Celtic Symbolism (cont.)

Spiritual Designs

Animal, or zoomorphic, designs are quite popular in Celtic art – again conjuring up the mystical Druidic beliefs, the nature of which are still debated today. That the Celts were animists, there can be no doubt. They believed that there was a certain "oneness" in nature that could take different forms. Everything was spiritual. Everything had a purpose. Certain attributes and traits were associated with different animals. Birds of different types signified different things, but all birds represented the ability to communicate with the heavens. In this, they were messengers between the Otherworld and the Middleworld. Hounds represented loyalty and were domestic guardians. The horse represented sovereignty. The serpent was, among other things, a symbol of healing. An example of this belief exists today in the caduceus of the physician. The bull represented strength while the boar was the symbol for ferocity.

Certainly today, as in ancient times, the artisans who practice Celtic design intend certain things to be represented by their work. Sometimes the symbols are the same today as intended long ago. Sometimes they have become something else. It can all go one step further. The buyer of the piece can attach his own symbolism to it. Such is the beauty of Celtic art that universal symbolism can exist simultaneously with individual symbolism, and both are true.

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