The ever dazzling and enticing symbol of spiral, always
present in nature, had also anchored
itself deeply into human mind, conscious and unconscious, to which
art, myths, and traditions attest.
The oldest findings of spirals drawn ( or rather,
carved ) by humans date back to
Paleolithic age [1] , though more than likely most prolific periods of use and
creation of spiral symbols include late propto-European and European times,
namely Celtic culture.
Spirals convey patterns that occur in natural mechanism and
are natural way of organization of systems, such spiral broadening the universe
, or galaxies. They are everywhere around You, tree trunk rings, snail houses,
entwining plants, seashells, whirlpools
, whirlwinds and nasty tornados, water
ripples on the surface of the peaceful like You enticed by throwing a stone in
water.
Starting from a single point, and expanding, to the outer
layers, nearly concentric, spirals represent creation, grow, path, motion,
movement, introspection, or expansion from outwards to outdoors, and intuitively the tell and perpetuate old truths and ideas about cyclical,
expansive and dynamic nature of
things. Spirals depict ideas of journeying , initiation, the
unity and connection of one and all, and spiritual yearning and connection to
the Divine.
Spirals are very prominent symbol in Oceania, where Maori people perceive them as symbol
of Creation, and Polynesians see them as key to immortality [2]
Hopi Indians see them as symbol of migration, and return to
home, particularly the Triskele ( triple
spiral ) variations, while the Aztecs
see double , opposing, connected spirals, as symbols of Moon phases and thunder
and/or lighting.
Even in popular art, spirals are a common motif, in comics
they often represent infatuation or trance, usually drawn instead of eyes in
such cases , or confused mental state ,
if from
of descending, 3D style spiral above the characters heads.
Spiral dances are part of several traditions around the
world. For example Pueblo Indians ( as in Native American Indians of course ) ,
New Year Spiral dancing. Or the ritual dance of Whirling Dervish(i) of Mevelvi order, as a form of Dhkir (
rembrance of G’d ) and mimicking various
processes in Universe. [3] Or even Wiccan dance to raise cone of power , or the
Pagan Beltaine spiral dance around the pole.
 |
| "Jackob's ladder" by William Blake, 1800. year, British Museum |
Some Christians
believe that stairs leading to
Heaven are spiral, much like depicted on
William Blake’s “Jackob’s ladder”
painting. Purgatory is also
commonly believed to be spiral mountain, on which one ascends via spirally rising road.
Spirals in magick and occult
The more “practical” use of spiral and it’s symbolism,
energy and pattern, is found in systems
of magick, witchcraft or magicko-religious systems. Some of the uses of spirals
in occultism I’ve encountered through my studies and work are:
·
Entice movement of energy, set things in motion
·
Increase occult powers and abilities, strengthen skills, increase personal power· Trap and confuse spirits, or lead them to trap in various spirit dislodging rituals for example [4]
· Elevate mind state, alter mind state, like In various meditations, or while simply drawing spirals
For these purposes they can be traced on altars with powders
( check the example I’ve given bellow ), printed symbols can be placed bellow
vessels with water, or oil to empower, energize and bless them, they can be
carved into candles to point out intention, and further empower candles, worn
as amulets and talismans and so on.
In Santerian and Palo rituals they can be traced on the
ground with gunpowder , in which case the client stands in centre, and lights
the start of the spiral. Or they can be traced
to “conduct” spirit away from client , to a trap vessel, such as in Evilspirit removing ( dislodging ) spell , in Hoodoo tradition , like ones Dr E
performs for clients.
There is a lot of place for Your own creative expression
with spirals in magickal workings, for magick is after all, as much
science, that much art, according to
some schools of thought.
Triple spiral or Triskele
One of the oldest found Triple spiral symbols comes from
Newgrange Passage tomb in Ireland, dating back
t o 3200th year BC. Sun auspiciously illuminates passage in
it, on Winter’s Solstice. And on the entrance stone there is a triple
spiral, one of the oldest such recorded symbols [5]
While we do not know what the symbol originally represented in Celtic culture, In neopaganism an pagan revival of Celtic culture and Wicca, they are associated with triple deities, such as Three-faceted Celtic goddess Maiden-Mother-Crone, which to me, for one, makes excellent sense. Around 5th age, when Christianity was spread among Celtic countries, the symbols gained yet another meaning, it stood for Holy Trinity in Christianity, and it still does. It illustrates the nature of Christian concept of Trinity fairly well, much like the three leaved clover does, three in one, G’d the Father, G’d Son, and G’d Holy Spirit.
NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself, hence If You wish to use any parts of it elsewhere online, feel free but add the credits Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFRENCES:
[1] According to Marc O’ Connell and Raje Airey in their work “Ill ustrated Encyclopedia of signs and symbols”
[2] According to the same source as under [1]
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mevlevi_Order
[4] Example of such use can be found here : http://conjuredoctor.blogspot.com/2012/07/hoodoo-spell-to-remove-evil-spirits.html
[5] According to the : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_spiral
[6] Avia Venefica , as she cunningly noted here: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/triskelion-celtic-symbol-meaning.html
IMAGE CREDITS: Images ( in order of appearance )
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Triskele-Symbol-spiral.png , First image edited by myself for use here, all used for illustrative and explanatory purposes, without any ill wil l
 |
| Newgrange Tripple spiral(s) engraved upon entrance stone |
While we do not know what the symbol originally represented in Celtic culture, In neopaganism an pagan revival of Celtic culture and Wicca, they are associated with triple deities, such as Three-faceted Celtic goddess Maiden-Mother-Crone, which to me, for one, makes excellent sense. Around 5th age, when Christianity was spread among Celtic countries, the symbols gained yet another meaning, it stood for Holy Trinity in Christianity, and it still does. It illustrates the nature of Christian concept of Trinity fairly well, much like the three leaved clover does, three in one, G’d the Father, G’d Son, and G’d Holy Spirit.
The very word triskele, or the Greek Triskelion, means three
legged, and this illustrates the three
“branches” or “arms” or spiral. In different cultures, or even different
systems they represent three concepts
associated with a single idea. Like the deities examples given above (
in text ) or, past, present and future
in chronology , spirit, mind and body in
anthroposophy and so on.
 |
| Common version of Triskele symbol/pattern |
The fact that these three spirals are connected, and under
specific angles, makes the Triple spiral symbol even more fascinating. For it
strikes the observer with an overwhelming sensation of movement, motion, and a
constant one, kind of like Earth’s
revolution, or hands of the clock.
According to a symbolist [6] as stated on her beautiful
website ( What’s Your sign ) , If we combine these general ideas, with the fact
that Lunar creatures in Alchemy and European Art where depicted three legged,
the triple spiral becomes clearly associated with Intuition, spiritual
expansion, Feminine, mysteries ,
Subconscious, Hidden desires, Illumination.
Right on spot, If You ask me, as there are three basic phases of Moon ( New, half and Full, ) and If we consider that the numbers
associated with Moon are 9, 81,
369, 3321, first one being number 3 on cube, and the rest are dividable with three.
So in a nutshell, a Triple spiral, or Triskele, or
Triskelion represents, motion,
movement, action, progression, spiritual and other kind of expansion and
growth, competition, mystery,
association with the Divine and alike.
Triple spiral Action , or Enlivening
ritual
When I was composing the following ritual ( for this post ) , I wanted it to be a kind of Road opener ritual/spell. To get things moving from stagnant place, and set them to
motion, and also enable continuous success in some affair or endeavor coming Your way
On a piece of paper,
write down Your name, problem You have, and how You wish it to unfold.
Now keep folding the paper until it has became small enough
to fit nicely bellow a candle You will be using in the ritual. You’ll need an
orange, or purple candle, not too small, not too big.
Using some Road Opener, or Shifting sands, or Success
powder, trace the triple spiral. Place
the paper in the centre, and over it
set the candle. Now dress the candle with Van Van or Road
opener oil, and Read Psalms 8th ( to get dominion over situation,
and for success ) 23rd , 91st
. If the condition is long standing,
persistent and causes You danger, be sure to read Psalm 70th
as well. Add any heartfelt prayer or petition, asking for success, and what You
need. Wait for a while then snuff the
candle.
Read the psalms and prayers for the consecutive two days as
well, and on the third day, after You’ve
finished with the praying and the candle
burned all the way , collect the
remaining wax, powder, and paper, and bury them under some tree in forest, or
under a plant in Your pot, to even further supercharge the spell.
Hope You had and interesting read, and hence well spent time, and hopefully You also find this helpful and inspirational, in some way
Abundance of Blessings, Shadow :)
CREDITS AND REFRENCES:
[1] According to Marc O’ Connell and Raje Airey in their work “Ill ustrated Encyclopedia of signs and symbols”
[2] According to the same source as under [1]
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mevlevi_Order
[4] Example of such use can be found here : http://conjuredoctor.blogspot.com/2012/07/hoodoo-spell-to-remove-evil-spirits.html
[5] According to the : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_spiral
[6] Avia Venefica , as she cunningly noted here: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/triskelion-celtic-symbol-meaning.html
IMAGE CREDITS: Images ( in order of appearance )
: http://www.newgrange.com/kerbstone-k1.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blake_jacobsladder.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Triskele-Symbol-spiral.png , First image edited by myself for use here, all used for illustrative and explanatory purposes, without any ill wil l
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