Anam Cara Jewelry

These are good things to know when you start looking for Anam Cara Jewelry.

 Mo Anam Cara is a phrase in Gaelic which translates to “my soul mate”. Mo Anam Cara Jewelry is crafted with this idea in mind. Celtic jewelry is steeped in tradition and each symbol on every piece represents a special tradition or meaning. 

Far from run of the mill, Anam Cara jewelry is handcrafted and adorned with intricate designs.  Early Celtic artwork contained mostly geometrical patterns, mostly step patterns, spirals and key patterns.  Many of these patterns have counterparts in early Christian artwork, so it is suspected that Celtic artwork and knotwork was influenced by pagan Celtic tradition.

Spiral patterns have a very special meaning in their own right.  Clockwise spiral patterns represent the sun and its harmonic relationship with the earth.  Counterclockwise spiral patterns represent spells that can manipulate nature.  Since jewelry is such a personal item, Anam Cara jewelry has specific designs and patterns that have personal meaning to different people.

Anam Cara jewelry with triple spiral patterns can have many meanings.  Some believe it represents the holy trinity – father, son, holy spirit.  Still others believe it symbolizes the triple goddess – maiden, mother and crone.  It may very well represent the path of existence – life, death and rebirth, a common theme in many Celtic legends.  The spiral path can also represent the journey inward to the subconscious being.  It has been said that one can experience hallucinations if they are left alone in a cave containing spiral carvings or drawings.

Still another popular design of Anam Cara jewelery is Celtic knotwork.  The main symbolism of a Celtic knot is that it has no beginning and no end, so it can represent eternal love or life.  The Anam Cara jewelery with Celtic knots is also a symbol of how our lives are interconnected with the people who surround us.

Early knotwork was referred to as plaitwork; however it is not uniquely Celtic.  There are eight basic knots that evolved into most traditional Celtic patterns.  The knots did not normally appear as an isolated symbol, but rather were used on pieces of artwork to fill in borders.  Later, the knots evolved and became specific and localized, with a certain meaning behind each knot.  If you have Irish heritage, you may know a lot about Celtic traditions; however, if you do not know much, it is certainly worthwhile checking out a book on the topic, because there is a lot of history behind these symbols.  You may not find extremely specific information, because the ancient Celts did not document much of this, you might have to “read between the lines”.  A lot of the interpretation is just an idea of the true meaning.

As you may be starting to understand, Anam Cara jewelery has a certain mystery and power and can represent a lot of meaningful beliefs.  The Celtic knotwork patterns can symbolize the intricate details of nature.  They can also be a reminder of our place in the world as a part of the bigger universe.  Anam Cara jewelery containing knotwork is believed to protect the person who wears it from evil spirits.

Early knotwork was referred to as plaitwork; however it is not uniquely Celtic.  There are eight basic knots that evolved into most traditional Celtic patterns.  The knots did not normally appear as an isolated symbol, but rather were used on pieces of artwork to fill in borders. 

The animal patterns that can be found on some Anam Cara jewelry has specific meaning as well.  Each animal represents a certain attribute – for example, the lion represents nobility and strength.  The boar represents ferocity and strength, snakes or dragons represent rebirth, the bull – strength, hounds – loyalty, birds – purity and the salmon – knowledge.  Animals found on Anam Cara jewelry are referred to as zoomorphics.

When you wear Anam Cara jewelry, you are wearing an original and very distinctive piece of artwork.  The tradition of this craft is thousands of years old and is carried on now with knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation.  A special Anam Cara jewelry piece will become an heirloom for generations after you in the future.

Traditionally, Anam Cara jewelry is handcrafted with silver, gold and pewter.  Every piece represents pride and tradition.