Celtic Knots and What they Mean

There is hardly any soul that has not been charmed by the mystic designs of the Celtic knots. Celtic artwork is a complex genre of designs that attract a viewer due to the designs of complicated interwoven lines. Of the various designs like the mazes and spirals, Celtic knots have a surreal feeling to them. One look at them and it would not be difficult to understand the mesmerizing feature of the Celtic knots that lies in the fact that these knots do not have an end or a beginning. There are different types of knots with specific meanings. Celtic artwork is rich with various patterns. However, in this article I will concentrate on the enthralling designs - the Celtic knots and what they mean.

History of Celtic Knots

Celtic knotwork made its appearance in 450 A.D. after the influence of Christianity on Celtic art. It is so because it is believed that the religious beliefs of the Celts forbade them from including animal, plants or human forms in their artwork. Many cite this as the reason for the evolution of the complicated Celtic designs. All that original Irish Celtic symbols consisted were geometrical designs. Celtic knotwork is believed to have evolved from plaitwork which consists of designs made of interwoven cords that are however not knotted.

Types and Meaning of Celtic Knots

The Celts were a group of diverse tribal societies that lived in most of Europe during the Iron Age. These people did not have the tradition of maintaining written documents of the meaning of their artwork. The result is that Celtic knot meanings cannot be conclusively derived. However, the continuity of the interlacing cords of Celtic knotwork is often interpreted as being a representation of the timeless nature of the eternity and the soul that travels through the endless journeys of birth and rebirth in the spiritual realm. A less spiritual interpretation of these knots is the uninterrupted life cycle in the physical sense. Here are some common Celtic knots and their meanings.

The Trinity Celtic Knot
The Trinity Celtic symbol or the 3 cornered Celtic knot is perhaps the simplest of all the knots that is made by joining three curved lines on three corners. However, by combining this knot with other knotwork patterns, a more complicated design can be formed. This design is also known as the triquetra. From the point of view of Celtic art and culture, this sign can be viewed as the lunar or solar phases as this sign and is often found in ancient remnants and archaeological digs belonging to the Celts. This association is strengthened by the fact that the Celts revered the Great Mother who was three personifications in one. This symbol may also represent Brigit, the powerful Goddess of the Celts who personified art, healing and metalsmithing. When this design was incorporated into Christianity, it represented the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. A more philosophical interpretation of this Celtic symbol would be that it represented the mind, body and the spirit. In pagan beliefs this symbol may mean Mother, Crone and Maiden.

The Quaternary Celtic Knot
As the name suggests this is a four cornered knotwork. As typical of Celtic symbols, much of their meanings depend on the era and the region that they belonged to, as these symbols are found throughout history without any documented Celtic meaning attributed to them. Hence, there are varying interpretations of this Celtic knot as well. Some say that the four corners stand for the four elements - fire, earth, wind and water, whereas, others believe that it represents the sign of good luck (as is the four leaf clover). As per the Druidic philosophy there are four Gods governing a specific quadrant of the world. This Celtic knot is believed to invoke these powers for protection during sickness and wars. With respect to Celtic culture, the four corners may represent their four festivals - Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc, Lughnasadh or be an emblem of Brigid, the Queen of Four Fires with her four hands of wisdom, earth, heart and head.

The Dara Celtic Knot
The word Dara comes from the Irish word for the oak tree. The oak tree had great relevance in Irish culture. It stood for attributes like power, destiny, wisdom, strength, endurance and leadership. The design of the Dara knot is believed to represent the root system of the oak tree that reminds one of the infinite resources of inner strength (the attributes that the tree stands for) below the calm exterior (beneath the soil).

Circular Knots
As the name suggests, these knots are in circular shape emphasizing the continuity of life or eternity. Some interpret it as standing for infinite quality of some object or attribute, whereas others consider it as emphasizing the 'endless' quality. It is for this reason that this Celtic knot is very commonly seen in wedding rings or other gifts exchanged between lovers that emphasizes the endless nature of their emotions for each other.

Read more on:

• Celtic Symbols and Meaning

As I moved on through the journey of understanding the Celtic knots and what they mean, I realize that it is the same lack of concrete meaning of the Celtic knots that has given it a surreal touch and universal appeal. What further adds to their popularity is the complex and attractive design that symbolizes eternity.