Experts believe that the spiral is the most ancient symbol of Celtic culture and represents the sun or ethereal radiant energy. The Celtic spirals in the Newgrange entrance stone, believed to be dating back to around 3200 BC.
What does a Celtic spiral mean?
The Celtic people were great at symbolism, and not only in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual realm. The symbols left by their civilization still exist today, are even popular. They thrive in many forms, including jewelry, body art, and architectural decorations, among others.
The single spiral is just one of many spiral symbols used by the Celts and other cultures. It is also among the most common Celtic symbols. Like the other spiral symbols, the simple spiral would appear simple. However, what these spirals represent is just the opposite.
The History and meaning behind the single spiral symbol
The spiral as an intuitive symbol of our identity and spiritual development is as old as time. It has existed in all cultures and is reflected in ritual art and dance, cults, magic and witchcraft, geomancy, dragon lore, mysticism and shamanism. The spiral symbol grew out of the idea a “staircase” to heaven. This concept was crucial to both magic and Kabbalah in the form of labyrinths that existed in ancient times.
These labyrinthine “paths” were believed to exist at British Godshill (on the Isle of Wight) and Glastonbury Tor (in Somerset). It is estimated that the one found in the latter was there for around 5,000 years. The Crusaders went down the side of the hill, first clockwise and then counterclockwise, reaching the sacred peak in about 7 full circuits. The 4,500 year old Silbury Hill in Wiltshire also consists of 7 terraces.
The sacred pinnacle of the original Tower of Babel, called Etemenanki or the “Temple of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth”, was also reached by an ascending spiral path of seven levels. This seven-fold spiral was interpreted in the mythical Tibetan kingdom of Shambhala as a symbol of the “center of the world”. It was used as a reminder of Shambhala’s dominant position as the seat of knowledge and wisdom.
These sites represent the ” sacred and spiral mountain”, the symbolic mountain of the world. It is the omphalos (from the Greek, literally meaning “navel”/”head”); above and below, where the entrance to heaven and the underworld meet. It is also believed that the 3 levels of spiritual evolution in Druidic philosophy indicate a spiral sequence. The cauldron or creative void called the plane of Annwn gives birth to the human world of Abred, which then opens into Gwynvyd or the plane of the mature spirit. Matter is created in Annwn, takes physical form in Abred, and finally reaches perfection in Gwynvyd.
The foreground in Celtic myth is said to have contributed to the symbol of the Holy Grail. The Christians maintained this legend, but it may have Druidic roots. It is also said to have connections to the Greek cornucopia, which is shaped like a spiral. The Corbenic or Corbin, the Grail Castle in Arthurian legend, could well be the palace of Caer Sidi, a legendary otherworldly citadel mentioned in the Book of Taliesin.
It is described as ” Spiralburg” in the Plains of Annwn. It was the temple of the earth mother Ceridwen, the goddess of nature. The 6th-century Welsh bard Taliesin himself is sometimes depicted as spiral born. dwell in a fortress at the center of a spiral path. The unique spiral symbol is found in art, philosophy, and religion, as well as divination, magic, and the occult. It exists in ancient art around the world, from Stone Age Europe and the Middle East to Predynastic Egypt, Peru and China, and in the Maori and Polynesian societies of the Pacific.
The heavier appearance of the spiral, however, can be seen in Celtic symbology. Spiral symbols adorn dozens of Celtic artifacts.
The Single Spiral Celtic Symbol
It is believed that the ancient Irish used the single spiral to symbolize the sun, with a clockwise spiral representing the waning winter sun. In the occult and esoteric system, the single spiral represents the path to the higher level of consciousness. . It represents the growth pattern and user of nature’s energy that creates, protects and sustains life.
The single spiral symbolizes the consciousness of nature, beginning at the center and expanding outward: the path of all things, according to the mystics. It represents creation,life, birth and rebirth, consciousness , evolution, and development or growth.
The single spiral represents the radiance of cosmic energy. It also symbolizes knowledge and perseverance, really a perfect symbol for people who want to move forward. There are countless examples of the spiral shape in nature. The shell of the sea snail Nautilus is considered one of the most beautiful spiral manifestations.
The Meaning of the Single Spiral Symbol
The word “spiral” is derived from the Latin spira or spiralis or spira and the Greek speira . They are translated as needle or spiral or pyramid or cone structure. “Spiral” also comes from the Latin spirare, which means “to breathe”.
The Sanskrit word for spiral is “kundalini”, which means suggestive, the “snake force”. In tantric yoga, Kundalini rises through the body through the chakras, or the 7, energy centers. Often depicted as a coiled snake.
An intriguing symbol, the unique spiral, is very common and found in nature and in our daily lives. They can be seen in snail shells and tendrils, in whorls and in the movement of stars. No wonder, then, that the single spiral is believed to be the first Celtic symbol, one of the oldest man-made patterns.
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