Sacred Heart and Dagger Tattoo
A flaming sacred heart pierced by a dagger: one of the most iconic American traditional designs.
- Style
- Traditional
- Joined
- Wrap
- Placement
- Chest
Opens Tattoo Fusion with these choices. Change the style, placement or what it means to you; every design is new.
What a sacred heart and dagger tattoo means
The sacred heart, with its flames and crown of thorns, stands for devotion and love that endures suffering. The dagger through it stands for heartbreak, betrayal or sacrifice. Together they say that love survived the wound: grief, a broken relationship, or devotion through pain.
- Sacred heartDevotion and love that endures
- DaggerCourage, and pain overcome
Where to put it
A compact, upright design for the chest, the outer upper arm, the forearm or the calf. Traditional style holds up even at a small size.
Tips for the design
- Bold outlines and solid red keep the heart readable for decades.
- Let the blade enter at an angle; straight down looks stiff.
- Flames, thorns and a banner are all optional extras; pick one or two.
Try it in another style
Questions
What does a sacred heart and dagger tattoo mean?
Love and devotion that survive heartbreak or sacrifice. The heart is a religious symbol of devotion; the dagger is the wound.
Is the sacred heart a religious tattoo?
It comes from Catholic tradition, but many people wear it for love and devotion in general. Treat it with respect either way.
