What is a pentacle? Is it the same thing as a pentagram?
Not exactly. One wears a pentacle ring or necklace. One looks at a pentagram (a drawn version of the original) in a book.A pentacle, defined as an interwoven, five-pointed star surrounded bya circle, is the symbol most witches revere as a symbol of our beliefsystem as Christians revere the Cross and Jews honor the Star ofDavid.The pentacle is an ancient symbol that has been associated by other religions with Satanism and "black magick" or the "black arts." However, like the swastika, a Hindu spiritual symbol, it has been corrupted from its original meaning.
Why is there a circle around the five-pointed star?
The circle surrounding the star is a symbol of continuity. It is a representation of the fact that our existence in this plane has nobeginning and no end. What we perceive as distinct and differentincarnations are, in fact, a continuous circle of life, death, andrebirth. When considering the meaning of the pentacle one needs to examine itas a religious symbol.
The points of the pentacle have a number of correspondences applied them, depending upon the interpretation. My tradition defines pentacles as being read from the lower right handcorner, continuing in a clockwise motion from bottom to mid-level,etc. This would be: bottom right point, mid left point, mid rightpoint, bottom left point, and top point. The correspondences most individuals know are: Earth - Physical bodyAir - IntellectFire - WillWater - Emotionand Spirit.
This would also correspond with: Right leg, Left arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, Head. When one considers the quarters or directions the spiritual portion ofthe pentacle becomes the circle itself, leaving thedirections/quarters in their normally assigned places.In examining the correspondences of the pentacle we find it is dividedinto three levels. The bottom level is comprised of the two legs ofthe pentacle. It is upon these legs that the foundation of thepentacle is laid. Without solidity it will not stand. The legs arecomprised of water and earth. The arms are of lighter material, airand fire. The point is spirit/God/Goddess.
My teachers defined thethree levels (from the top down) as Spirit, Intellect, and Instinct. If we examine our lives and find things chaotic we can look to thepentacle for a way to bring ourselves into balance. Too much fire will pull the pentacle off kilter. Balancing it maymean increasing the time one takes to think about something beforedoing it (air/intellect) or determining the emotional basis drivingthe exercise of will (water/emotion) or both. Stuck in a rut (Earth/Physical)? Spend time thinking about what youwant to do (Air/Intellect) and then do it (Fire/will). Depressed (Water/Emotion)? Take some time to ground and center(Earth/Physical), examine what you can do to effect a life change(Air/Intellect) and then act upon it (Fire/Will).To me the pentacle is more than a symbol of my beliefs, it is a tool with which to keep my life in balance.
Bright Blessings,
Sierra SilverOwl
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