This is always a point of confusion for many people across the world and is the reason why Wiccans get confused with Satanists who use the inverted five-pointed star forming a goat’s head. Which symbolizes the physical elements of the Earth dominating the Spiritual aspects of life.
If you have seen The Da Vinci Code, then you should already know that the five-pointed star, the Pentagram, is a religious symbol used by the Pagans. The Pentacle on the other hand, simply means a Pentagram enclosed in a circle. That’s so far as the difference between the two go. Both the Pentagram and the Pentacle are two of the most powerful symbols in the world of Wicca and Witchcraft.
The Pentagram
The Pentagram is actually a symbol of spiritual shielding and ethereal world intelligences. It is also a symbol of the mind dominating over the elements. The bad spirits and other negative elements are powerless when faced with this symbol and the good spirits are drawn to it. Those who have this symbol have infinite possibilities at their disposal.
The upside down pentagram is not exclusively Satanic. In fact, there are some Wiccan covens that use the inverted pentagram as a way to denote ranking. It’s just the Satanists have adopted it and it is rarely used by Wiccan covens at present.
Due to this link between the inverted pentagram and Satanists, Wiccans are more keen on using the Pentacle. It is more approachable and less prone to misunderstandings.
The Pentacle
The Pentacle represents good and pure and white magick, a symbol of light and love. Firstly, it symbolizes the North, South, East, West and the Spirit. Second, it symbolizes the Earth, Water, Air, the Spirit and the divine. Third, it symbolizes the God and the Goddess. If encased within a circle, it means wholeness and unity of all quadrants and the elements and our ultimate love for Nature.
Pentacle of the Black Onyx from the Moonlight Shop
It is used as a talisman in the form of a pendant or engraved and used as a disc placed on the altar to protect the person while banishing negative energies and auras.
Now that we have that down pat, let’s explore how the Wiccans use the pentacle in their practice and everyday lives.
How Wiccans Use the Pentacle
From talismans and carved out discs or engraved in objects, you will see the pentacle in many Wiccan products like shirts, mugs, bracelets, leggings, and whatnot. It is safe to say that it is the most recognizable, most powerful and most revered symbol in Wicca.
If carved from wood, the pentacle is linked to nature and the natural world. If made from gold, it enhances mental clarity, boosts energy and invokes wisdom. If made from silver, it links you to the Moon and heightens your psychic senses and abilities.
The pentacle is used to focus and direct energies in magick and also to protect you. Nothing can compete with the absolute protection that a pentacle gives you. Use it to keep negative energies, evil spirits, and demons out during your rituals and spell casting, while you at your most vulnerable. It even gives you the power to command and control the forces who are seeking to harm you.
If placed outside your residence, the pentacle will protect the house and everyone who lives in it.
Thank you for sharing this information.
Blessed be…
Thank you for this. I’ve been a Quaker since I was 14 (35 years). Quakers don’t use any religious symbols. In the 17th century we called the crosses people wore "dead crosses.’ We have a firm belief that the font of power comes from within. The only power outward items have is the power we give them, but they are dead in and of themselves. I say that, but also have to confess that since I was about the same age, I’ve had pagan tendencies, curiosities, and at some points in my life I openly explored various forms of paganism and witchcraft. I’d then go back to Christ-centered Quakerism (there are many Quakers who aren’t Christian, who are Buddhist, pagan, christo-pagan, or just Jesus-centered without the trappings of Christianity). In any event, every Fall, like clock work, something in me would stir. After about a decade of agnosticism and non-theism, I’ve come to a place in my Quaker faith which allows for ancestor veneration. If you come to my house you’ll see crosses on the walls (a vestige of things past) but pentagrams on my doors and walls. I wear a pentacle/pentagram. The pentagram is a symbol for me. I struggle with the idea that objects have innate power unless I hold them and infuse power into/charge them, which I haven’t done. “Funny anecdote:” at the end of a meeting the attendees saw me wearing a pentacle. They know I’m Quaker so they wanted to poke fun. “Is that Satanism?” “Is that satanic?” “Is that a pentagram?” I gave a brief corrective. “The pentacle is a universal symbol. It can be the five wounds of Christ. It can be 5 elements though those elements differ slighting in the East and West. It’s alchemy. It’s science. It’s spirit. This very much symbolizes my spirituality and practice.” After all that they said “Upside down or not looks the same to me. AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.” :-/ I just smiled rolled my eyes and considered how my ancestors would let me play a trick on them. To someone in the know, I would share this sentiment to the question “What is that?” “Is it Satanic?” My inward response is “yes and no” and “who cares?” I don’t believe in Satan except as an archetype. And with that I’ll finish with this: There was a woman who went to hell after she died. She woke up from a dark sleep to see herself in a beautiful woodland. A man with dark brown skin, hazel eyes, a beautiful smile and surrounded by a magical light approached her. “Who are you?” she asked. “I am the Light Bringer. I’m here to show you to your home.” Confused, she looked around and the first thing she saw as the walked was a large group of people around a table feasting. They were all in various fashions and speaking various languages, but they were all smiling with each other and having a great meal together." “That’s not so bad,” she said. “No. It’s not, smiled Lucifer.” They went over a rope bridge that spanned a deep gorge with a waterfall. People were diving into the waterfall without fear. Young teenage children, old men and women. All swan diving into the depths. No fear. All fun. “That’s amazing,” said the woman. “To have no fear? Indeed.” responded the angel. They crossed into a prairie where there was a big tent, like a king’s tent near a battle field. There was moaning and laughing and grunting. From more than two people. “Is that? Are they?” “Go peek, said her Guide.” Yep. All gender expressions various, various ethnicities, going at it. Some were resting to the side smiling. She turned back to the Prince and said “Is this… what’s the catch?” “No catch. no guilt.” They climbed a tall hill and as they climbed she heard weeping and wailing. As she topped the ridge everything changed. Down below was a deep pit that reeked of sulfur. Magma flowed down from this side of the hill into the pit. Toxic fumes choked her. And she gasped in horror. Thousands of people were caught in the flames, their skin boiling and peeling. They were weeping, and wailing and gnashing their teeth. “Who are they?!” she exclaimed. “Oh, yes. Those are the Christians. They wouldn’t have it any other way.” buh dum dum
Well written and to the “point” (lol)…everything and anything has a duo side…it’s how you use it.
a Pentagram is a type of Pentacle, but a Pentacle in general is an object which can consist of any magical signs or symbols. Upside down represents baphomet not evil. A circle or not has nothing to do with it. A Pentagram is a five point star representing elements, a penticle is any object with sigils on it (may or may not be a pentagram). Hope this helps.
Lovely. Thank you.
im still very confused which is for a wiccans and which is for satianist
im still very confused which is for a wiccans and which is for satianist
To answer the above question from Tiger Moon about the inverted cross. It is a Christian symbol, it is NOT a Satanic symbol or form of degradation or blasphemy. It is known and honored in Christianity and heraldry as the Cross of St. Peter. Peter the Apostle, when sentenced to crucifiction, felt he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus, and asked for the cross to be reversed. So it has come to represent his faith and loyalty in his martyrdom..
seems to me that the pentacle has a myriad of things it represents. the cross always represents the death and ressueection of Christ. all the inverted orntsgram
I have always understood a pentacle is without the enclosing circle which represents mans place in the world a pentacle i believe does not have a circle just a 5 pointed stsr representing mankind. Borh can be a sysmbol of protection in the upright position of represent the devil in the inverted position just as the inverted cross represents the devil
Sorry, don’t the Satanists also invert your cross? I keep hearing about the inverted pentagram being ‘associated with Satanism’. Why isn’t the same said of Christianity via the inverted cross? And it’s been my understanding that the pentagram is a 5-pointed star made with one continuous line, standing for Earth, Air, Fire, Water… and Spirit to bind them all. The circle, making it a pentacle, is for protection.
Life is but a dream
The origin of the upside down pentacle is from a 2D geometric rendering of the closest points where Earth and Venus pass each other as they orbit the Sun at the five points of passing, hence the circle surrounding the star. The right way up pentacle is a secondary shape made the same way as the first by Jupiter and Saturn, which also create the 6 pointed hexagram star. Everything else is just personified/elemental stories attached to the symbol. “Truth is the only religion.”
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Rebecca Burkhart
September 17, 2023
I’m not Wiccan, but I am a witch. I wear a pentacle for protection. I don’t take it off either (unless I’m changing it with another one). I refuse to wear an upside down pentagram because for me, it has different connotations than what are mentioned here. It’s my personal preference. I don’t believe in religion, so that is one reason I’m not Wiccan.