"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical
substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed." -C.G. Jung
Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so
long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the
practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying
love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles
have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness
and homecoming.
The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as
the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and
celebration. In addition, the circle in rock art, sacred stone arrays,
and astrology represents both the Sun and the Moon, themselves
astrological and alchemical symbols for the masculine and feminine
aspects of the cosmos. This correspondence with the Sun and Moon is
emphasized by the frequent practice of choosing gold for one betrothed
and silver for the other, as gold and silver are the metals long
associated with the Sun and Moon respectively.
Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted
rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for
the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in
traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding
rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic
practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.
The widespread tradition of embellishing the plain gold or silver
wedding band with various designs and patterns has been known since at
least 700 AD, in both Pan-Hellenic and Celtic cultures. The quite
ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the serpent which consumes its own
tail, was a theme used for wedding rings made of iron in Rome. The
auroboros itself is a symbol of the oneness of creation and destruction
in renewal, and the life principle which timelessly feeds on its own
inspiration. It also represents the hope for a lifelong marriage union
that's continually renewed.
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