"It is a world centre and therefore
a point of communication between heaven and earth and a cosmic axis, thus sharing
the symbolism of the cosmic tree, mountain, etc. The cross represents the Tree
of Life and the Tree of Nourishment; it is also a symbol of universal, archetypal
man, capable of infinite and harmonious expansion on both the horizontal and
vertical planes; the vertical line is the celestial, spiritual and intellectual,
positive, active and male, while the horizontal is the earthly, rational, passive,
and negative and female, the whole cross forming the primordial ANDROGYNE.
[In Christian terms], it is the salvation through Christ's sacrifice; redemption;
atonement; suffering; faith. The cross also signifies acceptance of death or
suffering and sacrifice" (Cooper, 46). Crossroads are often thought of as symbolizing
points of intersection between the paths of living and the dead;and as a framework
for coordinates, the cross gives people the ability to orient themselves within
space and time. Acts as an amulet against danger, weapon against monster, even
devil.
Many crosses besides the normally thought of Christian one: Simple (orientation
on a plane surface), St. Andrew's (union of the Upper and Lower worlds), Arrow-head
(centrifugal/away from the center forces), doubled (parallel forces), Maltese
(centripetal forces), Templars (forces around a circumference), Teutonic (four
triangles, centripetal tendency), Ovals (continuous movement), Knobbed extremeties
(four Cardinal Points of space).
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