| Thousands of years ago, the Celts, a group of | | | | things are interconnected, but this is so general |
| independent tribes spread throughout much of | | | | that it doesn't help explain why we may be |
| current day Europe, were sophisticated artisans, | | | | attracted to the sacred geometry of one ring |
| carving knot work patterns that have inspired | | | | over another. |
| modern day jewelers to create wedding rings. | | | | To do this, you can contemplate the various |
| These motifs have meaning. Yet understanding | | | | components that make up the knot work and try |
| the knot patterns and why they make such ideal | | | | to determine how they are functioning. For |
| wedding rings can be illusive. The ancient motifs | | | | example, consider the circle. We speak of a circle |
| are rooted in mysterious cultures that stretch | | | | of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the |
| back well before written history. | | | | day and the season. Native cultures throughout |
| Though the earliest written accounts of the Celts | | | | the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A |
| were from Roman descriptions, some knot work | | | | knot work pattern with circles or variations of |
| motifs found in Eastern Europe may be as old as | | | | circles certainly has some important keys to |
| 20,000 years. We know the Celts, similar to | | | | relationships and community. In the broadest |
| Native people of North America, viewed that the | | | | sense, the ring itself is a circle, and putting it on |
| earth itself as well as all aspects of life and death | | | | has also always been symbolic of sealing a |
| as divine. They had a large and varied pantheon, | | | | commitment. |
| worshipping local gods. The natural world was | | | | A square knot motif concerns structure, which is |
| considered sacred, and every river, mountain and | | | | why buildings use the shape of a square |
| tree had its own spirit of place. Rituals were | | | | foundation. Squares certainly have an element of |
| rooted in a particular oak grove or waterfall. Early | | | | stability. Numbers were a significant part Celtic |
| Celtic leaders even mocked human-like images of | | | | lore, and the number five represented the four |
| Olympian gods or the wild animals of their vale | | | | directions and the center point. |
| and forests. | | | | Many Celtic rings also deal with vectors that travel |
| Knot work, which has become synonymous with | | | | in a certain direction. If you look at the shape of |
| today's idea of "Celtic" was undoubtedly a form | | | | an arrow, it's easy to understand why a triangle |
| of sacred, artistic expression. Some of the most | | | | might connote movement. |
| famous designs were preserved in highly | | | | Another common Celtic motif is the knot work |
| embellished, illuminated manuscripts, such as the | | | | depicting a trinity. Many Celtic deities had three |
| Book of Kells which somehow survived the Viking | | | | forms. The Mother Goddess was understood to |
| invasions. It was created in the 9th century at a | | | | the maiden, mother and crone. The universe was |
| monastery off the Scottish coast, and depicts | | | | viewed as heaven, earth and otherworld. We are |
| wonderfully imaginative images of humans and | | | | born, we live and we die. Certainly the trinity knot |
| animals embellished with knot work motifs, linking | | | | also illustrates the One being dividing off into the |
| medieval Christianity with ancient Druidic culture. | | | | masculine and feminine, or the mother and son--a |
| In Western culture, there is a long and venerable | | | | mystical truth contemplated in many sacred |
| tradition of artists that have been inspired by | | | | traditions. |
| knot work motifs. Celtic design was particularly | | | | While the above guide for understanding knot |
| popular in the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, | | | | work is not necessarily based on any scholarly or |
| Michelangelo, and Raphael studied and depicted | | | | anthropological text on the meaning of knots, it |
| knots in their work. In modern times, some of | | | | does provide a starting point that is based on a |
| Picasso's early art is highly influenced by knot | | | | universal perspective. Every Celtic ring is going to |
| work. And there has always been a group of | | | | have some variation of these shapes. Spending |
| metal and visual artists that have kept the Celtic | | | | some time contemplating the motif may yield |
| fires burning by using the knot work patterns in | | | | some insight. |
| jewelry and other forms of artistic expression. | | | | Though modern jewelry techniques allow a |
| For some people, the choice to have a Celtic | | | | greater range of possibilities than the Celts had |
| wedding ring is an expression of their wish to | | | | during the time of the Romans, finding an |
| connect deeply into their own ancestry. They feel | | | | exceptional Celtic wedding ring at a local jewelry |
| empathy with a European based tribal tradition | | | | store may not be possible. The best place to |
| that treats the earth as Mother. It's also easy to | | | | search is on the internet, which has the widest |
| fall in love with soulful Celtic music and poetry. | | | | selection. Today you can find rings made with |
| Others simply want the one piece of jewelry that | | | | platinum, or white and yellow gold accented with |
| they wear every day to have a beautiful design | | | | diamonds. Some of the most beautiful rings are |
| with significance. | | | | bi-metal, where the knots are one color, such as |
| Whether one has Celtic heritage or not, a Celtic | | | | white gold, while the rim of the ring might be |
| motif wedding ring is appropriate because it has | | | | yellow gold. There is a wide range of class and |
| universal, symbolic meaning. In the most general | | | | price. |
| sense, the knots express two different paths | | | | Your wedding ring is a once in a life time purchase |
| woven together. Life itself can be viewed as a | | | | that you will live with every day. It must be |
| great web of interconnectedness which is | | | | aesthetically beautiful. The knot work on the rings |
| expressed in the knot work. Even our own | | | | should be well executed. It should have some |
| spiritual path, metaphorically, can be viewed as a | | | | meaning that makes sense for you which should |
| tapestry of interconnected experiences. The | | | | be explained on the website. |
| Celtic wedding ring is a talisman which reminds us, | | | | The best jewelry designers offer engagement |
| in physical form, of our mystic connection with | | | | ring sets, along with the option of having a wider |
| another person and the great web of life. | | | | band for the gent and a narrower of the same |
| This weave of particular experiences makes us | | | | knot work motif for the lady. You'll want it |
| unique, which is why we are attracted to some | | | | comfort fit, which means that the band tapers |
| knot work patterns on wedding rings more than | | | | slightly toward the center, making it easy to |
| others. What appeals to you and your | | | | wear. Since it is very likely within the course of a |
| fiancé may well bring insight to the nature | | | | marriage that you'll gain or loose twenty pounds, it |
| of your relationship. Some couples are attracted | | | | is most advantageous to choose a ring with a |
| to knot work motifs that are simple and flowing, | | | | sizing band. |
| which perhaps illustrates a partnership based on | | | | The company you choose should have a record |
| harmony and ease. Other knot work designs on | | | | of creditability backed up by customer service, |
| wedding rings are more dynamic and complicated, | | | | guaranteeing their product. Give them a call and |
| suggesting creative elements, or passionate peaks | | | | see if they are worthy of doing business with. A |
| and valleys. | | | | track record of timely delivery is also essential. It's |
| Many Celtic merchants will label a particular design | | | | not uncommon for a ring from outside the US to |
| as "Friendship" or "Unity" but often there's not any | | | | be held up by Customs, for example. |
| real basis for these labels. These facile tags short | | | | Finally, the most important thing is to trust your |
| change the person interested in the ring by giving | | | | feelings. The rings should be unique and resonate |
| a concept instead of assisting them to understand | | | | with your own profound, sacred connection and |
| the deeper meaning behind the design. It's also | | | | commitment to your beloved. |
| easy enough to say that the ring is about how all | | | | |