Sun and moon joined together in a design symbolizes the union of opposites. Nearly in all the cultures throughout the world, the sun is a masculine figure and signifies strength and power. On the other hand, the moon is considered as a feminine figure and represents calmness and unflappability. The sun is the active principle whereas the moon is the passive principle. Therefore, the coming together of the sun and the moon is similar to that of the yin and yang or the good and the bad. As we find references of the sun deity in several ancient cultures, similarly, we also find references of moon worshipers, as the moon was considered a goddess.
Sun and moon tattoos signify the basic principle of life, i.e., where there is good, there will also be bad. They also represent the fact that everything has a dark and a light side. Nothing in the world we have created is perfect. The essence of being human is the lack of perfection. Both these ideas occur simultaneously in everyone’s life and there cannot be only good or bad in any person’s life. As the sun rises and sets everyday, every person has his days of glories and nights of darkness in his life. Some people also believe that the union of the sun and the moon represents unity in diversity or the feeling of oneness. Another interesting significance of sun and moon tattoos is the unification of the masculine sun and the feminine moon. Sometimes, the intertwined half sun and half moon tattoos are used to signify love and marriage.
The sun and the moon also represent cycles. Everything has a cycle: that which lives must die. Cycles are a necessary part of life, and they make life all the more worth living.
Sun Tattoo Designs
The sun is the most powerful symbol among all other tattoo designs and hence, is donned by large number of people. The sun stands for light, power, strength and vigor. Similarly, it is also believed to represent fertility, reincarnation and harvest. As mentioned above, the sun was worshiped since a long time, as there can be no life on the earth without the sun. Tattoo lovers have the sun in various forms and patterns colored on their bodies. In astrological terms, the sun represents Yang energy, which is masculine in nature.
Moon Tattoo Designs
The moon plays Yin to the sun’s Yang. The moon is also one of the most popular symbols for its mythical meaning. Similar to the sun, the moon is believed to give light at night. This astrological body is feminine in energy, and is considered a symbol of the feeling side of human nature.As a deity, moon worship is even older than sun worship. It is also a feminine symbol and stands for motherhood. The moon is also believed to control the emotions of human beings. Some people also believe, that in the ancient times, moon worship was more common than the sun worship and it is even considered as an older form of worship than the sun worship. The phases of the moon were also noted by the ancients to have a direct affect on the Earth. The moon’s gravitational pull governs the tides, and her distinct phases were also used to create the first calendars civilization had ever known. In fact, some cultures and religions, still follow the lunar calendar. Moon tattoos make glorious use of this astrological body in all her phases. Designs include full moons, crescent moons and everything in between.
Tattoo Ideas
The first way you could approach this tattoo would be to mix the sun and moon together into one singular design. You could choose to give the sun and moon each a face, to give them that hint of humanity. Or, you could leave them plain to represent them as beings of nature. You could also consider separating them, making it into two separate tattoos. For this type you could use opposite sides of your body, representing the cycle of day and night.
