The Cross: The Holy Hex
The Cross: The Holy Hex
Did you know that the cross was not the original symbol of early followers of Christ? In fact, for the first generations after Jesus, the cross carried a deeply negative and offensive meaning—it was a tool for public execution, associated with Rome’s brutal crucifixions.
Instead of the cross, early Christians used more discreet and uplifting symbols to identify themselves: the fish (Ichthys), the anchor, the dove, and even the sailboat. These were signs of hope, life, and spiritual guidance—far from the bloody image of execution.
Constantine’s Vision and the Civil War
It wasn’t until around 300 AD that the cross began its transformation. According to legend, Emperor Constantine claimed to have seen a strange symbol in the sky, followed by a dream in which God told him to “conquer with this sign.” At the time, Rome was torn apart by civil war. Constantine needed a unifying emblem—something that would rally Christians yet still resonate with Rome’s pagan majority.
In the common Greek of that era, the symbol for crucifixion was a T and a P intertwined (the Chi-Rho). It was militaristic, authoritative, and versatile—perfect for Constantine’s political and spiritual agenda.
From Execution to Exaltation
Over the centuries, the cross underwent multiple redesigns to become more “pagan-friendly” and widely acceptable.
- 300 AD – 1200s: The cross evolved from a simple execution beam into symbolic variations, including the equilateral cross surrounded by a circle—an ancient sun symbol used by many cultures.
- Late 1200s: The Church adopted the Latin cross—the off-centered horizontal line we know today, sometimes encircled like its solar predecessor.
But here’s the irony: historically, most crucifixions didn’t happen on the Latin cross at all. They were carried out on a T-shaped beam, a stake, or even a tree. The Latin cross, with its elongated vertical line, was more a symbolic and spiritual adaptation than a literal representation of Jesus’ execution.
The Cross as Body and Burden
The Latin cross also carries a deeper, more mystical meaning. Its form resembles the human body—our earthly vessel and its limitations. In this interpretation, the “cross” is the burden of life: our five senses, our flesh, our struggles.
The Cube, the Hex, and the Cross
Here’s where sacred geometry adds another layer. In the Platonic solids, the cube represents the Earth—the physical realm. If you “unfold” a cube into a flat shape, you get a Latin Cross made of six connected squares. Fold that shape back up, and you return to the cube (or hexagon in 2D form).
The word “hexagon” comes from “hex”—meaning six—but also relates to the idea of a hex as a curse or burden. This mirrors the spiritual metaphor: life in the physical body (the cube) can feel like a weight to carry. Therefore, to wear the cross is to remind yourself and others that you been hexed.
Even if the point of the wearing the cross was to remind people that Jesus carried the cross so you don’t have to. Or, that Jesus went through such excruciating pain to save you from your sins: then that’s one hell of a guilt trip & also sounds like a burden.
The Big Question?
If the cross is truly a symbol of burden, and if Jesus died to remove humanity’s sins and suffering… then whose burden are we carrying? Also if the number 6 represents the physical realm(God created man, land, and animals on the 6th day), then how can the cross represent resurrection?
