At the top of my website there is a Celtic knot, which is an ornamental pattern with a long and interesting history. The fist patterns were carved into stone or metal. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the Celtic scribes used these knots to decorate their manuscripts such as, the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells.

The Celtic people have always been fascinated by the circle.For them it is a symbol of eternity, unity, interconnectedness, and divinity. You can see it on their artwork and on their crosses.The Celtic knots have endless shapes and are complete unbroken loops with no beginning or end.They are often seen on wedding bands or engagement rings.

The Celtic people also had a deep reverence for nature.They saw the world in three different levels. The fairy people, or the Tuatha De Dannan, lived under the earth, the human world was in the middle, and Heaven was above. But for the Celts these worlds flowed in and out of one another and were not as separated as
other people believed.Many of the interlaced figures that are seen in the Celtic knots represent this connection of man and nature.

Many of the Celtic stories are filled with examples of people changing into animals in order to escape danger or to break a spell.They believed that the soul did not need to remain trapped inside a body, but that it could just as easily flow in and out of many different forms. Thus, the swirls and spirals that are so popular in many Celtic knots represent this notion of shape shifting.

The triangular knots are called triskele or trefoil shapes and represent bird,
fish and animals.The square knots are usually called shield knots and they are seen as symbols of protection from spirits or evil spirits.

The beauty of the Celtic art continues to appeal to people all over the world: its patterns and designs are popular motifs on clothing, jewellery, and stationery.