If you are looking for the perfect Irish gifts then you have your hands full because there is so many to choose from. Most people are fascinated with the culture and Ireland plus their creative Irish gifts are something that they always love to receive. These items usually evoke fascination for people who have never been to Ireland, and nostalgia for those who have. You can find almost anything for anybody, whether they be a friend, a sister, a mother, a lover, or a special relative. One of the most popular types of Irish gift however is any piece of Celtic jewelry. Whether you want brooches, bangles, earrings, men's rings, necklaces, pendants, and even porcelain items.
Celtic Jewelry Designs
The great thing about Celtic jewelry as Irish gifts is that they are not just designed randomly. Each Celtic design is crafted to contain a symbol and meaning. These designs have been around for centuries, even dating back to the time of the first Celtic tribes. If you want your gifts to be more meaningful, then you can find pieces of Celtic jewelry that carries a symbol with a meaning that signifies your friendship and care for the person you are giving the gift to. Like for example, when you are getting a gift for a niece, you might want to give her a Celtic bracelet with spiral designs spinning in either direction to help remind her to always balance her work and play time once she goes off to college. This makes it a creative Irish gift to give away.
Where to Look and Buy
There are plenty of Irish gifts that you can get, and knowing where to get great deals should not be overlooked. The best way for you to do would be to order them online, through catalog, or through retail stores. If you want an authentic Irish gift, then you have to make sure that the store or site you are getting it from is also legitimate. When looking for quality Irish gifts online, you should be aware that there are plenty of illegal and fake imitations out there, so be on the lookout. The Internet has made everything more accessible by connecting people from continents apart to get in touch with each other. You can surf the web and find creative Irish gifts online. It's also the same for Celtic jewelry. You can find various online jewelry shops that can give you a vast collection of Celtic jewelry to choose from.
You have the choice of asking for catalogs from these sites or just visit them online when looking for these precious Irish gifts. Both are convenient ways to get your gifts, and you can choose from several options. By going online, you can compare prices with other sites and find the best ones that will suit the person you are giving the gift to.
Looking for the perfect Irish gifts does not need to be difficult. You just have to know whom you want to give it to and why, so you can find the right piece that suits them.
If you want to check out your Celtic jewelry options as Irish gifts, then hop on to Irish Indeed! to find the perfect jewelry gift item you've been looking for.
Further Reading:
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For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Celtic Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Celtic-Jewellery/
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Universal Meaning Of Celtic Knot Work
In the spring of 2003, I spent three weeks in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, located in Southern India. Each morning, walking before the heat of the day, I was amazed to see intricate knot work patterns drawn out free hand with flour in front of the driveways and gates of homes. These artistic scrolls, I was told by am Indian friend, were offerings to local gods, and were part of a tradition that stretched back into the ancient past.
I have seen knot patterns in my travels throughout many parts of the world. In Islamic countries where iconography is prohibited, the mosques are heavily decorated with knot-like patterns. Stone can be found on ruins from the Americas to Hindu iconography in Bali, Indonesia. In Tibet, the "eternal knot" is a common symbol representing the endless cycles of existence.
The knot work most well known in the West is from Celtic iconography. Though the Celts before the Roman Empire were spread throughout much of Western Europe, we're most familiar with their designs remaining to day in England, Scotland and Ireland. On the moors, surrounded by winding stone walls and ancient Neolithic bridges, the knot work carved in stone transcends time. We know from the writings of Romans that the Celts believed strongly in the sacredness of place. Similar to the beliefs of many in South India today, the land anchored a particular god or goddess that was meant to be honored, though we do not know whether the knot work designs were made as offerings.
The broad spectrum of knot work designs found in many cultures suggests that the motif is both universal and rooted in ancient mystery. From the most general perspective, knot work iconography can be viewed as a metaphor for our own unique tapestry of experiences. On a macrocosmic level, the knots express metaphorically that life on earth is deeply interconnected, as illustrated in the Spider Women's web or the Great Hoop of Life in Native American stories. As one Native women told me, if you move a pebble on top of a mountain, you can change the course of a mighty river. This is also expressed slightly differently in the Biblical aphorism, "We reap what we sow," which is similar to the Eastern understanding of karma. Even physics today speaks of a "unified field."
Yet it is also true that individual elements of knots hold specific meaning from the perspective of sacred geometry. Look around you at different geometrical forms. Why is the earth, our eyes, the trunks of trees circular instead of square? How does the circle function in the world verses the triangle and what does that mean in terms of knot work that uses circular patterns? Here are a few hints to help you with these blue prints.
We speak of a circle of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the day and the season. Native cultures throughout the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A knot work pattern with circles or variations of circles certainly has some important keys to relationships and community because it is a symbol for wholeness.
A square knot motif concerns structure and stability, which is why buildings use the shape of a square foundation. Numerology has always played a part in ancient cultures and there are many books on the subject. The number five, for example, represents the four directions and the center point, or the five senses.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Celtic Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Celtic-Jewellery/
I have seen knot patterns in my travels throughout many parts of the world. In Islamic countries where iconography is prohibited, the mosques are heavily decorated with knot-like patterns. Stone can be found on ruins from the Americas to Hindu iconography in Bali, Indonesia. In Tibet, the "eternal knot" is a common symbol representing the endless cycles of existence.
The knot work most well known in the West is from Celtic iconography. Though the Celts before the Roman Empire were spread throughout much of Western Europe, we're most familiar with their designs remaining to day in England, Scotland and Ireland. On the moors, surrounded by winding stone walls and ancient Neolithic bridges, the knot work carved in stone transcends time. We know from the writings of Romans that the Celts believed strongly in the sacredness of place. Similar to the beliefs of many in South India today, the land anchored a particular god or goddess that was meant to be honored, though we do not know whether the knot work designs were made as offerings.
The broad spectrum of knot work designs found in many cultures suggests that the motif is both universal and rooted in ancient mystery. From the most general perspective, knot work iconography can be viewed as a metaphor for our own unique tapestry of experiences. On a macrocosmic level, the knots express metaphorically that life on earth is deeply interconnected, as illustrated in the Spider Women's web or the Great Hoop of Life in Native American stories. As one Native women told me, if you move a pebble on top of a mountain, you can change the course of a mighty river. This is also expressed slightly differently in the Biblical aphorism, "We reap what we sow," which is similar to the Eastern understanding of karma. Even physics today speaks of a "unified field."
Yet it is also true that individual elements of knots hold specific meaning from the perspective of sacred geometry. Look around you at different geometrical forms. Why is the earth, our eyes, the trunks of trees circular instead of square? How does the circle function in the world verses the triangle and what does that mean in terms of knot work that uses circular patterns? Here are a few hints to help you with these blue prints.
We speak of a circle of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the day and the season. Native cultures throughout the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A knot work pattern with circles or variations of circles certainly has some important keys to relationships and community because it is a symbol for wholeness.
A square knot motif concerns structure and stability, which is why buildings use the shape of a square foundation. Numerology has always played a part in ancient cultures and there are many books on the subject. The number five, for example, represents the four directions and the center point, or the five senses.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Celtic Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Celtic-Jewellery/
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