| Celtic Spirals | | | | ancient cultures, not least the Celtic Druids. |
| Spirals are some of the oldest known Celtic | | | | Trinity Celtic Knot or Triquetra |
| symbols. Prominently displayed on ancient artifacts | | | | The Triquetra, commonly known as the Trinity |
| dating long before the written word in Ireland, the | | | | Knot, takes an individual strand and wraps it into |
| symbols of the Celtic Spiral are second only to | | | | and onto itself, such that it becomes a |
| Knotwork designs as the symbols most | | | | three-lobed, yet singular design (with no beginning |
| associated with Celtic Art. These mythical spirals | | | | and no end). This design symbolises the |
| are among the oldest symbols associated with | | | | connection of the three planes of existence: mind, |
| Celtic Art. They are believed to represent the | | | | body, and spirit. As above, to Christians, it |
| spiritual balance between inner and outer | | | | illustrated the essential core of Christian belief |
| consciousness. People from many lands herald | | | | wherein one God was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. |
| Celtic symbols designs such as the cross, the | | | | For both beliefs, the Trinity knot symbolized the |
| spiral, and even knots as the emblem of their | | | | way in which the three separate essences were |
| heritage because the people known as "Celts" | | | | vitally interconnected. |
| lived in many areas of modern-day Europe. | | | | Three is a Magic Number |
| | | | Here are the various explanations and meanings |
| The Triple-Spiral, otherwise known as the "Spiral | | | | of the number three as related to druid beliefs. |
| of Life", is found on many ancient Irish stone | | | | The Druids believed in three worlds and in |
| carvings - the most famous of which is | | | | transmigration from one to the other: in a world |
| Newgrange, found in County Meath, Ireland, which | | | | above this one, in which happiness predominated; |
| dates back to 2500 BC. Most scholars believe the | | | | a world below, of misery; and this world, the |
| spiral of life represents the cycle of life, death, | | | | present state. This transmigration was to punish |
| and rebirth. Others say this deeply mystical | | | | and reward, and also to purify the soul. In the |
| symbol represents the male, female, and child on | | | | present world, said the Druids, good and evil are |
| the path of life. Another interpretation is that it | | | | so exactly balanced that man has the utmost |
| also represents the Triple Goddess. | | | | freedom and is able to choose or reject either. |
| The Triskele, or the Triskelion | | | | Then there are three objects of metempsychosis: |
| The Triskele, otherwise known as the triskelion, is | | | | to collect into the soul the properties of all being, |
| a three-pronged spiral, and is often used as a | | | | to acquire knowledge of all things, and to get |
| basis for more complex spirals. Some suggest | | | | power to conquer all evil. |
| ancient Celtic triskeles represented the Triple | | | | They are also, the Celtic Druids say, three kinds |
| Goddess of the three ages of womanhood. It | | | | of knowledge: knowledge of the name of each |
| later came to represent the Holy Trinity in | | | | thing, of its cause, and its influence. Three things |
| Christianity - God the Father, the Son and the | | | | that continually grow less: darkness, falsehood, |
| Holy Spirit. Whatever its' meaning, it is interesting | | | | and death. And three things that constantly |
| that the motif is based around The Number 3 - | | | | increase - light, life, and truth. |
| regarded as a highly sacred number in many | | | | |