Celtic Cross

Crosses are a sacred symbol in many cultures all over the world, yet the Celtic Cross is unique and very distinctive. Celtic Crosses are a symbolic union of two powerful emblems, the cross and the circle, and they represent many profound and sacred truths.

When Christian monks began carrying out their mission in Ireland, crosses were frequently carved out of stone. The crosses were intricately embellished with knotwork and artistic depictions of the Gospels. This lead these crosses to sometimes being called "Scripture Crosses". The oldest High Cross in Ireland is at the ancient church at Clonmacnois in County Offaly.

As above, So Below

The cross within the ring has been regarded as a sacred symbol of the Sun since pre-Christian times with examples of the Celtic Cross dating back as far as 5000 years BC. The circle and the cross are both universal symbols in cultures all over the world. The circle is often used to represent the moon, and the cross often represents the sun. Whether depicted vertically or diagonally, the cross has long been a sacred symbom. It can represent a number of things: the four directions - North, South, East, West, the eternal cycle of the four seasons, the balance and harmony between male and female, and the connection of all things in the Heavens and the Earth. The circle also signifies infinity...with no beginning and no end.

The Celtic Druids worshipped both the sun and the moon. In the ancient pagan Celtic world, the circle/wheel represented many sacred things...the life cycle, the cycles of the seasons, the Sun, wholeness, and the energy of the female life force. The Celtic cross (Ionic cross) has it's roots in a pre-Christian variation of the Solar cross. Its origins are not known, but it was known to be an early symbol of the sun god Taranis. After the conversion of the Celtic people to Christianity, the Celtic Cross became an emblem of the Celtic Christian Church. Irish legend holds that the cross was introduced to Ireland by St. Columba, so it is sometimes referred to as Columba's cross, or the Ionic cross, after his monastery on the isle of Iona.

Solar Cross

The solar cross is probably the most ancient spiritual symbol in the world. It has been familiarly represented in Asian, American, European, and Indian religious art forms since the dawn of history. Formed of a equal armed cross within a circle, it represents the solar calendar—the movements of the sun marked by the solstices.

Knotwork---Celtic Spirals---Celtic Ogham Alphabet

Celtic Animals---Celtic Magic---Druid History