 St. Patrick utilized the three leafed clover as an illustration of the Christian holy trinity. Each leaf representing: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The three protrusions may also be symbolic of the three theological virtues found in first Corinthians 13:13: Faith, Love, and Hope. Nevertheless, the shamrock was also seen as sacred in the pre-Christian days in Ireland. Due to its green color and overall shape, many viewed it as representing rebirth and eternal life.
We are familiar with it today as an Irish symbol for luck. Hope and luck make very good traveling companions as we begin our journey back to health. We also use it in the context of the Hope Tree as a symbol for the rhythm of life. If we skate along the outer edges swirling back to the center with each revolution it becomes a never ending triptych “figure eight.” In our cancer journey we must always allow our body and sprit to return to center. Here we refill our hearts with hope before we swing out wide once more – ready to fight for our lives. |
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