Sacred Geometry: The Square and The Cross
Written by Kevin J McKee for the SoJournal and Personal Guide 2026. Reprinted with permission.
The number 4 is called the Tetrad and is the foundation of matter on earth and the foundation of all natural phenomena. It represents rational organisation, terrestrial order and structure.
While 3 is the process of creation and beginnings of physical manifestation, 4 is that process fully formed and manifest in our reality. Many things revolving around structure and order in the organisation of our physical experience are based in the number 4; the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter), the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west).
Tetrad (4) is represented geometrically by the square and the cross, both consisting of horizonal and vertical elements, precisely balanced and aligned. These shapes also symbolise a reunion of duality in material/physical form.
The Square, represents the earth (Physical Manifestation). It’s antithesis, The Circle represents spirit. The perimeter of the Square can be precisely measured, the circumference, not so much.
The relationship between the Square and the Circle presents the biggest challenge in Sacred Geometry, and indeed our experience. Learning to balance the physical world with that of spirit.
The Square is used to indicate fairness, “rightness” and order. Think of the way it is used in speech; a square meal, look at a challenge squarely i.e. straight on in honesty. Maybe think of a few other things if you can. The square is stable, regular and balanced.
The Cross, in modern times, has become synonymous with sacrifice, death, and rebirth due to the pre-dominance of the Christian mythology in western society. Interestingly though, this is very similar to ancient teachings too.
At its centre, the Cross is a symbol of intersection and interaction, creating a framework of co-operation or conflict. In ancient Mexico, the cross was used for the god of the crossroads and merchants, in Greece, by Plato, as the intersection of the Same and The Other – two cosmological powers that held the universe together.
Meditation
Read through the instructions below, don’t be scared to open your eyes and check something rather than hope you are doing it right. The answer to the questions; “Am I doing this right?” and “Am I meditating?” is always no. If you are thinking, you are not meditating. Meditation is a heart-based process, not an intellectual one.
Trust yourself just a little bit, you can do this. Everyone meditates in their own way, don’t panic, do the best you can right now and surrender to the process.
- Prepare as you normally would for meditation if you are an experienced meditator. If you haven’t meditated for a while, or ever, use a place you can be undisturbed, maybe light a candle (white would be good for this purpose), light your favourite incense, put on some instrumental music, lyrics will disturb your concentration. Sit comfortably on the floor or on a chair, wear loose clothing or at least loosen belts etc.
- Take a few slow, deep breaths focussing on relaxing, releasing the thoughts in your head, your mind will start running around a bit, that’s ok, acknowledge the thought, let it go and focus back on your breathing. Meditation is an exercise and like any exercise it takes a bit of practice to “get it right”.
- An important thing to remember about meditation is that it takes place in the inner planes of your mind, so release your expectations of what is going to happen, release your expectations about what is correct or right and relax into the process.
- If you try to control the meditation you are not meditating, you are just breathing deeply. Be open to receive, even if what you receive is not what you expect or hope for.
- If your attention “skips”, that’s ok, take another deep breath and focus again. It will get easier with practice.
- If you have already done a meditation to create a meditation temple or inner temple etc. you can use it for this process, if you haven’t created an inner temple or something similar, you can imagine your mind and awareness moving down from your head into your heart (PS – apparently your physical heart has brain cells in it too – called the heart brain – more about the heart space in the article on (0) or the blank page).
- Once you are in the heart space, understand that the heart space is where creation happens.
Breathe deeply and let your focus move down from your mind to your heart centre. Float in the void of creation for a bit. - In front of you, you see a point spark into being. The point duplicates itself, with the new point moving downwards, connected to the first point with a line. Do not allow the line to go on into infinity, keep it between the two points.
- Keeping the second point in place, see the first point duplicate again, using the second point as its centre, joined by a line to the second point, see it move downwards, keeping the line the same length, until it is at right angles to the second point creating an L shape. Repeat the process with the second point (at the intersection of the L) duplicating and moving around the third point until it is ninety degrees to the second line, creating a U shape.
- Repeat once more with the third point duplicating and circling around the fourth point.
- Basically, watch the line unfold around itself, going to the edge of what was created and repeating the process. As the square connects, there is a flash of light as the square takes shape.
- Connect to the energy of the square, let your feelings and thoughts flow.
- Once you have contemplated the square for a bit, watch it fold itself into a line again until the L shape is created. Watch as the connecting point separates and the whole bottom line moves to cross the centre of the first line.
- How is the energy different to the square? What comes to mind?
- Just watch and listen and let the thoughts flow
- When you feel you have absorbed everything you can for the moment, focus again on your breathing, you may feel disconnected from your body, that’s ok, take some more breathes focussing on balancing your mind with your body, rub your fingers and thumb on both hands together until you feel centred, calm and grounded.
- Take a massive breath in, blow yourself up like a balloon, then exhale in a rush allowing all the air to rush out of your lungs, then breathe normally and when you feel ready open your eyes.
- Remember to make notes in your journal/mediation journal.