The Celtic knot, triquetra, triskele, awen, Tree of Life and shield knot: what each symbol means, how old it really is, and simple ways to bring them into your practice
Celtic symbols are everywhere: on rings and pendants, on gravestones and tattoos, carved on candles and stitched into altar cloths. Most people recognise a Celtic knot on sight, yet very few know where the designs came from or what they were meant to say. This guide walks through the best loved symbols one by one, with their traditional meanings, an honest look at their age, and a few gentle ways to work with them at home.
Celtic Symbols at a Glance
- What they are: knots, spirals and emblems linked with the Celtic speaking lands of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany
- Oldest: the spirals carved at Newgrange in Ireland, around 5,000 years old
- Best known knot: the triquetra, or trinity knot, with three interlaced loops
- For protection: the shield knot, the Celtic square knot and Brigid’s cross
- For love and family: the Claddagh, the triquetra within a circle and the Tree of Life
- Key number: three, which runs through Celtic myth, from triple goddesses to land, sea and sky
- How to say them: triquetra, try·KWET·ruh; triskele, TRISS·keel; awen, AH·wen; Claddagh, KLAH·duh
What Do Celtic Knots Mean?
A Celtic knot is a pattern of lines that weave over and under one another with no obvious beginning or end. That unbroken line is the heart of its meaning. In the way the knots are read today, the endless path stands for the cycle of life, death and rebirth, and for the idea that everything is connected to everything else.
Several meanings have gathered around knotwork over the centuries:
- Eternal love and unity. A line that never breaks makes a natural emblem of loyalty, which is why knotwork is so popular on wedding rings.
- Protection. There is an old belief that the twisting paths of a knot could confuse and trap harmful spirits, so a knot over a door or on a charm acted as a guard.
- Balance and harmony. Most knots are symmetrical, and their even shapes are linked with balance between the four elements of earth, air, fire and water.
- Thin places. Knotwork is often connected with the Celtic idea of thin places, spots where this world and the Otherworld sit very close together.
The Honest History of Celtic Knotwork
Here is something that surprises a lot of people. The tight, interlaced knots we now call Celtic are mostly not from the pagan Iron Age at all. The art of the earlier Celts, known as the La Tène style, loved flowing curves, leafy shapes, spirals and three armed whirls, but it rarely used true knotwork.
Interlace came into its own in the Christian monasteries of Ireland and Britain from around the 7th century, in what historians call Insular art. The great gospel books are full of it: the Book of Durrow, the Lindisfarne Gospels and above all the Book of Kells, made around 800 AD, where whole pages are filled with knots, spirals and twisting beasts. The same patterns were carved on the tall stone crosses of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Older still are the spirals. The triple spiral carved inside Newgrange in County Meath was made around 3200 BC, centuries before Stonehenge’s great stones were raised and long before anything we would call Celtic culture reached Ireland. Later generations inherited these ancient places and wove them into their myths: in Irish story, Newgrange, or Brú na Bóinne, is the home of the Dagda and his son Aengus.
None of this makes the symbols less meaningful. It simply shows a living tradition growing, layer by layer.
The Triquetra or Trinity Knot
The triquetra is made of three pointed loops, called vesica shapes, woven together into one shape. Its name is Latin and means “three cornered”. It is often drawn with a circle running through the loops, which binds the three parts together.
Meaning: the triquetra stands for the power of three, which appears again and again in Celtic myth. It is read as land, sea and sky; as birth, life and death; and in modern practice as mind, body and spirit. Its themes are unity, balance and spiritual connection.
History: the triquetra is best known from the Christian manuscripts and carved stones of the early medieval period, where it was read as a sign of the Holy Trinity, which is why it is also called the trinity knot. Similar three part shapes turn up in earlier art across northern Europe. Today it is also much loved in modern Paganism, often as a sign of the triple goddess, maiden, mother and crone.
For family: a triquetra inside a circle is one of the most popular Celtic symbols for family, since the circle wraps the three loops in one unbroken line, much like a family held together.
The Triskele, the Triple Spiral
The triskele is a shape of three arms or spirals turning out from one central point, so that it seems to spin. Its name comes from Greek and means “three legged”.
History: the triskele is one of the oldest symbols in these islands. The triple spiral on the stone inside the chamber at Newgrange is over 5,000 years old. Three armed whirls then appear again in Iron Age Celtic metalwork, curling across bronze brooches, shield fittings and horse gear, and they live on in the spiral pages of the Book of Kells. The three legged emblem of the Isle of Man is a close cousin.
Meaning: because it always looks as though it is turning, the triskele stands for movement and progress. It is read as the cycle of life, death and rebirth, the three realms of land, sea and sky, and the bond between body, mind and spirit. Many choose it as a sign of moving forward through change.
The Celtic Tree of Life
The Celtic Tree of Life shows a tree whose branches reach up and whose roots spread down, often joining in a circle so that branch and root become one unbroken line.
Meaning: with no true beginning or end, the tree stands for the eternal nature of life and the bond between the world above and the world below. It is a reminder of the cycles of the earth and of keeping perspective and peace in your own life. Many people also read it as a family tree, with ancestors in the roots and new generations in the branches, which makes it a favourite symbol for family.
History: the reverence for trees is truly old. Early Irish kingdoms had a sacred tree, a bile, at their gathering places, and the Irish name for the tree of life, crann bethadh, is still used. The circular knotwork tree you see on jewellery, though, is a modern design, a lovely new way of drawing an ancient feeling.
The Awen
The awen symbol is three straight rays fanning down from three small dots, usually set inside three circles.
Meaning: awen is a Welsh word meaning poetic inspiration, the flowing spirit that moves a poet or bard. The word itself is old and appears in medieval Welsh poetry. In modern Druidry the three rays are read as love, wisdom and truth, or as earth, sea and sky, and the symbol is used as a sign of creativity and inspiration. Many people chant the word slowly, drawing it out on a long breath, as a way to open a ritual or creative session.
History: the three rayed symbol is much younger than the word. It was created by the Welsh poet and antiquarian Iolo Morganwg in the late 18th century, during the Welsh revival, and was taken up by the Gorsedd of Bards. It is now the best known emblem of modern Druid orders.
The Shield Knot and Celtic Protection Symbols
The shield knot is a four sided knot, sometimes simple, sometimes very detailed, with four corners or loops facing outwards. Versions of it are found right across Europe and beyond, including the Norse solar cross and the knot known as Solomon’s knot. The Celtic forms share one purpose: to guard and keep harm away.
The Celtic square knot is a close relative, with four corners linked to the four elements and the four directions of north, south, east and west. It is read as protection, balance and stability.
Brigid’s cross is perhaps the best loved protection symbol of all in Ireland. It is woven from rushes on the eve of Brigid’s feast, 31 January, and hung over the door or in the kitchen to protect the home for the coming year. You can read more about her in our guide to Brigid the goddess.
Any of these can be drawn at the threshold, as in our gentle protection spell for your home.
The Dara Knot
The Dara knot takes its name from the Irish word for oak, doire. Its interlaced lines look like the roots of an oak tree wound together. It stands for strength, wisdom, endurance and a deep connection to nature. In the Ogham alphabet the oak is Duir, the letter of security and strength. The Dara knot itself is a modern design built from older knotwork.
Celtic Love Knots and the Claddagh
The phrase Celtic love knot is used for many knot designs, usually two interlaced loops or hearts with no beginning or end, given as a sign of a love that lasts. Most are modern jewellery designs.
The Claddagh is the most famous Irish love token: two hands holding a heart topped with a crown. It is read as love (the heart), friendship (the hands) and loyalty (the crown). The ring takes its name from the fishing village of Claddagh in Galway and dates to around the 17th century. Tradition says that worn on the right hand with the heart pointing outwards, it shows your heart is free; turned inwards, it is taken. On the left hand, heart inwards, it often marks marriage.
More Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings
The Celtic cross
A cross with a ring around its centre. It is read as the meeting of the spiritual and material worlds, with the circle standing for eternal love and the cycle of life. The great stone high crosses of Ireland and Britain were raised by Christian communities from around the 8th century onwards.
The spiral
A single curling line, standing for growth and the path of life. Many people trace it inwards for going within and outwards for sending energy into the world.
The shamrock
The three leaved clover, linked with luck, protection and the Holy Trinity, and a proud emblem of Ireland.
The harp
The harp stands for music, story and heritage, and is the national emblem of Ireland.
Quick Reference: Celtic Symbols and Meanings
| Symbol | What it looks like | Traditional meaning | How old |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic knot | Endless interwoven lines | Eternity, unity, protection, balance | Flourished from the 7th century AD in Insular art |
| Triquetra | Three interlaced loops, often with a circle | The power of three, unity, family | Early medieval manuscripts and stones |
| Triskele | Three spirals or arms turning from a centre | Motion, growth, life cycles, land sea and sky | Over 5,000 years, at Newgrange |
| Tree of Life | Tree with roots and branches joined in a circle | Life’s cycles, ancestry, connection | Sacred trees are ancient; the knotwork design is modern |
| Awen | Three rays falling from three dots | Inspiration, creativity, the bardic spirit | Word is medieval; symbol from the late 18th century |
| Shield knot | Four sided knot with outward corners | Protection, warding off harm | Found in many cultures over many centuries |
| Square knot | Square knot with four corners | Protection, the four elements and directions | Traditional knotwork form |
| Dara knot | Knotwork like oak roots | Strength, wisdom, endurance | Modern design |
| Claddagh | Hands holding a crowned heart | Love, friendship, loyalty | Around the 17th century |
| Brigid’s cross | Woven rush cross with four arms | Protection of the home | Long standing Irish folk custom |
| Celtic cross | Cross with a ring at the centre | Spirit meeting matter, eternal love | High crosses from around the 8th century |
| Spiral | One line curling outwards | Growth, the path of life | Neolithic |
How to Use Celtic Symbols in Your Practice Today
On your altar
Place something carrying a Celtic symbol on your altar: a candle holder, an altar cloth with a knot border, a stone you have drawn a triskele on, or a Tree of Life charging plate. A triquetra beside your candles honours the power of three.
On candles
Carve a small symbol into a candle with a pin or the tip of a knife before you light it: a shield knot for protection, a Claddagh heart or love knot for love, a spiral for growth. Speak your intention as you carve. Let the candle burn safely while you sit with it, then snuff it out rather than blowing. A white candle can stand in for any colour, and our candle colour guide covers the rest.
In your journal
Choose one symbol for a week. Draw it at the top of each page of your journal or Book of Shadows and write what its meaning brings up for you that day. Slowly tracing a knot’s line with a pen until you return to the start is a quietly absorbing practice in itself.
As a sigil
Knots and spirals can be woven into your own personal symbols. Our guide on what a sigil is and how to make one shows you how.
With crystals
Pair a symbol with a stone that shares its meaning. Black obsidian or hematite sit well with the shield knot; rose quartz with the Claddagh or a love knot; serpentine or unakite with the Tree of Life; labradorite with the triskele and times of change. For more ideas, see our post on Celtic circles and ancient crystal magic.
A Tree of Life Meditation
Give yourself fifteen quiet minutes for this meditation.
- Sit comfortably, with your feet on the floor. Light a candle if you like. Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths, letting your body settle.
- Imagine yourself at the edge of an old forest. Notice the cool air, the smell of earth and the sound of leaves moving in the wind.
- Walk slowly into the trees. Ahead of you stands one tree taller than all the rest, its branches stretching to the sky and its roots deep in the ground. This is the Tree of Life.
- Step up to it and place your hand on its rough bark. Feel the steady strength in its trunk. Breathe in slowly and let that steadiness fill you.
- Sit at its roots, your back against the trunk. Ask a question that matters to you, or simply ask for guidance. Then wait quietly.
- Answers may come as an image, a word, a feeling or a simple sense of knowing.
- Thank the tree. Take a deep breath, feel your feet on the floor, and gently open your eyes.
- Write down anything you received in your journal while it is fresh, then snuff your candle.
It works beautifully at the turning points of the year, such as Samhain on 31 October, when many people of many paths remember their ancestors, the roots of their own family tree.
Questions People Ask
What is the Celtic symbol for protection?
The shield knot is the best known Celtic protection symbol, with its four outward corners guarding all sides. The Celtic square knot and Brigid’s cross, woven at the start of February and hung over the door, are also traditional for protecting a home. Many people also see the triquetra as protective. You will find more ideas in our guide to crystals for protection.
What is the Celtic symbol for family?
The triquetra set within a circle and the Celtic Tree of Life are the two most popular Celtic symbols for family. The circle around the triquetra holds its three loops together in one unbroken line, while the Tree of Life links ancestors in the roots with children and grandchildren in the branches.
What is the difference between a triquetra and a triskele?
A triquetra is a knot made of three interlaced pointed loops, while a triskele is a shape of three spirals or arms turning out from a centre. Both honour the number three, but the triskele is far older, carved at Newgrange over 5,000 years ago, and it carries a sense of movement and growth that the knot does not.
What does the trinity knot mean?
The trinity knot is another name for the triquetra. It stands for the power of three: land, sea and sky, or birth, life and death, or mind, body and spirit. In Christian art it represents the Holy Trinity, and in modern Paganism it is often linked with the triple goddess.
Is the awen symbol ancient?
The word awen is old and appears in medieval Welsh poetry, where it means poetic inspiration. The three rayed symbol, though, was created by Iolo Morganwg in the late 18th century and has been widely used in modern Druidry ever since.
Are Celtic knots pagan or Christian?
Both, in different ways. The spirals and curves of pre Christian Celtic art came first, while true interlaced knotwork flourished in Christian monasteries, in books like the Book of Kells. Today the knots are loved by people of many paths, and their meanings of unity and eternity belong to everyone.
Keep reading: The Ogham Alphabet and Tree Meanings · What Is a Sigil? · Celtic Gods and Goddesses · Samhain Meaning
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