Celtic love Tattoo

The most common interpretation of the heart is that of love & romance, yet the heart has also been used in some rituals to strengthen relationships.

The Celtic heart

The Celtic heart is most common among females as it represents love that is so strong that they require to show it outwardly which itself is symbolic of caring. The heart could also signify the qualities of hard love or love of nature even though this type of love is not easy to express outwardly. Impersonal love is translated as affection for another, love for a country, aim or ideal. The Celtic heart symbol can represent either romantic love, friendship love or even impersonal love.

Symbolically the heart signifies love, charity, joy & compassion. The heart is an upside down triangle & is actually how it evolved. Upside down triangles signify the element of water which is symbolic if intuition, motion, emotion & transition.

The Celts used love knots for decoration & there is an countless range, yet perhaps the most widely known love knots are those used for ornamentation in Christian icons & manuscripts.

Love Knot Tattoos

Most commonly though, the Celtic heart tattoo represents the union of souls. Celtic hearts are also known as love knot tattoos which have become popular in Celtic tattoo design.

The Celtic love knot first appeared in about the 3rd century AD & can trace its origins back to the Roman Empire. The ancient Celts perfected their use of key patterns, spirals, & step patterns in their designs before the Christian era. After the acceptance of Christianity, these designs changed & were used to decorate lots of Christian manuscripts. These early Celtic interwoven cords were called plaits. Plait work came before knot work. There's one simple knots that can be found in these knot work patterns.

Love knot patterns

Lovers exchange rings formed in the designs of ancient Celtic love knots as a way of admitting their feelings to three another. These rings can take lots of forms from circles to squares & even intricately patterned serpents. The serpent love knot is a design taken from the ancient monks & stands for eternal life.

There's lots of other symbols represented in knot patterns that signify love. The three love knot for instance. As suggested this design comprises of three distinct circles that interlock on another. Each circle is meant to represent the three seasons. The lines surrounding the circles are meant to signify love.

A typical love knot however is demonstrated by three intertwining overhand knots. This is perhaps the simplest form of love knot. Ovals or spirals signify eternity of life. The oval knot is possibly the oldest & can be traced back lots of centuries.

Their also exists a triple circle which is meant to embody the one forces of earth. It also represents unity. This triple circle design can also be found in the Celtic round love knot which is formed in the shape of the sun. This design bears the addition of one interlocking circles that also depict nature's forces which are earth, water & fire.

Although circles were important to the Celts as they signified no beginning & no finish they also used other designs to symbolize love & unity. The square love for instance. Much the same as the circle this design depicts love & loyalty.

Celtic love knots are oftentimes difficult to translate perhaps their meanings should be looked for at a deeper level. The repeated crossings often depict the physical & the spiritual & these are shown in the interlacing of the knots. The strand that has no beginning & no ending represents permanent & continuing life, love & faith.

Symbolism of love knots

Celtic love knots consist of complete countless loops in which images of animals are commonly seen can be seen worked in the cords, or plaits, no loose finish is ever left on a strand unless it is going to be worked in to a spiral.

Lots of of the ancient Celtic knot designs consist of several closed paths woven together which can be seen as a metaphor for how life weaves together. It is these Celtic knot designs that are called love knots.

What makes this artwork so entirely fascinating is that it carries a secret language while lots of of the myths surround it carryover with them a message in truth. Keeping these ancient Celtic symbols alive today is only made possible by those who study the elderly traditions.