The Pentagram
The pentagram, or five-pointed star, may be the most misunderstood religious symbol around these days.
Being the most common symbol in Wicca and Witchcraft, it has nevertheless been denigrated by movie and publishing industries which continually connect it with satanism and the devil, which is ridiculous as the pentagram and pentacle are Pagan symbols and the devil is a Christian character.
In its upright position (one point uppermost) the pentagram is an ancient symbol of protection from evil. The pentagram was often displayed on doors, windows and hearths of houses throughout pre-christian Europe. It can be traced back to Egyptian and Sumerian cultures and has even been found on Native American medicine tools. It is sometimes confused with the Star of David (a six-pointed star emblematic of Judaism).
The four lower points of the pentagram represent the elements of earth, air, fire and water, while the fifth point, surmounting the others, represents spirit, the fifth element or quintessence.
Thus, the pentagram symbolizes the four elements of the material world connected with, but ruled by, the spirit.
The Pentacle
The pentacle is the same as the pentagram, but the five-pointed star is placed within a cirlce. The circle is a symbol of unity and wholeness, so when the pentagram is placed within the circle, it becomes the pentacle, which stresses our connection with the universe as a whole.
