Ring

The ring is a symbol of union and/or a bond to something or someone. It can represent a conscious, positive commitment (such as the union of marriage); but it can also symbolize an unwanted, compulsive bond, a fetter, or a symbol of being trapped in an evil Circle. In The Lord of the Rings, a story full of archetypal images, these qualities are obvious and central; the story is essentially about being ensnared by the power of a ring and the struggle to free oneself from its grip. Giving or receiving a ring in a dream can symbolize the establishment of a covenant.  

The perfect, round shape of the ring suggests (like the circle) completion, totality, and can refer to the Self – that which holds things together; the union of opposites.  

In folklore, the symbolic bond is expressed as being tied to something. A ring, for example, could prevent the soul from leaving the body. Just as a knot, the ring was often seen as a magical fetter. In rituals and on sacred sites, it has often been forbidden to wear a ring (or have a knot in one's clothing).

Just as the ring could be used to hold something in place, it was also used to keep something away (like evil spirits). One could wear a ring as a protective amulet.

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