| Celtic tattoos have become very popular over the | | | | sacred artwork of many other cultures, such as the |
| last few years. This is due to the simultaneous | | | | Aborigines of Australia. Interestingly enough, spirals |
| increase in the popularity of tattoos in general and a | | | | are also common in crop circles, those mysterious |
| growing fascination with Celtic art and culture in | | | | patterns which appear in fields around the British Isles. |
| general. Celtic, of course, refers to anything that | | | | One interesting symbol that is found in Celtic, as well |
| originates from lands that speak (or originally spoke) | | | | as other ancient cultures is the triskele (the word |
| Celtic languages, which are Irish, Scots, Welsh, | | | | comes from the Greek, meaning "three-legged"). This |
| Breton, Cornish and Manx. Celtic most commonly | | | | symbol, which is a kind of triple spiral, was especially |
| refers to the cultures of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. | | | | significant in the Celtic lands of Brittany and the Isle |
| Today, aside from artwork and tattoos, there is a | | | | of Man. The number three has been important to |
| growing interest in Celtic music, dance and languages. | | | | many cultures. There is, of course, the Trinity of |
| The recent "tattoo phenomenon" we are seeing is | | | | Christianity. Before that, there was the Triple |
| quite diverse, with people choosing tattoos of every | | | | Goddess. The triskele is not one of the more |
| conceivable kind. However, there is a definite interest | | | | commonly used Celtic symbols today, but it is |
| in tribal, shamanistic and spiritually symbolic designs. | | | | sometimes used in contemporary Celtic art, including |
| Many Celtic designs fit into one or more of these | | | | tattoos. |
| categories. There are several basic Celtic symbols | | | | A good old source for Celtic patterns is the Book of |
| that are quite striking and powerful by themselves, | | | | Kells. The patterns in this book include zoomorphic |
| but which also work very well as the framework for | | | | images, which are incorporated into the Christian |
| almost any kind of design. | | | | doctrine of the book's creators. For example, it |
| Celtic knotwork is probably the best known and | | | | portrays the four evangelists as animals, a form of |
| most fundamental element of traditional Celtic art. | | | | symbolism which also found its way into many tarot |
| The knot can be seen as a symbol of infinity, similar | | | | decks. Zoomorphic patterns actually predate the |
| to the infinity symbol (which looks like a sideways | | | | Christian era in Celtic lands. These patterns, which |
| number eight), sometimes called the lemniscate. The | | | | may include dragons or serpents, various kinds of |
| knot can also symbolize the journey through life, the | | | | birds, fish and sea creatures or any other kind of |
| spiritual journey and the interconnectedness of all | | | | animal, are often incorporated into tattoos, especially |
| things. Celtic knots are often incorporated into images | | | | utilizing a knotwork pattern. |
| such as Celtic crosses and zoomorphic images | | | | Some people get Celtic style tattoos because their |
| (involving animals, either real or mythic). Celtic | | | | heritage is from one or more of the Celtic nations. |
| knotwork has become extremely popular in tattoos. | | | | However, today people get tattoos that do not |
| This is understandable, as knotwork can be | | | | necessarily represent their own ethnic origin. For |
| expressed in a myriad of ways and made more | | | | example, tattoo aficionados are rediscovering the |
| striking by endless color combinations. | | | | ancient tribal designs of the Polynesian cultures (some |
| Spirals are also common in traditional Celtic art, as | | | | of the earliest peoples to use tattoos). Similarly, |
| well as in contemporary tattoo designs. Spirals are | | | | many people are drawn to the beauty and mystical |
| also symbols of eternity, and suggest the | | | | power contained in Celtic symbols. These designs are |
| movements of the cosmos, such as the planets | | | | also very adaptable; you can use Celtic knots as a |
| around the sun or particles around the nucleus of an | | | | basis for almost any kind of image you want. |
| atom. Spirals are truly ancient symbols, which predate | | | | It is likely that as long as tattoos remain popular (and |
| even the known history of the Celts. Spiral designs | | | | there is no sign that this is a short-lived trend), Celtic |
| can be found on megaliths such as the one in | | | | artwork and symbols will play a significant role in this |
| Newgrange in Ireland. They are also found in the | | | | exciting art. |