The pentacle is very important Wiccan symbol and it deserves attention, hence it's own separate page. It is important that I stress the symbolism behind this symbol.

Much like the Christian Cross, or the Jewish Star of David, the pentacle can be found as charms or drawn on amulets for protection. The pentacle is a common Wiccan symbol of faith. The pentacle is a five-point star, encircled, touching all points.

Each point represents one of the elements, spirit (the fifth element), Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. The circle around the five-point star represents the cycle. It shows how each element tied into the other creates life, and provides during existence. As you can see the circle never ends and that goes for the cycle as well.

As most religious icons or symbols of faith, this to has a reversed meaning. An example would be the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment, which was mirrored to become the Swastika, the Nazi symbol that now only represents hatred and death. The inverted pentacle deals with Satanism. Often the uneducated will confuse the two, or not even care. Don't let that bother you. Wear your pentacle with pride.

Elphis Levis erroneously described the inverted pentacle as representing the horns of a goat at the Witches' sabbat. This occurred in the 19th century. The Church of Satan, which was founded in 1966 in America, adopted the inverted pentacle as its symbol the Baphomet. There are some covens that choose to ignore the reference to evil and sometimes use the inverted pentacle as a symbol of higher power and achievement. This use has declined due to the association with the symbol of Satanism.

Many Witches wear a pentacle pendant or ring as a sign of their religion. Most are made of silver, the metal of the moon and psychic forces, but some are made of gold, the metal of power and energy.

In ritual the pentagrams can be drawn in the air with a sword or athame. The methods of drawing a pentagram are precise and vary according to purpose. Pentagrams drawn to invoke are drawn differently than pentagrams drawn to banish. Not only are they used in ritual, but pentagrams can be used in meditation exercises in which each point of the star is associated with a specific quality, attribute, concept, emotion, or the name of a Pagan deity.

Another type of pentacle is the magician's pentacle. This is a round disk or circle inscribed with a five-pointed star. Another name is the Pentacle of Solomon and is an important, powerful, magical symbol of divine power. It is said to represent God or man and the four elements of nature; the five senses, the five wounds inflicted upon Christ, and the five points of man in an outstretched position: head, arms, and legs. As an amulet the pentacle protects the magician against attacks from demons and spirits; as a talisman it enables him to conjure and command them.

I hope this page has helped you learn about the pentacle. If you would like to find out more information on anything from the pentacle to world-renowned witches, try the "Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft" written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.

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