Well we have seen them, worn them, inscribed them on spells and books, used them in magick and ritual but what it the story behind the pentagram?

The symbolic meaning of the pentagram: The Pentagram is a symbol of a star encased in a circle. It always has 5 points (one pointing upward) with each point having a definitive meaning. The upward point of the star is representative of the spirit. The other four points represent an element: earth, air, fire, and water. All these things contribute to life and are a part of each of us.

So when someone criticizes you for wearing a pentagram necklace or other form of jewellery, just advise them that it is your way of saying that you feel the connection with the elements and respect the earth.

As you can see from the above, the number five is important? It is a prime number. The pentagram is the simplest of stars requiring only five lines to draw and it is a continuous loop into eternity. The number 5 has always been regarded as mystical and magical, yet essentially 'human'. We have five fingers/toes on each limb and five physical senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. It is considered that life has five stages: birth, puberty, sexual activity, parenthood and death. Five is also associated with Mars. It signifies severity, conflict and harmony through conflict: chaos theory.

In many doctrines, five runs through their philosophies and practices: in Christianity, five were the wounds of Christ on the cross. There are five pillars of the Muslim faith and five daily times of prayer. Five were the virtues of the medieval knight: generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety as symbolised in the pentagram device of Sir Gawain. The Wiccan Kiss is Fivefold: feet, knees, womb, breasts, and lips. Blessed be.

When looking at man in relation with the universe again the pentagram is seen, this time as human stars. Most people at some point will have seen the man juxtaposed on a pentagram with head and four limbs at the points and the genitalia exactly central. This is Man in microcosm, symbolising our place in the Macrocosm or universe and the Hermetic / Tantric philosophy of associativity as above, so below.

It is also deemed as a powerful protector against evil, symbolic of conflict that shields the wearer and the home: the pentagram has five spiked wards and a womb shaped defensive, protective pentagon at the centre.

Earlier, the five elements were mentioned: four of matter and spirit (quintessential) Tracing a path around the pentagram, the elements are placed in order of density: spirit, air, fire, water, earth. Earth and fire are basal or fixed; air and water are free and flowing. The single point upwards signifies the spirit ruling matter (mind ruling limbs); is a symbol of rightness. With two points up and one (spirit) downward, subservient, the emphasis is on the carnal nature of Man. More will be said about this later.

So we have discussed the symbolism and meaning of the pentacle so now we will look at the practical applications.  These point attributions are ritually used to invoke or banish by inscribing with either hand or athame, different forms of the pentagram as described in the beginning rituals section.

Further, there is the 2 types of pentacles you will come across and use: Open and circled. A pentagram may be open, without a surrounding circle. This is the active form symbolising an outgoing of oneself, prepared for conflict, aware, active. (One wearing an open pentagram must be physically aware of the danger of sharp points sticking in their skin from time to time). As a pagan religious symbol, the open pentagram represents an open, active approach. A circle around a pentagram contains and protects. The circle symbolises eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature. The circle touching all 5 points indicates that the spirit, earth, air, water and fire are  all connected. The circled pentagram is the passive form implying spiritual containment of the magic circle, in keeping with the traditional secrecy of witchcraft, and the personal, individual nature of the pagan religious path, of its non-proselytising character.

So what about the Inverted Pentagram that so many equate to evil or the dark side? The implication is of spirit subservient to matter, of man subservient to his carnal desires. However, these are recent developments and the inverted pentagram is the symbol of Gardnerian second degree initiation, representing the need of the witch to learn to face the darkness within so that it may not later rise up to take control. The centre of a pentagram implies a sixth formative element - love/will that controls from within, ruling matter and spirit by Will and the controlled magickal direction of sexual energies. This is another lesson of initiation. Up until medieval times, the five points of the pentagram represented the five wounds of Christ on the cross. It was a symbol of Christ the Saviour. This is in stark contrast to today where the pentagram is criticized by modern Fundamentalist Christians, as being a symbol of evil. The church eventually chose the cross as a more significant symbol for Christianity, and the use of the pentagram as a Christian symbol gradually ceased.

So from all this information, you should know have a definition and understanding of the pentagram and maybe how to answer those sticky questions when someone points at your pentacle necklace and asks why you are wearing devil worshipping jewellery! To understand the power of the pentagram will assist you in your magickal journey and workings!