This is the time when another epoch begins in the man's life, and from this time on there is a constant conflict between himself and that spirit which is his ego. It is a conflict, it is a kind of hindrance to his natural attitude, his natural inclination to do good and right; and he constantly meets with that spirit because it was created in his own heart and has become part of his being. It is a very solid and substantial being, as real as he feels himself to be and often more real, and something within him in the depths of his being is covered up by it. And this constant conflict between his real, original self and this self which hinders his spiritual progress, is pictured in the form of a cross.