ORIGINS OF THE CROSS
In all the history of the world's Divine Saviours, they share the esoteric meaning of the cross. They are all similar in that they represent the Creative Principle (Divine Spirit) crucified upon the cross of matter.
The cross is not Christian in it's origins, though it was adopted by Christianity for its own symbolism. The cross is a universal symbol found throughout the ancient world upon their artifacts, temples, and tablets. In centuries BCE, the actual City of Nicea was designed in the form of a cross. Centuries later, the Aztecs used the cross as their symbol as well.
If you look at man himself, standing straight up with arms outstretched, we can see a living symbol of this cross and it's mythical model. The mythical cross is cosmic in origin, not human. The significance of this cross is not because a man or Saviour was crucified upon it. In fact the myths of all Saviours say they were crucified upon a cross. There is significance and deep symbolism to this, and it is not intended to be merely a literal historical wooden cross with nails.
The cross, like everything in Christian scriptures, is based upon Pagan Mythology. In fact, Christianity did not choose the cross until more than 300 after after the recorded crucifixion of Jesus as it's representative symbol. It had used the swastika, another ancient symbol for creative motion. The original word is Sanskrit and was suastika - meaning "good, being, well." Later, a lamb was used as the symbol representing Aries. Ultimately, the "crucifix" (the man nailed to and hung upon a cross) replaced it all among the Roman Church as it does today. A symbol of suffering and death rather than enlightenment and illumination, as was its original intent.
In ancient times, there were planetary and zodiacal meanings. 12 Stations of the Zodiac, in Greece there were "12 Labours of Hearacles," and in Egypt "12 tortures." The initiates into the Inner Mysteries of the hidden Wisdom had to suffer before he would be given the Sacred Tau, the cross of the hierophant (ancient priest).
The seven major miracles are identical with the seven days of creation in the first book of the Bible - Genesis (meaning beginning or birth). This is Cosmology or Astrotheology ... heaven and God in the stars, skies, and planetary actions. As above, so below. As within, so without. As evolving, so involving. The story of creation was written in the stars by Pagan Mystics long before Christianity. See the 12 Houses of the Zodiac (12 Apostles) surrounded by the Sun of God (Christ/Sun) and you see much of where all the spiritual myths were derived.
The cross, from the sky-view (heavens/Ouranos) ... the constellation Crux – otherwise called the Southern Cross – can be seen from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere and from tropical and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
There is much more than can be covered on this subject but far too much for one review. We haven't even touched upon the Egyptian Ankh and it's metaphysical meanings and symbols. It is the Key of Life. We will go into more details in another chapter.
Just a thought ...
~Justin Taylor, ORDM.
