This ring is designed with Nordic-Celtic symbols. THe symbol on the Onyx is The Helm Of Awe which was so important in Nordic culture and symbols and the sy,bols on the wooden ring stirrup are symbolic knots and two Runic alphabets.
But what are the meanings the Knots? why their rule is so important in the universal symbols? and why in the art of every tradition and culture we can find them?
This symbol which is the loops and spiral and unbroken lines and their connections, is known as an important symbol in different traditions, especially in the traditions in Europe continent. We can see the usage of this symbol in Europe, in Celtic art which can be found from Anatolia to Ireland, Northern European tribes and peoples (like Vikings) art and and the art of Celtic Christianity or Irish Christianity that was in the north of Britain till the 11th century.
These lines, which are equal to the thread, may double back on themselves so as to form intertwining or knots or entanglements, each of these knots represents the point of operation of the forces that determine the condensation and the cohesion of an ‘aggregate’ corresponding to this or that state of manifestation, so that it could be said that it is this knot which maintains the being in the state in question, and that its ‘undoing’ immediately brings about the being’s death to that state. This is what a term such as ‘vital knot’ expresses very clearly.
These bonds and knots have different meanings at the same time and the knots relating to different states are represented all at once and permanently in the symbolic drawing and none of them violates or opposes the other meaning, and this is one of the characteristics or qualities of the symbols that have multiple meanings at the same time. One of the meanings of these lines and knots is which makes of the bond a fetter or shackle, it is because this is the viewpoint of the manifested being because of it is manifested and as such insofar as he considers himself as ‘attached’ to certain special conditions of existence and as enclosed by them within the limits of his contingent state and hence the meaning of the knot is generally seen as a reinforcement of that of the bond and the knot represents still more precisely that which fixes the being in a determined state, and it can be said that, the portion of the bond by which the knot is formed is, is the only thing that the being can see of the bond so long as he incapable of extricating himself from the limits of this state, and the connection that this bond and thread establishes with other states is necessarily hidden from it's view.
a bond can be conceived as that which fetters or as that which unites, and even in ordinary language the word has both these meanings. a being, according to his spiritual degree, can evaluate the state in which he happens to be. the word ‘attachment’. In fact, if one experiences attachment for someone or something, one naturally considers it an evil or ominous to be separated from it in any case, even if in reality this separation must entail the emancipation from certain limitations in which one finds oneself in virtue of this very attachment. More generally, the attachment of a being to his state, at the same time that it prevents him from freeing himself from the fetters that are inherent in this state, makes him consider it a misfortune to leave it or in other terms, it makes him attribute a ‘malefic’ character to death to this state, death resulting from the rupture of the ‘vital knot’ and the dissolution of the aggregate that constitutes his individuality. Only the being who has enough spiritual development to enable him to aspire, on the contrary, to a passage beyond the conditions of his state can realize these conditions as the fetters or shackles that in fact they are. Thus the ‘detachment’ that he henceforth experiences with regard to them is already, at least virtually, a rupture of these fetters, or, to put it differently and perhaps more exactly, for there is never a rupture in the strict sense of the word, a transmutation of that which fetters into that which unites, which is based on recognizing or becoming aware of the line that leads to the principle.
In ritual and more particularly magical applications, according to the situation, the auspicious (benefic) or ominous (malefic) intention and usage of knots and bonds is corresponding to the dualism view and double meaning of bonds and knots. Although these interpretations that know these symbols just magical are insufficient and sb because of lack of complete awareness and total failure to understand the profound significance and the meaning of symbols, settles for these interpretations and these interpretations and failure are like sociological interpretations, inverse the relationship between the principle and it's contingent applications.
In another meaning, these lines also unite the multiple states and all levels of existence among themselves and also their principle and origin, and in this case they are far from being fetters, and they are sth which the being can actually rejoin his Principle by themselves, so those threads will have axial value and represent the process of returning to the principle.
These lines which both from the macrocosmic and from the microcosmic (all the universe and beings expect humans) and the Microcosm (Microcosm is a sampling of the Macrocosm, and therefore, whoever knows the human truly, that is, Microcosm, then he knows the whole world or Macrocosm and the different levels of the human or Microcosm correspond to the different levels of the world or Macrocosm and the famous slogan of the believers in Microcosm-macrocosm analogy is that: "As in the sky, so on the earth") point of view links all the states of existence one to another and to their Principle, and this is a path along which the being has to go from one end to the other in order to reach his goal.
When the different knots that are related to different states of existence are all seen and represented all at once, simultaneously and permanently in the symbolic pattern, is related to the idea that all states are considered simultaneously and these lines are the forces that determine the entire structure of the universe.
These spiral lines, endless loops and knots devoid of a clear start or finish represent eternity, mirroring the cyclical nature of seasons, solar cycle, life, death and rebirth.
In the other usages of these knots and loops, these lines are connected with love, frameworks and maze.
Helm of Awe (Old Norse: Ægishjálmr):
And after all what is This famous symbol in Nordic-Celtic tradition?
I mean The Helm Of Awe, The engraved on on the black Onyx.
The Helm of Awe is a runic symbol and spell, and they were carved or painted onto objects for them to take effect. These objects could be pillars, pieces of bark, bones, dirt, or even parts of the body.
These symbols can be found on Runestones and other memorials of Viking age but there is nothing in Viking age explains them and they didn’t express them. The Runes never really used for literature and there isn’t any poem that is written with Runes and there are only some inscriptions and short sentences which are written with Runes.
We have not so much information to realize what was actually the meanings of these Norse symbols even we can’t understand the meanings completely by searching the history and the context of Vikings’ culture. There is a way that maybe can help us to understand the meanings of these Norse symbols and it’s comparing these Norse symbols with other similar symbols which used in other traditions because actually the symbols are universal language and usually the similar symbols in different traditions have same meanings like the same meaning of numbers in different traditions (Like the way that has used in the researches about the symbol of bond and knots).
Helm of Awe is the Symbol of protection strength and courage and it has been used to strike fear into the enemy and the warriors painted this symbol on their forehead and between the eyebrows (inked the forehead) before going to the battle. According to Icelandic folktales by Jon Armasoin in nineteen century the symbol could be made from lead and pressed into the space between the eyebrows and the user would then recite the formula:
I bear the helm of awe between my brows!
Also there are some sources and manuscripts around 1500-1600 AD in Iceland that prove these tips which also show joined Christian and Nordic Pagan elements.
