Awen Symbol Meaning | Symbolism in Celtic Art.
Awen symbol meaning and symbolism with a picture and a definition of "the three rays of the sun". Our site is dedicated to Celtic symbol meanings. We also draw custom Celtic art.
 
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Meaning of the "Rays of the Sun"
 
The 3 Rays
The right ray represents the Male forces in the material world, known as "E". The left ray represents female forces in the material world, known as "O". The Center ray is called "Ah, and stands for the balance in which nature enforces on these two opposing elements. The three rays of the Sun (Awen symbol) symbolize divine inspiration.
 
Awen
'Awen' derives from the Indo-European root "uel", which means 'to blow', which is the same root as the Welsh word 'Awel' which means 'breeze'. Awen is the breath of the divine which gives inspiration; the wind of the spirit. There is also a parallel word 'ai' in Irish, which also means 'poetic inspiration'. It derives from the same ancient root.
The word Awen in the Gaelic language means "inspiration," or "essence". It means poetic inspiration (traditional) or spiritual illumination (modern). The three parts of the Awen symbol represent the balance of opposites - the right ray represents male, the left ray represents female; the center ray represents their harmonious balance. In Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion, a collection of traditional Welsh Arthurian tales, the symbol is referred to as the "Bardic symbol". It is said to represent the entirety of the Celtic Ogham alphabet, which was discovered by the Welsh hero Menw. In reality, the emblem was most likely conceived by the eighteenth century poet Iolo Morganwg, and written in his book of purported Druidic philosophy, which was later discovered to be illegitimate.

Awen is a Welsh word. It is historically used to describe the divine inspiration (or poetic inspiration) of the Bards in the Welsh poetic tradition. The first recorded reference to the Awen occurs in Nennius' Historia Brittonum (a Latin text of circa 796 CE which was based on earlier writings by the Welsh monk, Gildas).

Modern Druidic Interpretations
The Awen symbol is not a symbol of ancient Druidry. It is, however associated with several modern groups. Many different modern druidic/Bardic groups and individuals have their own unique interpretation of the Awen Symbol.

In modern druidism the Awen symbol term is symbolized by an emblem that shows three straight lines that spread apart as they move downward. It is often drawn within a circle or a series of circles of varying thickness, usually with a dot, or point, on top of each line. The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids describes the three lines as rays emanating from three points of light. They define those points as representing the aspect of triple deity and the points that the sun rises on the equinoxes and solstices (known as the triad of sunrises). The OBOD (Order of Bards Ovates and Druids) surrounds the symbol with three circles which represent the three circles of creation.

The three lines relate to earth (body / love), sea (mind / wisdom) and air (spirit / wisdom and truth). Some say that "Awen stands for not simply inspiration, but for inspiration of truth; without Awen one cannot proclaim truth". There are three foundations of Awen; love of truth, the understanding of truth, and the maintaining of truth. The rays also stand for the first three ogham letters (see ogham alphabet): I, O, and U from which it is believed that all the other letters evolved from.

Other Examples
The Wales Millennium Centre (in Cardiff, Wales) has two lines of poetry on the front of the building which read "Creu gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais Awen" which translates: "creating truth like glass from inspiration's furnace".
 
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