Celtic Cross Tattoos

A lot of celtic cross tattoos are worn by very religious people. Just looking at it reminds you of the church in many ways. I know anything that has a cross in it will do that. I like the tattoo, I would like to know what the other symbols on the cross mean. I am sure I could find out my doing a search for celtic cross tattoos and start reading up on them. I have always wondered why most celtic cross tattoos are done in black and silver or black and white. I have seen a few that have some color, but most have none at all.

When I look at this tattoo, I think of the days which brought us stone henge and brave heart. I do see a lot of girls and guys that are very gothic wearing these. I could see these tattoos used in films such as Underworld and any movies dealing with old Europe. Very mysterious to say the least. On one hand you have religion, and on the other hand you have the mystic. Maybe they go hand in hand, good versus evil. I would like to see more celtic cross tattoos so I might be able to design my own for future use.

The celtic cross tattoo is one that is easily identifiable. It’s a cross with a circle in the center of it. The cross is often seen as a Christian symbol and the circle is one that has it’s roots in pagan magic. As symbolic expressions, the circle and the cross could not be more different. One is mystical while the other is almost geographical. The circle is a symbol of eternity and the endlessness of God’s love, while the cross relates to the four directions, or four corners of the Earth (or perhaps the four elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Water), while the axes coming together imply the joining of forces such as Heaven and Earth. That coordinate, enclosed within the circle, suggests a realm where time & space cease to exist, a precondition for communication between this world and beyond. If you are of Irish, Scottish or Welsh descent then you are probably familiar with the design. But if you are Scandinavian you may also be drawn to the celtic cross tattoo, as Norse art and Celtic art heavily influenced each other and they often overlap. Regardless of whether you choose it for it’s aesthetic value or the symbolism that it implies, it’s still a beautiful and practical piece for just about anyone.