A Sense of Place: Semiotics of the Circle and the Cross
Semiotics of the circle and the cross I am fascinated by symbols, and recently the Celtic cross has captivated me. We know the cross as a Christian symbol, and we know the story that accompanies it. But the cross as I have seen it here, resembling a symbol found in many indigenous traditions, evokes an entirely different reading. As per the nature of this universe, we orientate ourselves in relation to time and space. We always want to know where we are and what time it is. Both time and space we divide in quadrants: the four seasons and the four cardinal directions. Winter spring summer fall, and north east south west. These are connected: winter is the north of time, and north is the winter of space. They all derive their characteristics from the sun, which brings or takes light, and brings or takes warmth. The sun propels the movement through the aspects of the whole, integrating them in a perpetual cycle. Take the circle away, and you get unchecked exp...