Amulets by Merlin's Blog

I met my friend Kevin in the late 80s.
Among his many talents,
he creates Knot work designs.
Kevin typically creates very complex,
free form knots
and then tools them into leather
for his garb
for the Society of Creative Anarchism
(SCA)
of which he is a part.

The Celtic Cross of Joy

Unlike the typical border work
of a more standard,
symmetrical knot,
Kevin’s style is to create broad sweeps
and then tiny inter-weaving
to populate a design
or free form shape.
Creating knots of one,
two and three strands,
depending on the use of the knot
and can become very complex
because One is not using any formulas
or pre-made patterns.

I had asked him to design a cross for me
and he smiled.
“I will design this knot
and teach you how it is done
so long as we call the amulet:
“Joy”,
for my friend” he told me.
He had not seen her in years
yet wanted to dedicate the design to her.

He drew it in one sitting:
smiling the entire time.

It is an eternal knot:
one strand from beginning to end
forming a cross
with the circle of spirit in the center:
the “Empty Cross” (He is Risen) design.
Though Catholic:
“she won’t mind” he told me;
“Think of it as a compromise.”
Kevin isn’t Christian!

And so I present to you a
cross dedicated
to friendship
and Joy.