The Eternal/Endless Knot

By Karen Sutherland

An artistic tribute to the ties that bind all of us together
Image provided by Karen Sutherland

For my journey stone I have chosen to represent my spiritual journey by using one of the eight buddhist auspicious symbols: The Eternal/Endless Knot.The Endless Knot has no beginning or end, it symbolises the infinite wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. It represents the endless movement of time and the eternal continuum of the mind. The interlaced design also represents the interconnectedness of all beings on earth. It is a symbol of saṃsāra, the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth according to Buddhist beliefs. It is a reminder of cause and effect and one's links to one's karmic fate. In other words, if you pull here, something will happen there...This symbol also appears in Celtic culture and is thought to symbolise the eternity of life. I love the idea that the same symbolic sacred geometry appears in different cultures, it reinforces the idea of interconnectedness. I have used the sun at the top of the knot to represent awakening/enlightenment.

Many thanks to Karen Sutherland for sharing with us the story behind her journey stone, created as part of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.

WHAT IS A JOURNEY STONE?

Prior to the beginning of the stitching of each tapestry panel, each stitcher of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands was tasked with telling their interpretation of the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' within a blank outline of a stone. The possibilities were truly endless - is it represented in the land? The people? A historical site? A favourite memory?

In any case, each journey stone represents the connection between each individual stitcher, their story, and their own sense, or 'spirit', of place. Discover more of the stories behind the journey stones of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands here.