Okay, so I was going through a bit of a rough patch, you know? Felt like I needed a boost, something to remind myself to keep going, be strong. I started thinking about symbols, like visual reminders.
Starting the Search
So, I just kinda started looking around online, typing in stuff like “symbols for strength”. Got a lot of the usual things, lions, eagles, fists, that sort of stuff. Nothing really clicked, felt a bit… generic? Too aggressive maybe. I wanted something deeper, something with a bit more history behind it.
Then, somehow, I stumbled onto Celtic symbols. I remembered seeing some of those knot designs before, always thought they looked cool and complex. So, I thought, why not dig into that?
Diving into Celtic Stuff
I began looking specifically for Celtic symbols related to strength or courage. It wasn’t super straightforward at first. Lots of different knots and shapes popped up. I spent a good few hours just scrolling through images and reading little bits here and there.
One symbol that kept appearing was the Dara Knot. People said it represented strength. I looked into it more. Found out it’s supposed to look like the root system of an oak tree. The name ‘Dara’ apparently comes from ‘doire’, the Irish word for oak tree. That resonated with me. Oak trees are solid, right? Enduring. And roots, well, that felt like inner strength, being grounded. That made sense.
I also saw the Triskele, or Triskelion, that triple spiral thing. Read that it’s ancient, seen on really old stones in Ireland. It seemed to be more about movement, progress, cycles. Interesting, but not quite the “stand firm” vibe I was looking for right then.
There were others too, of course. People mentioned:
- The Claddagh ring (more about love and friendship, I think)
- Celtic crosses (felt more religious than what I needed)
- Swords (yeah, symbolises power and courage, but again, a bit too much like conflict for my taste at the time)
Finding My Symbol
So, after poking around and reading up, I kept coming back to the Dara Knot. It wasn’t flashy, but the meaning behind it – the connection to the oak tree, the roots digging deep for stability and strength – that really hit home. It felt like the kind of quiet, resilient strength I was trying to tap into.
It wasn’t about fighting, it was about enduring. Being solid. That felt right for me.
What I Did Next
I didn’t get a tattoo or anything dramatic! I just found a clear image of the Dara Knot online. I actually spent some time trying to sketch it myself, just to kind of internalize the shape and the flow of the lines. It’s trickier than it looks!
Mostly, I just saved the image. Kept it on my phone for a bit, looked at it now and then when I felt shaky. It became my little personal reminder. Just knowing about it, understanding its meaning, that was the main thing. It was like having a little secret anchor.
So yeah, that was my little journey into Celtic symbols. Didn’t expect to land on an oak tree knot, but it ended up being exactly what I needed.
