The Triskele Symbol in The Book of Witching: Analysis and Meaning

What Is the Triskele? {#what-is-the-triskele}

In The Book of Witching, the Triskele is a three-spiral symbol that operates on two levels: it is an ancient pagan emblem and the name of the clan of magic-wielders who use it as their mark. When Clem first spots the carving on the ceiling of a cave on Fynhallow, she describes it as a large spiral, then another, another, three clustered together, and Quinn guesses it might be a trinity. The symbol is later identified by name when Quinn searches online and finds that a triskele is an ancient pagan symbol meaning life, death, and rebirth as interconnected states.

The symbol is also the namesake of the Triskele, described in the 1594 timeline as the oldest clan of magic-wielders in the world. Alison Balfour, the novel's sixteenth-century protagonist, recognizes the gathering in the fairy glen as a Triskele initiation ceremony—her own mother is leading it, and Alison's children Edward and Beatrice are being initiated. The clan's connection to the symbol is so complete that the two become interchangeable in the narrative: to find the Triskele is to find the symbol, and vice versa.

Where the Symbol Recurs {#where-the-symbol-recurs}

The Triskele appears at several key locations across both timelines, each marking a site of significance to the clan:

The cave ceiling on Fynhallow. Clem and Quinn discover the carving about ten feet above the charred remains of the fire where Arlo died. The image is concealed without torchlight, suggesting deliberate concealment. Clem notes the physical difficulty of carving granite while angling backward or lying down.
The tree trunk in Scarwell Woods. As Clem and Quinn approach the byre where the elders are said to meet, Clem notices three spirals in the shape of a trinity etched into a tree. She compares it to the cave carving and confirms it is exactly like the one in the cave. The symbol marks the threshold of the clan's meeting place.
The fairy glen. In the 1594 timeline, the glen is named for a spiral of rocks that legend says marks where the fae meet. This is where the Triskele holds its initiation ceremony under the Wolf Moon, suggesting the symbol's association with the clan predates the events of the novel.

How the Symbol's Meaning Changes {#how-the-symbols-meaning-changes}

The Triskele's meaning shifts depending on who is reading it and when. For Clem and Quinn in the 2024 timeline, the symbol begins as a mystery—a strange carving that raises more questions than it answers. Ivan, the boatman, dismisses it as probably just kids, a deflection that signals his unwillingness to engage with its significance. When Quinn identifies it as a triskele, the meaning becomes ominous: Clem's stomach flips at the thought that the symbol's association with life, death, and rebirth might mean the fire was a suicide pact.

For the Triskele clan itself, the symbol represents identity and belonging. The man in the poncho tells Clem and Quinn that the Triskele own a lot of the land around here and control a lot of things, warning that people won't like you asking so openly about them. The symbol is not merely decorative; it is a marker of territory and power. No one just joins the Triskele, he says, implying that membership is inherited or chosen by the clan, not sought by outsiders.

In the 1594 timeline, the symbol carries a different weight. For Alison, who left the Triskele, the symbol represents a threat to her family. Her mother insists that nobody leaves the Triskele and that the book knows this too. The symbol is thus tied to an inescapable legacy—a reminder that the clan's reach extends beyond individual choice.

Character Connections {#character-connections}

The Triskele symbol connects several key characters across the two timelines:

Alison Balfour. A former member of the Triskele who left the clan, Alison is horrified to discover her children being initiated. Her mother's insistence that nobody leaves the Triskele suggests that Alison's departure was never truly accepted, and the symbol marks a bond she cannot escape.
Erin. In the 2024 timeline, Erin describes herself as officially a member of the Triskele in a video recorded before the fire. Her enthusiasm—the Triskele are the best, okay?—stands in stark contrast to the warnings Clem and Quinn receive about the clan's secrecy and control.
Clem and Quinn. As investigators, they read the symbol as a clue. Their journey from confusion to recognition mirrors the reader's own understanding of the Triskele's significance.
Edward and Beatrice. Alison's children are initiated into the Triskele against their mother's wishes, making them carriers of the clan's legacy whether they understand it or not.

Theme Connections {#theme-connections}

The Triskele symbol is central to several of the novel's major themes:

Cyclical persecution and supernatural recurrence. The symbol connects the 1594 witchcraft trials to the 2024 events, suggesting that the persecution of magic-wielders is not a historical footnote but an ongoing cycle. The same symbol that marks the clan's power in the sixteenth century marks the site of Arlo's death in the present.
Coercive control and cult indoctrination. Erin's recruitment into the Triskele, and the clan's insistence that no one just joins, points to a system of control that operates through secrecy and inherited obligation. The symbol functions as a brand of membership that cannot be easily shed.
Healing knowledge versus institutional authority. Alison's healing magic—her ability to save Master Netherlee's cattle—is part of the Triskele tradition, yet it places her in conflict with the institutional authority of the church and the king. The symbol represents a body of knowledge that the authorities seek to suppress.
Maternal sacrifice and protective love. Alison's attempts to shield her children from the Triskele, and Clem's desperate search for answers about Erin, both center on mothers trying to protect their children from forces they cannot fully control.

Study Questions {#study-questions}

1. Why does the novel use the same symbol for both the ancient pagan emblem and the modern clan?

The dual use of the Triskele collapses the distance between the 1594 and 2024 timelines. The symbol's ancient origins—its association with life, death, and rebirth—suggest that the clan's power and the persecution it attracts are not new phenomena. By naming the clan after the symbol, the novel implies that the Triskele's influence is as old and as enduring as the emblem itself.

2. What does Clem's reaction to the symbol's meaning reveal about her state of mind?

When Quinn identifies the triskele as a symbol of life, death, and rebirth, Clem's immediate thought is that the fire might have been a suicide pact. This reaction reveals her fear and uncertainty about what happened on Fynhallow, and her willingness to consider the darkest possibilities. It also shows how the symbol's meaning is shaped by the observer's emotional state.

3. How does the Triskele's secrecy in the 2024 timeline compare to its openness in the 1594 timeline?

In the 1594 timeline, the Triskele gathers openly in the fairy glen, conducting initiation ceremonies under the moon. In the 2024 timeline, the clan is secretive and defensive; the man in the poncho warns that people won't like you asking so openly about them. This shift reflects the historical persecution of magic-wielders and suggests that the clan has learned to conceal itself in response to centuries of threat.

4. What role does the symbol play in Alison's relationship with her mother?

The symbol is a point of contention between Alison and her mother. Alison left the Triskele, but her mother insists that departure is impossible. The symbol represents the clan's claim on Alison and her children, and her mother's use of the initiation ceremony to draw Edward and Beatrice into the clan is a direct challenge to Alison's authority as a mother. The symbol thus becomes a marker of the conflict between individual choice and inherited obligation.