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