Many of us choose tattoo designs for aesthetic reasons. Yet, we also choose them based on their relevance and symbolism, which should suit our personalities and social identities. So, ask your artist to get that wireless tattoo machine out because you’re about to be inspired! Sun and moon tattoos are both aesthetically pleasing and rich in history and symbolism.
The designs are mind-blowing, and so are their meanings. The meanings and symbolism of the sun and moon differ under different civilizations and cultures. For example, in Ancient Egyptian culture, both the sun and moon represent deities. The sun, for example, was considered the deity Re — the Sun God. Such ancient cultural interpretations have continued to inspire tattoo lovers to this day.
Before getting into the top 25 attractive sun and moon tattoo designs that I’ve handpicked, let’s first delve into the meanings and symbolism associated with this popular theme.
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Meaning And Symbolism Of Sun And Moon Tattoos
The Merging Of The Opposites
The sun and moon combined are an incredible way to illustrate the merging of opposites. Both these symbols are natural counterparts. Universally, the sun is a masculine figure, while the moon is a feminine one. The sun symbolizes power and strength. The moon signifies stability and a sense of calmness. To sum up, the union of the opposites is necessary for there to be an existence of opposition, polarity, and differentiation.
Duality Of Human Nature
There are both good and bad experiences in everybody’s life. That, in essence, is the principle of life aptly symbolized by a sun and moon tattoo. The concept of duality of human nature specifies that each individual has a dark side and a bright side.
The Cycle Of Life
The sun and moon are celestial symbols. When joined together as one, their combined solid symbolism includes the simplified representation of the cycle of one’s life, containing life, death, rebirth, and balance.
Lovers
Yet that’s not all; the sun and moon tattoos signify a sexual and spiritual partnership between two people in love. The moon symbolizes the woman in the relationship, while the sun represents the man.
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Attractive Sun And Moon Tattoo Designs
#1. Intertwined Sun And Moon Faces Tattoo
A tattoo with an intertwined sun and moon portrayal is a popular option. The purpose, or symbolism, is to replace conflict and disunity with the unity of the opposites. This tattoo design option looks best in black and white, yet colored options are also preferred by many.
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#2. Ornamental Sun And Moon Tattoo
There’s a lot you can do with sun and moon tattoo designs. The above example is of an ornamental version. The unique placement — on the calves — adds to the glory of the overall effect.
#3. Sun And Moon Hourglass Tattoo
The hourglass represents the cycles in one’s life in the cosmos. The sun and moon, as already mentioned, represent the unity of two opposing powers, etc. Combining the two and coming up with the above design is the perfect representation that many of our problems aren’t as problematic according to the perspective of time.
#4. Simple Sun And Moon Tattoo
The above tattoo is simple yet significant. It’s a subtle way of expressing the same considerable meaning. Also, you won’t have to spend hours and go through a painful session at the tattoo studio getting this one.
#5. ‘Handpoked’ Sun And Moon Solar System Design On Rib
In this black ink design, the sun and moon depiction is part of the solar system. The techniques used by the artist include linework, dotting, and geometric precision. The vertical format of this particular design looks perfectly in place when inked down the rib area of a man or woman’s body.
#6. Sun And Moon Tarot Card Tattoo
The symbolism of trust, mental clarity, and emotions
are what’s suggested by a tarot card displaying the sun alone or sun and moon together.
#7. Linework Sun & Moon Tattoo
If simple linework is done right, it can achieve the same meaningful effect as bolder, more prominent, and colorful tattoos. You also end up saving some money!
#8. Sun And Moon Tattoos On Shoulders
The above shoulder placed design isn’t just artsy and cool, but it’s also associated with a clear message — there’s the duality of human nature — where there’s good, there will always be bad. Thus, everybody has both sides — a dark and bright side.
#9. Sun And Moon Head Tattoo
The head is a challenging area to tattoo. You’ll have to bear the excruciating pain to benefit from the ultimate gain of getting such a fantastic tattoo.
#10. The Lovers Sun And Moon Linework Tattoo
The above simplistic, romantic sun and moon tattoo depicts the two elements in kissing mode. The symbolism is that of unity between two lovers who had initial differences. This overly romantic piece shows that the kissing imagery is the focal aspect rather than the sun and moon.
#11. Sun And Moon Faces On Central Upper Back
The sun and moon depicted as faces is a trendy tattoo design option. It adds depth to the meaning. However, the above facial expressions suggest the importance tilts towards calmness and serenity rather than a more severe or focussed portrayal.
#12. Colorful Sun And Moon Bicep Tattoo
The above tattoo is a masterpiece in every sense. It’s the best of sun and moon tattoos, especially if you like all the works done artistically in one piece without it seeming over the top. There’s color, facial depiction, intertwined elements, shading, and suitable elements surrounding the tattoo. The placement of this design is lovely too.
#13. Sun And Moon Thigh Tattoo
For larger pieces like the above, the frontal thigh is one of the placement areas to consider. Here, the sun is shown as a goddess while it unites with the moon. The blue shading effect adds further beauty to this remarkable design.
#14. Intricate Sun And Moon Tattoo
Saturated colors and celestial action get prominently defined through this beautiful, colorful sun and moon tattoo with upper back placement.
#15. Upper Abdomen Sun & Moon Tattoo
Again, a solar system design cannot fail to impress. It’s elegant, meaningful, and subtle all at the same time. It’s also suitable for both men and women.
#16. Sun, Moon, & Nature Tattoo
Words aren’t enough to express the talent of the artist that inked the above back piece. The artist has achieved perfection through the intelligent use of negative spaces. Further, the black linework, intricate details, and overall composition make this a masterpiece tattoo design.
#17. Balance Of Life Sun And Moon Tattoo
This rib tattoo showcases the balance of life by portraying the sun and moon on a weighing scale. It’s a beautiful and symbolic idea.
#18. Black Dotwork Sun And Moon Tattoo
The sun and moon on each wrist represent the duality of life. It shows that each individual has a dark side as well as a bright side. The black ink design’s fine dot work, linework, and precision speak volumes of the artist’s immense talent.
#19. Tiny Sun And Moon Tattoo
Small yet significant. The tattoo above is miniature yet abundant in meaning. It’s placed right at the center of the man’s back with nothing else around it. It’s pretty eye-catchy.
#20. Colorful Sun And Moon Chest Tattoo
The pectoral placement is apt for this bright sun and moon piece. It’s a striking design that is sure to stand out.
#21. Backpiece Sun And Moon Tattoo
If you deem yourself among the bold and the beautiful, this design’s for you. Further, if you’ve got guts and a huge pain threshold, you won’t shy away from this full-back piece that’s as dense as tattoo coverage gets.
#22. Sun And Moon On Hand
The closest description that fits the bill for the above tattoo is “realistic.” The sun and moon get depicted as faces, which is a popular option. This particular look tilts towards a more focused and serious one. Additionally, the facial features are realistic, which should be a boon to those that are into realistic tattoos.
#23. Watercolor Style Sun And Moon Tattoo
The moon is the highlight in the above tattoo, while the sun is semi-hidden in the backdrop. Again, the watercolor technique does full justice to this composition.
#24. Sun And Moon Wrist Tattoos
If you’re into cute tattoos that have a splash watercolor effect and significant meaning, then this is your choice.
#25. Sun And Moon Yin Yang Tattoo
To finalize, here’s an excellent Sun and Moon Yin Yang Tattoo Design for your center, upper back. This design can be termed one of the best concepts to consider in the sun and moon tattoo category. I say that due to the astounding aesthetics and deep meaning.
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Conclusion
In these modern times, you’ll come across many beautiful sun and moon tattoos to cherish on social media platforms. I’ve picked 25 of the best sun and moon tattoos for this article. Hopefully, each design shown above has left you amazed and inspired to consider one for yourself. Of course, you’re likely to desire to explore more work by each talented artist, which is why I’ve included the source beneath each image. As a tip: once you get your new tattoo, you should keep it adequately moisturized with the right products so that the tattoo is always shiny, healthy, and vibrant.
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