July 2017 - Safe Travels

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While working on the Hart of the forest last year I enjoyed working on the face side with the swallow, but really wished I could have gone full color. It really doesn't work for that coin or that story so I decided to revisit it about a year down the trail. This time I'm diving into the symbolism of the Barn Swallow. The humble swallow has been a omen of safe travel both over land and sea for about as long as humans have been around. Carvings, tattoos, ornaments and so on continuously portray the swallow as a symbol of safe travel and successful homecomings throughout history. From the earliest recorded history of northern European lands to modern day naval seaman, the runes and symbols of safety are a integral part of traveler's lives.   

On the face side, the swallow with scissor-like tail spread full whips through the sky trailing a bit of ribbon with the ancient Norwegian blessing of safe travels "Ha En God Tur" over a background of the ancient Vegvisir, itself an ancient symbol of travel and navigation. Lower layers use a pattern recreated from an ancient golden disk brooch from the 6th-7th century era on display at the Liverpool Museum. Bracketing the entire edge are ancient Futhark binding runes of fortune in travel.  

On the reverse, a binding rune based on Anglo-Saxon rune Raido for travel is centered and surrounded by a flock of barn swallows flitting about two of the monikers the swallow has been charged with; "Bringer of Hope" and "Binder of Travel". The flourishes are inspired by the ancient Scribe Godeman's work on the The Benedictional of St. Æthelwold, a book of liturgical blessings considered the most important surviving work of the Anglo-Saxon Winchester School of illumination.