Ancient Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings: A Magic Symbol Reference Book

By D. Brewer

Celtic symbols were created by the Celts, a race of tribes, who lived in settlements across Europe, from Ireland to Turkey, notably during the Iron Age. Evidence of their culture reaches back further than 1200 BC. These people were thought to have a common language and shared systems of belief, despite living far and wide and they are believed to have been both traders and warriors. While they did not initially have a written language, they did create metal and stone work with patterns that are recognisable today as Celtic symbols. These shapes and patterns have been influenced by different religions, beliefs and cultures ever since, such as Druids and Christians. As a result, when we look at the symbols, there are often more than one variation of the same symbol, and similarly, often more than one meaning attached to it.
This book is perfect for people new to the subject of Celtic symbology, with illustrations, relevant meanings and descriptions of the many myths and legends attached to them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781794873889

Book preview

Ancient Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings: A Magic Symbol Reference Book

Written by

D. Brewer

Copyright

‘Ancient Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings: A Magic Symbol Reference Book’

First published in November 2021 by D. Brewer

Distributed by Lulu Press

Copyright © 2021 D. Brewer, Hampshire, UK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, not be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

ISBN-13: 978-1-7948-7388-9

First Edition

Within This Book

Origins of Celtic Symbols

Celtic Symbols:

Ailm (& Variations)

Awen (& Variations)

Brigid’s Cross (& Variations)

Bowen Knot (& Variations)

Carolingian Cross (& Variations)

Celtic Cross (Traditional)

Celtic Knot (Traditional)

Circular Celtic Knot

Claddagh Ring

Dara Celtic Knot (& Variations)

Druidic Sigil (& Variations)

Eternity Knot

Five Fold Symbol (Borromean Cross)

Green Man

Harp

Love Knot (Anam Cara Knot)

Motherhood Knot (& Variations)

Quaternary Knot (& Variations)

Sailors Knot (& Variations)

Serch Bythol

Shamrock

Sheela Na Gig (& Seán Na Gig)

Shield Knot (& Variations)

Single Spiral (& Double Spiral)

Solomon’s Knot (& Variations)

Tree of Life

Trinity Knot

Triple Spiral (Triskelion)

Triquetra (Irish Love Knot, Holy Trinity Knot)

Tuim

Wheel of Taranis

Celtic Animal Symbols

Celtic Calendar and Festival Symbols

Tree Calendar

Celtic Ogham Alphabet

References

Other Books by D. Brewer

Origins of Celtic Symbols

It is thought that Celtic symbols were created by the Celts, a race of tribes, who lived in settlements across Europe, from Ireland to Turkey, during the Iron Age. Evidence of their culture reaches back to 1200 BC. These people were thought to have a common language and shared systems of belief, despite living far and wide. They are believed to have been both traders and warriors.

While they did not have a written language, they did create metal and stone work with patterns that are recognisable today as Celtic symbols.

These shapes and patterns have been influenced by different religions, beliefs and cultures ever since, such as Druids and Christians. As a result, when we look at the symbols, there are often more than one variation of the same symbol, and similarly, often more than one meaning attached to it.

Celtic bronze mirror from circa 100BC, with typically symmetrical  Celtic style patterning on its reverse and handle.

Celtic Symbols

Ailm

This symbol originates from the Celtic Ogham alphabet where the cross symbolises the letter ‘a’. The cross represents strength, resilience and endurance, the primary meaning of this symbol.

Further meaning is attached to it through the circle that surrounds the cross. This is secondary and signifies wholeness and an intact soul that is pure, has integrity, and has grounded objectivity.

Together, the circle encompassing the cross implies pure energy, healing, fertility, protection and clarity.

This symbol is also linked with pine, the European silver fir and occasionally the Cornish elm tree. The pine and fir trees were similarly linked to strength, resilience and endurance because of their ability to survive adverse climate conditions and also linked to healing and fertility because of the mythical qualities of the pine cones.

Variations:

Sometimes this symbol is seen with a double circle around the cross and sometimes the arms of the cross within the circle reach or even protrude the circumference of the circle.

Awen

The term ‘Awen’ literally means essence or inspiration in Celtic.

The Awen symbol is one of the more recent Celtic symbols, attributed to the neo-Druid movement, and more specifically, to a Welsh poet of the 18th century, called Edward Williams, also known by his bardic name, Iolo Morgannwg. He was renowned for his collection of medieval Welsh literature as well as being a forger of several manuscripts, most notably, the Third Series of the Welsh Triads, (a set of manuscripts which depicted Welsh folklore, mythology and history in sets of three).

Edward Williams, also known as Iolo Morgannwg (1747 -1826)

Iolo Morgannwg developed his own runic alphabet from an ancient druid system of symbols, which consisted of twenty main letters and twenty further letters representing elongated vowel sounds. These letters would be carved and displayed on a wooden frame with slats, called a peithynen. This was known as the Bardic Alphabet, or the Coelbren y Beirdd.

In this alphabet, the vowel â is represented by the shape:

From this,

Reviews for Ancient Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings

[Akouele Kalipe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed learning about these Celtic symbols. The author provided a thorough description of them including animal, calendar, alphabet symbols meanings. The book is user friendly and very easy to follow. Highly recommend.