Sep 13, 2020

DESIGN | Symbolism | Hummingbird

All my work is packed with symbolism, whether it be hidden or in a more obvious form.

Here is one that you will find in my art.

| HUMMINGBIRD |

This tiny bird is capable of the most amazing feats despite its small size. It can travel great distances & is the only bird able to fly backwards

• Hummingbirds have a long history of folklore and symbolism in native cultures.

• The bird itself originates from the Americas. And as such much of the folklore comes from that part of the world. (There are 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America)

• The Aztecs saw them as messengers between them and their ancestors or the Gods.

• A giant hummingbird can be found amongst the drawings on the Nazca Plains. It can only be viewed from thousands of feet up in the air (viewed from the Gods)

• In Aztec mythology the hummingbird represents the powerful sun or warrior god Huitzilopochtli (Huitzil) ,whose name translates as the hummingbird from the left. The left refers to the otherworldly realms, that run parallel to the known universe. The warriors mother was said to have conceived him from a ball of brightly coloured hummingbird feathers, which fell from the sky.

• Aztec Shamans decorated their cloaks and wands with sacred hummingbird feathers.

• The hummingbird represents death & resurrection in the Andes. It loses a significant amount of heat at night, in order to conserve energy, and seems to be dead if found at nigh. In the morning however, the sunshine revives it.

• In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck, and joy.

• In Central America, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. The hummingbird generally symbolises joy and playfulness, as well as adaptability.

Additional symbolic meanings are:

Playfulness, enjoyment of life, joy, being present, independence, positivity, feeling of lightness , swiftness, ability to respond quickly & resiliency

Please note; The information is brief & you may want to research your own information.

| FLASH ART | Featuring Hummingbirds |

Follow this link to see a collection of tattoo flash which feature owls (you can purchase them as an instant download)