Celtic Sacred Symbols There were many symbols sacred to the Celts.

The number three wasevident in many of their spiritual practices, for instance, the three worlds: The Upperworld (Sky) The iddle !orld or "arth (#and)

The #owerworld or Underworld (Sea) The Celts determined that the rise to the Summerland was by accessin$ the Sky, while entrance into to the #owerworld or Underworld was admitted throu$h the Sea or by mounds known as Sidhe (shee). The Underworld does not refer to %hell% as the Christian beliefs, but rather a place of rest to await and be reborn. The Celts did not believe in an all&evil entity such as the Christian devil. The Tryskele & The Tryskele was a representation of the importance of the number three. 'n this form it too represents the three worlds and the travels to the outer spirit. The Spiral & The spiral was found on many (olmans and $ravesites. 'ts true meanin$ is not known for sure, but many of these symbols were found as far as 'reland and )rance. 't is believed to represent the travel from the inner life to the outer soul or hi$her spirit forms. The Celtic *notwork & The intricate Celtic knotwork is prevalent in many tapestries, paintin$s and buildin$s. 't represents the never&endin$ life cycle and is a form of protection a$ainst ne$ative or unwanted forces. 't is believed that the knotwork was placed on warrior%s shields to entrance or confuse the enemy on the battlefield. The Three +ays &a (ruid symbol for the three worlds and the si$n of divinity. Used especially in modern (ruidry. Trees & The trees were also held very sacred by the Celts and (ruids & especially the ,ak. The ,ak represented the !orld Tree which ties all three worlds to$ether. 't was believed if you climbed a $reat tree to the uppermost branches you could touch the Upperworld. 'f you found a way to climb into the tree below the roots, it was a passa$eway into the Underworld. The ,ak also was revered by the (ruids as a steadfast and hearty tree which represented the immortal soul. The theory is that the word (ruid came from the -aulish word drue which meant %oak% and adis which meant %wise%. The Cauldron & The Cauldron was a symbol of rebirth and knowled$e. ,n the -undestrup Cauldron, an ancient Celtic artifact found in the .etherlands, artwork on the bowl shows a number of dead warriors waitin$ in line to be dipped into the cauldron and brou$ht back to life. 't is also a symbol of the -oddess Cerridwen and is often confused with the modern&day stereotype of witches on /allowe%en.