Cross of St. Columba
The Cross of St. Columba has a long past dating back, according to archaeologists and scholars, to 5,000 BC. The Cross of St. Columba is also known as the Celtic cross, Ionic cross, or the Solar cross. The Solar cross, thought to represent the sun god Taranis, could be the earliest version. In Ireland this cross is known as St. Columba’s cross because the cross is said to have been brought to Ireland and its newly converted Celts to Christianity by St. Columba. The Ionic cross refers to the Isle of Iona where St. Columba started his monastery. However one may refer to this design or its origin, most can agree the design is beautiful and timeless.
Celtic Tree of Life
If anyone has ever read a book or watched a movie that had magical trees, trees that come alive, or trees with secret doorways that lead to mysterious places, the origin of those ideas can be credited to the Celtic people. Trees were a very large part of the Celts spiritual and daily life. Celts regarded trees as their source of food, protection from the elements, provider of materials to build shelters, and a source of warmth when making a fire with its wood.
The Celtic alphabet, Ogham was written in homage of trees as each letter of the alphabet represents a particular tree. Early creation stories include the vital role trees played in life and death of humans. Trees were thought to be the ancestors of mankind with a higher wisdom and an entrance to the heavens or home of the Celtic gods. It is easy to imagine how the Celts, walking through a massive forest, hearing the leaves rustle, could equate trees and the forest with an omnipotent being. From that belief we are left with a powerful symbol of the tree of life.