This pattern, named after Ireland's most celebrated Abbotress Bridget or female saint , but Bridge or Bridget also affiliated to the triple goddess dates to before Christian times , this pattern I first found carved in the Shandwick Stone (Scotland ) , but was later used in the 6th - 8th Century manuscript, the Book of Kells. The pattern is one line forming four quadrants as protectorants, protecting North, South, East and West and is surrounded by a circle symbolic of the sun or the circle of life , the circle surrounding represents continuity.