It’s no secret that tattoos are becoming increasingly popular, and consequently, increasingly commonplace.
Not long ago, you’d only really see designs on sailors, Hells Angels or other notable subcultural groups. But nowadays, you’ll see tattoos on arms, legs, backs and even faces walking down the street.
If you’re considering a tattoo of your own. You’re not alone. It’s estimated that roughly 36% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo and this number is on the rise!
Of course, a tattoo is (generally) for life, so you’re going to want to make sure that you nail the design first time around.
Choosing can be difficult. With all sorts of images, shapes, colours and designs out there, you’re going to want to make sure that you choose something that is significant to you and that you can be proud of.
While there are endless tattoo design ideas out there, we’re going to take a moment to focus on wheat.
Wheat Tattoos
Some tattoo designs are more common than others. Some of the most popular and frequently seen tend to include roses, skulls, butterflies, diamonds, dolphins, triangles, hearts, infinity symbols, lettering and more.
But a tattoo that’s a little more niche, while gaining more interest in recent years, is wheat. These tattoos can incorporate wheat in any way – whether that’s a single grain of wheat, a single stalk of wheat or a wheat sheaf.
The Meaning of Wheat Tattoos
When it comes down to it, a tattoo can mean or symbolise anything that you want it to. The meaning of your tattoo can have all sorts of individual and personal connotations.
However, there can also be broader connotations and meanings behind certain items and symbols, which encourage people to opt to tattoo something in particular on their body.
Some things have very obvious and culturally eminent meanings. Doves are commonly associated with peace. Crosses are regularly associated with Christianity.
Four-leaf clovers can bring thoughts of luck and good fortune to mind. Heart shapes can represent love. But when it comes to wheat, what are some common ideas that spring to mind?
Wheat as a symbol of wealth and money
A common association with wheat is wealth and money. When it comes down to it, wheat has been an extremely significant crop throughout time.
It is one of the earliest cereals that humans cultivated and incorporated in their agricultural activities and has consequently come to be one of the most commonly grown and consumed crops in the world.
When it comes down to it, this cereal has come to be a symbol of livelihood. It represents an income for generations of people and has been the source of comfortable living for millions.
It is also a crop that has consistently driven away hunger and famish for human society over the years. Those who have been successful in growing this crop have experienced consistent demand and prosperity in their day to day lives as a result.
Wheat as a symbol of hard work
Of course, farming wheat is not an easy job. From the time that wheat was first grown to modern day society, agriculture is hard work that is absolutely essential. You rise early.
Back in the day there would have been a lot of manual labour involved in not only growing the wheat, but harvesting it too.
Even nowadays, huge amounts of work go into building a successful crop, even with the help of machinery and modern day technology.
Wheat as a symbol of growth and abundance
The success of wheat crops largely growing large, strong and in huge volumes, has resulted in many associating it with growth and abundance. You can see this crop grow quickly and with confidence.
You also rarely see a small crop. This is something that tends to be farmed over acres of land. It provides plenty for many.
Wheat as a Symbol of Resurrection
If you are religious, you may also have strong connotations of wheat and resurrection. This is why you may have noticed wheat sheafs adorning graves and other memorials in burial grounds and cemeteries.
An otherwise plain and seemingly humble grain, wheat can be observed playing its part in a significant number of funeral cults and mourning rites throughout countless ancient cultures.
The ancient Greeks and Romans, for example, considered wheat to represent life springing from death or immortality.
Priests of the time are noted as having sprinkled wheat flour on their victim’s head prior to sacrificing them.
It should also be noted that Ceres and Demeter, the Greek and Roman goddesses of harvest and agriculture, often carried either a wheatsheaf or a harvester’s sickle in imagery of them.
Another culture that uses the wheatsheaf commonly is that of Ancient Egypt. Egypt was well known for creating bread thanks to the significant abundance of crops here.
At the time, this was attributed to the god of the underworld, Osiris. This, again, ties into rebirth.
Within Christianity, wheat is also an extremely important symbol. It is often associated with the Eucharist bread that is used to represent the body of Christ and his sacrifice to humanity.
It is also associated commonly with the significant event that is referred to as the Last Supper.
Wheat Tattoo Designs
As with any tattoo, it’s a good idea to look into different designs incorporating wheat before heading straight into a tattoo studio.
You need to decide upon your style before you can find a parlour or artist who will be able to make your vision a reality. You can opt for all sorts of different types of designs.
You could go for a hyper-realistic wheat sheaf, which will look like a replica of a real-life sheaf on your body. You could go for a cartoon style.
You could opt for some simple and minimalistic linework. If you want, and are willing to spend a little more time having the work carried out, you could even try an alternative dot work design.
Speak to an artist who will be able to make recommendations and draw up a draft.
As you can see, a wheat tattoo has a whole lot of potential! So, why not consider it for your own body?
