| Often on Celtic jewelry websites you | | | | seeing ourselves as the most important |
| will see that a merchant has labeled | | | | species that exists, but how can we |
| certain knots as having particular | | | | know, other than by our own biased faith |
| meaning, such as "unity," "friendship," | | | | which has created gods in our own image, |
| or "love." More often than not, these | | | | that the universe as a whole sees us |
| labels are marketing tactics. Even to | | | | that way? |
| say the knots symbolize how the world is | | | | Yet this right to exist forms the basis |
| interconnected, though true in the most | | | | for relating to these knots. If we are |
| general sense, does not provide much | | | | spirit and matter has spirit, we can |
| information relevant to a deep | | | | have a spirit to spirit relationship to |
| understanding of Celtic knots. In this | | | | anything. We can contemplate and |
| article, I'll show how to interpret | | | | communicate with things, gaining insight |
| Celtic knot work from a universal | | | | and forming an alliance which can be |
| perspective, based on a fusion of | | | | like medicine. This can be done in any |
| teachings from Native people and classic | | | | environment. We can be urban tribes |
| Western philosophy. | | | | people, searching for connection where |
| We'll begin with a few concepts to lay | | | | ever it may be. This spirit to spirit |
| the foundation necessary for this | | | | relationship is the basic understanding |
| thought. A core belief held universally | | | | behind mystic Native philosophy. It is |
| in many indigenous cultures is that | | | | also a way for all of us who did not |
| everything that exists is alive. This | | | | have this background to begin to bring |
| may seem like a concept that is alien to | | | | some kind of connected circles back to |
| Western thought, until you read Plato's | | | | our lives. |
| account of creation in the Timaeus, | | | | This radical concept is contrary to the |
| where he expressed the same concept as a | | | | mechanistic Cartesian view, yet it is |
| "likely story." | | | | not so far from modern particle physics. |
| This view of the cosmos in classical | | | | Experiments published in major |
| Western culture that was allied with | | | | scientific journals have shown that |
| indigenous values was eventually | | | | human DNA does influence matter. Studies |
| decimated by the march of empires. Power | | | | have shown that prayer actually works, |
| structures are intimately connected with | | | | which means that there are many |
| the commoditization of the material | | | | operating principals behind what appears |
| world. The rise of institutional | | | | that influence events in mysterious |
| Christianity, which history shows is | | | | ways. We depend upon our psychic |
| ruled by the god of war, Mars; not the | | | | readings of energy all the time for |
| prince of peace, provide a "spiritual" | | | | information: we walk into a room and get |
| justification for disconnection: the | | | | a feeling, for example. Our capacity to |
| scripture says, man has dominion over | | | | empathize depends upon energy. But |
| the earth, which contradicts the | | | | mostly this has been an unexamined, |
| indigenous view that man's purpose is to | | | | unconscious ability in people who have |
| bring balance to the earth. Today, the | | | | been conditioned through education to |
| power structures of empire, are the | | | | identify with the left side of their |
| corporations, which view everything on | | | | brain. |
| the earth as commodity in a | | | | Native people speak of the "great |
| resource-to-cash-to-trash economy. | | | | hoops," which is another way of saying |
| The circle energy in our culture has | | | | that we are all connected. To attempt to |
| been weakened. What remains is a empty | | | | live in harmony with "all our relations" |
| longing for connection, filled by | | | | means assuming a new level of rewarding |
| anti-depressants, drugs and rage. The | | | | responsibility. Prosac isn't needed when |
| tremendous gift of life is structured in | | | | we're a deeply connected part of the |
| such a way as to squeeze out the spirit | | | | whole. |
| for the sake of making a living. Yet | | | | Let's now explore how knot work motifs |
| somewhere in the psyche is a dim | | | | exist as inspirited, complex blue prints |
| remembrance, a longing to return | | | | by looking at one of the most common |
| somewhere east of Eden. | | | | Celtic motifs: the circle. Planets, |
| Everyone was once from a tribe that | | | | eyes, bones, tires, electrical wire, |
| survived by being rooted close to the | | | | wedding rings, cells are all composed of |
| natural cycles. The Celts did not build | | | | circles. We speak of our circle of |
| temples; they made offerings to the | | | | friends and the seasons. What goes |
| spirit of a grove or the sacred spring. | | | | around, comes around. Now, the question |
| If the rocks, trees and clouds speak to | | | | for you is, what is the modus operandi |
| you, respect and reverence of all that | | | | of a circle? |
| exists in the natural world follows. We | | | | You can do the same exercise with a |
| see fragments of this type of | | | | square, triangle, oval or cross. Why are |
| perspective in the stories of Orpheus, | | | | bird feathers triangular instead of |
| and the miracles of St. Frances of | | | | square? The questions are endless. Start |
| Assisi. | | | | by making a list where these shapes |
| If we borrow this concept, bringing | | | | exist around you. Then, try to grasp how |
| spirit and soul back into the material | | | | they are functioning alone and in |
| world, and view all that exists as | | | | combinations with other blue prints in |
| alive, then the knots themselves can be | | | | the knot work. |
| viewed as alive. We have to shift our | | | | The final step is to lean into the |
| concept away from high school biology to | | | | mystery of these shapes by meditating on |
| understand. | | | | them. To interact with the unseen world, |
| From a Platonic perspective, the pure | | | | you will need to believe it exists and |
| forms of the circles, squares, triangles | | | | earn the knowledge. If you develop a |
| in Celtic knots drive creativity in the | | | | working alliance with these objects, |
| universe. Everything around us is formed | | | | they can assist on your path. Live with |
| from some kind of geometric shape that | | | | these blue prints like Zen koan or |
| are the blue prints of all that exists. | | | | teaching stories. |
| If we see these shapes as alive, then | | | | Over time, Celtic knot work will bring |
| the corollary is to see that they have | | | | unexpected insights. For those of us |
| the same right to exist as we do. | | | | trying to find our new tribe, this view |
| This concept, again, involves quite a | | | | can shift the foundations of our |
| stretch. It is a radical view of seeing | | | | perceptions and bring us information |
| what is as a radically equal element of | | | | which can deepen our relationship to the |
| the whole. As humans, we are used to | | | | cosmos. |