Common Triangle Tattoo Meanings
Harmony and balance This meaning is especially true for equilateral triangle tattoos because each side is the same length. You may get a triangle tattoo if you’re looking for balance in your life, like between work, relationships, and self-care. It serves as a reminder that everything will work out in the end.
Strength and resilience Sometimes, triangles represent hard work and and inner strength. If you’ve been through a difficult time, each edge of your triangle tattoo can represent a barrier you’ve overcome. The triangle reminds you you’re growing stronger each day.
Creativity Because the triangle is associated with with various gods across religions and cultures, they often symbolize the act of creation and the creative spirit. You may choose to get a triangle tattoo if you enjoy any creative hobbies like art or poetry, but especially so if you enjoy working with your hands and bringing your ideas to life.
Mind, body, and spirit In some cases, a triangle tattoo represents the 3 aspects of the self. This design reminds you to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually or emotionally. They all need to be balanced for you to be happy and healthy.
Transformation Triangles have long had a connection with alchemy, an ancient practice that sought to change base metals to gold. Because of this, triangles have come to represent personal transformation, too. Get one if you finally feel at peace with who you’ve become or as a reminder that you and your mindset are always evolving. Alchemists used triangles as symbols to represent the elements, so you might get a triangle tattoo to represent your favorite element or that of your zodiac sign—earth, air, fire, and water.
Religious and Cultural Triangle Tattoo Meanings
In Christianity, triangles represent the Holy Trinity. The triangle is the most popular symbol of the Holy Trinity, representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Typically, an equilateral triangle is used because each side is the same length and the Trinity should be worshipped equally. The Eye of God is often surrounded by a triangle, or the triangle is connected with a circle to symbolize the eternity of the Holy Trinity. Similarly, in Hinduism, the triangle represents the trinity of the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
In Celtic beliefs, triangles symbolize forces of nature. In Celtic culture, the triangle typically takes the form of the trinity knot, or triquetra, which consists of 3 connected loops. The trinity knot has symbolized many things over the years, but commonly it represents the 3 forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The ancient Celts also viewed the trinity knot as a symbol of the 3 stages of life—youth, adulthood, and old age—and it came to represent the Holy Spirit with the rise of Christianity. The symbol also serves as a reminder of the connection and continuity of past, present, and future generations, as the loops represent the unbroken line that joins them. Some claim it also represents love, friendship, and strength, especially in the form of a tattoo. Similarly, Norse mythology has a triangular symbol called the Valknut which represents the connection of the past, present, and future, as well as the transition from life to death.
Pink triangles represent LGBTQ+ pride. During WWII, Nazis sewed pink triangles onto the shirts of gay men in concentration camps to identify and dehumanize them. In the 1970s, gay activists began reclaiming the symbol to represent the strength and resilience of the community. If someone has this tattoo, it’s likely a way to let others know they’re a part of the community. Since the 90s, a pink triangle enclosed in a green circle has been used to identify safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
For pagans, triangles represent the Triple Goddess. Many pagan religions worship a goddess who has 3 aspects: the maiden, the mother, and the crone. These aspects represent the stages of life and the moon’s phases. Since a triangle has 3 sides, it is often a symbol of the goddess. In many pagan practices, the triangle is also a protective symbol used to ward off negativity and promote spiritual growth during rituals. Someone might get a triangle tattoo to protect themselves from harm and get in touch with their spirituality.
Triangle Tattoo Design Ideas
Get an upside-down triangle to represent femininity. The triangle’s orientation often provides additional meaning to a tattoo. Triangles that are upside-down often represent femininity, the moon, introspection, and motherhood. You might add the moon phases to the design to emphasize the meaning. Upward-facing triangles represent masculinity, the sun, action, and fatherhood. Add additional imagery like a sunset or sunrise to emphasize the meaning. Combining these two triangles can also represent humanity as a whole. Of course, the orientation of your triangle tattoo doesn’t have to represent these things if you don’t want it to. It’s just something to consider if you already know you want your tattoo to represent your masculinity or femininity.
Add the Eye of Providence to represent God. Many Christians incorporate the Eye of Providence, or the all-seeing eye, into their triangle tattoos as a reminder that God is always watching over them. Choose this design to remind yourself to live according to your faith and that God will protect you. Be aware that this symbol also has ties to occultism and the Illuminati.
Choose a minimalist triangle for something subtle. If you prefer your tattoos to be discreet, choose a simplistic, fine-line triangle. Small tattoos can be placed almost anywhere, and they’re very easy to hide when necessary. Even though it’s small, this tattoo will still carry all the same meaning as a larger design. It can represent whatever you want!
Add a splash of color with a watercolor background. Watercolor tattoos add fun and vibrancy to any design. Because triangle tattoos are generally simplistic, this is a great way to make your design more unique and personal to your style preferences. Professional tattoo artist Burak Moreno warns that watercolor tattoos can fade more easily than other designs. “If you use the watercolor effect as a supporter element in the design, it will work the best,” he says. “Even if it fades over time, it won’t look weak. But if it's the main part of the design, it won’t hold very well. Most color tattoos need a black outline to keep the color in the border.”
Add flowers for a feminine touch. Because triangles are a simple shape, the design elements are endless. Add your favorite flower, your birth flower, or a flower to represent one of your loved ones. Floral tattoos are always gorgeous, and they can hold a lot of personal meaning. Adding the favorite flower of someone who has passed also makes this a great memorial tattoo if you’re not a fan of the more traditional designs. Floral tattoos look great in black and gray or in color, but professional tattoo artist Burak Moreno warns that yellow and white ink fade the fastest. Keep that in mind when choosing your design!
Use the triangle to frame your design. One popular tattoo design is to create a triangular outline and then design a landscape or animal to fit within that tattoo. For example, if you wanted a lion, the design would only include the part of the lion’s face that fits within the triangle. The rest of it would be cut off. This is a unique way to include a design that’s personal to you if you don’t want the tattoo to take up a lot of space. Some popular elements to include with this design are waves or mountains. When choosing a design, professional tattoo artist Burak Moreno recommends looking at similar images or tattoos beforehand. “You can collect the designs you like as reference images and give them to artist,” he says. Choose your artist based on whether “you like their work and if you think they have a similar style to your reference images.”
Opt for infinity triangles for a sibling tattoo. The infinity triangle looks like 3 interlinked triangles, but it’s actually one continuous line that weaves over and under itself. This makes a great family tattoo (especially for groups of 3) because it represents a familial connection that can’t be broken. If you don’t have siblings, consider getting an infinity triangle to represent you and your parents.
Where to Get a Triangle Tattoo
Choose your placement based on personal preference. There is no right or wrong place to get a triangle tattoo. Pick the location based on where you think it would look best or by the level of pain you can handle. Consider whether you’ll need to cover the tattoo or not, as well. Here are some common placement ideas: Arm or leg: Your arms and legs are a great place to get intricate designs because they offer a good amount of space to work with. Choose your arm if you want to proudly display your tattoo, or go for your leg if you want to be able to cover it more easily. Neck or hands: Neck and hand tattoos are known as “job stoppers,” because there is still a lot of stigma around them. Consider where you work or plan to in the future before you get a tattoo in one of these locations. Chest or back: The chest and back are good canvases for large or intricate tattoos. These areas can also easily be covered by a shirt if you need to hide your tattoo. Wrist or ankle: The wrist and ankle are perfect for small, fine-line tattoos. If you want something more delicate or something that can easily be hidden by pants or a watch, choose one of these locations.
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