Claddagh Love

Since yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day, I felt like writing about something related to Ireland, so I've chosen to write about the claddagh.

Named after an Irish fishing village, the claddagh has become a symbol of love and endurance for the Irish people. I am not Irish myself, but I've worn a claddagh ring on almost a daily basis since I was in 12th grade, which is now nearly 8 years ago. Boy, did I ever get older. But anyways, on to the ring.

The design of the ring is what first drew me to inquiring what it was. Noticing rings on the hands of several friends, I later looked up the meaning of the ring and why it was worn. Delighted with what I read about the history and symbolism behind the design, I looked online (as there was nowhere nearby to purchase such a ring) and bought one for myself. From then on a claddagh ring has been a permanent fixture on my right ring finger, and sometimes my left, depending on how I feel.

The symbolism behind this ring really resonated with me because I especially love wearing jewelry that has meaning to me. Personal significance makes jewelry so much more for me, and the claddagh ring was just perfect. It fit with me both emotionally and, in a way, spiritually.
I was in my last year of high school and taking my first journey into Wicca. I felt my life changing drastically, moving up another level of life, and so I wanted to have a token that I could look at to remind me of the steps I would be taking closer to adulthood and my own path.

The claddagh design is two hands holding a crowned heart, meaning love (heart), loyalty (crown), and fidelity (hands). At the time I found that claddagh rings existed, this symbolism really made sense to me as something I was lacking slightly in myself. I didn't have good self-esteem and had issues with my appearance (I still do), so I saw this ring as a message to my inner self about what I needed to bring into my life. I needed more self-love, to be loyal to my own thoughts and views of the world, and fidelity to finding my path in life and my own true self.

Looking back, I still need all those things in my life. My life is still changing and new steps are being taken everyday. My future is still ahead, with new things beginning and old things ending everyday. That is why I am still in love with the claddagh, and why that ring will still be on my fingers until they are wise with age.