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Introduction
As fans of Charmed would have known, the Triquetra (try-KET-ra, Latin for "three cornered") represents the "Power
of Three"the combined magical powers of the Halliwell sisters.
The Triquetra is on the cover on the Book of Shadows, a family heirloom that had been passed down generation to generation
of the Warren witch-line, containing tons of spells, vanquishing instructions and biographies of demons, warlocks, magical
beasts and folk.
The Halliwells might be surprised to learn that the Triquetra also appears on the Christian Bible, New King James Version,
in real life. It may come as no surprise too, that there are some angry Christians out there who feel that the witches have
stolen their symbol although real life Wiccans claim that they had it first.
The real story
Here are the two current viewpoints (aside from the television version) of what the Triquetra symbolizes:
Christian Symbolism:
The Triquetra represents the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The unbroken circle represents eternity.
The interwoven nature of the symbol denotes the indivisibility and equality of the Holy Trinity. It symbolizes that the Holy
Spirit is three beings of power, honor, and glory but is indivisibly one God.
Pagan/Wiccan/Goddess Symbolism:
The Triquetra represents the threefold nature of the Goddess as virgin, mother and crone.
It symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The inner three circles
represent the female element and fertility.
Many cultures and religions consider the number three to be holy or divine. The symbol of three interlocking circles has
been found on 5000 year old Indian religious statuary. We see lots and lots of threes if we just look around. The Triquetra
symbol itself dates as early as the eighth century on carved stones in northern Europe. A Norse rune known as the Odin Knot
or Val Knot resembles it almost exactly. But who had it first, the pagans or the Christians?
To know for sure, we would have to find a Triquetra that positively pre-dates Christianity. Since this hasn't happened
yet, we're in a bit of a pickle. Maybe it originated with the pagans or maybe with the Christians. Maybe it's one of those
universal signs like the cross and the triangle that pop up in cultures irrespective of one another. The pagans have a few
points in their favour, however.
The early Christians freely "appropriated" many pagan symbols, rituals, and holidays and took them as their
own. The Mandorla, the Christians' sacred almond, was originally a pagan feminine symbol signifying fertility. The Christians
changed it to one representing virginity and purity. It is pictured in early Christian art as the almond-shaped halo of Christ.
So it's quite possible that the early Christians adopted the Triquetra, an interlocking triple Mandorla, also. In the final
analysis, maybe the origin isn't nearly as important as its meaning to the group, or the individual.
In conclusion, whether you're pagan, Christian, or simply a fan of Charmed, you may choose to believe what you want to
believe.
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