Does the cross have any meaning in wicca?
I believe so but I’m new so I will let someone else with more knowledge answer that. However, I’m pretty sure it does. I’ve read some things on it but don’t remember exactly. There are crosses like Brigid’s cross where all arms of the cross are equal instead of like
this.
So, in Wicca, there is a Solar Cross but it’s a type of a cross within a circle, much like the astrological symbol for earth
That’s an image of the solar cross in Wicca
- "The Solar Cross symbol is a variation on the popular four-armed cross. It represents not only the sun but also the cyclical nature of the four seasons and the four classical elements. It is often used as an astrological representation of earth
“Seax Wicca is a tradition founded in the 1970s by author Raymond Buckland. It is inspired by the Saxon religion of old but is specifically not a reconstructionist tradition. The symbol of the tradition represents the moon, the sun, and the eight Wiccan sabbats. In Ray Buckland’s book, Signs, Symbols, and Omens, it is mentioned that the solar cross is sometimes referred to as Wotan’s cross. Typically, it is portrayed with a circle in the center of the cross-arms, but not always. Buckland’s Seax Wicca tradition is unlike Wicca’s oathbound and initiatory traditions. Anyone can learn about it, and the tenets of the tradition are outlined in the book, The Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft, which Buckland released in 1974. Seax Wiccan covens are self-sustained and are run by elected High Priests and High Priestesses. Each group is autonomous and makes decisions about how to practice and worship. Typically, even non-members can attend rituals as long as everyone in the coven agrees to it.”
Pagan & Wiccan Symbols - Learn Religions
The cross you are thinking of is normally related to varying religions based on Christianity
I cant help with solely the Wiccan side, but I’m Pagan (childhood was Catholic) and my understanding is that the cross was used to depict a God in a symbol of protection, before it was used in Christianity to depict the crucifixion. From my understanding the cross was a God (or man) with his arms spread in a protective stance.
In historic Paganism, you will often find accounts that the symbol of the cross was placed in fields to protect crops, near homes and farm life, and I believe there is some evidence to show it was sewn into Pagan robes, all believed to be for protective reasons.
Some accounts say the cross was actually a “T” to stand for the Pagan God Tammuz. There is also the Celtic Cross which predates Christianity and is said to depict the four elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water with the circle representing the Sun
Thank you for that information @Abs53! When I looked it up, I specifically searched for Wiccan Cross, so I didn’t go that far into it because she asked about the Wicca religion.
I follow an Irish Celtic path with add ons (back to I’m a witch/pagan) I’m not Wiccan so I do recognize the Celtic Cross in aspects of my practice & with deities I work with too.
I was raised Catholic, but I only know the symbolism & honestly wasn’t a very good Catholic follower. So that particular cross is regularly seen in Christian based religions when Jesus was nailed to the cross & used to ward off evil. I kind of went through the motions because of my family being Roman/Irish Catholic, but once I was confirmed & then had my driver’s license… you were hard pressed to find me in a church of any kind.
A lot of times I have to ask my husband questions… his family was heavily Roman Catholic & from grade 6 to I believe his sophomore year he went the Catholic schools here… he wound up being asked to leave the high school due to some… pranks in high school. His mother worked for the school system of the Archdiocese, so his brothers went through to high school & one of them to a college here.
He sort of had the same feelings towards it as I did, but went to school & the Sunday masses & all the things.
We have actually had some amazing conversations about common symbols that predate Christianity & were kind taken into Christianity… like the pentacle & also one of my deities that got absorbed as a Saint… (St. Brigid)…
As far as other types of paganism… I would have to look into it more, it never really occurred to me to do so before now, minus the Celtic Cross for previous reasons.
Now I’m intrigued though about how the cross is used across other areas of paganism too! I’ll have to talk to my son, he is a Norse pagan. See what he knows about the cross or any cross for his path.
Yay for learning things! I’m on another mission
Thank yall so much. I was very curious since i also want to follow the celtic path and was doing some reading, it just got me wondering.
Oh you are very welcome! I hope through all of that you got something from it that helps you along in your practice. The Wiccan Solar Cross is also the astrological symbol for earth, so that’s what I recognize it as in my practice. Minus its representation of sorts in the Celtic Cross.
Within Wicca itself, I don’t believe so. However, that’s not to say that it can’t have meaning for you if you choose to use it!
In other practices, there are variations of the cross. @Assyla555 mentioned Brighid’s crosses which have different designs and methods to make them.
And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but as happens with others, many Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups have co-opted the solar cross symbol and, depending on context, it is now associated with racism and white supremacy. It’s actually listed as a potential hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
Hate on Display / Celtic Cross
ALTERNATE NAMES: Odin’s Cross, Sun Cross, Wheel Cross
The white supremacist version of the Celtic Cross, which consists of a square cross interlocking with or surrounded by a circle, is one of the most important and commonly used white supremacist symbols. Although usually called a Celtic Cross by white supremacists, its origins date to the pre-Christian “sun cross” or “wheel cross” in ancient Europe. Norwegian Nazis used a version of the symbol in the 1930s and 1940s. After World War II, a variety of white supremacist groups and movements adopted the symbol. Today, this verson of the Celtic Cross is used by neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, Ku Klux Klan members and virtually every other type of white supremacist. It has also achieved notoriety as part of the logo of Stormfront, the oldest and largest white supremacist website in the world.
The Celtic Cross, as typically depicted, is a traditional Christian symbol used for religious purposes as well as to symbolize concepts like Irish pride. As such, it is a very common symbol and primarily used by non-extremists. Most renditions of the traditional Celtic Cross feature an elongated vertical axis (often accompanied by Celtic knotwork) that resembles that of other Christian crosses. Although white supremacists will occasionally use this version of the Celtic Cross, the overwhelming use of this version of the Celtic Cross is non-extremist and, in the absence of other hate symbols, does not denote white supremacy or racism.
It is the short “sun cross” version of the Celtic Cross, surrounded by a circle, that is more commonly used by white supremacists, although even here care must be taken always to judge it in context.
I love you @MeganB… I have always used the Celtic Cross not in any way with its attachment to white supremacy or Nazi anything. Not that I hadnt seen it or heard or of it in such workings, for me it was the:
When I had looked up the origins & uses thats what I use it for in my practice. A close friend of mine has had discussions with me on how pre-Christian symbols & deities now associated with Christianity, along with my heritage & connections to it & also my upbringing… kind of brings that all full circle for me
Even the Wiccan Cross in early representations was the ‘swastika’ in Hindu & Native American traditions prior to it being related to Nazis & white supremacy.
I guess I don’t use the Celtic Cross as the Christianity symbol it came to be or the relation to White Supremacy types of relationships, so I maybe forget or only give the representation for them in my practice without the relevant back stories that I should include when explaining them.
I also tend to assume that if someone is using any sort of anything in their practice then they do research & learn about these things on their own outside of just the forum or the site.
Kind of like “Ooo… gonna learn more about that!”… type of thing. I take for granted that not everyone is a learning nerd or doing deep dives into things like I do when something crosses my path that interests me & if I want to use it or not.
I find myself in the most interesting rabbit holes sometimes. I have a couple that I’m trying to sort out with relationships between deities
Also the version I use is the elongated cross where it is also engraved or shown with Celtic knotwork.
The only time I’ve recognized what is called the Wiccan Cross or Sun Cross, is actually as the astrological symbol for earth.
haha yeah, I have a lot of Norse Pagan friends online and their symbols are often co-opted by the white supremacists It makes me so mad that we have to worry about seeing people out with tattoos or something and second guess if they’re pagan or something else. I would never worry that anyone here in the forum would use any symbol in that manner.
I guess I always give the warnings because I know not everyone is as online as I am (to my own detriment, of course lol) and can see these symbols outside of the forum and may not know that context is definitely important.
And I love you too! I’m definitely a learning nerd and will go down rabbit holes to try and find the source of different symbols and sayings and stuff.
Yup to all of this! A lot of symbols make their way full circle, and some symbols like the Swastika were once meant to be peaceful symbols – and many still use it for its original meaning, too! Again, it just brings it back to context, I suppose
In any case, I feel like people should be able to use the symbols associated with paganism without fear of doubt or judgment due to some bad apples in the world!
It’s sad that so many Pagan and Celtic symbols have been co-opted by others. I mean… be original d*ckwads
It’s not common to see the Celtic Cross used as anything else where I’m from, but it’s interesting to know!
Of course me… down a rabbit hole last night into Celtic Crosses & finding out there’s A LOT of variations & symbolisms & just all kinds of things that I was like… oh, I’ve been checking this out for 2 hours now & I’m still curious & realizing the variation I use was changed when Christianity adopted it & is actually an older version… truth be told I’ll find myself back in that hole later on today
Seriously… come up with your own symbols instead ruining the others for the majority that aren’t using them for nasty reasons
It’s so annoying. I was having a conversation the other day about how if you see anyone flying the St Georges Cross , (which is literally the English flag!) outside of sports season you start to wonder if they’re racist because the EDL drape themselves with it while out protesting
It really is awful, my works with Odin, but won’t get the tattoo because of other associations. He did find a nice one to represnt him, but took out the Odins Cross that he had originally wanted included.