Why Certain Symbols Keep Showing Up in Your Life

Team Aliens
Jul 19, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Ever had a symbol keep showing up in your life?

It starts subtle, a painting in someone’s home, a pendant in a shop window, a tattoo that catches your eye. You don’t think much of it at first. But then it shows up again. And again. And, again.

You try to brush it off, coincidence, probably. But something about it lingers. And suddenly, you’re not just noticing it, you’re wondering about it.

“Is it just a coincidence? Or is there something I’m supposed to see here?”

And deep down, a question starts to form: “Why does this keep showing up?”

Let’s explore exactly why in a world overflowing with noise, some truths stay silent, yet resonating quietly. Repeatedly. In the form of symbols.

Why certain symbols stay with you

We’re not always taught to trust our intuition, not unless we can explain it.

But sometimes, a symbol stays. It follows you from Pinterest boards to conversations to recurring dreams. And it’s not random.

Some say it’s your subconscious trying to tell you something. Others believe it’s spiritual resonance, the soul recognizing something ancient.

If that sounds far-fetched, maybe this will help: You’re not the only one who’s felt it. Many people drawn to sacred tattoos begin this way, with a quiet noticing. A pull they can’t explain.

If this speaks to you, you might also enjoy reading Can a Tattoo Hold Energy? A Spiritual Perspective

Now, let’s explore five symbols that might already be guiding you, whether or not you've realized it.

Butterflies — Transformation That Finds You

You don’t chase the butterfly. It finds you.

You see one flutter across your path during a walk. It lands quietly near you when your mind is noisy.

You spot it in patterns, art, tattoos, again and again.

And after a while, you start to wonder

“Why does this keep showing up?”

Butterflies are one of the most common signs of transformation. In spiritual traditions, they represent the soul. In nature, they embody the impossible, something that dissolves entirely, then becomes new.

Many people drawn to butterfly tattoos are at the edge of a shift.

Coming out of grief.

Rebuilding after burnout.

Beginning to feel alive again, after forgetting how.

One client told us —

“I lost someone I loved. And in the weeks that followed, butterflies showed up everywhere. I don’t know if it was her… but I do know it helped me breathe again.”

If this resonates with you, then you might want to read — Explore Tattoos That Help People Heal from Loss

The Spiral — Growth Isn’t Linear

There’s something ancient about the spiral. You see it in seashells, galaxies, and even your own fingerprints. But more than that, the spiral mirrors your growth, winding, looping, circling back with new awareness each time.

It’s not a straight line forward. It’s a return, deeper and wiser. You may be drawn to the spiral during phases of expansion, when you’re not just chasing success but integrating everything you’ve learned.

We’ve seen clients choose the spiral during moments of breakthrough. Like a woman launching her design studio following doubt and detours.

“The spiral felt like my journey. Not linear. But layered. Every loop brought me back to something I’d learned.”

It wasn’t a tattoo about the struggle. It was about the wholeness she built along the way. If you’ve been growing in quiet circles, this might be your sign.

Feathers — Lightness After the Storm

Feathers don’t usually fall loudly.

They drift. They descend when things feel heavy. And that’s when people notice them.

You find one on your path after a hard day. You start seeing feather jewelry, motifs, art, soft, quiet, but persistent.

Feathers, across cultures, represent messages from above, from ancestors, spirit guides, or the higher self. But even beyond belief systems, they carry a simple message:

You’re being asked to let go.

To soften. To rise, even if just slightly, above what’s weighing you down.

One of our clients chose a feather tattoo after walking away from a toxic job and reclaiming her peace. She said —

“I didn’t want anything loud. I wanted something that reminded me to stop carrying what’s not mine.”

If you’re reclaiming peace or softness in your life, then you might want to read — Her Story of Reclaiming Inner Freedom

The Moon Phases — You’re Allowed to Change

The Moon never stays the same and neither do you. Some days, you’re full of certainty. Others, you’re quiet, reflective, still finding your way. But like the Moon, you're always whole.

Moon phases speak to people learning to trust their own rhythm. Especially those moving away from perfectionism, and toward presence.

Like one client who started biking under the moon every evening to rebalance from hectic work days.

"The Moon became my rhythm, my reset. Some days I was full of fire. Other days, I just needed quiet. The tattoo reminds me I don’t have to be at my peak every day. I’m still whole.”

Her moon tattoo wasn’t a reaction to pain. It was a celebration of balance.

If you’ve been shifting through versions of yourself and learning to honor each one, the Moon might already be guiding you.

If this resonates, you might love this piece — Tattoo Designs to Align You with Your Star

Repeating Numbers — When the Universe Nods Back

Ever notice 111, 222, or 444 showing up everywhere? Some call it coincidence. Others see it as alignment. A sign that your inner world is syncing with what’s unfolding around you.

One of our clients saw 222 constantly while building his startup.

“It became a little inside joke with myself: ‘Okay universe, I hear you.’ Every time I saw it, I’d pause and realign. After we closed our first big deal, I got it tattooed. Now it sits on my wrist as a reminder: I’m building something meaningful, and I’m on the right path.”

Repeating numbers often show up in moments of momentum, when you’re creating something, or growing into a new chapter.

If repeating numbers have been following you too, then you might want to read — Tattoos That Capture Synchronicity and Meaningful Numbers

Here are a few more symbols worth noticing

Beyond the ones we’ve explored, some symbols keep appearing, softly, persistently:

The Evil Eye — Seen in jewelry or tattoos, it arrives when you’re learning to protect your energy and trust your own space.
The Lotus — From mud to bloom, it symbolizes rising with grace, often drawn to those quietly healing or spiritually unfolding.
Arrows — When you’re choosing direction or reclaiming momentum, the arrow appears — reminding you that clarity is a force.
The Eye — Whether it's the Eye of Horus or a recurring gaze motif, it tends to follow those starting to truly see life, people, themselves.
Mountains — Noticed by those who've climbed through doubt or discipline, they speak to quiet strength and high vision.
Aum (ॐ) — A sound and a symbol, it often finds those tuning into deeper awareness. It represents all of existence, beginning, becoming, and beyond.
They may look simple at first. But if they keep showing up, maybe they’re waiting to be heard. If you’ve been noticing any of these lately, then you might want to read Our Guide to Sacred Symbols and Their Tattoo Meanings

Maybe These Symbols Are Showing Up for a Reason

Most people don’t go looking for symbols. They notice them. Repeatedly. Quietly.

Until one day, they ask, “Why does this keep appearing?”

For some, it’s just a passing curiosity. For others, it marks the beginning of something, a shift in perspective, a phase of growth, or a moment worth remembering.

Sacred tattoos often begin this way.

Not with a trend or idea, but with a symbol that keeps showing up, one that starts to feel personal.

Whether it’s about change, strength, clarity, or connection, a symbol can become a meaningful part of your story. And sometimes, the best way to honour it, is to carry it with you.