25 Tree of Life Tattoo Ideas That Will Grow on You

The tree of life is a fundamental prototype in many world mythologies, religious, and philosophical traditions and beliefs. That means that tree of life tattoos are very attractive to many different people from all walks of life. Not only is the tree of life a powerful symbol of the cycle of life, regeneration, interconnectedness, nature, and so much more, but it is also often represented beautifully. Because of its rich history of use around the world, there are so many ways to go about getting your tree of life tattoo.

We wanted to get a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of tree of life tattoos so we surveyed social media to find the most popular designs people are getting today. We were pleased to find so much variety among these sorts of tattoos. People have married so many symbols and such robust imagery with their tree of life tattoos that we have plenty to show you. Take a look below for some serious ink inspiration.

Get Inspired by These Stunning Tree of Life Tattoos!

A Fresh Take

In this cosmic stunner, we find so many elements from the cosmos. Light and dark make for a dramatic tree of life tattoo that truly mesmerizes.

Geometric Drama

Visual interest has been achieved here with the addition of geometric elements that draw the eye down. A sunny symbol above the tree helps warm the overall look up.

As Above, So Below

Here is one of our favorite tree of life tattoo ideas on this list. We find life in the form of butterflies both above and below the centrally located tree of life.

A Stroke of Genius

The artist who shared this image wrote that it “represents the interconnections between all life, and it shows that all knowledge, hope, life, and love come from the same source. The life tree tends to have significant meaning to those who get them.” We love that sentiment and the cool brushstroke effect around the tree.

Yin and Yang Tree of Life

Yin and Yang tree of life tattoos are mildly popular today and this is one of the most successful ones we encountered. Take a close look at the shading and you’ll see that the dotwork inside helps give the design plenty of texture.

Mysterious and Moody

There are some Viking symbols next to this super moody tattoo. If you’re not afraid of black ink, go bold like this to make a big impact.

Mother-Daughter Tree of Life Tattoo

Many people get a tree of life tattoo as a family tattoo that celebrates their family tree as well. Here’s one such example that’s particularly sweet.

Micro Tree of Life Tattoo

Micro tattoos are a huge trend today and you’re treated to a whole bunch of them in this line of designs that stretch down the arm. The tree of life tattoo is the largest among these tiny designs and stands out among the other symbols.

Libra Tree of Life

The symbol of Libra, the scales are found balanced on this tree of life tattoo. If you’d like a design that celebrates your sign, try something similar.

Assyrian Tree of Life Tattoo

The tree of life is an ancient and storied symbol that’s been depicted differently by various cultures. This tree of life tattoo is modeled after an Assyrian tree of life stele that’s housed in the British Museum of Art. What a stunner! Turn to existing representations of the symbol to celebrate history.

Goddess Tree

A figure that’s like a mother goddess or mother nature figure is popular among these types of tattoos. In this design, we find the legs seemingly transforming into the trunk of the tree of life. What a beautiful and big tattoo!

One Stylish Tree

It’s hard to find words to describe this tree of life tattoo that is so singular in its style that you’ve likely seen nothing like it. Work with an artist with a point of view to help you realize your tattoo and you won’t be disappointed.

Mandala Tree

Mandala tattoos are wildly popular today with people drawn to their meditative and beautiful shapes and patterns. This tree of life tattoo has been seamlessly worked into the mandala design for a one-of-a-kind look.

Watercolor Tree

Watercolor tattoos are a huge trend and many people choose to add color to their tree of life tattoos with the effect. Lovely purples, pinks, and blues come together in a harmonious fashion in this design.

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With Mother Nature

In this tree of life tattoo, we find mother nature imagined as the trunk and arms of the tree. Mysterious eyes look beautiful flanking either side of the tree and the sun above adds to the balance and attractiveness of the design.

DNA Tree

Working a DNA strand into a tree of life tattoo is fairly common. The idea results in varying degrees of success but we really liked this sharp design that has plenty of texture thanks to the shading technique employed for the leaves and other elements.

Celtic Knot

Celtic knot tree of life tattoos are a big trend among these sorts of designs. Here is one of the cleanest knot trees we saw. It’s bold and black and so tidy that it’s perfect.

Swirl

This individual worked a swirl into their tree of life tattoo which is something we only saw this once. It adds depth and more symbolic meaning to this recognizable design with a twist.

With Heart

We saw a few of these heart and tree of life tattoos as we researched these designs and this is one of the more successful examples. The marriage of these beloved symbols of life feels only natural.

Finally, Some Green

As you’ve seen, most tree of life tattoos are black and grey. We don’t understand why more people aren’t choosing lush, green trees. Don’t you think it looks fantastic?

Delicate Tree

In this delicate tree tattoo, we find classic elements for this symbol applied with a delicate touch. If you’re not looking for something huge and black, you can still make a big impact with a modestly-sized design.

Tarot Tree

People are flocking to tarot-inspired tattoos these days. We think this tarot card looks so handsome!

Understated

Here’s a no-fuss design that’s simple yet affecting. We love those floating star elements above the tree. The symmetry created in this design looks both mysterious and inspired.

Uroboros

People love marrying other symbols with similar meanings with their tree of life tattoo. We find Uroboros wrapped around this tree of life and it really turned out. What a wicked, fun design.

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Contrast

This person got a tree of life tattoo on each arm. It’s a play on darkness and light with contrasting elements that really pop when you see them side by side. Bravo!

How beautiful were those tree of life tattoos? We hope you enjoyed these cool designs and that you found the right tree of life tattoo idea that matches your style. Make sure that you are using these tattoos as inspiration and work with a tattoo artist to realize your vision for a one-of-a-kind tattoo that you’ll cherish forever.