Contemporary Art and Jewelry

Today, Navajo artisans frequently incorporate geometric cross motifs into sterling silver jewelry. These pieces are often adorned with turquoise stones or crafted in fine mosaic (sometimes influenced by the techniques of their Zuni neighbors) to symbolize protection and connection to the sacred.

In Navajo (Diné) culture, there is not one single "cross," but rather several crucial geometric representations that hold sacred meanings far removed from Western concepts.

The term "Navajo cross" generally refers to two major symbols: the Four Directions symbol and the rotating tree trunk motif (often confused with the swastika).

The Four Directions Cross

This simple and balanced cross is centered on the sacred number four, a fundamental pillar of Navajo cosmology. It symbolizes harmony and universal balance through:

The four sacred mountains that define the ancestral Navajo territory.

The four cardinal directions (East, South, West, North).

The four seasons and the four times of day.

The four sacred cultures and the four stages of human life.