Butterflies are deep and powerful representations of life. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope and transformation. Many cultures associate the butterfly with the soul. In Greek mythology, Psyche (which literally translates to mean "soul") is represented in the form of a butterfly. The Christian religion views the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection. The butterfly was often depicted on ancient Christian tombs and Jesus has been illustrated holding a butterfly in Christian art. To Native Americans, the butterfly is a symbol of change, joy, color, and was considered a miracle of transformation. In Hopi tradition, unmarried girls wore their hair in the shape of butterfly wings to advertise their availability. To the Celts, the butterfly represented transformation, inspiration and rebirth - both in the spiritual and physical realms. The lesson of the butterfly is that it urges us to go beyond what we believe possible to making the impossible the reality. The sword is a symbol of purification. In Christianity the sword deals with protection, righteousness and justice. In Buddhism, the symbolic sword cuts away ignorance. As a Celtic symbol the sword is associated with Nuada, the first king. In fact the kings sword is considered to be one of the four Celtic treasures. Nuada was associated with supernatural forces of the underwater realm. Archaeologists have recovered many ancient Celtic swords under water, believed to be offerings to honor Nuada, offerings which the Celts believed would insure the power and favor of Nuada. I wanted a drawing with Celtic symbolism so this one began as I sketched the Celtic knots within the outline of the butterfly. Then I added the sword, interlacing it with the knots so as to tie together all three symbols. And as I my style, I included numerous Dark Designs (twenty two in all) hidden within the body of the drawing. To me it is an elegant drawing yet strong and complex.
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Gallery of Images
- ALICE
- ANGEL
- BLACK CAT
- BLACK STALLION
- CELTIC COAT OF ARMS
- CELTIC CROSS
- COMPASS ROSE
- DEMON / PHOENIX
- DRAGON - NORSE
- DRAGON - WESTERN
- DRAGONFLY
- DREAM CATCHER
- EAGLE 1
- EAGLE 2
- EGYPTIAN
- ELEPHANT
- EYE OF rA / HORUS
- FAIRY DRAGON RIDER
- FAIRY DREAMS
- FALCON IN FLIGHT
- GRIFFIN
- HIPPOCAMPUS AND THE NEREIDE
- HUMMINGBIRD
- HYDRA
- IRON BUTTERFLY
- JURASSIC PARK
- KRAKEN
- LION
- LIZARD
- MAMMOTH
- MEDUSA I
- MEDUSA II
- MINOTAUR
- ORCA
- PANTHER IN A TREE
- PEGASUS
- PEREGRINE
- RAVEN
- SABER CAT
- SAMURAI
- SIREN OF THE SEA
- TEMPLAR
- TOTEMS of the FIRST PEOPLE
- TREE OF LIFE
- TYRANNOSAURUS REX
- UNICORN
- VAMPIRE
- WOLF
- WYVERN
- ZEBRA
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