Trendy Tattoo Today

The Golden Eagle once symbolized the soul and it was signifying the power of life over death. Now almost extinct in Britain, this Eagle is rarely seen except in the north of Scotland.The Celtic Druids were believed to have the capability to change into the form of all birds, but among their favored choices was the Eagle.


 

Being stoic, silent and mysterious cat represented the guardian of the Underworld (Otherworld) keeping their secrets to themselves. They were considered the guardian of souls, their eyes the windows to the other world. The cat teaches us that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one.The Ancient Celts believed that the cat will brings us to wholeness and acts as a spiritual link between humans and the universe.  In the Celtic world black cats were considered evil, and were sacrificed. However, the Celtic cat received much respect. Other mythic reference to cats is, that they are able to shapeshift into a ball of fire. Cats have been linked with mystery, spirituality and seduction since the days of the ancient Egypt.

Luckenbooths were shops in Edinburgh,  they were the first permanent shops that housed jewellery workers and other trades in the city. The Luckenbooth Brooch is worn as a symbol of eternal love in Scotland, dating back to the 17th century it was traditionally exchanged between lovers on betrothal. The crown is symbolizing loyalty. It has figures very similar to the Claddagh Ring, and a similar purpose of being a love token. The luckenbooth brooch is probably the most romantic and lovely type of brooch in Scotland's history,  a timeless symbol of young love's promise. From the eighteenth century forwards small plain heart shaped brooches were worn to protect against evil spirits, the evil eye. Even today it is still a very popular gift for weddings for many Scots.  

Maze designs  (also called Key Patterns) are designs that have paralell lines in them so that they create a maze. These patterns look almost like angular spirals, may range from a few simple turns to complex labyrinth type designs and associated with the goddess. Celtic Maze patterns originate in early Celtic developments in stone and metal work, and later in medieval Insular art. Celtic Mazes have been used as an aid to meditation and prayer for centuries. The maze patterns also include the so called step patterns and are symbolizing the journey that we all take on the long road of life. It can, for example be a labyrinth which represents the path of your learning and your experiences. They have also found a place worth mentioning in the Celtic tattoo designs and the beauty and simplicity make them an ideal introduction to Celtic art.

The Celts were a West European group of people who's history goes back to the second century BC. They lived in tribes and roamed the Western Europe. There is a legend that the Celtic cross was designed by Saint Patrick who was trying to convert the pagan Irish people. This cross is a combination of the Christian cross and the sun, which was worshipped by the Celtic druids.The oldest examples of crosses are those engraved or painted on flat pebbles, dating from 10,000 BC, found in a cave in the French Pyrenees. These stones were believed to contain the spirits of the dead.The cross with the characteristic circle is probably the most recognized of all Celtic symbols. The center of the cross is also representative of the center place where all forces of Life, source of the four mystic rivers, summit of the world mountain, and other interpretations of the X that marks the spot. Its meaning can also represent navigation, we can look to the cross as a symbolic compass, guiding us through a spiritual sea.