Celtic Symbols in Magic

If you follow a Celtic Pagan Tradition or are looking to get in touch with your Irish roots for St. Paddy's tomorrow, I thought I would share a list of Celtic Symbols and their meanings that can be used in magic. Most of these involve a braided knot work. If you've the skill to recreate these designs I consider you a very gifted person (because I cant >.<).

Celtic Oval: Throughout Ancient Europe, the oval symbolized eternity and unending love.

Celtic Heart: Traditional symbol of love, desire and courage.

Celtic Square: A Scottish design that is part of the traditional Celtic love knot.

Celtic Round: The outer circle symbolizes the sun while the knots represent the elements.

Celtic Four: Represents friendships or love between 2 people who are separate yet together.

Love Knot: Two entwined hearts that represent the eternal union of 2 souls.

Trinity: Power three-sided figure can represent Father, Son and Holy Ghost by Christian Tradition, Maiden Mother and Crone by Pagan, or simply body, mind and spirit.

My all time favorite Celtic symbol is the Claddagh, which represents a heart for love, hands for friendship and a crown for loyalty. When offering a claddagh ring to the one you love it was once customary to say, "I give you my heart, crowned with my love." My husband gave me a claddagh wedding band and we used that saying instead of "With this ring, I thee wed" at our wedding.

E is for Eclectic

Here it goes, my first post for The Pagan Blog Project 2012

Eclectic Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism – Eclectic practice is something that can be a big debate in different part s of the Pagan community.  Some feel that being eclectic opens you up to a whole world of ideas and tools that with the more narrow view of a specific tradition just isn’t available.  Yet others feel that being eclectic equates to a practice that is lacking in structure and commitment to anything.  Are you eclectic?  What are your thoughts on eclectic vs. traditional practice and how do you feel eclectic work benefits you if that’s the path you follow?


I am an eclectic witch. 
I combine my beliefs in witchcraft (hedge witchery to be specific) with my beliefs in Kabbalah and Buddhism.
 As far as my life is concerned, these all go hand in and hand. 
Witchcraft is something I do. 
Kabbalah is my religion. 
Buddhism is my philosophy towards mankind. 


I do see the lure of a traditional path. The set beliefs, rules, guidelines as well as the community of other believers is a comforting ideal. However, when I followed traditional paths in the past, I felt too caught up in the regulation of this is what I was allowed to believe in and this is 'crossing the line'. I was too caught up in staying in the lines that I missed the important part of faith. 
When I stepped outside of the traditional box, I was free to make up my own mind. There was a time that I missed having peers who shared my beliefs completely but I've moved beyond that and now enjoy peers who share ideas with me if not steadfast beliefs. 


When I did step out, i came under some persecution. I was said to be flaky and unstable because I would only take what I liked and leave out whatever I didn't want to adhere to (very similar to a preacher saying that sinners take from the Bible what they felt justified their lifestyle and ignoring a Commandment). At first I was offended but then I agreed. 
Yes, I was taking what I liked and agreed with in a belief and leaving out what I didn't like. I took the idea of a code of ethics from Wiccan (the three-fold law) AND Christianity (do unto others as you would have them do unto you) as well as the concept of the Wiccan Rede that all things done in love and pleasure are the rites of the Goddess and left behind the hypocritical Dogma, the set-in-stone deities and the hierarchy. 

Now, I believe that whatever is based in unconditional love and compassion is true. This goes for any traditional, non-traditional or eclectic belief. 

I believe that Deity is a Universal Energy and that our purpose in life is to evolve and become like it - pure love and light. 

I'm not sure if this response to the prompt was what the creator of Pagan Blog Project had in mind but there you have it. I am an Eclectic witch and that is my path.