Display Your Pride With a Celtic Tattoo

Within the category of Celtic designs can be added to the Viking design, German wattle due to similarities with Celtic in its form and symbolism.  

This style is characterized by several types of two-dimensional designs of interwoven strips of infinite cyclic or spiral shape and ornamentation in the form of a labyrinth. In the past it was used in various places, from the engraving, which are decorated with weapons and tools to the churches and cathedrals. The basic symbolism of Celtic and Viking designs is an endless cycle of birth, life and death. In addition to the basic symbolism can show some kind of event formed with human and animal figures. They can also describe a complex story in a way that style screened on medieval tapestry.  

The Celtic tattoo is often used as a complement to the fantasy style and tattoos of religious themes, but often tattooed as a whole in itself.

The Scottish Thistle Meaning

The Scottish thistle is the national emblem of Scotland for more than 500 years.

Legend of the Scottish thistle tells us that long ago when the Danes invaded Scotland by surprise, wearing no shoes and in the dark, one of them stepped on a thistle, cried out and alerted the Scots and prevented a terrible slaughter. The grateful Scots adopted the thistle as a symbol of their nation, and it became known as “The Guardian Thistle”. Sadly, there is no historical evidence to back up the tale.

Whatever its origins, the thistle is one of the most important Scottish symbols.

 

Meanings Of The Celtic Raven

Meanings of the Celtic Raven are wisdom, prophecy and knowledge-keeping. Its meaning is based on Celtic myth and legend. Tales of the heroic Chuhulian, Bendegeit Bran, Lugh all speak of the raven in a prophetic capacity and also as power and protection.

 The Raven is similar to the crow which is deeply associated with death deities. But, while the crow is usually reserved as a spirit form for feminine deities, the Raven has been the Otherworld body for both Gods and Goddesses. Like the crow, it flew over Celtic battlefields as the deity incarnate.

Legend tells that the Celtic goddess of war or death, Morrigan descending upon battlefields in the shape of 100s of ravens. This bird was also closely associated to Bran the Blessed.

Eagle Meaning And Symbolism

The Eagle was a bird known for its wisdom and long life in Celtic stories. The eagle represents  strength, swiftness, keen sight, and the knowledge of magic. The Eagle is also said to reveal hidden spiritual truths.

The Golden Eagle once symbolized the soul and it was signifying the power of life over death. Now almost extinct in Britain, this Eagle is rarely seen except in the north of Scotland.The Celtic Druids were believed to have the capability to change into the form of all birds, but among their favored choices was the Eagle.


 

The Symbolism Of Cats

Being stoic, silent and mysterious cat represented the guardian of the Underworld (Otherworld) keeping their secrets to themselves. They were considered the guardian of souls, their eyes the windows to the other world. The cat teaches us that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one.The Ancient Celts believed that the cat will brings us to wholeness and acts as a spiritual link between humans and the universe.  In the Celtic world black cats were considered evil, and were sacrificed. However, the Celtic cat received much respect. Other mythic reference to cats is, that they are able to shapeshift into a ball of fire. Cats have been linked with mystery, spirituality and seduction since the days of the ancient Egypt.

Celtic Luckenbooth Brooch

Luckenbooths were shops in Edinburgh,  they were the first permanent shops that housed jewellery workers and other trades in the city. The Luckenbooth Brooch is worn as a symbol of eternal love in Scotland, dating back to the 17th century it was traditionally exchanged between lovers on betrothal. The crown is symbolizing loyalty. It has figures very similar to the Claddagh Ring, and a similar purpose of being a love token. The luckenbooth brooch is probably the most romantic and lovely type of brooch in Scotland's history,  a timeless symbol of young love's promise. From the eighteenth century forwards small plain heart shaped brooches were worn to protect against evil spirits, the evil eye. Even today it is still a very popular gift for weddings for many Scots.  

The Mystique Of The Maze Patterns

Maze designs  (also called Key Patterns) are designs that have paralell lines in them so that they create a maze. These patterns look almost like angular spirals, may range from a few simple turns to complex labyrinth type designs and associated with the goddess. Celtic Maze patterns originate in early Celtic developments in stone and metal work, and later in medieval Insular art. Celtic Mazes have been used as an aid to meditation and prayer for centuries. The maze patterns also include the so called step patterns and are symbolizing the journey that we all take on the long road of life. It can, for example be a labyrinth which represents the path of your learning and your experiences. They have also found a place worth mentioning in the Celtic tattoo designs and the beauty and simplicity make them an ideal introduction to Celtic art.

About Celtic Knot Crosses

The Celts were a West European group of people who's history goes back to the second century BC. They lived in tribes and roamed the Western Europe. There is a legend that the Celtic cross was designed by Saint Patrick who was trying to convert the pagan Irish people. This cross is a combination of the Christian cross and the sun, which was worshipped by the Celtic druids.The oldest examples of crosses are those engraved or painted on flat pebbles, dating from 10,000 BC, found in a cave in the French Pyrenees. These stones were believed to contain the spirits of the dead.The cross with the characteristic circle is probably the most recognized of all Celtic symbols. The center of the cross is also representative of the center place where all forces of Life, source of the four mystic rivers, summit of the world mountain, and other interpretations of the X that marks the spot. Its meaning can also represent navigation, we can look to the cross as a symbolic compass, guiding us through a spiritual sea.