| It is common within witchcraft, wicca, and paganism to | | | | The outer circle of the "circumscribed" pentagram is |
| confuse the pentacle and pentagram. Although there | | | | sometimes interpreted as binding the elements |
| are several arguments that go around saying they are | | | | together or bringing them into united harmony with |
| one in the same, this is not exactly true. | | | | each other. The Neopagan pentagram is generally |
| Through many different historic texts through the ages, | | | | displayed with one point up, mostly because of the |
| the pentacle and pentagram have come to represent | | | | "inverted" goat's head pentagram's association with |
| different meanings depending on the faithful who hold | | | | Satanism; however, within traditional forms of Wicca a |
| these symbols in holy light. | | | | pentagram with two points up is associated with the |
| This posting will summarize the differences between | | | | Second Degree Initiation and in this context has no |
| the pentacle and pentagram | | | | relation to Satanism. |
| The Pentagram | | | | Wiccan and Pagans do not believe in Satan or what |
| A pentagram is a five pointed star and means "five | | | | Satan traditionally represents. They instead worship |
| line" or "five lines" which stems from the Greek word | | | | gods such as Gaia, The Horned God, and often Norse, |
| pentagrammos. The pentagram was used extensively | | | | Greek, and Egyptian gods. |
| in Greece and Babylonia. To the Greeks and | | | | The Pentacle |
| Babylonians, the pentagram stood for magical energies | | | | A pentacle in all definately is actually considered an |
| and associations. Those who wore a pentagram or | | | | amulet that is used for magical invocations, rituals, and |
| showed a pentagram adorned on their clothing would | | | | spells. The pentacle is meant to be a symbol with |
| show off without fear their practice of witchcraft | | | | which the spirit draws upon for added strength and |
| freely. | | | | energies for these spells and rituals. |
| | | | |
| Neo Pagans are also heavily associted with the | | | | The most famous historical pentacle is the Seal of |
| pentagram, and it is commonly tied to a deity The | | | | Solomon. Solomon was historically linked to being one |
| Horned God. | | | | of the greatest wizards that ever lived. He is often |
| Ironically, the Christians once symbolized the | | | | revered by wiccans and pagans and in grimoires and |
| pentagram as the five wounds of Jesus. | | | | various texts, there are different styles and designs of |
| The pentagram is often represented with Venus the | | | | Solomon's pentacles. Each of them that he had |
| planet and Venus the Goddess. Ancient astronomers | | | | crafted were used for various difference rituals and |
| when viewing into space every eight years could | | | | spells that he would perform. |
| make a constallation around Venus in the shape of a | | | | |
| five pointed star. | | | | Even though pentacle and pentagram are similar in |
| By the mid-19th century a further distinction had | | | | spelling, pentacle does not represent "five" rather, it |
| developed amongst occultists regarding the | | | | represents magical energies and any design or shapes |
| pentagram's orientation. With a single point upwards it | | | | could be considered pentacles. If they were drawn |
| depicted spirit presiding over the four elements of | | | | with five points they were often referred to as |
| matter, and was essentially "good". | | | | hexagrams, not pentagrams. |
| However the other way up was considered evil. A | | | | Pentacles were often used for protection against |
| reversed pentagram, with two points projecting | | | | demons and negative entities. They were used and still |
| upwards, is a symbol of evil and attracts sinister | | | | are used extensively for these purposes within |
| forces because it overturns the proper order of things | | | | paganism and wicca. They can either be adorned |
| and demonstrates the triumph of matter over spirit. It is | | | | around the neck as a necklace or charm, or they can |
| the goat of lust attacking the heavens with its horns, a | | | | be used as altar tiles or patens for altars. |
| sign execrated by initiates. | | | | |
| This is perhaps where the pentagram started to | | | | Pentacles are also considered important to draw or |
| become synomous with Satanism and evil. Satanist | | | | attract spirits. Within Wicca and Paganism, the pentacle |
| use a pentagram with two points up, often inscribed in | | | | can be used as a center point with which to open the |
| a double circle, with the head of a goat inside the | | | | doorway for spirits to step forth into this plane. Many |
| pentagram. This is referred to as the Sigil of Baphomet | | | | rituals and spells often call for a pentacle of some |
| and is now often associated with Lucifer or Satan and | | | | form to be within the center of the sacred circle as a |
| has demonic meanings. | | | | focal point for the spirits to be drawn to. |
| | | | It is often said that once a spirit has been summoned, |
| Many Neopagans, especially Wiccans, use the | | | | they are "tied" to the pentacle's center often like a |
| pentagram as a symbol of their faith similar to the | | | | statue being held by a base, the spirit is tied to the |
| Christian cross or the Jewish Star of David. It is not, | | | | center of the pentacle and cannot leave or move |
| however, a universal symbol for Neopaganism, and is | | | | beyond that point. |
| rarely used in actual rituals and spells that Pagans and | | | | Solomon commonly employed this method when either |
| Wiccans actively practice in. It is more of a religious | | | | summoning spirits or to entrap them. He was famously |
| symbolism that is commonly explained by reference to | | | | known for binding and sending back evil spirits and |
| the basic understanding that the five points of the | | | | demons to whence they came, and he often used the |
| pentagram represent the four elements air, earth, fire, | | | | above method to do this. |
| and water with the addition of Spirit as the uppermost | | | | Pentacles are also popular for appearing within the |
| point. As a representation of the elements, the | | | | Tarot. The pentacle within the tarot replaced the coin |
| pentagram is involved in the Wiccan practice of | | | | reference within the minor Arcana. The pentacles in |
| summoning the elemental spirits of the four directions | | | | tarot represent the Earth or financial situations |
| at the beginning of a ritual. | | | | depending on the meaning of the cards to the reader. |
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