What do Star Tattoos Symbolize and Mean? [2024 Guide] (2024)

The star symbol tattoo reflects a variety of cultures and different concepts, gods, and beliefs, with links to concepts like angels, space travel, the Horoscope, and even pagan religions.

Some collectors want to decorate their body with a small star tattoo in a simple manner, while for others they symbolize guidance or goals, like “reaching for the stars.”

Star tattoo art may even mark important events, explore fun tattoo designs, serve as art for lovers of astronomy within tattoo culture, or as spiritual insignia for all manner of religious beliefs.

As for placement, star tattoo ideas are some of the globe’s most popular designs. They can be a small tattoo inked anywhere, connective parts of sleeves, or the main focal point. Common areas for a simple five-point star are the wrists, shoulders, and ankles, but some collectors go for more contemporary spots like the back of the hand, behind the ear, or even neck tattoo designs.

The following article details a range of tattoo star symbolic meanings you can take to your tattoo parlor to work on and develop into a piece of your own.

1. Stars and Moon Tattoo Symbolism

There are many family connotations between the moon and stars, with the moon seen as the mother figure and all the multiple stars her children.

Other types of the star tattoo idea represent the cyclical nature of life and positivity associated with new beginnings, while there are a few more now linked to the religion of Islam.

For other ink enthusiasts who dig the nighttime, their stars tattoo can incorporate the moon and build on principles of astronomy, signs of the Zodiac, or the night sky in wider imagery.

2. Pentagram Tattoo Meanings

The pentagram is a profoundly arcane piece of tattoo art that links the star symbol to occult power (in both the positive and negative), yet carries vast scholarly interest from more secular tattoo culture as well.

The pentagram is a geometrically perfect shape featuring a five-pointed star, when encased within a circle it is called a pentacle.

The intersecting lines of the five-point star form a golden ratio, where the distance between the longest line and the next shortest is the same as that of the shorter one after that, and so on.

The shape mimics the path of Venus in the night sky as seen from earth. If you trace its path it will create the pentagram of Venus or an intricate five-pointed star pattern.

The star has been used as a symbol for the five senses, the five wounds of Christ, magic, the forces of nature, and when turned on its side, the devil. It’s also the symbol of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table, in the 14th-century poem Gawain and the Green Knight.

In Wiccan tradition, a downward-facing pentagram signifies the second degree of learning, yet also carries the connotation of evil brought forward from the Spanish Inquisition in the satanic pentacle.

See Also

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3. The Stars in Galaxy Tattoos

Galaxy tattoos are versatile and by necessity incorporate the stars and constellations within their depiction. They epitomize a blank canvas for the expression of symbolic body art and can go from black and gray pieces to brightly colored neo-traditional planets, shooting stars, and falling star tattoo ideas.

The blank canvas approach means galaxy tattoos can represent a variety of different ideas, with the most popular being representative of the universe, science, space travel, and dreams/future plans.

They are also deployed in deeply mysterious tattoos where the symbols change their focus alongside the subject’s motivations. There are no constraints you can place on a vibrant tattoo idea in terms of size, style, color, or even multiple stars.

4. Nautical Star Tattoo Meanings

Also known as North Star tattoos, these sentimental icons are frequently meant to honor fallen fighters who served in the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard.

Many people also see the North Star as the one tried-and-true way to find out where you are and choose black ink for guidance and protection.

The alternating nature of shading provides a nautical tattoo with its definitive association to veterans and servicemen – this type of body art is one of the grandest options available.

Historically, the nautical star was deployed to celebrate the life of any sailor who was lost at sea. In this regard, the regal display can be applied by all men who feel connected to the maritime lifestyle.

5. Astronomy Tattoo Meanings

Constellations are a major star tattoo design theme for those who desire a classy astronomy tattoo. The Big Dipper is a common theme in this arena, but it is far from the only choice.

In horoscopes and the Zodiac, each astrological sign has its own star cluster that can be replicated smoothly.

Because these arrangements are basically a mixture of dots and lines (or represented by an asterisk), the constellation of each star sign is easy for a tattoo artist to create.

6. The Star and Compass Tattoo

Traditionally, compass tattoos were inked by sailors looking for symbolic protection and guidance while on ocean voyages.

The earliest navigation methods involved observing landmarks or watching the direction of the sun and stars.

Ancient sailors watched constellations to mark their position when they couldn’t hug the coastlines, and from there, maps were made via the reading of star and constellation positions.

Compass and star tattoos also signify a yearning for home while away and provide a connection to what they had left behind.

7. Dallas Cowboys Star Tattoos

The Dallas Cowboys have been a staple of the NFL since their founding in 1960.

They’re not only the most valuable team in the NFL, but they’re also arguably the most valuable sports team in the world, with an estimated worth around $4-5 billion.

And it’s not just the money they have, there’s also the pedigree. Some of the finest players in the league have worn the blue and white with the star on their helmet, including Roger Staubach, Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith.

For any Cowboys fan, the lineage of the Dallas Star, and the incredible history of the team and Texas football make for a perfect excuse to get inked with the classic star of America’s Team.

In Europe, many football (soccer) teams can also lay claim to the star as part of their logo or emblem, such as Red Star Belgrade for example.

8. Simple Star Tattoos

Simple star tattoos are a fantastic way for newcomers to start their body art journey without getting things too complicated.

A small star may be one of the most flexible and enduring tattoo designs known. Many prefer to keep star tattoos as simple as possible, so they limit the design to one single star or small groups of a bunch of stars.

Stars can be visualized in hundreds of forms and colors, but you can never go wrong with the classic bold black outline of a star or just a solid black one.

A simple star tattoo can hold a lot of strength in its meaning.

9. Metatron’s Cube and Geometric Star Tattoos

Discovered by Leonardo Pasano, Metatron’s Cube is an intricate design composed of circles and lines.

Constructed from 13 equal circles with lines through the center of each circle and out to the centers of the other circles, the design famously contains all five Platonic solids-and every shape in the Universe, with a six-pointed star one of the largest of these images.

Metatron’s cube is a symbolic image of the building blocks of all that exists-the physical matter of the Universe.

The star (and triangle it can be made from) is also incorporated into many other geometric tattoo designs as well to make more complex or simple concepts look niftier.

10. 3D Star Tattoos

People have come up with a variety of ways to wear star 3D tats, turning intricate patterns and multifaceted shapes into some of the most original ink designs.

Many have simply created an intricate pattern that appears to give their skin an extra layer of texture.

Others have used it as an inlay effect for text or other images, or created star tattoos that look like the shape is poking through ripped skin.

A successful 3D star tattoo is achieved by making the artwork look like it’s a part of your body or as if it’s hovering over the top of it by magic.

Tattooists well versed in creating 3D pieces can create your 3D ink by the application of line work, shading, color, and space manipulation to literally add that extra dimension needed to make it come alive.

Stars as Tattoo Design Filler

Some star tattoo meanings are not really symbolic at all but are called upon by the tattoo artist to fill a space within a larger design.

In American traditional tattooing, stars can be simple four-pointed etchings (a gold or red star like a diamond that’s been stretched to a line) or many stars tattooed as asterisks or hatchwork, tiny stars solely incorporated to contrast against a lead image such as an anchor tattoo, boxer, or in a full sleeve piece.

While more important to galaxy and shooting star tattoo designs than in old school ink, bright and tiny stars are often counterpoints to darker colored tattoo imagery, such as the night sky, a black hole, or even planets.

Stars can also be incorporated into the backdrop of mountain scenes, horizon body art, or larger moon-centric tattoos.

Conclusion

No matter your purpose for choosing a star design, there are a whole host of meanings associated with our friends in the nighttime.

Whether a small, simple, black ink tattoo, a falling star, or epic tapestry of constellations, there’s a brilliant piece just waiting for you to draw it up.