattoo Right For You?
Your best bet on deciding whether a desert tattoo is right for you is to do your research. Not only should you consult a reputable and skilled tattoo artist, but you should make sure that the tattoo you are planning on getting suits your body and personality. And, most importantly, don’t forget that it’s permanent!
Nonetheless, if you like the symbolism of resilience and honesty, and the simplistic beauty of a stark landscape, a desert tattoo might be the right one for you.
