The awen, or “light of three rays,” is not a proper Celtic symbol per se but is included here as a major emblem of modern druidry, employed by many druid organizations. The name awen is drawn from the Welsh, with spiritual connotations of “inspiration” or “essence,” and refers to a traditional ideal of poetic inspiration or divine illumination. The awen emblem consists of three lines, one vertical and two diagonal, arranged so as to have the appearance of a road converging on the horizon.

The Awen and the Barddas

The awen symbol was conceived in the eighteenth century by the Welsh bard Iolo Morganwg, who printed the emblem in the Barddas, his book of purported druidic philosophy. The emblem was taken from an image he found in The Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest's collection of traditional Welsh mythological stories, where it is cited as emblematic of the Celtic Ogham alphabet. Despite some claims to the contrary, the symbol appears in no authentic ancient Celtic context. Nevertheless, Iolo's lyrical philosophical exposition of the meaning of awen has been highly influential.

The awen emblem.

According to a general consensus among modern druid groups, the three parts of the awen symbol represent the three domains of earth, sea, and sky, as well as opposites in harmony. The left and right rays represent, according to the Barddas, a harmonious balance of male and female energy, darkness and light, and so on. Altogether, the symbol represents the divine illumination sought by seekers on the path of the druid.