The Pentagram ~ most misunderstood symbol

I was watching one of my favorite YouTube channels the other day, a channel that narrates dark, mysterious, and unusual stories.  The story that I was listening to involved the disappearance, over a number of years, of people living within a certain area.  One of the "clues" that came up in this story was the pentagram, which had been found etched into stones in a clearing in the woods, of course.  And the narrator went on to explain that this was a symbol of Satanists and might indicate that there had been human sacrifices in this area, no kidding.

I didn't bother leaving a comment, a correction, or an explanation.  One person had tried to do that already, but it just seemed to get buried in all the hyperbole of the conversation already underway.

So, let's clear a few things up:

I can’t think of another symbol that elicits such a knee-jerk reaction as this beautiful innocent five-point star. The only place that you can display the pentagram without raising eyebrows and suspicion is at the top of a Christian Christmas tree. They haven’t got a clue.

The pentagram is most often displayed top point up, although there are Wiccan traditions who have used the inverted pentagram, top point facing down, as a symbol of second-degree initiation.

However, the inverted pentagram developed quite a popularity with Satanists, and thus, the Wiccan tradition of using the inverted pentagram was largely abandoned by most covens to avoid confusion.

The five points of the pentagram represent Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Contrary to popular mainstream misinformation, the pentagram does not represent evil or evil entities in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The pentagram is a protective symbol and is often used on objects and in spell crafting for this purpose. The pentacle is one of the most popular symbols worn by pagans, not only to proudly proclaim their religion, but also to protect them from harm.

Just a final note: 

The five-point star, known as a pentagram, is called a pentacle when placed within a circle. The circle represents spirit and sacred space, and by placing a pentagram within this image, you create an immensely powerful protective amulet. This image is most often used in the design of jewelry.

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Each of the axioms of the Witches’ Ladder, along with their corresponding elements, have a place upon the pentagram-- the beautiful, and much maligned, five pointed star that has come to symbolize the witch, perhaps more than any other image. 

• To Know=Air…lays at the upper right point of the star
• To Will=Fire…can be found at the lower left point
• To Dare=Water…is the upper left point
• To Be Silent=Earth…can be found at the lower right point. 

And the top point of the pentagram? This point represents Spirit; and to each individual this may be something different-- the Goddess or the God-- or both, a universal intelligence, a supreme being, the All, the Source, etc. 

The witch will know, without a doubt, what it means to her. 

The Elements 

The four natural elements-- earth, air, fire, and water-- are used in the practice of witchcraft, both to call upon their energies and corresponding entities for casting spells, for protection-- to guard the magic circle, for rituals of religious observance, for the movement of specific energies within your living space in an effort to cleanse/empower that space, and for their individual connection to specific stones and herbs used for a myriad of magical intentions. The uses for the elements in a witch’s magical and spiritual practice are as varied and numerous as there are witches to use them.

The Eastern tradition, it should at least be noted, has five elements: wood, fire, metal, water, and earth. For the intentions of this book, a publication of my personal Book of Shadows, and in view of my own practice, that which combines Celtic traditions, European witchcraft, and hoodoo; we’re only going to deal with the four classic elements. 

The correspondences for these elements are very specific and quite detailed. Their energy, and thus their temperament, or that of the entities associated with each element, is also very personal, very real, and very powerful. 

These elements should be respected and used properly. In trying to think of a comparison on this topic, the Christian entity of the Holy Ghost comes to mind-- it is a spirit both revered and respected, and sometimes even feared, by the practitioners of Christianity. It is with the same demeanor, one of respect and reverence, that the witch views the elements. 

So it is with a healthy dose of awe and caution that the witch approaches and invokes the four elements. The experienced magical practitioner realizes the power behind these energies/entities, and although I would not say the witch fears the elements, she is wise enough not to toy with them.

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More information & common questions:

The pentagram, a five-pointed star, has diverse meanings and associations across various cultures and religions, often representing elements, the five senses, or even the five wounds of Christ, while also being associated with Neo-Paganism and sometimes with negative or "black" magic.

Here's a more detailed look at the pentagram:

Symbolism and Meanings:

• Neo-Paganism:

In modern Neo-Pagan traditions like Wicca, the pentagram often represents the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) and is used for protection, invoking, or banishing spirits.

• Christianity:

Some Christians associate the pentagram with the five wounds of Jesus, or the Star of Bethlehem.

• Other Religions and Cultures:

The pentagram can also represent the five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing) or other concepts depending on the context.

• Inverted Pentagram:

An inverted pentagram, with two points facing upward and one facing down, is sometimes associated with negative or "black" magic and devil worship, particularly in the sigil of Baphomet, a symbol of the Church of Satan.

• What are the powers of the pentagram?

The shape is significant in many cultures. While some believe that its five edges denote a mystical pentagram sign that tells us about the 5 elements of nature i.e. air, water, fire, earth, and spirit which allows us to attain greater power, health, happiness, wisdom, and prosperity.

• What is the pentagram ritual?

The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram (LRP), also known as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP), is a ceremonial magic ritual from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, used to clear and prepare a space for further magical or meditative work.

• What is the pentagram famous for?

In ancient times, the pentagram was used as a Christian symbol. It stood for the five wounds that Jesus Christ received during his crucifixion (the nails in each hand and foot, and the spear wound in his side). In the past, the pentagram was commonly seen as a symbol for good and for protection against evil.

• What does the pentagram mean in Wicca?

Wiccan pentacle... as far as Wiccan symbols go, the pentagram isn't a representation of good vs. evil. It's a symbol of faith, a symbol of the 5 Elements Spirit, Air, Earth, Water and Fire (one for each point), and the circle (the universe) contains and connects them all.