The Origin of the Celtic Cross
The sky and wind remind us of Heaven and Spirit all around us.
Spirit is also in the earth, water, fire, trees, animals and rocks. The 4 sacred elements often used in European and Western cultures are Air, Water, Fire and Earth. According to most ancient traditions that honor the four elements, each is associated with a particular cardinal direction, North, South, East or West.
In keeping with the traditions of the various earth-based religions, most rituals and ceremonies call in or invoke the spirits of the four directions, which depending on the tradition, correspond to a specific element. We are speaking of mostly Pagan religions and belief systems, i.e. Wicca, Native American Shamanism, Taoism, Buddhism, Astrology, etc.
When used in a sacred geometry context, we normally see this represented in a circle divided into 4 quadrants or a cross. Along with the four elements and the four directions, we add on the four seasons which also correspond to a direction and an element. Then we look at the center of the cross, or where the elements and the spirit of the directions and seasons intersect or share in common. This is the point where Heaven meets Earth and is the center of Man’s existence.
