Moon Tattoo Meaning
The moon changes every night and always comes back. That is why, in almost every culture, it stands for cycles, change, intuition and the night side of life.
Cycles and change
The moon grows, becomes full, shrinks and disappears, then returns. A moon tattoo often marks a period of change — the end of one chapter and the start of another — and the belief that hard times pass.
The phases of the moon
A row of moon phases — new, crescent, half, full and back — stands for the whole cycle of life, growth and letting go. A full moon alone speaks of completion and fullness; a new moon of beginnings; a crescent of growth or of something still unfolding.
The moon goddess and the feminine
In Greek and Roman myth the moon belonged to Artemis and Diana, goddesses of the hunt and of the night. In many traditions the moon is a feminine symbol of intuition, mystery and protection, as the sun is masculine.
The moon in sacred art
In the Book of Revelation a woman appears "clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet", and Christian artists painted the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon. The Virgin of Guadalupe stands on a crescent moon as well. A crescent under the feet of the Madonna is a direct reference to this image.
Sun and moon together
The sun and the moon side by side, or merged into one face, stand for balance — day and night, masculine and feminine, two people who complete each other.
The moon in black and grey
The moon's craters and soft light are ideal for black and grey: a realistic full moon glows on the skin with nothing but shading. It works on the forearm, the shoulder, the back of the hand and the back of the neck, and as a background behind figures, wolves, owls or architecture.
Moon Tattoo Questions
What does a moon tattoo symbolize?
Cycles, change, intuition and renewal — the belief that what disappears comes back.
What does a moon phases tattoo mean?
The full cycle of life: beginnings, growth, fullness and letting go.
What does a sun and moon tattoo mean?
Balance between opposites, or two people who complete each other.