Kokopelli Tattoos
There are very few Native American symbols that are as familiar to Westerners as that of the Kokopelli. This hunched, dancing prankster with wild hair is often considered cute for tourists and he has become synonymous with states like Nevada and Arizona, where the tribes that created the Kokopelli symbol originally settled.
It's no surprise that Kokpelli Tattoos are popular these days, even if their symbolism isn't quite what people think it is. The Kokopelli has come to symbolize the American southwest but he was originally a symbol of growth and fertility to the tribes that used him. He was considered a helper to humans. The Kokopelli was believed to be a rainmaker, a keeper of animals, and a creator of life in the sense that he made women more fertile so they could bear children. However, the Kokepelli is not just a form of tattoo. Originally, he was drawn on pottery and rock walls.
It's important to remember though that the Kokopelli is not just a gimmick or a tourist attraction. It's a very sacred symbol for many Native Americans who often feel like someone tattooing a Kokopelli is extremely disrespectful because often the one getting the tattoo do not truly know what the Kokopelli represents. For Native Americans, Kokepelli Tattoos represent renewal or a new start. It's sacred because Kokopelli represents life itself: not only human life, like the birth of a new baby, but all life.
Kokopelli helped both humans and animals become fertile. He danced to bring rain and make sure crops grow. He was even represented as a hunter. The Kokopelli symbol is considered one of the most sacred symbols to some tribes, and they object to the Kokopelli being splashed across key chains and shirts, they also object to people getting a tattoo of him for the purpose of vanity. When getting one, the utmost respect for what it represents must be maintained.
These tattoos also come in a huge range of colors. The most common color is blue, probably in reference to the desert sky, but there is no proper color for them. Some choose to have them filled in with other colors like green or red, and some choose instead to go with straight black. The design of the Kokopelli itself changes as well! The most common tattoos depict the Kokopelli as a tall, lanky being with a few thin hairs coming from his head. However, others favor a form that is more hunched over, broader and with strands of hair that are very thick. And then there are people who simply follow the spirit of the Kokopelli when designing their tattoo - the Kokoplli is not hunched over, he throws his head back, playing with the sky. Some also have various round symbols behind them but these are rare. Still, no matter the actual form, the Kokopelli is always depicted performing the life-saving rain dance ceremony. He is always holding his instrument.
The Kokopelli is one of the most enduring symbols of the Southwest and Kokopelli Tattoos are becoming increasingly common.
