What is a Pentagram?The pentagram is a well-known ancient symbol with Wiccans and Pagans, and probably the most misunderstood. Shaped...
What is a Pentagram?
The pentagram is a well-known ancient symbol with Wiccans and Pagans, and probably the most misunderstood. Shaped as a five-pointed star, it signifies magick and spellwork.
The Beginning — Where Does it Come From?
A jar dating back to 3100 BCE was discovered just north of Thebes with a pentagram inscribed on it. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the pentagram enclosed in a circle represented the underworld of the undead — aka the ‘netherworld’.
Over time, the pentagram has appeared in a huge range of cultures and belief-systems, and meanings have varied in each one.
Pentagram vs Pentacle
The pentagram is of Greek origins, and the pentacle is Latin. Other than that, the only difference in appearance is the circle that encloses the pentacle.
I’ve only recently become aware there’s a difference of opinion as to which symbol is enclosed with the circle. In Tarot decks such as the Rider-Waite Smith, the pentacle carries the circle. This is the way I was taught, and until proved otherwise, this is the way in which I’ll describe it. As neither one represents evil, I don’t know that it really matters. To each his own.
The Inverted Pentagram
The upside-down, or inverted, pentagram is said to have appeared in the 19th century, and is commonly considered a symbol for negative forces. Occultists such as Eliphas Levi (a French author and ceremonial magician) believed it to be evil, and linked it with the horns of the goat (Baphomet) and witches sabbats. In fact, you can often see it pictured with a horned goat head at its center.
The evil of the pentagram is all in how you look at it. Some Wiccan circles associate the inverted pentagram with the Horned God — Pan, Hermes and the energies of the wild masculine. Instead of depicting evil, it personifies death and rebirth associated with the masculine Horned God, and the powerful energies of wildness.
Of course, there are those who choose to explore the darker side, but the majority of practitioners follow the Wiccan rede — ‘and it harm none’.
Wicca and the Pentagram
Many Wiccans place a pentagram or pentacle symbol on their altar during spellwork, or wear it as jewelry or a talisman to represent their beliefs.
Pentagrams are often drawn using a wand or other magickal tool while opening and closing circles, and to add power to ritual work such as banishings. One of the more recognized rituals is the ‘Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram’ (LBRP). Originating from the Golden Dawn, this demonstrates the naturalistic magick of Wicca.
The Elements and the Pentagram
Interpretations of the elements of the pentagram differ from culture to culture. In early Christian symbolism, they are said to represent the wounds of Christ. In chivalry they represent the five virtues — generosity, piety, courtesy, chastity and chivalry. In Jewish symbolism, the pentagram was attributed to the five books of the Pentateuch, which represent spiritual truth.
In the Wiccan tradition, they represent the four elements — Water (north), Fire (south), Air (east), and Earth (west). The point at the top symbolizes Spirit — the place where the elements come together and connect us.
What Does the Pentagram REALLY Mean?
Energy is powerful and real. The pentagram, when focused on as the keeper of that energy, can be a protective and real magickal energy. It’s as potent as the belief you bestow upon it.
Is the pentagram a symbol of evil? Does it embody magick and the elements? It changes with each culture and the energy they have given to it, and everyone has their own beliefs of what it means to them.
How do you use the energy in the pentagram?
Be magickal, y’all!
