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CELTIC SYMBOLISM
Celtic Knots
This symbol represents eternity of life of nature and of love. They can
be seen in manuscripts and stone carvings. What most of us call
'celtic' knotwork is actually from Christian monks who came to Ireland
in the dark ages to bring the pagan celts to Christianity. They were
influenced by the styles from the Middle East. However, when the Irish
monks began illuminating manuscripts such as the' Book of Armagh' or
the 'Book of Kells' they created an unique Irish art form.
Trinity Knot: A simple triquetra, known as the trinity knot symbolises the connection of mind, body and spirit.
Eternity Knot:
Depicts two continous strands, an unbroken loop that is intertwined. It
is often used in wedding bands to depict eternal unity and fidelity.
Spirals Celtic spirals
are second only to knotwork designs as the symbol most associated with
Celtic art. Their meaning still remains a mystery. There is little
doubt that the spirals found in Stone Age relics were put there as they
represented something scared to the people. As the ancient Celts kept
no written records, we have only what has been passed down from
generation to generation. Most scholars believe they are universal
symbols of the balance between inner and outer consciousness, the sun
and the cosmos. Maybe the direction of the spiral is important.
Clockwise for the sun and harmony. Anti-clockwise for the manipuation
of nature in the form of spells.
The Triskele: Or the
triskelion is a three pronged spiral and is often used for a basis for
other spirals. Some suggest it represents the triple goddess, the three
lives of womanhood. It later became the Holy Trinity. It is interesting
that the motif is based around the number three, regarded as a highly
sacred number in many cultures.
Tri Spiral: The tri-spiral is
also known as the spiral of life. It represents the cycle of life,
death and rebirth. Others say the mystical symbol represents the male,
female and child on the path of life.
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Crosses Crosses have long
been a sacred symbol in many cultures all over the world, even before
the dawn of Christianity. Yet Celtic Crosses are distinctive....
they are among the most cherished Celtic symbols in all of Ireland.
Carved stone High Crosses have dotted the Irish landscape through the
ages. They are another emblem of the ancient premise, "As above, so
below..." This beloved Celtic symbol is also the definitive emblem of
the unique evolution of the faith of the Irish people. Whether depicted
vertically or diagonally, the cross has long been a sacred symbol, even
before the dawn of Christianity.
It represented the four directions of the winds - North, South, East,
West. It also stood for the four seasons, and the energy of the male
life force. The ring at the center is what makes Irish Celtic crosses
unique.
In the ancient pagan Celtic world, the circle/wheel represented many
sacred things...the life cycle, the cycles of the seasons, the Sun,
wholeness, and the energy of the female life force. Others say the
cross represents the Cosmic Order of all things.
The Celts also believed that the center of the wheel was where the
Heavens and the Earth met, a place where the soul could reach ultimate
enlightenment. The Celtic Cross is a symbolic union of these two
powerful emblems and it stands for many profound and sacred truths:
The balance and harmony between male and female...
The four corners of the earth from one source...
The eternal cycle of the four seasons...
The eternal connection of all things in the Heavens and the Earth.
The Tree Of Life The tree
of life is a fundamental element of Celtic spirituality. They believed
all living things were spiritual not just inanimate objects to exploit.
In particular trees, were a source of great wisdom, with the power to
bridge the gap between the uppper and lower worlds.In the ancient
celtic lands, trees were abundant they provided sustenance for people
and animals, their wood for shelter and fire for meals and rituals. The
Oak was the most sacred tree of all. It was a passageway to the
Otherworld. Folklore, writes that if you fall asleep under certain
trees you will awake in the midst of faeries in the Otherworld. Even
today as you drive throught the Irish countryside, you can see trees
decorated with ribbons and prayers to the Gods asking for health,
wealth and love. The Irish people believed the tree of life was rooted
in Uisneach, the centre of the land and it sheltered all life on earth.
and provided nourishment to all four corrners of the Earth and it's
branches reached into the heavens and touched every star. Trees also
represented Mother Earth's bounty and the eternal cycle of the seasons.
It is also a symbol of the individual's quest for spiritual fulfilment.
The Celts believed that there was a golden child in the centre of all
of us. In order to find it, we must recognise our connection to the
Earth, to the four courners, North, East, South and West. - Text
source: Fantasy Ireland
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