What Does the Celtic Sun Stand For?
The many forms of the Celtic sun symbol has been used in paintings, tattoos and other various designs. Like many symbols of ancient design, however, the Celtic sun is not just pretty image. It also has a meaning behind it.
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Forms
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Despite many elaborate modern renditions of the Celtic sun, the original symbol is typically simple in form. The most simple sun symbol, of course, is the circle. The clock-wise spiral is also an ancient symbol of the sun. The Awen symbol, consisting of three downward rays, is sometimes described as a modern Celtic sun symbol.
Circular Celtic Sun
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A circle is representative of eternal life, having no beginning and no end. According to author Jen Delyth, "the circle with a center is still used today in astronomical calendars as the sign for the sun."
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Spiral Celtic Sun
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The direction in which a Celtic spiral "moves" and the tightness of it coils may have once had symbolic meaning. However, these meanings are not always agreed upon. A spiral drawn coiling to the right is typically considered a sun symbol and is associated with Gaelic blessings.
Celtic Cross
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The Celtic cross is commonly associated with Saint Patrick's conversion of the Irish to Christianity. According to the Carrigdown Irish Crafts website, the pagan sun cross was the forerunner of the Christian Celtic cross. Unlike the Christian cross, however, the sun cross was completely encompassed by the circular sun disk and occasionally sported more than four cross-pieces.
Awen Symbol
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Although a modern symbol, the solar rays of the Awen symbol have their roots in history. This symbol, says Delyth, represents three aspects: the female forces on the left, the male forces on the right, and the central (balancing) forces of nature.
Other Sun Symbols
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Animals are also used to represent the sun. In Celtic folk art, the horse and the bull, symbols of fertility and life-giving forces, are frequently associated with the sun and the chariot of the sun. Gold coins or disks are also considered sun symbols, hearkening back to the circle as a symbol, according to Delyth.
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