Triskelion

Size: 30,3 x 22,6 cm

Materials: Watercolour on watercolour paper

Did you know most ancient people believed important things in life come in threes?

For my first symbol painting, I chose to create a Triskelion. It was created in watercolour, using a wet on wet technique, and then I applied some bubble wrap to add some texture to it.

A triskelion or triskele is a symbol consisting of three interlocked spirals, three bent human legs, or three bent/curved lines extending from the centre of the symbol.

The triple spiral motif is a Neolithic symbol in Western Europe. Though popularly considered a “Celtic” symbol it is, in fact, a pre-Celtic symbol. It’s been found in different versions in a number of cultures around the world; Celtic, Greece, Portugal, Malta, pre-Columbian Central America, and so on.

The importance of trinities in ancient life spanned many areas: birth, death, rebirth – body, mind, spirit – earth, water, sky – past, present, future…etc. And the triskele is by some believed to represent these three meanings. Some of the more current interpretations say that it is a symbol for the cycles of life, personal growth, human development, and spiritual expansion. Because it’s sometimes drawn in one continuous line, it’s also said to represent a continuous movement of time.

As Christianity came to Europe, it took on the meaning of the divine trinity (father, son, holy spirit), but it has since become an important symbol of the triple goddess for some neopagans, especially those who have chosen the Celtic pantheon.

For my oracle deck, I’ve chosen the body, mind, spirit interpretation. When you pull this card, it’s telling you that you need to make sure to maintain some sort of balance between those three areas. It’s something a lot of people forget about, but when this is out of balance, you will feel that something’s not right.

Owning this symbol and displaying it in your home will remind you to balance your life.