The strength of the ancient Celtic culture was so high that neither the Roman nor the later Byzantine empires could destroy it. Celtic symbolism has stood the test of time and only slightly transformed under the pressure of the powerful onslaught of Islam and Christianity. Ancient symbolic knots are found all over the world, from the ornamentation of African manuscripts to Slavic mythology. Cultural scholars believe that Celtic patterns remain one of the most important archetypes of humanity - roughly speaking, the energy of these mystical symbols can really influence your daily life. So what is hidden behind the sacred secret of the famous knots?
The secret of the amulet
All Celtic designs have a special meaning. The central element of the ancient mythology of the Celts was the World Tree, with which a person is reunited after death. And the entire path of life is displayed just the same complex patterns on amulets, reminiscent of a cunning labyrinth. Thus, the Celts reflected the idea of finding the truth and themselves - in their opinion, this is the true vocation of every person.
Crosses and triangles
If you look closely, you can see the characteristic repeating patterns on all the Celtic knots. Crosses are hidden between the curls - the cross generally sets the image of the entire pattern. Celtic mythology adopted and transformed much of the Christian religion: the most popular knot, the triquetra, still serves as a symbol of the Holy Trinity.
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Spiral knot
This knot has existed since the first generation of British Celts. Around 2500 BC, the Celts created entire monuments inscribed with the symbolism of the spiral knot. The continuous line (invented, by the way, in Scotland) is intended to symbolize the unity of the two principles, therefore the spiral knot is often used as a love amulet.
Tree of life
The Tree of Life symbol is found in most Indo-European cultures. For the Celts, the Tree served not only as the end point of earthly life. It was a bridge, one edge lying in the chthonic worlds, and the other reaching up to the Heavenly worlds. He walked through the world of people, sacredly connecting a person with spirits and gods.
Saint Brigitte's Cross
This is one of the oldest Irish symbols. Despite the fact that it is closely associated with Christianity, the roots of the symbol lie in more ancient solar mythology. In general, the cross was originally called Imbolc and signified the day of purification and holiness, the day of the eternally young goddess Brig. Christians simply adapted her to their needs and turned the goddess into Saint Brigitte.
Snake patterns
According to Celtic beliefs, snakes did not personify cunning, but wisdom and healing power. Celtic knots depicting snakes are most often depicted on royal and priestly artifacts. In addition, they could also be a symbol of rebirth and the will to win - like a snake sheds its skin, so a person rises after defeat.
Ruined knot
Most of the Celtic designs are based on simplicity and specularity. However, there are also the so-called "broken knots", without a clear and correct interweaving. Modern mystics avoid the use of destroyed knots, believing that improper weaving creates a negative charge of energy that negatively affects a person.