Protection symbols have been used by pagans for centuries as a means of warding off negative energies and promoting spiritual well-being. These symbols are believed to possess inherent power and are often used in rituals, ceremonies, and everyday practices to create a protective barrier around the individual or space. One of the most well-known protection symbols in pagan practices is the pentacle. The pentacle is a five-pointed star encased within a circle and is often associated with the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit). It is believed to represent the balance and harmony of these elements and is used to protect against harm and negative influences. Another powerful symbol in pagan protection is the triquetra, also known as the Trinity Knot.

The Celts were tribes of people who expanded westward across Europe from roughly 700 BCE. They were a warrior culture with exceptionally good design and craftsmanship skills. The influence of Celts and their Celtic artwork can be seen throughout Europe during the pre-Roman times. During the La Tene period from ca. 450 BCE to 1 BCE, Celtic artwork flourished. The patterns they created were often inspired by nature and featured geometric patterns, spirals and triskeles.
Celtic Insular art (or Hiberno-Saxon art) is from the post-Roman era and refers to the artwork produced in Ireland and Britain. These artworks commonly feature interlace patterns, which is a typical pattern that many people associate with "Celtic Art". This style of Celtic art reached its artistic peak in Ireland during the 7th-9th centuries and declined once the Viking raids started to take place. It is thought to have extended to about the 12th century in Ireland. Intricate interlace patterns are seen in the Book of Kells, the best example of a manuscript from this time.

The Celtic cross symbolizes the harmony of the four
elements, four seasons and four sides of the world. The circle
represents the spiritual world which created sacred space. The lower part of the cross is always expanding, showing the growing human needs. It is believed that this symbol will save a
person bearing it from the influence of dark forces and give him wisdom. One interpretation is that the four ‘arms’ represent the four cardinal directions of the earth (north, south, east, and west). Another is that it represents the four elements: Earth, fire, water and air. The four quadrants may also represent the four seasons of the year or the four stages of the day: morning, midday, evening and midnight. Most early references to Celtic Crosses come from the time in which Celts began to convert to Christianity.

T he Triquetra, known as the trinity knot, one of the most popular Celtic symbols. Composed of three equal interlaced arcs with a never-ending unbroken line, representing equality, eternity & unity. The concept of three was the foundation of divine belief, encompassing the maiden, mother and crone, representing the life cycle.
The Maiden: represents a young girl symbolizing youth, pleasure, innocence, and new beginnings.
The Mother: represents the middle of a woman's life as she cares for others, symbolising love, fertility, maturity.
The Crone: focuses on the wisdom learned from a long life.
The triquetra has also been used to signify other meanings, such as:

- birth, death, rebirth (the cycle of life)
- earth, air, water (the 3 fundamental elements)
- past, present, future (passage of time)
- father, mother, child (family)

The Irish Harp is one of the world’s oldest instruments. The Ancient Irish Kings employed Harpists to entertain them. At one point in Irish History conquering invaders made it illegal to posses an Irish Harp in Ireland in an attempt to kill the “Irish spirit”. Today it is the national emblem of Ireland.

Tris kelion - triple spiral

The Triskele symbol, otherwise known as the Tris kelion, is a trilateral symbol consisting of three interlocked spirals. Its main meaning is the unity of the Earth, Water, and Fire. It is believed to have powerful protective properties, brings money, and good luck. According to the beliefs of the Celts, all ornaments consist of the Thread of Life and the pattern cannot be changed, as it is granted by the gods. Triskeles evoke the Celtic interpretation of the three realms of material existence: earth, water, and sky (and all their interconnections). The symbol is also thought to represent the three worlds: spiritual, physical, and celestial. Other Trinity connections associated with the triskele are life-death-rebirth, past-present-future, earth-water-sky, and creation-protection-destruction. Each one deals with some aspect of personal growth, human development, and spiritual progress.

The Shamrock is another of the many Irish symbols that tends to be mistaken for one of the ancient Celtic symbols. It is the national flower of Ireland and its symbolism is deeply rooted in the past. The shamrock is believed to have been an important Druid symbol. Druids are said to have felt that the three heart-shaped leaves represented the triad. The plant is reputed to have mystic or prophetic powers as the leaves are said to stand upright to warn of an approaching storm.
According to legend, It is said that St Patrick picked a shamrock from the ground in Ireland in order to prove the existence of The Son, The Father and The Holy Ghost. St Patrick used the trefoil leaves to explain the unity of the Holy Trinity – three parts yet one whole – to the pagans during his Christian teachings.

The best-known Celtic motif dating back to the 5000 year old tomb complex at Newgrange. Originally symbolized the Eternal Cycle of Life, Death & Rebirth. The spiral has come to represent the Great Goddess and her threefold manifestation of virgin, mother and crone.

The meaning behind the anti-clockwise spiral is sometimes interpreted as the passage from the inner to the outer self. An anti-clockwise spiral is thought to symbolize the passage from the inner self to the outer soul. This Celtic single spiral is thought to show the development, or growth of a person over time and maybe connected with cosmic energy.

Celtic Love Knot

This design looks like two hearts interlocked by the intertwining lines of Celtic knots. The infinite intertwined knots symbolises the everlasting love between two people. The Celts have been using this as an emblem to celebrate their love from around 2500 BCE. It is also known as the Anam Cara Knot, meaning soul friend which derives from the Irish language, a famous expression even used by St. Brigid of Kildare. It is believed that the Celts exchanged these knots in the same way that people do today with rings. The unbroken lines with no beginning and no end represent eternity, much like a married couple’s love.

Celtic knot designs are inspired by the ancient Celtic and Pictish Peoples, dating back to around the 7th century. Celtic interwoven knot consists of a single thread of complete loops with no start or finish. This thread symbolizes how life and eternity are interconnected, just like the path of life along which, as in a labyrinth, a person passes through, from start point, and eventually ends up where they began. The eternal knot symbolises the continuity of life which has no beginning and no end and the interconnection of all things. Celtic knots represent eternity, whether this means loyalty, faith, friendship or love.

The Claddagh symbol originated in County Galway in the little fishing village Claddagh, where the design was invented by Richard Joyce. He became a master goldsmith during his years as a slave in the West Indies and shaped a unique ring for the woman he was meant to marry the same week he was captured. Two hands cradling a crowned heart, the heart for love, the hands for friendship and the crown for loyalty. T he design represented the wish that love and friendship should reign supreme. He was released after 8 years and returned Claddagh rings are widely exchanged as a symbol of loyalty and unity.

Today it is commonly accepted that the joining hands, heart and crown represent a lasting bond of friendship, love and loyalty. Wearing a Claddagh ring on the right hand with the heart facing out signifies the wearer is unattached and searching for love, the heart facing in would indicate the wearer's heart is unavailable and may be in a relationship. Worn on the left hand, the wearer's heart is promised forever , with the heart facing in it's denoting marriage, and heart facing out will show the wearer is engaged to be married.

St. Brigid's Cross

Next to St. Patrick, St Brigid is one of the most revered saint in all of Ireland, she was important in spreading Christianity in Ireland. She was born near Dundalk in 453ad. Little is known of the history of the St Brigids cross however legend suggests when St Brigids pagan father was ill, she was sat with him on his deathbed and wove a cross from rushes. The cross was presented it to him and when her father saw the cross he repented and asked to be baptised.The St Brigid cross is one of the less well known Irish symbols, it symbolises the beginning of Spring which officially in Ireland is the 1st of February. These crosses are traditionally hung by on on doors and are said to protect houses from Fire and Evil quite ironically the crosses are normally made from rushes, perhaps not the most fireproof material!

The intricately interwoven branches and roots of the Celtic Tree of Life form a strong and earthy Celtic symbol that’s often associated with the Druids. While the branches reach for the sky, the roots permeate the earth. For the ancient Celts, the Tree of Life symbolizes balance and harmony. This symbol meant the unity of the three worlds: underworld, life on earth, and in heaven. Known in Irish as ‘Crann Bethadh’ (Crown Bett-ah), this Celtic symbol represents the belief of the close association between heaven and earth. The Celts believed that the trees were the spirits of their ancestors, providing a link between their earthly life and the next.
The Celtic Tree of Life symbol represents strength, longevity and wisdom, all of which were attributes that the Celts revered. The Celtic tree of life symbol also shows the link between every root below the ground and every branch above.

Another of the better-known Celtic symbols is the Dara Celtic Knot. This symbol boasts an interwoven design and a name that comes from the Irish word ‘Doire’ which means “oak tree”.
The Dara Knot is derived from this word and the symbol represents the root system of an ancient oak. Like other Celtic knot symbols, the Dara Knot is made up of intertwined lines with no beginning or end. Celts and Druids revered nature, particularly ancient oak trees, and considered them sacred. They saw the oak tree as a symbol of strength, power, wisdom, and endurance. When times were difficult, the Celts would go to the symbol to provide them the fortitude and inner insight necessary to get through the ordeal.

Triquetra with inner circle

Christians took the concept of the three interlocking shapes of the Celtic Trinity Knot and repurposed it to signify the holy trinity: the father, the son, and the holy spirit. The never-ending loops themselves are said to reference the concept of infinity which is why the inner circle was later added to the symbol.
The circle that is interlaced with the triquetra represents the bond between the three elements.

Triple Moon/Goddess Symbol

The Triple Moon Symbol is used to represent the Goddess. It shows different portions of the lunar cycle, with the moon in three phases – waxing, full and waning. First, there is a crescent moon that is in a growing/waxing phase. In the centre comes a circle representing the full moon, and finally, there is a crescent denoting the diminishing/waning moon.
The waxing moon stands for the Maiden, symbolising purity, youth, new life, beginnings, rejuvenation, excitement, enchantment, and expansion.

The full moon represents the Mother, symbolising fulfilment, fertility, ripeness, potency, compassion, giving, caring, nurturing, protection and power.

The waning moon represents the Crone and stands for repose, maturity, wisdom, experience, knowledge, understanding, completion, death and rebirth. In its entirety, the symbol is believed to signify the eternal cycle of birth, life, and rebirth.

Triple Crescent Moon
The triple crescent moon is a symbol of the goddess in the Wiccan religion. The goddess is the opposite divine cosmic force to the Horned God. The symbol represents the three stages of womanhood – mother, maiden, and crone. The triple crescent moon has also been linked to the Fates. The Fates control the fate of gods and mankind.
The Triple Crescent Moon is three crescent moons interlinked. The three moons have different meanings. Wiccan’s believe they represent the three stages of womanhood. Celtic symbolism believes they represent the three Fates – birth, life, and death.

The Pentagram symbol, composed of five, straight lines to form a star, harks back to 3000 BC in Mesopotamia. Through the centuries, this five-pointed star has been used by several religions: the Hebrews used the symbol to represent the Truth and the five books of the Pentateuch; the Druids referred to the pentagram as the Godhead and the Christians said that the five points represented Christ’s five wounds. Five has always been considered a magical number: we have five fingers and toes on each extremity; we have five common senses; we have five initiations in our lives (birth, adolescence, coitus, parenthood, and death). The pentagram also contains the golden mean or ratio: a symbol of beauty and perfection. As such, it is believed to be a powerful symbol for protection against evil or conflicts. It can also be used to promote good and beautiful energy in a person or environment.

The Pentacle is an encircled Pentagram. A Pentagram is an ancient spiritual symbol shaped as a five-pointed star with one point aligned upwards. It is considered to be representative of the five elements from which man is made, namely fire, air, water, earth and spirit.
It is viewed as a symbol of life, love, light, unity, wholeness, and quest for divine knowledge. The Pentacle has always been associated with divine protective powers and was used for protection from the evil forces, demons, etc.
In the present times, the Pentacle and the Pentagram are much-respected symbols used by the neo-Pagans and Wiccans.

Celtic Shield Knot

The Shield knot is the Celtic symbol for protection. It’s tight pattern depicts an unbreakable barrier, with a single interwoven thread suggesting endless protection. This Celtic protection symbol was worn into battle on shields and armour, giving the Celts a fighting spirit. Larger ones would be placed on battlefields to demonstrate strength and protection in an attempt to ward off enemies. It is widely believed that Shield Knots were given to sick friends and relatives to ward off evil spirits, and hung in homes to protect against evil.

Celtic Sailors Knot

This design features two intertwined ropes with four points and is said to have been created by sailors during their long voyages as a means of remembering their loved ones. The sailors knot is believed to be thousands of years old. The Celts also took to the sea and it was common for these sailors to stay at sea for many months on end. They would then give these knots to their loves ones upon returning home. Women often wore these as bracelets, belts, or hair decorations. It is one of the simplest knots to make, but it is also one of the strongest and most durable. It is a bond that cannot be broken. The Sailor’s knot symbolises friendship, affection, harmony and lasting love.

The History of the Evil Eye, an Ancient Symbol of Protection

In anxious times, should we all be wearing evil eye pendants like Meghan Markle?

I’m wearing one of my own as I type this but it’s the old fashioned kind, one I probably bought in multiples from a stall in the Monastiraki flea market in Athens to bring back home for friends. There was a time that was the only sort of evil eye bracelet you could find: blue and white glass symbols strung on a leather chord. Now they come studded with sapphires and diamonds or painted in fine and vibrant enamel tones.

Meghan Markle often wears one, sometimes in the form of a pendant with a blue topaz eye, but she has also been seen wearing a delicate gold evil eye bracelet. How did this ancient symbol of protection leap from proud proof of a Greek vacation to royal jewelry status?

I often, and proudly, trace its rise to designer Ileana Makri, who brought the shape and all its meaning from Athens to Barney's New York in late 1999. The first time I saw an evil eye that did not look like the ones from the flea market was one afternoon at Barney's while staring into a vitrine with Makri’s name lightly etched in the corner. They were as full of the talismanic power as any I had ever seen, but they were also full of diamonds.

Whenever anyone asks me why we still wear evil eye pendants, or why we wear them now more than ever, I point them to this Greek-born jeweler. And so, after seeing Meghan Markle wear an evil eye (one that promptly sold out after a photo appeared) I emailed Makri, at home in Athens—in an apartment with one of the best Acropolis views I've ever seen—and asked her for her views on this ancient mystical symbol of protection.

Another powerful symbol in pagan protection is the triquetra, also known as the Trinity Knot. This symbol, composed of three interlocking circles, is often associated with the threefold nature of the divine, such as the maiden, mother, and crone aspects of the goddess. It is used to protect against spiritual and physical harm, as well as to promote balance and unity.

Tell us about the history of the evil eye.

A quasi-universal symbol of protection, the evil eye is referred to as μάτι (mati) in Greek. The concept and the significance of the evil eye is especially prominent in the Mediterranean and West Asia.

The evil eye is a “look” or “stare” that is believed to bring bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike. The perception of the nature of the phenomenon, its causes, and possible protective measures, varies between tribes and cultures. The evil eye is a talisman that is meant to protect you from these evil spirits.

The evil eye is a 'look' or 'stare' believed to bring bad luck for the person at whom it is directed

Belief in the evil eye—“mati”—dates back to Greek Classical antiquity, to at least the 6 th century B.C. when it appeared on drinking vessels. It is referenced by Plato, Hesiod, Plutarch and many more classical authors who attempted both to describe and explain the function of the evil eye.

Plutarch’s scientific explanation stated that the eyes were the chief, if not sole, source of the deadly rays that were supposed to spring up like poisoned darts from the inner recesses of a person possessing the evil eye. It is a curse or legend believed to be cast by this malevolent glare, and usually given to a person when they are unaware.

An evil eye is a talisman or amulet, designed in the shape of an eye, traditionally in the colors blue or green, that indicate spiritual protection. These talismans or evil eye “repellents” come in different shapes and forms as pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings. Or can be hanging in a glass bead form over the main door or entrance of someone’s home to keep the hearth protected.

The hamsa hand, also known as the hand of Fatima, is another symbol widely used in pagan practices for protection. It is believed to ward off evil spirits, jealousy, and ill-wishes. The hamsa hand is often depicted as a hand with an eye in the center, symbolizing protection and spiritual awareness. The rune Algiz, also known as elhaz, is a powerful symbol used in Viking and Germanic traditions for protection. It is shaped like an upright arrow and represents divine protection and connection with the divine realm. Algiz is used to ward off harm, promote personal growth, and provide spiritual guidance and strength. In addition to these symbols, pagans also use various crystals and gemstones as protective talismans. Crystals such as amethyst, black tourmaline, and clear quartz are believed to possess protective energies and can be worn or placed in a sacred space to create a shield against negative energies. Overall, protection symbols play a vital role in pagan practices, serving as a visual representation of the practitioner's intention to create a protective barrier and promote spiritual well-being. Whether used in rituals, ceremonies, or everyday practices, these symbols serve as a reminder of the practitioner's connection with the divine and their ability to create a safe and harmonious environment..

Reviews for "Connecting with the Divine: Pagan Protection Symbols in Worship"

1. Julia - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Protection symbols pagan". The book promised to provide an in-depth understanding of pagan protection symbols, but it fell short in every aspect. The author barely scratched the surface, only providing brief descriptions of a handful of symbols without delving into their meanings or origins. Additionally, the book lacked any practical guidance on how to use these symbols for protection. Overall, I found it to be an incomplete and superficial introduction to the topic.

2. Mark - 1 star - "Protection symbols pagan" was a complete waste of my time and money. The information provided in the book was extremely basic and could easily be found with a simple internet search. There was nothing original or insightful presented, making me question the credibility of the author. Furthermore, the book was poorly organized, with information scattered randomly throughout the chapters. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking genuine knowledge about pagan protection symbols.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - I purchased "Protection symbols pagan" hoping to expand my knowledge and understanding of pagan symbols, but I was sorely disappointed. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any historical or cultural context for the symbols discussed. The author relied on clichéd explanations without offering any new insights or perspectives. Additionally, the formatting and editing of the book were subpar, with numerous typos and grammatical errors. Overall, I found it to be a lackluster and poorly executed attempt at exploring pagan protection symbols.

Unlocking the Mysteries: The Origins of Pagan Protection Symbols