Much of the St Justin collection features designs inspired by history, which are rich in spiritual meaning. Here, we explore some of our favourites — thoughtful pieces that make especially meaningful gifts for occasions such as Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas.

Celtic Knots

The Celts used knotwork to decorate many of their artefacts. The intricate patterns woven into knots developed during the 5th to 7th centuries CE. The endless knot designs were a continuous thread that symbolised the continuity of life.

Some knots are also created with specific meaning, such as:

Mother & Child Knot

The Celtic Motherhood Knot is a stylized holy trinity knot depicting a parent and child embrace, representative of the Madonna and child. Combined with a Celtic trinity knot it is a true testament to the enduring bond between a mother, her child, faith and their Celtic heritage.

Spirals

Celtic spirals can be traced back 7000 years. Clockwise and anticlockwise spirals represent the inner and outer evolution of the spirit respectively. In the seasonal calendar these relate to winter and summer, the year being polarised into light and dark seasons. In Celtic belief this translates to the theme in which one always moves from the darkness into the light.

Runes

The runic alphabet is believed to have developed in northern Europe around 200BC. Each one of our examples comprises several runic symbols, all centred around the runic symbol, which is said to perpetuate the power of others to give sustained benefits:

Love

This bind rune helps to preserve a loving relationship by combining the powerful energies of Gebo and Wunjo, to create a partnership giving success and pleasure.

Protection

The splayed hand of Algiz is warding off adverse forces and combines with Sowulo the life-force, enabling the wearer to generate inner strength.

Peace & Happiness

Total harmony with life is promoted by Wunjo which is combined with Berkana and Kano to dispel negative energies and bring happiness into the home.

Safe Travel

The talisman for travellers is Radio which is ascribed to the god Thor. When combined with Algiz, for protection, the result is a powerful bind rune for safe travel.

Chakra

In the Hindu tradition, a chakra is a physical, mental and emotional energy centre. Our seven chakra centres are arranged to govern our bodily functions, feelings and thought processes. Keeping our chakras well balanced is the way to health and harmony.

Tree of Life

The tree of life is a central archetype in many of the world’s religions. It is regarded as the cosmic tree connecting all forms of creation. The Celts associated the tree with Lugh who was skilled in all arts – they saw sacred trees as living bridges between worlds.

Roots = underworld

Trunk = human world

Branches = heavens

Furthermore, the Celtic Tree of Life symbolized balance, harmony, and continuity of nature. In Christianity, the tree appears in Genesis as the tree of knowledge and source of eternal life.

Triple Moon

The Triple Moon is a powerful spiritual and symbolic emblem, it represents the moon in three phases symbolising divine feminine power and three physical stages in life – maiden, mother and crone

Waxing – Maiden

• Youth, beginnings, curiosity
• Independence and new opportunities
• Springtime energy and growth

Symbolizes potential and self-discovery.

Full – Mother

• Fertility, creation, nurturing
• Power, abundance, emotional fullness
• Protection and manifestation

Represents maturity and life-giving energy.

Waning – Crone

• Wisdom, intuition, endings
• Transformation and inner knowledge
• Rest, death, and rebirth cycles

Associated with spiritual insight and ancestral wisdom.

Hares

The hare is a sacred symbol for the moon. It symbolises fertility, longevity and abundance. In our Celtic history the Goddess Eostre (Ostara) was closely associated with the hare and the rebirth of nature in Spring.

Eye of Horus

The Eye of Horus is one of the best-known symbols of ancient Egypt. Known also as the Wadjet, this magical symbol is believed to provide protection, health, and rejuvenation. Due to its powerful protective powers, the Eye of Horus was popularly used by the ancient Egyptians, both the living and the dead, as amulets. Even today, the Eye of Horus continues to be used as a symbol of protection, healing, good health and royal power!