The chakana or “Andean Cross” is a symbol used by Inca and pre-Incan Andean societies. The word chakana comes from the Quechua root Chakay, meaning “to bridge”. Interpretations of this symbol have included its symbolism as a bridge between the 3 Andean worlds: Upper World - gods and celestial beings, Middle World - human existence, Lower World - ancestors, spirits, and the unconscious. The center represents the connection between worlds and the energy of the cosmos. Its design is meant to symbolize duality, balance, and harmony.

As someone of Peruvian ancestry, I have seen this symbol repeatedly in textiles, in art, and jewelry. Learning about its symbolism, I felt drawn to incorporating it into my practice. In psychology, the bridge is a powerful symbol for transition, connection, and transformation. I find this is the most apt symbol to center my practice around: the process of bridging through relationship, bridging to yourself, and bridging into new ways of being. In the therapy process, we will find ourselves building these bridges one session at a time.