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Monday, August 31, 2009

Henna Tatt on Head



Amy did henna on my head this afternoon.




I sort of combined two different symbols...the spiral and the Triskele. I've always been drawn toward spirals. I find them very symbolic of life...we keep passing the same places but in different spaces. The Triskele is a symbol of Female Power--Maiden, Mother, Crone--ripped off by the early Christians and morphed into the Trinity, stripping the power from women and indiginous beliefs as well. As I'm in the third phase of womanhood at this point, I find it quite a meaningful symbol.

According to fantasy-ireland.com (the name makes me shudder):
The patterns of life are like the spiral, starting at the center and moving ever outward. Our lives wind back around our center, yet never return to exactly the same place. It can represent serenity, with fluid, gentle lines; or it can represent chaos and madness with dizzying, confusing linear patterns.

The Triskele

Courtesy ofBradley W. Schenck The triskele, otherwise known as the triskelion, is a three-pronged spiral, and is often used as a basis for more complex spirals. Some suggest ancient Celtic triskeles represented the Triple Goddess of the three ages of womanhood. It later came to represent the Holy Trinity in Christianity - God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Whatever its meaning, it is interesting that the motif is based around the number 3 - regarded as a highly sacred number in many ancient cultures.
The Spiral of LifeThe tri-spiral, otherwise known as the "Spiral of Life", is found on many ancient Irish stone carvings - the most famous of which is Newgrange, found in County Meath, Ireland, which dates back to 2500 BC.
Most scholars believe the spiral of life represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Others say this deeply mystical symbol represents the male, female, and child on the path of life. Another interpretation is that it also represents the Triple Goddess.
...belief that the triple spiral of life represents the Eternal Truth, that the meaning of life is to find harmony between the three dimensions of our existence.

4 comments:

Theresa Williams said...

Very cool. :-)

Abs said...

The triskelion is also the symbol of the Isle of Man, from whence come some of my relations. The motto of the Isle is "Quocunque Jeceris Stabit....roughly, whichever way you throw it, it will stand. :)

char said...

I too have seen how spirals are very symbolic of life as we process through it and process what is happening as we go and it is so cool that you found the triskele, a three pronged spiral,that represents so many possible ideas. i personally like the three stages of womanhood representation. I hope your students can learn to appreciate what they have in you as their instructor as the semester progresses.

indigogirl17 said...

Dawn,

I LOVE this!