TIPS AND TRICKS

by Warren Feld
blog.landofodds.com

Occasional insights into beading, jewelry making, and business…

CURRENT TIPS AND TRICKS BLOG ARTICLES

Celtic designs are drawn from traditional Celtic spirals, weaves and crosses.    From the pre-historic era the Celts wove mystic spirals, knots and labyrinths on the weathered stones of the British Isles.  These decorations came to saturate all aspects of the Celtic life, buildings, painting, clothing, books and jewelry.  The Romans were fascinated with the intricate designs worked by the Celts in copper, cloth and enamel and prized them higher than the jewels and gold they plundered from other lands.  In the Golden Age of Celtic Art, Arthur was king and Camelot had come to the British Isles.  

The CELTIC COLLECTION of jewelry has magical powers.   What is it that gives Celtic jewelry the power to captivate the beholder?  It is the passion the craftsperson has expressed in the intricate designs and interweavings of Celtic jewelry.  

An exploration of infinity, as the lines go on and on and around and around.  A maze through eternity  A determination of boundaries as circles enclose, often stopping,  the designs.  A sense of strength, tautness, as the weavings and knots express a about-to-be-pulled tight feeling, but yet some hesitancy to actually pull tight.

Celtic art and culture date back as far as the 8th century B.C.  Since tribes were bound together by speech, customs and religion, rather than a centralized government, they were a closely knit people of common tradition and beliefs.  Because of this, the art of the culture had specific designs for spiritual meaning.  The spiral and knotwork are the two main characteristics of Celtic Art.  The concepts carried over into the early Christian manuscripts.

Knotwork:  For the Celts, life was seen as a riddle, the "eternal journey".  They believed in reincarnation:  continuous rebirth until complete spiritual rebirth is achieved.  These knots symbolized their maze through eternity, and their understanding of various spiritual levels in search for purification of the soul.  

Spiral:  The spiral symbolizes the continuity of life and spiritual growth.  It is the constant flow of nature's processes going outward then back inward as Heaven and Earth are joined.  The tri-sceal (or three stories) represents the nature, human and divine aspects of life.

The Cauldron Symbol:  The Cauldron is the symbol which allows shape changing with the birth of a child.  The Cauldron is under the power of the Earth goddess Ceredwen.  She is the goddess of transformation.  In the cauldron, divine knowledge and inspiration are brewed.

Serpent and Dragons:  Coming from inside the Earth, the serpent was believed to be all knowing of the worlds secrets and having divine wisdom.  The ram-headed serpent is named Cerrunos, who is lord of the underworld, and king of all animals.  Cerrunos is the symbol of strength and virility.  Dragons are the combination of the forces of the depths.  The serpent, the wings of a bird, and horns, which represent regeneration and growth.  The dragon is the gatekeeper to other worlds.

Celtic Cross:  The cross symbolizes the bridge to other worlds and to higher energy and knowledge.  This is realized by the vertical axis (celestial world) and horizontal axis (Earthly world).  The are also considered solar symbols, sources of light and ultimate energy.