Cross

A cross may have private associations for you. On the other hand, the cross is such an ancient symbol that its meaning in a dream may have come from the collective - not the personal - unconscious (for this distinction).

(1) It may mean simply ‘no-go’: that something in your life has come to an end; or that it ought to come to an end. Look deeper into yourself for new directions, in both senses of the word.

(2) It may be a crossroads sign.

See also Crossroads.

(3) Is the cross in the dream a burden? If so, don’t be too ready to accept the notion that crosses have to be borne. Discover what it is in your life or in yourself that constitutes a ‘cross’, and then remove it - dissolve it with a proper self-love. Burdens prevent you from reaching your full stature as a person.

(4) The cross may be a symbol of death. It may be that your present self, or something in you, must ‘die’ as a necessary prelude to new and fuller life.

(5) It may be a symbol of martyrdom. Is the martyrdom something you feel as an oppressive and crippling restraint, or is it self-imposed? These are not absolute alternatives: what is consciously felt as an undeserved punishment may be unconsciously self-inflicted - for some imagined guiltiness.

(6) A crucifix (cross with the crucified one fastened to it) will carry the symbolism of crucifixion, which may be either martyrdom (as in (5) above), or severe restraining of‘bodily^ or ‘earthly5 desires. Alternatively, it may represent extreme neglect of some psychic component or function (for repression and suppression). Decide whether your unconscious is recommending or protesting against the rcpression / suppression, and act accordingly.

(7) The Greek cross, having all four arms of equal length, may symbolize wholeness: the unified psyche - the unification of conscious and unconscious. (The union of opposites is represented by the vertical and horizontal lines of the cross; wholeness is represented by the way the arms reach out to embrace reality in all directions.) See also Mandala

Until around AD 33, the cross was a symbol of punishment, as well as being a simple symbol of connection. Since that time, the cross has become a powerful symbol of religion, but it also indicates the challenges and tribulations that you face in life. The most obvious connection the majority of us make is with the cross on which Jesus died.

If you are religious and focus on the pain and suffering of Jesus, the cross could mean that you feel there are great burdens in your life that are almost too much to bear. You are being crucified—tortured— for the things in which you believe. The pain is unwarranted but you bear it all the same, and are seeking for a way to handle your problems. Yes, there may be troubles, but if you approach them with a joyful spirit and optimism, you will find a path through them. Your dreaming mind is telling you that you have the spiritual strength within you to overcome any hurdle.

If you are not religious, the cross could stand for a power in your life over which you have no control or that is trying to influence you. It could mean that you have a certain path you wish to take, but that forces are preventing you from taking that path. The cross may also represent something in your life that is wrong or forbidden, or something you need to cross off a list.

If the cross is upright as in +, this suggests correctness and self-assertion; but if the cross is in the shape of an x, it represents reaching out and wholeness.

The cross is a symbol present in all cultures, therefore, it has multiple references. There are many types and each of them refers to its own meaning. For example, the Greek cross (with four arms of equal length) expressed wholeness; Native Americans used to draw crosses to represent the partition of the universe. For Christians, it means suffering, martyrdom, death, and sacrifice. In general, you can see, in its most simple representation, the four cardinal points and the image of the human body with arms outstretched. In the first case, you should interpret this dream as the need to make a decision on an issue makes you worried. However, if you link the cross to the human body this symbol suggests that you need to restore balance, as well as being consistent with yourself.

From a mystical point of view, the cross symbolizes the division nature in four sets: four seasons, four directions, four elements... Formerly, the cross contained the ideal human body.

It is also associated with the power of arboreal life.