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Transition Times
"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."
~ "Psychology and Alchemy", Carl Jung, 1944
This tartan design, shown in black and white, draws inspiration from the heraldic history of Armoric Brittany. Its name, Armor, attributed to the Celts, means "Land of the Sea" and reflects a heritage that may predate even the Celtic language. In this pattern, white symbolizes day and black represents night, capturing the cyclical nature of time as the earth moves between perihelion and aphelion. The shifting proportions of the lines reflect the changing balance of day and night throughout the year, expressing the continuity and fragility of time. The symbolism of night and day is central to the tartan's meaning. Night is portrayed as inert and devoid of meaning, embodying obstacles and distress. In contrast, day represents light, understanding, and action, radiating outward from the center of the design and imbuing the design with movement and dynamism. This tartan's full Breton title, Heolnezva ha Materi, Kelt hag Armor, translating to "Aphelion and Matter, Celt and Armorican," further emphasizes its philosophical symbolism. At this point of the year, the earth's orbit is approaching perihelion, its closest approach to the sun, turning towards light and matter, representing a triumph of reason over chaos. Perihelion generally occurs between Jan 3rd and Jan 4th. This year perhelion will occur on the morning of January 4th. What revelations will this year bring? 🖤 🤍 🖤 💫
Designed by Berner Gwihur Tramoriad, this tartan and it's companion tartan with the colourways reversed has the following register notes:
The design is shown in white and black following the heraldic history of Armoric Brittany whose most ancient known name, Armor, attributed to the celts, means 'Land of sea'. Here the term is taken as a noun or adjective. It may be more ancient than the Celtic language which has claimed it for its own. In the pattern, white represents the day and black the night. The months with the shortest days and longest nights give way to the longest days and shortest nights between the perihelion and the aphelion of the earth’s orbit round the sun. The width of the lines that represents them grows or lessens as one year gives way to another. The continuity and variation of time are shown in this way. We are essentially talking about permanence and fragility, transience. The night is inert, empty of meaning. Symbolically and politically, we can expect nothing from it except to come up against an obstacle, except distress. In contrast, the day tends towards light, comprehension justifying action. It begins at the centre of every design ands spreads out to its edges. Visually the result is movement, dynamism. In this respect, this tartan is dedicated to the civility of people in relation to their collective Celto-Armoric identity, as well as to the materialistic, atheist, secular community and the civilisation that results from it. The breton title means 'Aphelion and matter, Celt and Armorican or Armor'. In the language of symbolism and philosophy, the body submitted to the aphelion turns towards the source of light, matter. Thus in the struggle between the rational victor and the irrational vanquished, this tartan should ideally be worn between the 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th July and the 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th January, the dates varying a little according to the year.
To keep track of aphelion and perihelion during the year, click the artist's conception of the dark year turning to light.