Symbol Of The Native American Cross Necklace

By Tammie Caldwell


It is a habit of some people to wear jewelry with symbols that they do not fully understand. While this can be excused for a teenager wearing a giant pentacle and thinking it refers to the Devil, but adults who adorn themselves in mysterious symbolism run the risk of looking foolish. This is also true with those who wear a Native American cross necklace, having done no research in order to understand what it means.

The symbolism of intersecting lines can vary from one tribe to another, making research on the subject a bit daunting. However, if one intends to wear such a piece, being able to answer questions they may get from friends and family shows that they cared enough to learn about the Mississippian tribal people known as the Mound Builders. While the symbol appears to have originated from this group, it is still widely used among various tribes to this day.

The ancestors of this land were a deeply spiritual group of people, and they created artwork and symbolism for ritualistic purposes. They incorporated various symbols into each other in order to expand the meanings attributed to their cave paintings. This incorporation of symbols to show meaning is the origin of what we would now call an alphabet, and these natives were one of the first societies to develop a written language.

To these Mound Builders, this symbol represented the barrier between the land of the dead or Underworld, the physical world, and the upper world, or Heaven. Some of their artwork showed this symbol coming together in a circle. Within that circle was the symbol again, in the center, showing how these four worlds, or dimensions, intersect.

The Celts used a very similar symbol in their artwork, often connecting realms with their Celtic knots. The meaning to the Celts was very similar to some of the tribes in that it was depicting the cardinal points as well as the four elements. The elemental connection is a symbolism which was sacred to most all ancient human societies.

Many people know this symbol as the Medicine Wheel, which is frequently seen in modern artwork. The term Medicine Wheel was given by the settlers who came to the Americas from Europe, and was not a term used by the Natives at all. The wheel is often seen with four separate colors which vary greatly among differing tribes and family clans.

Within the circle, it may represent continuity, perfection, or infinity. When such artwork is made with colors, each arm or quadrant of the wheel has a particular color that can correspond to a cardinal direction or an element. When seen with the four colored quadrants, it becomes quite clear that it is the same as the Swastika symbol that originated from the ancient Hindu people.

The meanings and spiritual attributes vary greatly from tribe to tribe. However, anyone can utilize this symbolism for their own spiritual purposes. When one wears such an adornment, it would show great respect to have their piece represent four attributes that they choose for themselves.




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