Description
This is a Celtic Compass necklace. The pendant and chain are sterling silver and it has a small 2.4mm diameter crystal in the center. The pendant is one inch across and it is on a 18″ long chain.
Compass Necklace Meaning
Of course, everyone recognizes the compass as a navigational instrument. It can determine your direction of travel. However, the compass also has been used in jewelry and art very frequently. In this context the compass takes on a symbolic meaning. The primary meaning is that it is a symbol that will help guide you help you find your way. There are two ways to look at this. First, it could be taken literally. Viewed that way, people use it as a good luck charm or protections to help you find your way home, or on a trip. Secondly, it could be figurative. Viewed this way, people treat it as a guide on how to live your life. This is why the compass often symbolizes religious faith. It does not have to be religious faith. It could remind the wearer of any guiding principle.
In addition, the history of the word compass comes from Middle English and Old French. The word comes from Latin “com” which means “equal” and “passus” which means “pace”. Therefore, it roughly means “equal steps” or “measure with steps”.
Finally, Celtic and pagan tradition used the four cardinal directions for many different meanings. Here are a few of the different meanings of the four directions:
- North: Winter, Earth, honor
- South: Summer, fire, creativity
- East: Spring, air, home
- West: Autumn, water, growth, learning
Learn more about the meaning behind common Celtic symbols.
History
Because records are unclear, historians debate where and when sailors first used the compass for navigation. Most likely, they started using the compass for that purpose around 850 or later. However, the earliest records do not appear until closer to 1200. The compass also appeared in records in the Muslim world around the same time. However, the Chinese were the first to discover the magnetic compass many centuries earlier, but they used it for fortune telling. It is unknown when exactly it was invented.
