Raven Tattoos Meaning in 2025

Summary

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Today, we’re going to talk about raven tattoos, an animal that’s incredibly powerful, a protector, and a spiritual guide. It’s a shape-shifter, a messenger, and a symbol of transformation. The black plumage of the raven speaks to the void, secrets, and mystery, but it’s also a symbol of the sun.

In mythology, the raven brought the sun to humanity and, in the process, became a symbol of light. From ancient times, the myths of this animal have spoken of its great intelligence and concern for humans. It also gave its people the moon and stars, fresh water, and fire.

There’s a myth that says when it stole fire, the smoke that came out turned its white plumage into what we know now: very black.

The intelligence of crows has made them birds that are admired. The God Odin is described with two ravens as eyes and ears, as a symbol of memory and thought. As a spiritual guide, it’s the one that keeps secrets guarded. Associated with the world of shadows and magic.

In other parts of the world, it’s associated with death, saying that if they fly by, death will come. It was also said to be the mediator between life and death.

Although many still think poorly of this animal in modern times, it was highly respected in the ancient world for its powers of healing, wisdom, gratitude, and affection for all its associates.

The meaning of raven in their tattoo and history

In Celtic symbolism, the tattoo of a crow is closely related to battles and the Celtic goddess of war and destruction (Morrigan).

It’s said that these birds were the first totems of this Celtic goddess, and that one of her attributes was the power to transform into a crow, a form she used to make balance in the battles that took place in her fields.

She’s often represented with armor and arms, and was present in all wars, infusing the soldiers with the strength to keep fighting.

It’s also believed that this same goddess represented renewal, death that could give birth to new life, love, and sexual desire, which is why some people seek to reflect in their crow tattoos a symbol that represents renewal associated with light and life.

In Norse mythology, there existed two ravens that always accompanied the God Odin, named Hugin and Munin.

These two ravens served Odin’s orders, and were responsible for traveling the world collecting information, notes, which they would then bring to Odin after sunset.

Hugin represented the power of thought, while Munin represented memory and intuition. Every time the sun rose, both crows were sent to the earth to gather information, and every night, after sunset, they returned to Odin’s palace and whispered all the news and events they had learned on their visit to the planet earth.

This association with Odin and the crow was used in many ways by the Norse, including on armor and war shields, as a symbol to invoke victory and to be favored by Odin.

On the other hand, in ancient Greece, these birds were considered omens of bad luck due to various legends about them. However, in general, it was said that it was bad luck for a crow to fly over your house, where someone was, or to perch on the roof of a house, because this meant that some misfortune was approaching the house, or that a family member was going to die.

In Christianity, the crow’s reputation didn’t help due to the story in the Bible, where Noah, after the flood, sent a crow and a dove to check if the floodwaters had receded and if there was dry land, but only the dove returned, and the crow failed in its mission. This turned the dove into a universal symbol of peace, a symbol related to God, and the crow was punished, with its feathers turning from white to black according to the scriptures.

However, in Eastern civilizations, ravens were seen as the guardians of lost souls, responsible for leading lost souls to the afterlife. This characteristic or way of seeing crows as someone who can take a soul from this world to the next, as someone who can bring news to a god, or as someone who can create a connection between this and the next world, is something that is permanent in all civilizations that have made raven a symbol.

In many legends of Native American peoples, the crow was considered a hero for many tribes, including the Inuit, who believed that the crow had tricked a giant sea monster that today forms the peninsula of Alaska with its body.

On the other hand, in the Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni tribes, it was believed that the crow had flown from the depths of the universe, from the darkest place, and that they had brought the light of the sun to our planet.

That’s why the raven is considered a bird of creation, because without its act, humans would still be living in darkness. That’s why raven is important to Native Americans, as it reflects the symbol of dawn, the symbol of understanding, and is a living being that risks its life to bring a benefit to humans. Due to this, for them, it is a revered bird, with powers that benefit humanity.

Although in modern times, people still think poorly of this animal, it was highly respected in the ancient world by many civilizations for its powers of healing, wisdom, and above all, gratitude and empathy for all its associates.

In the world of tattoos, it can represent many things, both positive and negative, and it’s up to you to decide what you want to reflect in your tattoo.

Some of the most common meanings of this symbol are:

Intelligence and cunning
Deception
Presages of misfortune and bad luck
Creation and birth
Prediction
A messenger of the gods
Healing and medicine
Provision and light

Essential ideas

Raven tattoos symbolize a bridge between life and death, reflecting a deep understanding of the transitory nature of life.
These tattoos often represent the guardianship of secrets and are related to the search for hidden knowledge.
Crow tattoos are associated with personal transformation, echoing the adaptability and resilience of the bird.
From Odin’s crows, Huginn and Muninn, in Norse mythology, to Celtic and Viking designs, crow tattoos are rich in cultural and mythological meaning.

About Author

Jade Blunt | Tattoo Gun Machinehttps://t.me/s/tattoogunmachine

Hello everyone! My name is Jade Blunt, and I'm a passionate tattoo enthusiast. Let me share a bit about my life and my journey in the world of ink and skin.

Ever since I was a child, I've been drawn to art and creativity in all its forms. However, it was when I turned 18 that I discovered my true passion: tattoos. I remember my first tattoo, a small design on my wrist that marked the beginning of an adventure that would change my life forever.

As my love for tattoos grew, so did my desire to learn more about this fascinating art. I started researching, talking to talented tattoo artists, and immersing myself in the history and culture of tattoos. Every tattoo tells a story, and I wanted to be a part of that narrative.

Over time, I decided to share my passion with the world through my blog, "Tattoo Gun Machine." In this space, I strive to provide valuable information about tattoos, from tips for tattooed skin care to stories of innovative tattoo artists and inspiring designs. My goal is to educate and inspire those who share my love for tattoos, as well as to demystify some of the stigmas surrounding this art form.

My blog has become a corner of the web where the tattoo-loving community can connect, share ideas, and explore new trends. I've also had the privilege of interviewing some of the most talented tattoo artists in the world, who share their unique experiences and knowledge within my pages.

But my journey in the world of tattoos doesn't stop here. I'm always on the lookout for new inspiration and challenges. I dream of one day opening my own tattoo studio, where I can bring my own designs to life and continue contributing to this form of artistic expression.

So, if you share my passion for tattoos or are simply interested in learning more about this exciting world, I invite you to join me on my journey at "Tattoo Gun Machine." Together, we can explore the art, culture, and beauty of tattoos as we continue to ink our stories onto the canvas of life. I'll see you on my blog!