Tattoo symbols / The lily or lilium

Updated: Oct 13, 2018

Lily or lilium is one of the most ancient flowers, with the strongest of fragrances and a wonderful and deep meaning.

The term lily is used for a great variety of flowers but the true and authentic lilies are liliums.

We have seen them first in 1580 BC in Crete Greece, they are part of Greek mythology, connected with goddess Hera. It is said that it is her breasts' milk that created both the stars in the sky and the lilies on earth.

They are part of the holy flowers trinity rose-lily-lotus, the three sacred flowers. They usually have the qualities of innocence, devotion, purity, transformation, femininity, divinity, motherhood, creativity, gratefulness. Needless to mention, different colours of the flower alternate it's qualities. We can find lilies in white, pink, purple, orange, yellow... It is also important to mention that the lotus is also a lily... just a water-lily.

For Christians the white lily (Lilium candidum) is always connected to Virgin Mary (Madonna), symbolising her virginity, innocence and purity.

For those who are familiar with the Biblical figure of Lilith (first wife of Adam that turned into a demon), originating for many from Sumerian demons "Lillu" or Mesopotamian myths about succubae (female night demons) called “lilin", her flower symbol is the Lily. In this case the lily represents the wild inner woman, full of power femininity, fertility and sexuality, the woman that can seduce and haunt the men's dreams.

In Chinese culture the lily is often gifted to women on their birthdays or on their wedding day because the flower represents a bringer of sons and it represents a happy union. It is connected to faithful and devoted relationships.

The essential oil of the lily flower can be used in aromatherapy for individuals who are feeling stressed, anxious or tense . In a deeper level, lily flower can transform the emotions or traumas that are held in our bodies that effect our cycles, organs, and health. As a remedy in homeopathy it is considered a "left-side" medicine, which means it has great beneficial effects on the problems that derive from the left part of our bodies (the feminine part), like the heart or spleen. This is the case in both genres. In conclusion, lily flower is great for generating feelings of happiness and integrating a sense of security, tranquillity and calmness.

Now you might ask, how are tattoos associated to tattoos?

Everything around us has energy! A tattoo is an ancient therapeutic way to integrate this energy in our bodies. Like our eyes or ears and noses that receive energy from our environment, so does the skin. So when you are conscious about the tattoo you choose, or you choose someone that can make the best choice for you, you enable this therapeutic energy to enter your system and transform you.

Tattoos and lilies

Liliums are not the most common tattoos, neither the rarest. The truth is that people who choose lilies usually love it's fragrance as well.

Lilium has a very balanced shape and can make a wonderful design even in black and grey. It looks amazing in many placements back, neck, torso, belly, feet, arms, wrists. You might see realistic or neo-traditional designs with it, full of colour, or more simple and elegant. They are combined in many designs with butterflies enhancing transformation qualities. With birds that drink it's nectar is a very romantic choice symbolising the union of male and female, the romance.

The truth is that it is a feminine choice in majority. This is not strange if you consider it's symbolism.

Make this ink choice if you need to boost your sex energy, creativity and receptiveness. Place it on your left part if you need to transform difficult memories and stress into creativity and action. In a plain level you can just ink it to enhance your beauty and grace.

Choose a white lilium to purify, heal and transform with your heart and wisdom, a yellow one to support your actions with balance and courage, ink an orange lily to connect with others and create from your original source and a purple lily to transform and restart with the help of your higher self. Last but not least have a pink lily tattoo to have love and support in your transition to freedom ( encouragement with a difficult challenge).