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15.gif picture by Mugssie1998

Pentagram and Pentacale

15.gif picture by Mugssie1998

The symbol that is, perhaps, the most recgonizable in the Craft is the five-pointed star, better known as the pentacle or pentagram, sometimes called teh star of the Microcosm (because the upright star can be seen to represent a human being with arms and legs outstretched), eastern star, The Morning Star, and The Evening Star, Endless Knot( because it can be drawn without lifiting the pen or pencil from the paper), the Druid's foot, The Witche's Foot, and the Gblin's Cross ( here, "goblin" refers to the King of the Earth Elementals, called "ghob", who presided over earthly power and richesin medieval termonology). Technically, the star without the circle is called a pentagram, and the star with the circle is the pentacle. Not only have modern Witches adpoted both symbols, but the design of the pentacle isalso the herald of the feminine counterpart of the Masonic Lodges, called the Order of the Eastern Star, and figures in various Americal Law Enforcement and military symbology. The pentagram/ pentacle is a linear symbol in that you don't have to raise your pencil from the paper to draw the entire symbol, which means that the line is unbroken and the power of the design remains intact.

 

The Five-pointed star is most likely the result of astrological/ astronomical research done in the Euphrates-Tigris regiong (modern-day Iraq and Iran) about 6,000 years ago, which allready tells us it has nothing to do with the devil, Christianity, Santanism, or the medieval madness of the inquisitions- all that nonesense came thousands of yearslater. Archeologists have fuond pot shards in palestine at the 4000bc level inscribed with the pentagram, and there is evidence that the design was commonly used by Summerians around 2700bc. From other research the babylonian'Summer Culters were the first of the stylized "ancient Civilizations,"so this tells us that the pentagram is one of the oldest signs used by humankind. In 4000b.c., if you signed your letter with a pentagram, you were offering good luck and good health to the recipient. the pentagram appears in Italy around 700b.c.,and later, in the sixth centery B.C., the pentacle (star with circle) was used in pythagorean mysticism, where it was said to symbolize the human being, with the five points representing the head, arms, and legs of a person, and the circle added to the unity of humanity to Spirit and the idea of the Cosmic egg ( uroborus). This is the definition supported by moder Witches today, and is the explanation they will give you on themeaning of the pentacle they wear around their necks. The pentacle played an important role as a sign on the official seal of the city of jerusalem during the period 300-150 BC and has been called Solomon's Seal, or Solomon's Shield in medieval Jewish mysticism. The six pointed star is also called the Seal of Solomon, which is a double triangle and a symbol of as above, so is below, and is usedi n kabbalah and jewish mysticim. Legend has it that King Solomon wore the pentacle on his left pinky finger.

The pentagram, however, has an even more dynamic mystery than all of the above combined because astronomers have found the pentagram is actually the geometric design depicting how the planet Venus movs in the heavens, and it is from this design that they believe the peoples of Euphrates-Tigris Region drew the first pentagram eight thousand yearsa go. the pentacle is reflective of Venus pattern in the sky from our point of view and the circular motion of Venus around the sun. this explians why the pentagram is sometimes called the Morning star and the Evening star, and why in Sumer culture the symbol was related to Innana, Ishtar/Astarte ( a powerful goddess of love and war whoseruling planet was Venus, though of course under a different name). and, later on, Venus/Aphrodite herself (Morning and Evening Stars- which are the same planet) in the Greco-Roman culters. "If we chart Venus Synodic orbital time in the Zodiac, we find she moves through five positions as the Morning Star, which takes exactly eight years plus one day.. and forms the deisgn of the pentacle in the vault of theh eavens. In the occult, thenumber eight stands for mastery and is the symbol for infinity ( or the Uroborus), and in the Craft, the Eight cycle stands for the Eight paths of power and the eight phases of themoon. But there's more.

If we look at the study of alchemy ( yes, we're going to touch on that). Each point stand for an element ( earth are fire and water) and the quintessence,Which means Spirit- the Fifth Element. Surrounded then, by the circle, we have divine transformation, the idea of the philosopher's stone, and the total purification of body,mind and Spirit. far from the ridculous notion of evil presented by Hollywood horror films.

The Elements, in some craft traditions ( usually those that learn more toward ceremonial practices) thepentacle is drawn in different ways to invoke and dismiss the various elemental energies. It is also used by some groups as a centerpiece for their altars or is drawn on the floor, which combines the two energies of circlecasting and the invocation of the goddess ( as thepentacle is normally associated with the divine feminine) in one ritual act. This process also symbolizes the ascent of the human spirit. If you draw the design from the top down, you are saying that the Spirit comes down to matter, and if you draw from the bottom to the top, your symbolizing matter in its highest form. The horizontal line across represents our development ofi ntellect and the connection of force and form. Using the Pentaclei n this way has been associated with the ceremonial Great Star of Light or Flaming Pentagram in affirmation of the divine forces found with in the symbol.

In modern day magic, the pentacle is worn for a variety of reasons that are associated with it's history;
  as a protective device

  •    As a symbol to promote personal power
  •    As a representation of the Wiccan Religion.
  •    As a magickal Device, weather invoking or banishing

The Pentacle, like any other symbol, can be worn by anyone, including people who follow the Wiccan Principles of Belief, nor do they have any idea of the vast history tied to that cool-looking star. It might also be warn by "dabblers"- Those individuals who use bits and pieces ofmagick from various systems yet study none thoroughly and do not ascribe to the Wiccan Religion. This is why many modern Witches wear there pentacles under their shirts if not amont friendsor family, seeing it as a personal, private religious symbol that is useful and meaningful as opposed to being simply decorative. Another difficulty in the use of the pentacle is the association of the inverted (upside-down) pentacle in  horror flicks and other unfortunate acts associated with the criminal element of our society. However when traditional Witches go through their second degree training experience the Descent of the Goddess in ritual ( where on casts off all evila nd negativity and confronts the shadow side of the persona) the inverted pentacle is used as a representation of that descent and of the power you have to control the dark side ofyour own personality ( as ooposed to letting yuor negative feelings run rampant all the time). In a few traditions these students are required to wear the inverted pentacle out of sight until they reach third degree( the clergy level). Where  thes ymbol is again righted, showing their movement from inner contemplation to the outer work of the third degree. You will find this same association with the Hermitocard of the Tarot deck, where thespiritual student is required towork on balancing the personality befor he or she is ready to illuminatethe world with his or her discoveries. In this inverted use, the upsde-down pentacle represents the light of the Spirit hiddien by matter.

It appears that the pentagram was first brought into ceremonial magickal circles by Eliphas Zahed Levi, who invented the invoking and banishing pentagrms used in Ceremonial WitchCraft today. He recommended drawing the sign in the air according to a particular pattern above each quarter to call up the elentals, And drawing it in the opposite direction tobanish them at the end of the ritual Empower the Pentacle for the following.

        Bothered by unwanted calls? Cut a star out of tinfoil. Empower   
        for  protection. Place the  shiny side face up under the phone.
        Replace every days.
       
      
        Draw on notebooks to protect them against theft and prying eyes.

        Draw on your hands and forehead with holy oil, or skin-safe anointing
       oil before ritual, magick, or meditation to banish unwanted energies    
       and enhance your psychic powers

        Distrubed by a bad dream? Draw the pentacle on a piece of paper,
        spirnkle with lavener, ad place under your bed, Renew oncea week.

        Carve on Caldes to banish negativity and empower with the energies of
        the five elements( earth air  fire, water, and spirit.

        Spending too much? Carefully draw a pentacle on garlic skin, then 
        burn to keep money in the home.

        Banish sickness by making small clay pentacles. String them together
        with red yarn and place in a red  conjring bag along with thename of 
        the person who is ill.

         And to bind Runes
       

 

 

blessedbethewitches.jpg Witches image by littlewhiskeygirl1974