53 Inspiring Tree Of Life Tattoos With Meaning

The tree of life is an empowering symbol. From small to big, simple to intricate, these tree of life tattoos will inspire your next ink.

The tree of life is an empowering symbol. From small to big, simple to intricate, these tree of life tattoos will inspire your next ink.

Trees are evergreen tattoo subjects. They represent life, vibrance, energy, and prosperity. Among all types of trees, the tree of life might be one of the most historical and empowering tattoo motifs.

The tree of life is more of a spiritual symbol than a specific type of tree. And its origin dates back to ancient Central Asia. It was then absorbed by other civilizations and added meanings such as eternality, reincarnation, strength, and fertility.

In most of the tree of life tattoos today, the symbol is depicted as a giant tree connecting heaven and earth. Its branches spread and reach the sky, and its roots grow deep into the soil. 

Even if you are unaware of the long history behind the symbol, you can still feel its robustness and power.

The meaning of the tree of life

The tree of life is a symbol that carries cultural and religious significance in various cultures. You can find it in both the east and the west. 

Depending on the context and cultural background, a tree of life tattoo may mean:

Immortality: In Chinese folklore, the tree of life often shows up with a dragon and a phoenix. The dragon represents royalty and eternal life, while the phoenix is seen as a symbol of rebirth. According to Taoism, the tree of life produces a peach that will give whoever eats it eternal youth and life.

Life cycle: The tree of life connects the sky and the earth. It’s seen as a bridge between life and death, forming an endless cycle.

Strength and resilience: Trees can stand the test of storms and live up to hundreds of years. Thus the tree of life tattoos also reflect the wearers’ unbreakable soul and inner power.

Family and love: The branches of the tree of life extend in every direction, symbolizing the growth of a big family. Therefore the motif can pay homage to the love and connection between families.

Harmony and balance: The branches of the tree of life spread equally in different directions. This gives it a sense of balance. And it’s the well-balanced structure that enables it to stand for decades or even centuries.

If you resonate with the symbol, you are in the right place. From small to big, simple to intricate, the following tree of life tattoos for both men and women will inspire your next ink.

Disclaimer: This collection of tree of life tattoos is for inspiration only. Please do not copy the artwork. If you love these tattoos, follow artists and show them some support.

Inspiring tree of life tattoos

Small tree of life tattoos

The tree of life itself is complicated imagery. With branches and roots reaching in opposite directions, it’s not easy to scale it down.

But by simplifying the design and switching things up here and there, you can have a delicate tree of life tattoo that fits most placements. And below is a list of small tree of life tattoos to give you some ideas.

Small tree of life bicep tattoo

@oztattoom

Follow your heart

@klax.tattooer

This tree of life tattoo replaces the roots and soil with a beating heart. It’s a great reminder to follow one’s intuition and to make decisions coming from the heart.

A simplified behind-the-ear tattoo

@darkveil_tattoo

If you want a tattoo to show or hide anytime, consider behind-the-ear tattoos like this one. You can control the visibility by tying up your hair or putting it down. And a small and simple design will fit perfectly in this area.

Small yin and yang tree of life

@lilith.avery_.tattoo

In this arm tattoo, the tattooist incorporates a Yggdrasil with the Yin and Yang symbol.

Yggdrasil is the Norse version of the tree of life, an immense sacred tree that grows in the center of Norse cosmo. 

On the other hand, Yin and yang is an essential philosophical concept in China. It represents the harmony between masculinity and femininity. It’s believed that one can only be healthy by maintaining a yin and yang balance.

The two together are not only a combination of eastern and western cultures. The tattoo also shows the wearer’s faith in a well-balanced lifestyle and finding a higher self.

Small tree of life spine tattoo

@fedornozdrin

The tree of life doesn’t have to be the only element in a tattoo. This spine tattoo sets a good example of combining different symbols that are meaningful to the wearer.

Sun and moon tree of life tattoo

@meganbelltatto

Watercolor tree of life tattoos

Watercolor is a coloring technique widely adopted in painting. When applied in tattooing, it refers to a way of mixing colors without clear boundaries.

This will allow colors to naturally transit to one another. And it brings fluidity to a watercolor tattoo. So if you want to make your tree of life tattoo stand out in a natural way, these watercolor designs are for you.

Watercolor forearm tattoo

@rodr_tomas_tattoo_krampus

Sparkling tree of life

@laura.caselle

Watercolor can be applied to a tattoo, not only as a background. You can also use the colors as a highlight, just like this one.

The tattooist only adds watercolor around the branches and roots. The restrained use of colors helps keep the tattoo stand out without being overwhelming.

Watercolor tree of life back tattoo

@arielo.ink

Yin and yang tree of life

@garageink4224

Celtic tree of life tattoo design

Most Celtic tattoos contain Celtic symbols and knots that hold special meanings. The Celtic tree of life tattoos are no exception.

The Celts believe that the tree of life is the source of energy. It gives life and abundance to everything else in the world. It also represents life, death, and reincarnation, three stages of life that form a cycle.

Celtic tree of life on the back

@novytattoo_handmade_studio

Tree of life and Celtic knot armband

@simons.ink

An armband tattoo is the ink that wraps around the arm. Traditionally, armbands often consist of leaves and flowers. But this one puts the tree of life in the center. The roots are connected to Celtic knots that go around the limb, creating a beautiful and sophisticated piece of jewelry.

Celtic circle tattoo

@atouchofink.sibiu

Viking tree of life tattoo design

Viking tree of life tattoos often consist of Viking tattoo elements, like the Vegvisir Viking compass. Like most Viking tattoos, the Viking version of the tree of life embodies strength and power. They are thought to represent their bravery and commitment to their culture and community.

Viking tree of life

@claire_skowtattoos

A Viking compass sleeve tattoo

@dog_ink_style

Lotus flower and tree of life

The cultural significance of the lotus flower is deeply rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism, then embraced worldwide. In general, the lotus flower represents calmness and purity. It’s a reminder to stick to one’s authentic self with peace of mind.

And combined with a tree of life tattoo, the lotus adds a layer of femininity and zen. It’s perfect for those who have a deep understanding of life and are in search for inner peace.

Lotus ornamental back tattoo

@kateyfahytattoos

Lotus and mandala tree of life

@eat_my_pen

Tree of life tattoos for women

Just because a tattoo is feminine doesn’t mean it has to sacrifice strength. If you want something delicate to represent your inner power and attitude towards life, this list is for you.

The motif itself is intricate and versatile. Change the thickness of lines or position of the roots and leaves, and you will have a different design. So whether you love minimal or are going big, you will find a tattoo that caters to your aesthetics below.

Fine line tree of life tattoo

@livianunestattoo

Black brush stroke tree tattoo on the shoulder

@sixtenism

Not a fan of complicated roots? Consider replacing them with a stroke of ink. It looks arbitrary, but the power embedded in the brushstroke makes it a tattoo to impress.

Ornamental back tattoo

@hwan.ink

Beautiful bird, cage and tree of life

@tattoo_of_jangmah

Family tree tattoo

@kleri_ink

You don’t need to stick to the traditional tree of life imagery. Instead, personalize it like this mother-daughter tattoo.

The tattooist depicts the branches in the shape of a woman with her two daughters. It tells a story of a mother who gives her children protection, guidance, and unconditional love. And the arm of the mother reaches toward her zodiac constellation, making this piece meaningful and personal.

Ornamental tree of life chest tattoo

@mister.mostyn

The chest might be a less common placement for feminine tattoos. But the tattooist places the tree of life right in the center of the chest for a reason.

The tree of life is seen as a source of energy. And the chest is where our heart chakra is situated. So for the wearer, it helps to awaken her power within and reminds her how strong she is.

Simple tree of life bicep tattoo

@hc.drew

Whimsical tree tattoo

@tattooist_namoo

Butterfly and tree of life

@tony.art_.tattoo

Mother daughter tree of life tattoo

@clodin_93

Mothers give life to their children. This tattoo is a heartwarming interpretation of this idea. If you have a mom who always shows you support, pay tribute to her with this mom tattoo.

Simple symbolic tree of life

@art.of.lua

Instead of drawing an entire tree, this tattoo keeps only the basic form of a tree of life – the top branches, the trunk, and the roots.

Additionally, the trunk is modified as a spiral symbol, representing the ups and downs of a life journey.

Beautiful butterflies around the tree of life

@brytattoos

The symbolism of butterflies and the tree of life are cohesive. Butterflies symbolize rebirth and transformation. On the other hand, the tree of life can also represent reincarnation and the life cycle.

Such a balanced and elegant tattoo will belong to a woman who has a deep understanding of life and is not afraid of making changes.

Tree of life rib tattoo

@phuphi_artwork

Tattooing on the rib is not an easy task. On the one hand, the area is quite boney. Thus, the tattooist must consider the pain a tattoo may cause.

On the other hand, a good rib tattoo should be able to accentuate the silhouette of the placement. That requires thoughts in the design process.

This tattoo manages to do both. First, the tattooist modifies the tree’s structure and turns it into a half circle, fitting better on the ribcage. Also, this blackwork is relatively simple, which will help reduce the pain level and the time it costs.

Tree of life tattoos for men

Tree tattoos are unisex. And the tree of life is no exception.
However, you can make a tattoo more masculine by thickening the lines, increasing the size, etc.

Or you can add geometric shapes or use only black color. The possibility is endless. If you are interested in tree of life tattoos for men, the following designs are for you.

Tree man

@martinkellytattoo

This is not a regular tree of life tattoo. Instead of drawing a tree, the tattooist depicts a tree man breaking out from the soil, showing immense power and strength.

Therefore, this sleeve tattoo will be a perfect piece of art to showcase one’s masculinity and determination in overcoming adversities.

Whale and tree

@lacomediatattoo

What a creative tattoo filled with imagination. Unlike a regular tree, this tree of life grows straight from a whale.

With whales symbolizing power and calmness, this tattoo will belong to a man who never loses his cool.

Find your balance

@skinmachinetattoo

The tattooist uses triangles to strengthen the stability of the tattoo. But the highlight really comes down to the red brush stroke.

The way it’s hand-drawn creates a contrast to the straight lines. And it also brings a shade of color to the blackwork, making it more captivating.

Going up

@_johnmonteiro

An intricate forearm tattoo

@june_alison

Bold blackwork on the chest

@abcd_tattoo

Tree of life and Buddha

@bartektattoo

Realism tree of life

@andreabarreda

One thing that makes this tattoo stand out is the contrast between the realistic tree and the abstract shapes and symbols around it.

In this tattoo, the tree connects the sky with the earth. And the lines around its roots represent the energy flowing in the cycle, making this tattoo a reminder to always stay grounded.

Creative tree of life tattoo ideas

So far, we’ve covered some of the most common and popular tree of life tattoo ideas. But some tattooists take a step further and think outside the box.

By tweaking the shapes, adding decorative elements, or rethinking the designs, the artists provide us with a different approach.

If you want something unique to address your thoughts on life, these creative tree of life tattoos are for you.

Matching tree of life tattoos

@mercuri_michel

Tree of life tattoos might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about couple tattoos.

But the tattooist brilliantly designs the roots in a heart shape, conveying that love can change one’s life, making these tattoos so cute and meaningful.

Dreamcatcher name tattoo

@hannah_tattoo.vs

This tattooist doesn’t just add feathers to a tree and make it a dreamcatcher. If you look closer, you will see the names connecting the feathers as strings.

It shows how strongly the family is tied together, making it a perfect family tattoo that will stand the test of time.

The changing seasons

@tattoo._.buddy

The tree of life is about the passing of time and the life cycle. This tattoo takes a different approach to this topic.

By putting together the tree in different seasons, it shows the life journey from start to end. It’s a great reminder to always live in the present and be grateful for what you have now.

DNA

@klax.tattooer

Spiral

@anahata_______

What makes this tattoo interesting is the combination of different materials. The root transforms from a solid shape to a water spiral. Yet the transition is incredibly natural and smooth.

Drown in thoughts

@torocsik.ink

The start of the world

@reka.ferenczi.ink_

Mother

@nothingwildtattoo

In this creative design, the tree’s trunk mirrors a pregnant woman’s body. She is deeply rooted in the ground, providing energy to the world around her. This beautiful metaphor makes this tattoo the perfect tribute to a mother’s love.

Circles and tree back tattoo

@caroline.cloutier.art

The Universe

@siminamina

Leap of faith

@monikamoni.art

Geometric bird and tree of life back tattoo

@noamyona

Sophisticated sleeve tattoo

@rossclarktattoos

Life and death

@klax.tattooer

Which of these tree of life tattoos is your favorite?

Leave a comment down below and share your thoughts!