𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬...
The transliteration of Satan Is from the word HaSatan which means ‘the accuser’, so ‘the accuser’ is just a job title right? So the devils job is to be the accuser, we see him play out this role in the story of Jobe… You know who I’m talking about, the one who’s faith was questioned by the devil and Jobe chooses his faith even though God murderously killed his children… Which is really the only big story we get which features the devil interacting with humans. So we have the devil, pre-witch trials, which is just known as the accuser, not really that interesting, he’s just doing his job of questioning folk, but then we have Dantes inferno where we have a divide of people who could be inspired by the melancholy of the devil as John Milton was or the murderous petrifying idea of the devil whomst is eating people at the centre of hell, the fun thing about Dantes inferno is it’s title, which is “A Devine Comedy”, A bit of time passes and Christopher Marlow gets his hands on Faust, In the story, the character Faust is a scholar who becomes disillusioned with his life and makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles. Faust agrees to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge, pleasure, and power and Marlow chooses to name his play version of Faust ‘The Tragedy of Dr Faustus’. So why the tragedy? Going from ‘Devine Comedy’ to ‘The Tragedy of Dr Faustus’ is a pretty big jump when referring to Satanic Influence. A tragedy always ends awfully…
The crossroads appears in the narrative as the site where Faust makes his infamous pact with Mephistopheles, he was originally trying to summon Beezlebub, but Mephistopheles appears instead lol. The important note here is THE CROSSROADS and we’ve already established that this ends in tragedy, so what does the crossroads represent? Being at a crossroads frequently entails finding oneself in a state of unsettling uncertainty, standing at a juncture where the trajectory of one's life could undergo a permanent transformation. The crossroads also serve as a location for unexpected meetings, where we chance upon companions, unfamiliar faces, and, in certain narratives, entities from dimensions beyond our own.
So where did the crossroads come from? Enter… Oedipus.
In the Greek tragedy "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, the crossroads play a significant symbolic role, particularly in relation to Oedipus' fate and the unfolding of the tragic events in the play. Oedipus, the central character, is born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. A prophecy foretells that he will kill his father and marry his mother. In an attempt to evade this fate, Laius orders the baby Oedipus to be left on a mountain to die. However, Oedipus is rescued and raised by another royal family, unaware of his true origins. As he grows older, Oedipus hears a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Getting shitted up by the prophecy, he decides to leave his adoptive home and sets out on a journey. UNTIL HE COMES TO A CROSSROADS… Oedipus encounters a group of travellers, including his biological father, King Laius… In a heated confrontation, Oedipus MURDERS Laius *Gasps from the crowd* unknowingly fulfilling the first part of the dreaded prophecy. Oedipus then continues his journey and arrives in Thebes, where he solves the riddle of the Sphinx *how Crowley of his* and is hailed as a hero *we Love a bit of hailing here at the father of harlots headquarters*. As a reward, he is offered the throne and the hand of Queen Jocasta, his biological mother, in marriage. The tragic irony is that he fulfils the second part of the prophecy by marrying his own mother… I mean WTF right? But forget about the incest, we’re more involved with … THE CROSSROADS for this blog…. So the crossroads symbolise the point at which Oedipus' fate takes a fateful turn. They mark the convergence of different paths and possibilities in his life, ultimately leading him toward the tragic outcomes predicted by the prophecy. The crossroads serve as a representation of destiny and the inescapable nature of fate in Greek tragedy. Despite Oedipus' attempts to change his fate, his actions unknowingly align with the prophecy, resulting in a tragic downfall for both him and his family.
Hecate is typically depicted as a triple-bodied or triple-headed goddess, symbolising her association with various realms and aspects of life. She is often associated with magick, witchcraft, the night, the moon, and crossroads. Many have likened her to origins of Diana in Wicca. Her very being as a goddess of crossroads is massively significant.
In ancient Greece, crossroads were considered liminal spaces, places where different paths intersected and where the boundary between the human world and the spirit world was believed to be thin. Hekate was often invoked and honoured at these crossroads, especially during the night, and her presence was thought to offer protection and guidance to travellers and those in need. Hekate's connection to crossroads is also linked to her role as a guardian of boundaries and transitions. She was believed to have the power to grant access to other realms, including the underworld, and was often invoked in rituals related to birth, death, and transformation. Her association with magick and witchcraft further solidified her role as a powerful intermediary between the mortal and divine worlds. In modern times, Hecate remains a prominent figure in various pagan and neo-pagan traditions. Her associations with crossroads, magic, and liminality continue to capture the imagination of those who find meaning in her ancient mythology. She is often seen as a guide and protector for those navigating transitions and seeking spiritual insight.
An 11th-century homily called De Falsis Dias tells us that Mercury or Odin were worshiped and honoured on crossroads.
‘Sum man eac wæs gehaten Mercurius on life, se wæs swyðe facenfull
And, ðeah full snotorwyrde, swicol on dædum and on leasbregdum. Ðone
macedon þa hæðenan be heora getæle eac heom to mæran gode and æt wega
gelætum him lac offrodon oft and gelome þurh deofles lare and to heagum
beorgum him brohton oft mistlice loflac.’
In translation it says:
‘There once lived a man named Mercury, who was very deceitful, and, though quite wise in speech, was treacherous in actions and lies. The pagans, in their account, also made him their great god and often and frequently offered him sacrifices at crossroads, through the teachings of the devil, and to high hills they often brought various offerings of praise.’
In her depiction of Transylvanian superstitions, Emily Gerard explains that people routinely steered clear of crossroads. She goes on to detail a Romanian notion where a demon could be invoked at the junction of roads through the act of creating a mystical circle, presenting a copper coin as an offering, and reciting a specific incantation.
I personally have heard of a spell in which you put all your bad energy into an egg, then smash it at a cross roads and never look back if you want the bad energy to stay away.
It’s also been discovered by historians that people who fell to suicide or criminals were buried at crossroads, adding to these myths even more. This ritual of crossroads burial dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and continued until being abolished in 1823.
So let’s go back to Faust. The crossroads in "Faust" symbolise a point of critical decision-making and a turning point in Faust's life. It represents the moment of Faust's existential crisis, where he is willing to forsake his moral values and spiritual well-being in exchange for worldly gains and desires. This location embodies the tension between Faust's desire for knowledge, experience, and fulfilment on one hand, and his ethical and spiritual concerns on the other.
The crossroads also evoke the concept of choice and consequence. Faust's decision to make a pact with the devil at the crossroads reflects his desire to take control of his fate and achieve his ambitions, regardless of the potential negative outcomes. This decision ultimately leads him on a path of moral degradation, dissatisfaction, and tragic consequences. Furthermore, the crossroads in "Faust" can be seen as a metaphor for the broader human experience. It embodies the idea that individuals often find themselves at a crossroads in their lives, faced with difficult choices that define their paths and shape their destinies. This theme resonates with audiences as they reflect on their own decisions, desires, and the trade-offs they make in pursuit of their goals. In summary, the crossroads in "Faust" represent a pivotal moment of choice and consequence in Faust's life. This location serves as a metaphor for the broader human experience of decision-making, ambition, and the complexities of pursuing desires while grappling with ethical considerations and the potential for personal and moral downfall.
The story of Robert Johnson and the crossroads is a legendary tale that has become deeply intertwined with his life and musical career. According to this popular myth, Johnson met the devil at a crossroads and made a pact to exchange his soul for exceptional guitar-playing skills and musical talent. The basic premise of the story is that Johnson, an aspiring blues musician who was struggling to improve his guitar playing, went to a crossroads (usually described as the intersection of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi) at midnight. There, he encountered a mysterious figure often identified as the devil or a demon.
In some versions of the tale, this figure is described as a large black man. In exchange for his soul, the devil tuned Johnson's guitar and played a few songs, demonstrating incredible skill. When Johnson received the guitar back, he had suddenly acquired an extraordinary ability to play the blues with remarkable technique and depth. This newfound prowess allowed him to become one of the greatest blues musicians of his time. The crossroads myth has contributed to Johnson's mystique and the perception of him as a legendary figure. It's important to note that this story is largely based on folklore and oral tradition, and there is no concrete evidence to support the actual occurrence of such an event in Johnson's life. Instead, the tale has become a symbolic representation of Johnson's rapid improvement as a musician and his seemingly supernatural guitar skills.
The tragedy comes from when Johnson dies by being poisoned by someone who was jealous of him, which is absolutely tragic and just adds to the modern day tale even more, plus his biggest songs were “Crossroads” and “Me and the Devil Blues” so he was aware of his legacy. While the crossroads story of Johnson has captured the imagination of humanity, it's crucial to remember that Johnson's true influence on music comes from his exceptional guitar technique, songwriting, and his significant contributions to the blues genre. The myth has contributed to his legacy and added to the allure surrounding his short but impactful life, if it wasn't for Johnson, we wouldn't have the devils music... Rock N Roll! Or the infamous 27 club, yes that's right Johnson is the first of the 27 club. “Me and The Devil, we’re walking Side by Side”
Another supernatural element has always been linked to the blues as the blues originated in the Mississippi where many African American communities practiced Voodoo, a religion that is based on African ancestor worship and practiced chiefly in Haiti a practice within voodoo is to deal in spells and magic. In Hoodoo there’s huge significance in the crossroads.
Among the various titles attributed to him, Papa Legba is occasionally referred to as the Lord of the Pathways and the Loa overseeing the Intersections. As described by Leah Gordon, "Papa Legba holds dominion over the entrance to the realm of spirits. As the adept of crossroads, he possesses the ability to guide those who are astray, aiding
them in discovering their way."
“In conjure, rootwork and hoodoo, a form of African magical spirituality practiced by African Americans in the United States, the crossroads in Hoodoo originates from the Kongo in Central Africa. It represents the rising and setting of the sun, and the human life cycle of death and rebirth. The center of the crossroads is where the communication with spirits take place.”
These myths and legends have a lot of historical accuracy, more than one would like to take note of, Johnsons life was full of tragedy, Dr Faustus was a real guy and we all know how it feels to be at a crossroads in life, it's powerful and intimidating.
So if you ever find yourself at a crossroads in life, choose carefully.
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