Issue 3 of the Celtic Crow:
Sorry I am running behind with the newsletter. Since Ron feel ill and I took over the site I have had a LOT of catching up to do. I promise in the future we will get back to our regularly scheduled monthly issues for the future newsletters. Look for your Celtic Crow around the middle of the month.
I also wanted to apologize once again for inadvertently sending out a message earlier in the month that was meant ONLY for another group of people. That message was ONLY supposed to go out to my newer students that are part of a different marketing site I also run.
Anyways I have included a new article I wrote just for my Celtic Crow subscribers. I also wanted to let you know that their are some other big changes coming that I think you will like. I am hard at work re-designing the site and adding lots of new content and I will notify you when it is ready.
But here is your new article - No one else has seen this and it wil not be posted ot the site for a few weeks. I always want my newsletter readers to see the new stuff first!
The Popularity of Celtic Tattoos
by Michael Domeck
Celtic history goes back thousands of years. The early Celts were masters at their their skills in complex artwork. Regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans their skills in making metal, jewelry and weapons was well beyond other races at the time.
Their is a lot of evidence of celtic crossses and celtic artwork that is still found all over Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The modern Celtic peoples, who now inhabit the four corners of the globe, have evolved many of the ancient symbols for themselves. In North American people of Celtic descent will often wear these symbols, or tattoos, to show off their Celtic ancestory.
The ancient Celts were know to pass knowledge down via of the oral tradition of storytelling. Since the Celts had no written records there is very little evidence of their superior tattooing remaining today.
Although Celtic cross tattoos and Celtic knot tattoos are of very popular design in todays renaissance of th ancient art of tattooing. The Irish Illuminated Manuscript, called the "The Book of Kells"', is where the modern day Celtic tattoo designs are taken from. This book is on display in the library of Trinity College at Dublin.
This book is from a later time period than the time period of the height of Celtic tattooing. The current designs are from ancient stone and metal work found in archeological digs and are most likely from the same time period as the height of the Celtic tattooing period.
Celtic knot tattoos are depicted as intricate loops - with no end or beginning. These are thought to symbolize the never ending cycle of death and rebirth found in nature. Celtic animal designs (called zoomorphic designs) are similar in construction. In the zoomorphic designs the cords will terminate in the feet, heads and/or the animals tail. Pure Celtic knots are almost ALWAYS unending. The exception being if the end of a "strand" is stylized into one of the zoomorphic elements or else a spiral.
The meaning of Celtic knotworks defies any modern or literal translations. They all have seem to have a deeper level of meaning that has been lost over the eons.
The modern belief is that the repeated crossings of the strands represent the physical and spiritual meanings of life as expressed by this interlacing of the knots themselves. The belief is that the never ending path of the knot strands themselves represent the the continuum of life, love and faith. It is also this same belief that has made the Celtic tattoos so popular today.
Those peoples of Celtic heritage use Celtic designs as a way of expressing their pride in their heritage. Thus reaffirming an affinity left by the indigenous artistic style of their Celtic ancestors. Those designs are not easy to do and it is strongly recommended that anyone thinking of getting a Celtic knot tattoo to
make sure the artist has experience in designing these intricate Celtic tattoos. It is a rare tattoo artist that has the eye for the detail and exacting line placement required to draw these intricate patterns of the Celtic art.
If unsure asl to see some work by the artist and don't be afraid to ask for referrals. Compare the finished work with the original intended design to assure yourself that the artist is indeed talented and capable enough for such intricate work. Remember a tattoo is PERMANENT and it takes $1,000's and $1,000's of dollars of excruciating and painful surgery to remove them once they are in place!
Until next time...
Myths are simply old truths rewritten as stories."
~ Count Ulric Von Bek
AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH:
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer
you.
Cherish your Culture,
