Training for Book Authors
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
The Celtic Cross
Copyright (c) 2007-2023 Marc Choyt
Emerging in roughly the 5th Century CE, the Celtic cross is an enduring symbol marking both cultural identity and religious faith. Adopted by Protestants and Catholics alike as a symbol of Christ-consciousness, the Celtic cross also has broad significance as a marker of cultural identity and heritage. Though legends abound concerning its origins, no factual historical record is available to place the Celtic cross in a specific time, location, or as originating from a particular craftsman.
The obscure origins of the Celtic cross match the universality of the symbol. Like other symbols that express something essential and cosmic about our human experience, it emerged mysteriously. What is known is that the Celtic cross has been the dominant religious and cultural symbol in the islands around Britain for centuries, capturing something unique to Celtic-influenced Christianity and culture.
There are two immediate distinctions in which the Celtic cross differs from the Latin cross. The first is the inclusion of knot work motifs. Knots are composed of geometric shapes which have deep symbolic significance. Flowing, elegant knot work is suggestive of plants and rivers. In the broadest sense, the knots themselves represent how all actions are interconnected in a great web of life. Archeologists and art historians have long puzzled over the meaning of Celtic knot work, attempting to find a translation system so that various designs could be understood as having explicit meaning. The consensus among many academics now is that, if the designs ever did stand for something, that meaning has been lost.
The second distinction is the inclusion of the circle, centered on the intersection of the vertical and horizontal arms of the Latin Cross. Indeed, one of the most ancient and universal symbols in the history of the human race is a cross of equal arms inscribed in a circle. This figure, called a Solar Cross or Wheel Cross, is found in Paleolithic rock art around the world, and is clearly prehistoric. The Solar Cross is a symbol for the Sun, time and movement. The solstices and equinoxes mark the four parts of the solar year and the four directions.
Inevitably, when Romans brought the Christian symbol of the Latin Cross to the British Isles, the Celtic symbol for the Sun and the knot work motifs were fused with the new religion. The circle itself is one of the most visible blueprints in the universe, representing, among many thing, equality, boundaries and relationship to the whole. This fusion can be viewed as a redemption of pagan sun worship through the agency of Christianity, or an amplification of Christianity through the incorporation of pre-Christian symbols and beliefs.
The Latin Cross itself, with its vertical arm longer by roughly 1/3 than its horizontal arm, has both explicit and symbolic meaning. Explicitly, of course, the Latin Cross is a reminder of the crucifixion of Jesus, the sacrifice which for Christians marks the turning point of history. It also commemorates the event of the resurrection, the promise of eternal life made possible by the crucifixion.
More esoterically, the Latin Cross symbolizes the whole of Jesus' life, from incarnation to resurrection, as the union of the divine fused with vulnerable humanity. This is seen in the intersection of the vertical aspect, that which connects heaven and earth, and the horizontal aspect, the linearity of time's passage and the physical plane. Symbols with a strong vertical element suggest states of changeless being, and symbols with a horizontal aspect suggest the unfolding of time and the necessities of space.
The cross unifies the two fundamental states of being and becoming, although their intersection at right angles suggests ongoing tensions. The stress on the vertical direction perhaps displays the Christian emphasis on the ascent to heaven, in a direction away from earth and the profane. Yet the adoption of the Latin Cross as a symbol for Christianity also roughly corresponds to the ideal of human intelligence as the pinnacle of creation.
The Celtic cross places the ancient sun-symbol and intricate knot work elegantly around this point of intersection, as if to bring wholeness and a sense of resolution to the starkness of the Latin Cross. The divinity of the cosmos is included by this simple circle, and the idea of a unification of opposites in balance is conveyed. Sometimes seen as a halo, sometimes as the timelessness of eternal life, sometimes as an exaltation of ancient pagan symbolism, this circle and knot work adds mystery and beauty to a universal, numinous symbol.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Religion Articles || Related Categories: Shopping Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Marc Choyt
Ten Tips To Purchasing Green, Ethically Sourced Wedding Rings Online
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-09-11 |
Word Count: 940 |
Page Views: 4718
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 1.57
A wedding ring can cause twenty tons of toxic mining sludge. A
Consumer concerned about the environmental impact of their ring
has to search online to find an environmentally responsible
jeweler. This article provides critical information to educate
and empower consumers seeking to purchase an environmentally
responsible wedding ring online.
Celtic Wedding Ring Buying Guide: Ten Questions For Finding The Perfect Ring
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-09-11 |
Word Count: 1037 |
Page Views: 4440
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.71
The best place to purchase Celtic wedding rings is on the
internet, but there are definitely concerns that need to be
addressed when purchasing a piece of jewelry that you will wear
every day for the rest of your life on line. Written by an
industry expert, this article provides critical information to
educate and empower the consumer seeking to purchase a Celtic
wedding ring on the internet.
Get Peace Of Mind With These 10 Questions For Your Jeweler
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-09-06 |
Word Count: 1039 |
Page Views: 3771
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 3.00
Many consumers want to purchase ethically sourced jewelry yet
they do not know enough about this emerging product category to
even begin to talk to their jewelry. This article provides
knowledge and the right questions to empower the consumer
interested in purchasing social responsible jewelry.
Ten Ways For A Jeweler To Close The Sale For The Customer Wanting Peace Of Mind
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-09-04 |
Word Count: 864 |
Page Views: 3189
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 2.83
The mainstream jewelry industry has been discredited by blood
diamonds and dirty mining. How can a socially responsible
consumer interested in jewelry shop his or her values? One must
know the right questions to ask. Written by a jewelry
manufacturer, this article empowers any customer to fairly raise
issues related to fair trade and socially/eco responsible
sourcing with any jeweler.
Four Questions That Separate Spin From Truth When Purchasing Ethical Jewelry
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-08-30 |
Word Count: 810 |
Page Views: 3106
| Votes: 20 |
Rating: 2.35
Responding to consumers seeking ethically produced jewelry, a few
companies are branding their product as 'green' or 'fair
trade' made. What constitutes authenticity in this net market
has little to do with PR spin, and everything to do with
transparency regarding sourcing. This article empowers consumers
to ask the right questions to determine whether a jewelry product
is ethically sourced.
Understanding And Choosing A Celtic Ring
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-08-28 |
Word Count: 990 |
Page Views: 3708
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 2.40
With the popularity of Celtic music and writing, and a longing
for many consumers to connect with earth based traditions, Celtic
rings have universal appeal. Yet what attracts one to a
particular design is often mysteriously hard to articulate. This
article provides a basic understanding of Celtic iconography, and
lays out a strategy for purchasing Celtic rings over the
internet.
Quantum Entanglement: The New Physics Behind Fair Trade Eco Jewelry
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-08-23 |
Word Count: 939 |
Page Views: 4953
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 2.00
What unconscious force makes us attracted to one piece of jewelry
over another? Quantum entanglement. This playful article, written
for the wedding and mainstream jewelry consumer, provides a
scientific argument, based on 'new physics,' for fair trade and
ethically sourced jewelry. Scientific journals that prove how
human DNA actually changes the quantum characteristics of
jewelry.
Celtic Bracelets: Torques, Talismans, And Treasures
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-08-20 |
Word Count: 742 |
Page Views: 7748
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 1.81
This article discusses the history of torques as elaborate status
symbols in the ancient Celtic world. Toques were thought to
contain the power to ward off the curses of enemies and
maleficent sorcerers, as well as to provide protection and
courage during battle. They symbolically represented essential
aspects of a Celt's relationship to his community and the
universe as a whole.
Symbolism Of Wedding Rings
Written by: Marc Choyt |
Distributed: 2007-08-16 |
Word Count: 662 |
Page Views: 5617
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.50
The sacred commitment of exchanging wedding rings has deep roots.
The author discusses the historical and magical symbolism behind
wedding rings, based on traditions that stretch back thousands of
years. The article shows how at best a wedding ring combines the
art of the jeweler, the reverence of the betrothed, and the
beauty of love and partnership in a single, resonant symbol.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Marc Choyt Articles
Most Recent "Religion" Articles
Greek Mythology and Christanity - Strange Bedfellows
Written by: Arthur Trafford |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 3628 |
Page Views: 5335
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.25
You do realize that the Christian Messiah could have come
into the world full grown, just like Adam and Eve? Read this
article to find out why.
Just Think
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2009-04-30 |
Word Count: 702 |
Page Views: 4058
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.33
Biblical lessons from Joyce C. Lock. What if people were to sell
Jesus the way we sell goods and services, with the same gusto,
determination and dedication to our cause?
Let There Be Peace
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2009-04-29 |
Word Count: 538 |
Page Views: 4051
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 1.14
Biblical lessons from Joyce C. Lock. Finding peace in the common
age sometimes seems impossible. But with the right guidance, all
things are possible.
The Lord is My Strength and Song
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2009-04-23 |
Word Count: 2321 |
Page Views: 4591
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.63
Biblical passages by Joyce C. Lock. The Lord is my strength and
song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will
prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt
him.
In Remembrance of Me
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2009-04-22 |
Word Count: 1799 |
Page Views: 3913
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.50
Biblical passages from Joyce C. Lock. The temptation of Jesus.
Seek Me First
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2009-04-21 |
Word Count: 1968 |
Page Views: 4631
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.11
Biblical passages from Joyce C. Lock.
Rapidly Accelerate Your Spiritual Growth Through Writing Stories
Written by: Chris Cade |
Distributed: 2008-10-28 |
Word Count: 825 |
Page Views: 4380
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.85
For centuries, spiritual sages have told short stories to
enlighten and inspire others. Counting the stories and parables
that Jesus and the Buddhas have told might take a lifetime, and
it would probably take several lifetimes to fully integrate the
wisdom from those stories into ourselves.
When Two Become One - The Gift of Sacred Marriage
Written by: Mashubi Rochell |
Distributed: 2007-12-31 |
Word Count: 780 |
Page Views: 4317
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
In previous eras, the nature of sacred marriage was connected
with duty, or related to practical necessities. Nowadays, as
human relationships transform and become more conscious, the
nature of sacred marriage enters a whole new domain of
possibility, that is related to two souls who become One in God,
without releasing their individuality or unique identities.
When Faith Is Tested
Written by: Mashubi Rochell |
Distributed: 2007-12-26 |
Word Count: 809 |
Page Views: 4269
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 2.50
This is a time of monumental transition for our world, and each
of our lives is being affected by the larger planetary
transformations that are happening. Many of us who are on a
spiritual path and living a spiritual life feel dismayed by the
great intensity that is manifesting in our lives, our
relationships, and even our physical bodies.
The Healing Presence of God's Love
Written by: Mashubi Rochell |
Distributed: 2007-12-19 |
Word Count: 729 |
Page Views: 4794
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.25
God's love as a healing presence in the world is growing
stronger daily. Many people are not yet able to perceive this
growing presence of light, because there also exists at this time
a thick cloud of negative energy that is surrounding the Earth.
This acts to obscure both the perception and the consciousness of
people, and to create feelings of isolation and despair.
Most Viewed "Religion" Articles
Seeing God Through The Eyes Of A Child
Written by: Siobhan Gamble |
Distributed: 2007-07-16 |
Word Count: 1056 |
Page Views: 10180
| Votes: 26 |
Rating: 1.77
When you look into the eyes of a child, it doesn't take a
special kind of person to see their innocence, imagination and
wonder. Every child, no matter what part of the world they come
from or what language they speak, pretends, believes, and has
irrational fears.
Understanding Catholicism After My Protestant Upbringing
Written by: Lindsie Andrews |
Distributed: 2007-04-04 |
Word Count: 1172 |
Page Views: 7132
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 3.19
The Catholic Church and its thousand-year history conjure strong
feelings in many and add to the luster of the most stable
organizational body in the history of mankind.
Should The Christian Worry About A 'Generational Transference' Of Demons?
Written by: Christian Darland |
Distributed: 2006-07-06 |
Word Count: 1285 |
Page Views: 6150
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 2.28
Am I suffering demonically from habitual sins my great-
grandfather was involved in (not just once-in-a-while-sins, but
over and over again)? Will my grandkids and great-grandkids
suffer demonic punishment and slavery because of some habitual
sin I do? Where does this idea really come from?
The Church Choir
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-04-07 |
Word Count: 786 |
Page Views: 6072
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.00
Church Choir: A church within a church, made up of many of the
church's finest leaders ... the most likely place where a
majority will bond together in friendship and unity, as they bond
with the Lord. In strengthening its members, the entire church
is strengthened. And, as they become one in heart, soul, and
purpose ... God has promised His Spirit indwelling. The entire
direction of a church can be changed through its choir.
Grace for Grace
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-03-31 |
Word Count: 150 |
Page Views: 6034
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.08
Grace: God's unmerited favor, unconditional love, when we get
what we don't deserve, when we get something far greater than
anything we deserved, when we hit the end of the road and find a
second chance, salvation, forgiveness.
Ancient Fig Trees Through History
Written by: Patrick Malcolm |
Distributed: 2006-11-01 |
Word Count: 1080 |
Page Views: 5372
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 2.33
The fig tree, 'Ficus carica,' possibly originated in Northern
Asia according to archeological fossil records. Spanish
missionaries brought it to the United States in 1520. Historical
Sumerian tablets record the use and consumption of figs in 2500
BC.
Greek Mythology and Christanity - Strange Bedfellows
Written by: Arthur Trafford |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 3628 |
Page Views: 5335
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.25
You do realize that the Christian Messiah could have come
into the world full grown, just like Adam and Eve? Read this
article to find out why.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-03-06 |
Word Count: 1020 |
Page Views: 5249
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.44
We have heard it said, 'I don't smoke, curse, or chew; or run
around with women who do.' Will somebody please give them a
cookie ... to shut them up? Isn't that a bit like gloating,
'I'm saved and you're not'? I mean, really.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-02-07 |
Word Count: 216 |
Page Views: 5243
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 1.29
Have you ever attended a church service and thought, 'Yuck!
This church is dead,' then attended elsewhere and thought,
'Wow! God is there,' as you felt personally touched by His
presence?
The Souls of Animals
Written by: Gary Kurz |
Distributed: 2006-11-14 |
Word Count: 925 |
Page Views: 5011
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 3.50
Discussion of Bible evidence on whether animals have souls or
not.
Highest Ranked "Religion" Articles
The Souls of Animals
Written by: Gary Kurz |
Distributed: 2006-11-14 |
Word Count: 925 |
Page Views: 5011
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 3.50
Discussion of Bible evidence on whether animals have souls or
not.
Amy
Written by: Gary Kurz |
Distributed: 2006-11-30 |
Word Count: 742 |
Page Views: 4302
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 3.27
A moving, true story to encourage giving and support of
missions.
Understanding Catholicism After My Protestant Upbringing
Written by: Lindsie Andrews |
Distributed: 2007-04-04 |
Word Count: 1172 |
Page Views: 7132
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 3.19
The Catholic Church and its thousand-year history conjure strong
feelings in many and add to the luster of the most stable
organizational body in the history of mankind.
Ties that Bind
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-03-06 |
Word Count: 483 |
Page Views: 4236
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 3.00
When growing up, if there was a sibling dispute, mom had the
perfect solution. She would refuse to choose. Instead, mom
would bang our heads together. She'd say that it takes two to
fight ~ so we both got it. Now, that really hurt! But, it
worked, every time. We'd hush, immediately. Though we didn't
like it, we didn't dare say another word.
Leaving Your Financial Wilderness
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-04-05 |
Word Count: 419 |
Page Views: 4133
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 3.00
One's instinct to survive goes against giving all, as if we'd
lose all that's left. And, whatever we think we possess is just
a figment of our imagination. Yet, we cling to it for dear life.
Spirituality
Written by: Siobhan Gamble |
Distributed: 2007-03-26 |
Word Count: 760 |
Page Views: 4127
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 2.89
Spirituality has always been a very sensitive topic. To many, it
is a never ending discussion which can lead to arguments and
debates that can jump from topic to topic. For others, it is a
topic that should be left well enough, alone. I personally find
the topic to not only be interesting, but also very important.
Humbleness: Should It Be Humiliating?
Written by: Siobhan Gamble |
Distributed: 2007-03-27 |
Word Count: 731 |
Page Views: 4486
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 2.89
In this day and time, it almost seems as if kindness, politeness,
consideration, and most of the lessons we were taught as children
were tossed out of the window one day and replaced with a new set
of rules. Could it simply be that children these days are born
with a defect, lacking self-control? Or are they just not being
taught the way they should be taught; parents blaming modern day
hardships and circumstances? It is true that the children being
raised today will determine the shape of our future, but in the
meantime, whose example are they following?
Fruit Inspection
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-03-17 |
Word Count: 268 |
Page Views: 4905
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.87
If we believe we are called to be Fruit Inspectors, then might we
also have been watching for imperfection in Jesus, in His day,
too?
Checking Our Foundation
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-02-06 |
Word Count: 1502 |
Page Views: 4472
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
When we seek to know about God instead of knowing Him, our
knowledge will never be complete.
God is Not Mocked
Written by: Joyce C. Lock |
Distributed: 2007-03-27 |
Word Count: 395 |
Page Views: 4869
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 2.69
How many times have we had the urge to Lord it over someone
fallen; to look at them in disgust, to shun their very presence,
to talk behind their back, to refuse their service, to forget all
the good they've done, to spit in their face and kick them when
their down?
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 744
Total Views: 5744
Article Rating: 2.00 of 5
Votes Cast: 12
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2007-08-17 10:00:00
Internal ID: #5170
|
|
|