| There is an undeniable aura that surrounds Celtic | | | | the spiral and the number of rotations appears to |
| designs and Druid traditions. Although I have | | | | affect the meaning behind the image, therefore |
| strong family ties to both Ireland and Scotland, | | | | we will discuss some specific configurations. |
| you don't need a Celtic heritage to be enticed by | | | | Triple Spiral- is also known as the triple Goddess |
| the culture. It's been said that as long as you | | | | or triskele, symbolizing the maiden/mother/crone |
| respect Mother Earth and feel an affinity with the | | | | phases of life or the three phases of the Moon. |
| Celtic people you too have a Celtic soul. | | | | Double Spiral- signifies balance. Also believed to |
| The meanings behind all of the spirals, knots, | | | | portray the equinox, a time when day and night |
| labyrinths, and crosses have intrigued many | | | | are equal in length. |
| people for many centuries. Since you will find all of | | | | Clockwise Spiral- While the Druids tended to favor |
| these symbols in this book, a brief explanation of | | | | the Moon in their symbolism, this design is actually |
| some of the more popular interpretations are | | | | a representation of the Sun. A loosely wound |
| listed below: | | | | spiral would embody an expansive summer sun |
| | | | while a tightly wound spiral expressed the |
| Celtic Knots: | | | | shortened days and long nights of winter. |
| Quite possibly the most recognized of all the | | | | |
| Celtic symbols is the knot. The elaborately | | | | Labyrinth or Step Patterns: |
| interwoven design with no end and no beginning is | | | | Symbolic of the journey we take in life, the |
| thought to be an expression of the Celts' belief in | | | | labyrinth was often used during prayer or |
| eternity. The Druids and the ancient Celts believed | | | | meditation. Focusing on the design reminds us that |
| in a life without end, with death only being a | | | | life is full of options, and open doors, as well as |
| transition into a new phase. While all knot patterns | | | | obstacles to overcome. |
| contain this element of life-everlasting, certain | | | | |
| designs are believed to carry more specific | | | | Circles: |
| meanings. | | | | Finally, we come to the simple circle, the building |
| For example, the triquestra or trefoil knot points | | | | block for mandalas as well as Celtic imagery. It is |
| to the importance the Druid's placed on the | | | | a universal symbol of the cycle of life; |
| number 3, the number of fate. This design was | | | | birth-death-rebirth. The intertwining of circles is the |
| such a hallmark of the Celtic people that Irish | | | | basis for many Celtic knots with the number of |
| Christians found a way to bring it into their new | | | | circles often symbolizing something more. |
| faith by adopting the symbol as a representation | | | | Note that by combining 3 circles the |
| of the Blessed Trinity. | | | | aforementioned triquestra knot is formed in the |
| | | | center. On the other hand, five circles linked |
| Spirals: | | | | together form the circle of being; a Druid |
| There seems to be a lot of debate as to the true | | | | illustration of the four earthly elements being |
| meaning of spirals in Celtic art. The direction of | | | | forever united by a fifth element, balance. |