The Pentacle

The Pentacle is a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, often used as a symbol of Wicca and other Pagan traditions. It is also known as the Witch's Star and is often wrongfully called a pentagram. A pentagram is the star alone without the circle enclosing it.

The history of the Pentacle can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where it was used as a symbol of power, protection, and divinity. In Ancient Greece, the Pentacle was associated with the goddess Aphrodite and represented the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. In Ancient Egypt, it was used as a symbol of the goddess Isis and was believed to offer protection and magical powers.

In the Middle Ages, the Pentacle was adopted by Christian mystics and used as a symbol of Christ's five wounds. However, during the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Pentacle became associated with witchcraft and was demonized by the Church.

In the 20th century, the Pentacle was reclaimed by modern Pagans as a symbol of their faith. It is often used in Wicca and other Pagan traditions to represent the five elements, as well as the five points of the human body (head, arms, and legs) and the five virtues of love, wisdom, truth, power, and justice.

The Pentacle is also sometimes used in magical workings and rituals to invoke the energies and powers associated with the five elements. It is often worn as a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant or ring, to offer protection and as a symbol of one's spiritual beliefs.

Today, the Pentacle is recognized as a symbol of Wicca and other Pagan traditions by many governments and institutions. However, there are still some who view it as a symbol of evil and witchcraft, perpetuating misconceptions about these spiritual paths.

In many occult and magical systems, the five points of the pentagram correspond to the classical elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Each element is associated with a specific position on the pentagram. Here is a common arrangement of the elements on the pentagram:

Earth: The bottom-left point of the pentagram represents the element of Earth. It symbolizes stability, grounding, and the physical realm.
Air: The bottom-right point of the pentagram represents the element of Air. It signifies intellect, communication, and the realm of the mind.
Fire: The topmost point of the pentagram represents the element of Fire. It embodies passion, transformation, and the realm of action and energy.
Water: The bottom point of the pentagram represents the element of Water. It symbolizes emotions, intuition, and the realm of the subconscious.
Spirit (or Ether): The top-right point of the pentagram represents the element of Spirit or Ether. It represents the transcendent and divine, connecting all the elements and the spiritual realm.

It's important to note that different traditions or systems may associate the elements with different positions on the pentagram. However, the arrangement described above is widely recognized and utilized in many magical practices.

The Pentacle is a symbol to most Wiccans like the Cross is to Christians. We wear it with pride, showing we are connected to the Elements and respect the Earth.

As with most practices in The Craft, work is done clock-wise in order to keep harmony.

People will tell you the Pentacle direction doesn't make it evil or bad, however, it is important to understand that just like WEARING A CROSS UPSIDE DOWN, WEARING A PENTAGRAM UPSIDE DOWN means you believe in something dark. I do not know a single person who is a "bad" or "dark" Witch or Pagan. If you come into contact with someone wearing EITHER symbol upside down, my advice is RUN!