Mythology

In Greek mythology, Cerberus is a three headed dog who guards the underworld or Hades. He is the child of Typhon and Echidna. His job was to allow the spirits of those deceased into Hades, but to never let them out.

Many of the heroes face crossroads with decisions. Hercules had to choose between saving the girl or the world.

Archetypal Symbols

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jer 6:16 (NIV)
from the bible, on the website: http://womenatcrossroads.wordpress.com/category/current-events/

The symbol of the crossroads is a cross because it shows 4 paths that can be taken, and the path one chooses is by their choice, and often reflects past experiences.

Literature and Film examples of the crossroads

There are many examples of the crossroads in film and literature. For example, in It's A Wonderful Life George Bailey wishes that he had never been born and tries to commit suicide after losing all his money and facing jail time. His guardian angel shows up and shows him what the lives of his family and the world would have been like if he had never been born.

Current Events

Whenever a new bill is brought before congress, the senators and house representatives stand at a crossroads. When they vote on the bill, they must decide if the bill is the right thing to do based on morals and the popular decision. Either choose the path that is the good/right decision, or the path that gets them re-elected, which is often the wrong choice.

With the election looming, many voters stand at a crossroads when deciding who to vote for. They must choose either Obama, McCain, or another candidate.

Examples of the crossroads in Poetry

Crossroads
by John Bafford

As I stumbled through the maze of life, I lost my way upon the path.

The path to here was simple and plain:
the future in front;
the past behind.

The path so far took no effort to take; at a crossroads... take the path that lies ahead.

But what of the paths that are not taken? Were they too dark?
Too cold?
Too uninviting?

No, it was just the curtains draped across the hall, hiding sight of the future that way.

I once reached an intersection
and was guided to the side path
and it was good.

But once on the path, I forgot to turn left or right, and in the end, walked into a pit anyone could see from a mile away.

Climbing out was hard, but in the end, something was learned.
And it was an important lesson.
And an other important lesson was missed.

And so I cautiously walk along the path, ever going forward, often looking behind. Rarely looking to the side.

One day, I'll reach a crossroads that doesn't go straight, and I'll be forced to again choose:
Left?
Or right?

When I get there, I'll think to myself, "My choices lead me here," having not ever really made a choice.

Because the real choices involves the risk:
Changing direction might be better.
Or worse.

But every side path shares one thing in common: they will all be different than the choiceless path.

And only cowards always go straight.

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2791187145262645161&postID=7221701740071187299

This poem tells how a man, when faced with the decision of whether to turn or go straight, choose the path that was harder, turn, but more rewarding than the straight path, which is easier .

Examples of the crossroads in Art Work

This picture is an example of a crossroads. The crossroads is a place in the hero's journey where he must make a pivotal decision about which path he/she shall follow.

Musical examples of the crossroads

The Crossroads
by Bone Thugs N Harmony

Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone Bone

Now tell me whatcha gonna do when there ain't no where to run When judgment comes for you, when judgment comes for you Tell me whatcha gonna do when there ain't no where to hide When judgment comes for you 'coz it's gonna come for you Let's all bring it in for Wally, Eazy sees uncle CharlieLittle Boo, says God's got him and I'm gonna miss everybody I only roll with Bone my gang look to where they lay When playing with destiny, play too deep for me to sayLil' Layzie came to me, told me if he should decease well then pleaseBury me by my grand-grand and when you can, come follow me

God bless you, working on a plan to heaven Follow the Lord all 24/7 days, God is who we praise Even though the devil's all up in my face But he keeping me safe and in my place, say graceFor the case to race with a chance to face the judge And I guess my soul won't budge Grudge because there's no mercy for thugs Oh, what can I do it's all about our family and how we rollCan I get a witness? Let it unfoldWe living our lives to eternal our soul

Hey, and we pray and we pray and we pray and we prayEveryday, everyday, everyday, everydayAnd we pray and we pray and we pray and we prayStill we laced, now follow me roll strollWhether is tell of his heavenCome let's go take a visit of people that's long goneDarris, Wally, Eazy, Terry, Boo It's steadily creeping up on the family Exactly how many days we got lasting While you laughing we're passing, passing away

So y'all go rest y'all souls'Coz I know I'ma meet you up at the crossroad Y'all know y'all forever got love from them Bone Thugs, baby Now Eazy's long gone Really wish he would come home But when it's time to die Gotta go bye-bye All a thug could do is cry, cry Why they kill my dog and manI miss my uncle Charles y'all And he shoudn't be gone, in front of his home What they did to Boo was wrong Oh so wrong, oh so wrong Gotta hold on, gotta stay strong When the day comes Better believe bone got a shoulder you can lean on

Hey and we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we prayEveryday, everyday, everyday, everyday And we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we pray Everday, everyday, everyday, everyday

Chorus

See you at the crossroads, crossroads, crossroads So you won't be lonely (4x)And I'm gonna miss everybodyAnd I'm gonna miss everybody when I'm gone (3x)Living in a hateful world sending me straight to HeavenThat's how we roll (3x)

And I'm asking the good Lord "why?" and sighIt's I he told me we live to dieWhat's up with murder y'all, see my little cousin was hung Somebody was really wrong, everybody want to test us dawgThen Miss Sleazy set up Eazy to fall, you know why we sinningAnd Krayzie intended on ending it when it endsWanna come again, again and againNow tell me whatcha gonna doCan somebody anybody tell me why?

Hey, can somebody anybody tell me why we die, we die?I don't wanna dieOh so wrong, oh wrong Chorus

Lyrics from the website: http://www.lyrics007.com/Bone%20Thugs-N-Harmony%20Lyrics/The%20Crossroads%20Lyrics.html

This song is an example of the crossroads because it talks about the way people deal with death; because the death of someone near and dear to us effects us deeply, and we are forced to make decisions as if we were at the crossroads.

Miscellaneous

The Game of life because it forces the player to make a decision that will change their life and the outcome of the game.

Subcategories

The Threshold Guardian
is a creature/person who guards a threshold or crossroads and forces a person to make a decision about the path they take.

Cerberus-Three headed dog who guards the crossroads and in some mythology, the gates to Hades and the river, crick.

The Sphinx-Guarded a path and made people answer a riddle. If their answer was right, then that person could pass but if it was wrong, they were killed.

Hecate is the Greek Goddess of the crossroads. She has three heads, one like a dog, another like a horse, and the other like a snake. She guards a three way path with each of her three heads facing a different path.