![Difference](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/5725384.jpg?329)
Before we get into anything else- we need to know the difference between a Pentagram and a Pentacle.
A Pentagram is a 5 Pointed Star. It's drawn with 5 straight strokes- just like in math class. The word pentagram comes from the Greek word- pentagrammon which when broken down literally translates to- "pente"- 5- and gramme- "line."
Pentacle is also used to refer to a 5 lined star but it is enclosed. It is drawn with an infinite circle around it sealing the 5 lined star within. The term is pentaculum- "penta" and "culum" which basically in Latin it's translated loosely to fivefold talisman because of the circle being so similar to a round pendant you'd find on a necklace.
I always try to explain the difference only because sometimes it can be tricky.
Now that we know the difference we can go into the symbolism and explanations
The Pentagram believe it or not is steeped in history throughout the ages. It goes farther than many realize. People automatically assume a pentacle is associated with either the occult or Satanism but what they don't realize is this symbol is also associated with Christianity and Science.
I'm going to share all of the different meanings with you so you're properly educated and then you can decide for yourself which explanation and meaning you like best for yourself.
Just a side note- This symbol is extremely sacred so please treat it as such when wearing it. It's not something to wear or use lightly so when you use it as a protection symbol, please do so only with the seriousness, reverence, sacred intent, purpose and respect the symbol deserves- that's all I ask.
A Pentagram is a 5 Pointed Star. It's drawn with 5 straight strokes- just like in math class. The word pentagram comes from the Greek word- pentagrammon which when broken down literally translates to- "pente"- 5- and gramme- "line."
Pentacle is also used to refer to a 5 lined star but it is enclosed. It is drawn with an infinite circle around it sealing the 5 lined star within. The term is pentaculum- "penta" and "culum" which basically in Latin it's translated loosely to fivefold talisman because of the circle being so similar to a round pendant you'd find on a necklace.
I always try to explain the difference only because sometimes it can be tricky.
Now that we know the difference we can go into the symbolism and explanations
The Pentagram believe it or not is steeped in history throughout the ages. It goes farther than many realize. People automatically assume a pentacle is associated with either the occult or Satanism but what they don't realize is this symbol is also associated with Christianity and Science.
I'm going to share all of the different meanings with you so you're properly educated and then you can decide for yourself which explanation and meaning you like best for yourself.
Just a side note- This symbol is extremely sacred so please treat it as such when wearing it. It's not something to wear or use lightly so when you use it as a protection symbol, please do so only with the seriousness, reverence, sacred intent, purpose and respect the symbol deserves- that's all I ask.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/1396371836.jpg)
Still here? Most excellent! Most excellent indeed! Then read on my friend!
Explanation #1-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Christianity
I know- the shock- the horror- Paganism & Christianity?!?! Am I crazy?!?!
Before you get your feathers ruffled-take a breather.
Breathe. In and out. Slowly. That's it. There ya go.
I'm not going off the deep end. Jesus wasn't a warlock and he didn't make sacrifices or do crazy things so chill.
(Though I could be totally sarcastic and say he was a long haired hippie who must of been on a really amazing acid trip because he sure performed an awful lot of amazing magic tricks didn't he but I won't.)
Though seriously he did pull off some pretty amazing things on his own- water into wine, walking on water, healing the blind, turning lepers into pure and healed, raising the dead- hey I'm just saying.....Moving on....
There's indisputable proof that there are symbols and acts that closely compare between Christianity and the symbols and acts of Paganism- seriously....think about it- the altar, the chalice, the holiday's, the attire- do you see where I'm going with this? Ok light bulb... I see we're making some progress here and you're probably offended but you have to see where I'm headed....Christianity and Paganism did pretty much share a lot and they still have a lot in common to this day. If you do your research Christianity drove a lot of the Pagans out of countries they resided in or they violently forced conversions upon them because they thought they were worshiping Satan or performing acts of dark magic. It's documented in history but I'm not going to turn this into a lecture no worries...Back to Christianity and the Pentagram & Pentacle.....
Before the birth of Christ was the Creation of Man. We start with the story of Genesis.
In Genesis we start with the Apple. When you cut an apple around the middle and look inside you see a Star. There are five seeds. Aha- another light bulb! The apple in the story of Adam & Eve was the forbidden fruit of knowledge. It came from the forbidden tree that Eve was NOT supposed to share with Adam. She did. Bad girl! Moving on...
We know that God therefore punished Adam and Eve by having them suffer pain and the creation of life from that point on and they got kicked out of Paradise. Rut roh!
The apple's star thus represented the hidden knowledge we were not supposed to know, the wisdom from what we learned, the creation of mankind, the pain we must endure and the joy of the life we live despite the pain we suffer or the 5 trials and tribulations of mankind.
When we go into the Bible and look into all of the Chapter's written about Christ- the main one is the Crucifixion. Christ suffers five wounds while He is being nailed to the Holy Cross.
In Roman's it is explained as the Original Sins that He pays for for the good of all mankind.
Death and suffering entered the world by (Original) sin (cf. Sir 40,9; Rom 5,12); sin and death were remedied on the Cross by Christ's suffering and death, by His most Sacred wounds, by the shedding of His precious Blood.
The Original Sins are as follows:
1. Original Sin Brought Death
2. Original Sin Caused Darkness
3. Original Sin Brought Malice
4. Original Sin Caused Irascibility
5. Original Sin Caused Sensuality
It is a mystery of faith that when Christ rose from the dead He retained these five wounds in His glorious body. Speaking to the doubting Thomas, He said: "'Bring here thy finger, and see My hands; and bring here thy hand, and put it into My side, and be not unbelieving, but believing.' Whereupon Thomas answered Him, saying, 'My Lord and My God!'" (Jn 20,27-28).
It is said that the Pentagram is a symbol of Christ's wounds and suffering that He bore the day he paid for the Original Sin's for mankind.
If you want to read more of the Original Sins, you can visit the Holy page of Opus Sanctorum Angelorum and view more here.
If you look at various Hebrew architecture or even throughout various Temple's where most secret Christian societies gather, you'll notice a pentagram symbol on just about all of their masonry. During the times of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), the pentacle was the first and most important of the Seven Seals – an amulet whose seals represented the seven secret names of God. It was inscribed on King Solomon’s ring, which is often called Solomon’s Seal in error. Each point of the five pointed star was in reference to the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture or the Torah. You'll even see the symbol on the Hamesh or the Hand of God also known as the Hand of Miriam, Hand of Fatima. It's a very old symbol and newer versions of this have a Star of David which show two triangles- the Star of David being the Shield of David, the Shield of King David or the symbol of Judaism.
The inverted pentagram was used as the Seal of Solomon and was also known and proven to be used as the Seal of the City of Jerusalem as early as the 4th Century B.C. (as much as has been documented and shown by artifact, documentation and ornamentation) while the the non-inverted pentagram was used by the Knights Templar on gravestones, their masonry symbols and seals within their society.
One such Freemason society that uses the Pentagram is the Order of the Eastern Star established in Boston by lawyer Rob Morris in 1850. The order is based on teachings from the Bible but is open to all religious beliefs. The rays all point West and depict lessons in order from scriptures in the Bible from the following:
1. Adah the Daughter from Judges
2. Ruth the Widow from the Book of Ruth
3. Esther the Wife from the Book of Esther and the story of Queen Esther
4. Martha the Sister & The Gospel of John
5. Electa from 2nd John as the Mother
If you'd like to read more- you can view the 5 New Beginnings here.
In addition to the The Order of the Eastern Star, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the Temple of Nauvoo in Nauvoo, Illinois. This is because this particular temple not only has pentagrams as ornamentation but also because it's a Mormon temple. Many have criticized the Mormon church for their blatant lack of respect to the Christian and Church of Latter Day Saints faith due to the fact they are so clearly displaying a symbol most often depicted with the dark arts and Satanic worship. To be clear- there are 138 of these stars alone in the assembly room. I can understand why the Mormon faith- which is extremely strict- is up in arms. They take their faith very seriously and adhere to strict guidelines and morals of the Church of Latter Day Saints. There's an entire article about the Nauvoo Temple here. It's very interesting!
As you see there are many connections between the pentagram and Christianity. Before the cross, it was a preferred emblem to adorn the jewelry and amulets of early Christians (followed by an ‘x’ or a phoenix). The pentagram was associated with the five wounds of Christ, and because it could be drawn in one continuous movement of the pen, the Alpha and the Omega as one.
Many of the Christian faith could easily seal important documents using the Pentagram and also use it as their amulet as to it was so easily available and recognizable. Convenience on both counts!
There's another star that many forget about until December 25th. It's the Star of Bethlehem that signals the birth of Jesus and guides the 3 Wise Men to Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus who lies in the manger. Many often disregard and take little account of the meaning of this star other than in the lyrics of song to be sung at Christmastime.
If we're going to speak of Pentagrams and Pentacles we must include this star into this discussion since this is a major star in Christianity and one that should be prevalent. Many, many times over it's a very important symbol to the Christian faith as the Guiding Light from the Heaven's and one many a Holy person has stated came from God just when it was needed to guide the way. They state that on the night of Jesus' birth it was the darkest night it had ever been in ages. To signal the birth of the Christ Child and to light the path for the Wise Men, God asked an Angel to appear in the night Sky and light the pathway for them to be able to see where they were going and to show that the Christ Child was born. Because of this Holy Light they were then able to safely travel to Bethlehem and to worship the Christ Child. This star became the Holy Star of Bethlehem. The story of the Nativity is in The Gospel of Matthew.
So in Christianity you have many Stars- The Seal of King Solomon, The Star of Man, The Holy Star of Bethlehem, The 5 Wounds of Christ, The Order of the Eastern Star, The Pentagram for the Order of the Freemasons and the one that covered them all- The Star of Christianity.
To me it's quite astounding really the views of modern perspective on the Pentagram and Pentacle vs. the views of old when now it's really considered something completely evil and satanic by Christianity and those who are ignorant truly don't understand the origin or meaning. Hence why I also say you should learn before you burn.
Kind of hypocritical no? Makes you think....You know what they say about thinking.... You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink and you can lead a man to knowledge but you can't make him think..Sometimes you have to outsmart 'em both...
Explanation #1-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Christianity
I know- the shock- the horror- Paganism & Christianity?!?! Am I crazy?!?!
Before you get your feathers ruffled-take a breather.
Breathe. In and out. Slowly. That's it. There ya go.
I'm not going off the deep end. Jesus wasn't a warlock and he didn't make sacrifices or do crazy things so chill.
(Though I could be totally sarcastic and say he was a long haired hippie who must of been on a really amazing acid trip because he sure performed an awful lot of amazing magic tricks didn't he but I won't.)
Though seriously he did pull off some pretty amazing things on his own- water into wine, walking on water, healing the blind, turning lepers into pure and healed, raising the dead- hey I'm just saying.....Moving on....
There's indisputable proof that there are symbols and acts that closely compare between Christianity and the symbols and acts of Paganism- seriously....think about it- the altar, the chalice, the holiday's, the attire- do you see where I'm going with this? Ok light bulb... I see we're making some progress here and you're probably offended but you have to see where I'm headed....Christianity and Paganism did pretty much share a lot and they still have a lot in common to this day. If you do your research Christianity drove a lot of the Pagans out of countries they resided in or they violently forced conversions upon them because they thought they were worshiping Satan or performing acts of dark magic. It's documented in history but I'm not going to turn this into a lecture no worries...Back to Christianity and the Pentagram & Pentacle.....
Before the birth of Christ was the Creation of Man. We start with the story of Genesis.
In Genesis we start with the Apple. When you cut an apple around the middle and look inside you see a Star. There are five seeds. Aha- another light bulb! The apple in the story of Adam & Eve was the forbidden fruit of knowledge. It came from the forbidden tree that Eve was NOT supposed to share with Adam. She did. Bad girl! Moving on...
We know that God therefore punished Adam and Eve by having them suffer pain and the creation of life from that point on and they got kicked out of Paradise. Rut roh!
The apple's star thus represented the hidden knowledge we were not supposed to know, the wisdom from what we learned, the creation of mankind, the pain we must endure and the joy of the life we live despite the pain we suffer or the 5 trials and tribulations of mankind.
When we go into the Bible and look into all of the Chapter's written about Christ- the main one is the Crucifixion. Christ suffers five wounds while He is being nailed to the Holy Cross.
In Roman's it is explained as the Original Sins that He pays for for the good of all mankind.
Death and suffering entered the world by (Original) sin (cf. Sir 40,9; Rom 5,12); sin and death were remedied on the Cross by Christ's suffering and death, by His most Sacred wounds, by the shedding of His precious Blood.
The Original Sins are as follows:
1. Original Sin Brought Death
2. Original Sin Caused Darkness
3. Original Sin Brought Malice
4. Original Sin Caused Irascibility
5. Original Sin Caused Sensuality
It is a mystery of faith that when Christ rose from the dead He retained these five wounds in His glorious body. Speaking to the doubting Thomas, He said: "'Bring here thy finger, and see My hands; and bring here thy hand, and put it into My side, and be not unbelieving, but believing.' Whereupon Thomas answered Him, saying, 'My Lord and My God!'" (Jn 20,27-28).
It is said that the Pentagram is a symbol of Christ's wounds and suffering that He bore the day he paid for the Original Sin's for mankind.
If you want to read more of the Original Sins, you can visit the Holy page of Opus Sanctorum Angelorum and view more here.
If you look at various Hebrew architecture or even throughout various Temple's where most secret Christian societies gather, you'll notice a pentagram symbol on just about all of their masonry. During the times of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), the pentacle was the first and most important of the Seven Seals – an amulet whose seals represented the seven secret names of God. It was inscribed on King Solomon’s ring, which is often called Solomon’s Seal in error. Each point of the five pointed star was in reference to the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture or the Torah. You'll even see the symbol on the Hamesh or the Hand of God also known as the Hand of Miriam, Hand of Fatima. It's a very old symbol and newer versions of this have a Star of David which show two triangles- the Star of David being the Shield of David, the Shield of King David or the symbol of Judaism.
The inverted pentagram was used as the Seal of Solomon and was also known and proven to be used as the Seal of the City of Jerusalem as early as the 4th Century B.C. (as much as has been documented and shown by artifact, documentation and ornamentation) while the the non-inverted pentagram was used by the Knights Templar on gravestones, their masonry symbols and seals within their society.
One such Freemason society that uses the Pentagram is the Order of the Eastern Star established in Boston by lawyer Rob Morris in 1850. The order is based on teachings from the Bible but is open to all religious beliefs. The rays all point West and depict lessons in order from scriptures in the Bible from the following:
1. Adah the Daughter from Judges
2. Ruth the Widow from the Book of Ruth
3. Esther the Wife from the Book of Esther and the story of Queen Esther
4. Martha the Sister & The Gospel of John
5. Electa from 2nd John as the Mother
If you'd like to read more- you can view the 5 New Beginnings here.
In addition to the The Order of the Eastern Star, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the Temple of Nauvoo in Nauvoo, Illinois. This is because this particular temple not only has pentagrams as ornamentation but also because it's a Mormon temple. Many have criticized the Mormon church for their blatant lack of respect to the Christian and Church of Latter Day Saints faith due to the fact they are so clearly displaying a symbol most often depicted with the dark arts and Satanic worship. To be clear- there are 138 of these stars alone in the assembly room. I can understand why the Mormon faith- which is extremely strict- is up in arms. They take their faith very seriously and adhere to strict guidelines and morals of the Church of Latter Day Saints. There's an entire article about the Nauvoo Temple here. It's very interesting!
As you see there are many connections between the pentagram and Christianity. Before the cross, it was a preferred emblem to adorn the jewelry and amulets of early Christians (followed by an ‘x’ or a phoenix). The pentagram was associated with the five wounds of Christ, and because it could be drawn in one continuous movement of the pen, the Alpha and the Omega as one.
Many of the Christian faith could easily seal important documents using the Pentagram and also use it as their amulet as to it was so easily available and recognizable. Convenience on both counts!
There's another star that many forget about until December 25th. It's the Star of Bethlehem that signals the birth of Jesus and guides the 3 Wise Men to Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus who lies in the manger. Many often disregard and take little account of the meaning of this star other than in the lyrics of song to be sung at Christmastime.
If we're going to speak of Pentagrams and Pentacles we must include this star into this discussion since this is a major star in Christianity and one that should be prevalent. Many, many times over it's a very important symbol to the Christian faith as the Guiding Light from the Heaven's and one many a Holy person has stated came from God just when it was needed to guide the way. They state that on the night of Jesus' birth it was the darkest night it had ever been in ages. To signal the birth of the Christ Child and to light the path for the Wise Men, God asked an Angel to appear in the night Sky and light the pathway for them to be able to see where they were going and to show that the Christ Child was born. Because of this Holy Light they were then able to safely travel to Bethlehem and to worship the Christ Child. This star became the Holy Star of Bethlehem. The story of the Nativity is in The Gospel of Matthew.
So in Christianity you have many Stars- The Seal of King Solomon, The Star of Man, The Holy Star of Bethlehem, The 5 Wounds of Christ, The Order of the Eastern Star, The Pentagram for the Order of the Freemasons and the one that covered them all- The Star of Christianity.
To me it's quite astounding really the views of modern perspective on the Pentagram and Pentacle vs. the views of old when now it's really considered something completely evil and satanic by Christianity and those who are ignorant truly don't understand the origin or meaning. Hence why I also say you should learn before you burn.
Kind of hypocritical no? Makes you think....You know what they say about thinking.... You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink and you can lead a man to knowledge but you can't make him think..Sometimes you have to outsmart 'em both...
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/2847007.jpg)
Are you still here? Or did I lose you? Hmm... Well if you still have a pulse- awesome! If not- well then.. we seem to have a problem... That would be awkward....For those among the living continue on...For those dead I'll fetch the young Dr. Frankenstein...or Rick....Has anyone seen Rick? Anyone? Carl? Michonne?
Explanation # 2-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Science
I'm sure you're wondering what in the world do religion and science have to do with one another. Elementary my dear Watson! They go hand in hand, trust me!
The picture to your direct left is a direct correlation of man in both Science & Religion by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci himself. He drew up a series of pictures titled "The Vitruvian Man."
But before we jump ahead of ourselves let's take a stroll back to Mesopotamia... The year 3000 B.C. thereabouts. The points on a Pentagram weren't elements, they were directions. Much like today they were symbolizing points on a compass, and they represented up, down, left and right, above and below. The directions were in direct alignment with the planets and had direct correlation to astrology and astrological meaning. They represented the five planets of Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. They called the Pentagram "Hygieia" (the Goddess of Health & where the word Hygiene comes from- you're welcome!) and saw this Pentagram to represent mathematical perfection. It was the perfect star. The five lines and points were later used in medieval times to represent the five elements that we now use today- Earth, Water, Air, Fire & Spirit in combination with the compass directions of North, South, East, West- Above & Below.
Explanation # 2-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Science
I'm sure you're wondering what in the world do religion and science have to do with one another. Elementary my dear Watson! They go hand in hand, trust me!
The picture to your direct left is a direct correlation of man in both Science & Religion by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci himself. He drew up a series of pictures titled "The Vitruvian Man."
But before we jump ahead of ourselves let's take a stroll back to Mesopotamia... The year 3000 B.C. thereabouts. The points on a Pentagram weren't elements, they were directions. Much like today they were symbolizing points on a compass, and they represented up, down, left and right, above and below. The directions were in direct alignment with the planets and had direct correlation to astrology and astrological meaning. They represented the five planets of Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. They called the Pentagram "Hygieia" (the Goddess of Health & where the word Hygiene comes from- you're welcome!) and saw this Pentagram to represent mathematical perfection. It was the perfect star. The five lines and points were later used in medieval times to represent the five elements that we now use today- Earth, Water, Air, Fire & Spirit in combination with the compass directions of North, South, East, West- Above & Below.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/7679628.jpg)
Leonard da Vinci was famous and very well known for his relative theories and mathematical genius. He was a very profound thinker, an artist, a scientist, an astrologist- he had many, many hours of study on all matter's of subject's from the human body to flight itself. It's all documented and many of it still exists today and is used in Universities across the world. His Vitruvian Man is extremely famous the world over. I've always found it particularly interesting only because his study of the human body, his examination of corpses, the female body, the study of pregnant bodies was so advanced at the time that even still today modern medical doctors are still in awe of his work and revere his drawings, his notes and literally whisper in reverent tones in the halls of medical schools. In his lifetime women were not allowed to be touched when seen by a doctor and up until the Victorian era a woman was not allowed to be examined by a male of the medical field without a dire emergency. Leonardo had to have express and explicit permission from the Vatican and the Pope himself to examine corpses to use them for study. He was so curious about the intricacies and the layout of the female anatomy that he went to great lengths to study it.
There's a drawing that he did of a woman's body splayed in half with a fetus inside that is so vividly and finely detailed it's quite particularly amazing! But I digress (I told you I was fascinated!)
The image he drew of Man with his arms and legs extended shows him in the pose of a pentagram. His head is at the top, his arms are at the left and right, his legs are at the bottom left and right and at the very center of all life is his navel. Leonardo's theory is that all life and the creation of man stemmed from his navel or womb- just like a fetus grows in the womb of its mother. Everything is in constant motion, has constant movement, has a constant direction, a constant cycle. Life begins, life dies, life is reborn. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It's Newton's Law of Motion. And what did Newton use to prove his theory- an APPLE. See how this works?
It's the direct correlation of man and nature. A combination of elementals that depend on one another- earth needs air and water to grow and fire to cleanse. The body needs water to drink and food from the earth to grow and survive and air to breathe and fire to stay warm and to cook the food. It's a symbolism of man & nature- the cycle of birth, death and rebirth in an endless loop. The circle around man and the pentagram is the infinite loop- see how it all ties together? When we do ritual magic- we seal the circle making it infinite and complete. The cycle of life. What once was broken is now whole.
Many today also correlate the Vitruvian Man with the alignment of Chakra's, especially considering the 3rd Chakra or the Solar Plexus Chakra, is the Chakra in direct alignment of the stomach and Naval (obviously) There's a lot of thought that goes into this involving both science and thought. When I was researching religion and iconography, I studied Spiritual Humanism as a possible religion. It's basically a combination of logic and science in regards to religion. It's basically what Leonardo da Vinci himself studied because he couldn't stop questioning everything. He had a very curious mind and couldn't shut it down. A lot of creative thinker's are that way, haven't you noticed?
There's a drawing that he did of a woman's body splayed in half with a fetus inside that is so vividly and finely detailed it's quite particularly amazing! But I digress (I told you I was fascinated!)
The image he drew of Man with his arms and legs extended shows him in the pose of a pentagram. His head is at the top, his arms are at the left and right, his legs are at the bottom left and right and at the very center of all life is his navel. Leonardo's theory is that all life and the creation of man stemmed from his navel or womb- just like a fetus grows in the womb of its mother. Everything is in constant motion, has constant movement, has a constant direction, a constant cycle. Life begins, life dies, life is reborn. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It's Newton's Law of Motion. And what did Newton use to prove his theory- an APPLE. See how this works?
It's the direct correlation of man and nature. A combination of elementals that depend on one another- earth needs air and water to grow and fire to cleanse. The body needs water to drink and food from the earth to grow and survive and air to breathe and fire to stay warm and to cook the food. It's a symbolism of man & nature- the cycle of birth, death and rebirth in an endless loop. The circle around man and the pentagram is the infinite loop- see how it all ties together? When we do ritual magic- we seal the circle making it infinite and complete. The cycle of life. What once was broken is now whole.
Many today also correlate the Vitruvian Man with the alignment of Chakra's, especially considering the 3rd Chakra or the Solar Plexus Chakra, is the Chakra in direct alignment of the stomach and Naval (obviously) There's a lot of thought that goes into this involving both science and thought. When I was researching religion and iconography, I studied Spiritual Humanism as a possible religion. It's basically a combination of logic and science in regards to religion. It's basically what Leonardo da Vinci himself studied because he couldn't stop questioning everything. He had a very curious mind and couldn't shut it down. A lot of creative thinker's are that way, haven't you noticed?
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/760229.gif?347)
To your left is a map of Washington D.C. In 1791, Pierre Charles L'Enfante, a designer who was a Freemason (the Freemason's again) laid out the Governmental Center of Washington D.C. When he was laying out his design, he did way more than design streets, roads and buildings- he designed symbols with purpose into the very city itself. As you can see- the very city itself in the shape of a Pentagram. Obviously many Christians weren't too happy with this because they automatically associated this symbol with Satanism and to this day there is a lot of discord between the Freemasons and the Christians. The very order of the Freemasons use the symbol of the Pentagram to show mathematically how it is associated with the Universe in size comparison to Man. The geometric properties and structure of the Endless Knot are symbolically incorporated into the 72 degree angle of the compass along with the emblems of virtue and duty thus are both highly respected and appreciated by the Freemasons as a whole. Most of the symbolism and craftsmanship that the Freemason's have done throughout their order however is rarely seen and are limited to very few. The few that have seen it are either Freemasons, have been passed down through family or have been specifically invited in by other Freemasons. Many of our Founding Father's were Freemasons or practitioner's of Deism or Unitarian Universalist's. It's still evident to this day how they have striven to keep the separation of Church & State by way of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that still remains in place through our Government. Many symbols of the Freemasons are still evident throughout our Government if you care to look for them. The 5 pointed stars on the American Flag, the eye and pyramid on our bill currency and even the layout of our Nation's Capitol was designed by the Freemasons.
The Pentagram as a whole isn't just a religious order or a religious symbol- it was a symbol of science, a symbol of mathematical equation and a symbol of Government. It was a symbol for Astrologer's to map the planets and read our astrological charts, it was a symbol to help define the human body and the life force of man and nature. It's a symbol that began well before Christ and is a symbol that will surpass human existence. It's completely fascinating, isn't it? Here are some articles worth reading-
25 Little-Known Facts- Myths Debunked
Everything you've ever wanted to know without getting in trouble- Information & Symbolism of Freemasons
Unitarian Universalist Association- To help you with the beliefs of our Founding Father's
The Pentagram as a whole isn't just a religious order or a religious symbol- it was a symbol of science, a symbol of mathematical equation and a symbol of Government. It was a symbol for Astrologer's to map the planets and read our astrological charts, it was a symbol to help define the human body and the life force of man and nature. It's a symbol that began well before Christ and is a symbol that will surpass human existence. It's completely fascinating, isn't it? Here are some articles worth reading-
25 Little-Known Facts- Myths Debunked
Everything you've ever wanted to know without getting in trouble- Information & Symbolism of Freemasons
Unitarian Universalist Association- To help you with the beliefs of our Founding Father's
![Elemental Pentacle](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/9889879.gif)
Part 3! At last...There's a light at the end of the tunnel! Does this woman EVER shut up? Alas I do. If you have made it this far it means you are coming to the end. I'm sure by now you're ready to smack me or scream or something close to it. This part shall complete the end of this very long read, I promise! If you have held up this long- I thank you kindly! Enjoy the last bit!
Explanation # 3-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Paganism, Wicca & the Occult
We come to the final explanation- the most "known" symbol of Paganism, Wicca & The Magical Occult.
One of the first explanations I read was by Doreen Valiente.
She was the writer of the "Liber Ubrarum." Below is her explanation.
The Circle which encloses it, being without beginning or ending, represents infinity and eternity. Another meaning of the pentagram is that it bears a rough resemblance to a human figure, as if standing upright with the arms and legs outstretched. Hence the pentagram in a circle is a symbol of the human being in relationship to the Infinite. The eight armed figure in the center of the pentagram represents the Eight Ritual Occasions of the Witch’s year, four Greater Sabbats and four Lesser Sabbats. The Greater Sabbats are Candlemas, May Eve, Lammas, and Hallowe’en. The Lesser Sabbats are the equinoxes and solstices. The eight of this symbol plus the five of the pentagram makes 13, the traditional number of the Witches coven.
The three X-shaped crosses around the pentagram represent the three anointing of the initiation ceremony, ‘two above and one below’; that is, two above the waist and one below it. The two spirals or S-shapes represent the ancient symbol of the twin serpents, the dual forces of positive and negative, yang and yin, masculine and feminine, that underlie all manifestation.
The symbols on the three upper points of the pentagram are the two crescents of the waxing and waning moons, and the circle of the full moon. Together they represent the primordial Goddess of Nature, often depicted in triple form as Nymph, Mother and Crone, the three phases of the moon.
The symbols on the two lower points of the pentagram represent the two aspects of the ancient God of witches. They are conventionalized drawings of a horned head and a skull and crossed bones. The former sign represents the Horned God of Life and Fertility, and the latter is the God of Death and what lies beyond.
I've always thought that gave a pretty decent and detailed explanation of the detailed work of a pentagram and pentacle. It's nice to know what each line represents, doesn't it?
I read an article on Witchvox- A Historical and Spiritual History of the Pentagram by Sharynne NicMacha in which she states-
The pentagram is a very widespread sacred symbol used since ancient times in many areas including Egypt, India, Persia and Greece. Almost all cultures had a five-fold symbol, which was very important to their religious and spiritual life. The sacred nature of five, the important nature of "five-ness" is amply attested to in Celtic tradition from which much of modern Paganism is derived. Five appears in numerous Celtic contexts: Ireland had five great roads, five provinces and five paths of the law. The fairy folk counted by fives, and the mythological figures wore five fold cloaks.
In the ancient Irish tale, "Cormac's Cup of Gold", the hero "saw a royal fortress with four houses in it, and a bright well with nine ancient hazels growing over it. In the well, were five salmon who ate the nuts that dropped from the purple hazels, and sent the husks floating down the five streams that flowed therefrom. The sound of the streams was the sweetest music...The spring was the Well of Knowledge, and the five streams the five senses through which knowledge is obtained. No one will have knowledge who drinks not a draught out of the well itself or out of the streams. Those who are skilled in many arts drink from both the well and the streams."
In another part of the world, around 500 B.C.E.(Before Current Era) lived Pythagoras, an unparalleled scholar, teacher and leader renowned for his knowledge of arithmetic, music, government and sacred geometry. He tapped into the divine mysteries, and, like the ancient Celts, (and many Neo-Pagans) learned from and existed comfortably between both worlds.
Pythagoras set up a school where he taught many people, both male and female, who flocked to him in pursuit of divine knowledge. Unfortunately, the school was suppressed in a brutal fashion for political reasons. After this, his followers and the knowledge itself were forced underground, Pythagoreans considered the five-pointed star to be a symbol of life and of the divine human. Therefore, it became the secret sign of the pythagorean followers, "so that they may know each other, "
The Pythagorean schools continued on in secret and from this line of descent came the Gnostic and Hermetic Mystery Schools (which contained both men and women and were Christian to varying degrees), as well as the Masonic Guilds, expert stone-masons initiated into Mystery Schools learning which included sacred geometry. Even though the Church considered the Masons to be quite heretical, they hired them to build the most sacred structures in Europe- the great cathedrals-many of which contained pentagonal or five-fold symmetries. Parallel with Masonic culture were the alchemists of medieval Europe, scientists, philosophers and magicians, both male and female, who studied the mysteries of the Universe. These societies held onto this five-fold symbol which kept its positive, ancient attributes and signified hidden, luminous knowledge.
This ancient wisdom lived on underground through the mystery schools and other sources and continued throughout the Middle Ages up until modern times. However, because this Divine knowledge threatened the authority and power of the Church, those who pursued it and the symbols they used were severely persecuted.
The star of life, which had been a symbol of divine illumination, became stigmatized as a sign of heretical thought and eventually as something evil. These negative attributes were further reinforced by the use of the upside down pentagram by some satanic cults who are probably more "Anti-Christians" than "Pagans". as their beliefs are not those of most Neo-Pagan groups. Modern media continues to distort the meaning of the pentagram by showing it in both its upright and inverted position, yet portraying all who use it as evil.
In spite of this difficulty history, the symbol has survived, and continues to be used by those who uphold the search for divine knowledge. The sacred pentagram maintains its many wonderful and magical ancient attributes and is still the symbol of life it has always been.
(Sharynne NicMacha is a Pagan of Celtic descent and teaches workshops in beginning and Celtic paganism and music. She sings with The Moors, a pagan rock duo.)
From Sharynne NicMacha- Note: Special thanks to Scott Dakota for his input and assistance in areas oif his expertise, including Pythagoras, sacred geometry, music of the spheres and Ancient Sumeria. Beannachdan.
Explanation # 3-
The Pentagram & Pentacle in Paganism, Wicca & the Occult
We come to the final explanation- the most "known" symbol of Paganism, Wicca & The Magical Occult.
One of the first explanations I read was by Doreen Valiente.
She was the writer of the "Liber Ubrarum." Below is her explanation.
The Circle which encloses it, being without beginning or ending, represents infinity and eternity. Another meaning of the pentagram is that it bears a rough resemblance to a human figure, as if standing upright with the arms and legs outstretched. Hence the pentagram in a circle is a symbol of the human being in relationship to the Infinite. The eight armed figure in the center of the pentagram represents the Eight Ritual Occasions of the Witch’s year, four Greater Sabbats and four Lesser Sabbats. The Greater Sabbats are Candlemas, May Eve, Lammas, and Hallowe’en. The Lesser Sabbats are the equinoxes and solstices. The eight of this symbol plus the five of the pentagram makes 13, the traditional number of the Witches coven.
The three X-shaped crosses around the pentagram represent the three anointing of the initiation ceremony, ‘two above and one below’; that is, two above the waist and one below it. The two spirals or S-shapes represent the ancient symbol of the twin serpents, the dual forces of positive and negative, yang and yin, masculine and feminine, that underlie all manifestation.
The symbols on the three upper points of the pentagram are the two crescents of the waxing and waning moons, and the circle of the full moon. Together they represent the primordial Goddess of Nature, often depicted in triple form as Nymph, Mother and Crone, the three phases of the moon.
The symbols on the two lower points of the pentagram represent the two aspects of the ancient God of witches. They are conventionalized drawings of a horned head and a skull and crossed bones. The former sign represents the Horned God of Life and Fertility, and the latter is the God of Death and what lies beyond.
I've always thought that gave a pretty decent and detailed explanation of the detailed work of a pentagram and pentacle. It's nice to know what each line represents, doesn't it?
I read an article on Witchvox- A Historical and Spiritual History of the Pentagram by Sharynne NicMacha in which she states-
The pentagram is a very widespread sacred symbol used since ancient times in many areas including Egypt, India, Persia and Greece. Almost all cultures had a five-fold symbol, which was very important to their religious and spiritual life. The sacred nature of five, the important nature of "five-ness" is amply attested to in Celtic tradition from which much of modern Paganism is derived. Five appears in numerous Celtic contexts: Ireland had five great roads, five provinces and five paths of the law. The fairy folk counted by fives, and the mythological figures wore five fold cloaks.
In the ancient Irish tale, "Cormac's Cup of Gold", the hero "saw a royal fortress with four houses in it, and a bright well with nine ancient hazels growing over it. In the well, were five salmon who ate the nuts that dropped from the purple hazels, and sent the husks floating down the five streams that flowed therefrom. The sound of the streams was the sweetest music...The spring was the Well of Knowledge, and the five streams the five senses through which knowledge is obtained. No one will have knowledge who drinks not a draught out of the well itself or out of the streams. Those who are skilled in many arts drink from both the well and the streams."
In another part of the world, around 500 B.C.E.(Before Current Era) lived Pythagoras, an unparalleled scholar, teacher and leader renowned for his knowledge of arithmetic, music, government and sacred geometry. He tapped into the divine mysteries, and, like the ancient Celts, (and many Neo-Pagans) learned from and existed comfortably between both worlds.
Pythagoras set up a school where he taught many people, both male and female, who flocked to him in pursuit of divine knowledge. Unfortunately, the school was suppressed in a brutal fashion for political reasons. After this, his followers and the knowledge itself were forced underground, Pythagoreans considered the five-pointed star to be a symbol of life and of the divine human. Therefore, it became the secret sign of the pythagorean followers, "so that they may know each other, "
The Pythagorean schools continued on in secret and from this line of descent came the Gnostic and Hermetic Mystery Schools (which contained both men and women and were Christian to varying degrees), as well as the Masonic Guilds, expert stone-masons initiated into Mystery Schools learning which included sacred geometry. Even though the Church considered the Masons to be quite heretical, they hired them to build the most sacred structures in Europe- the great cathedrals-many of which contained pentagonal or five-fold symmetries. Parallel with Masonic culture were the alchemists of medieval Europe, scientists, philosophers and magicians, both male and female, who studied the mysteries of the Universe. These societies held onto this five-fold symbol which kept its positive, ancient attributes and signified hidden, luminous knowledge.
This ancient wisdom lived on underground through the mystery schools and other sources and continued throughout the Middle Ages up until modern times. However, because this Divine knowledge threatened the authority and power of the Church, those who pursued it and the symbols they used were severely persecuted.
The star of life, which had been a symbol of divine illumination, became stigmatized as a sign of heretical thought and eventually as something evil. These negative attributes were further reinforced by the use of the upside down pentagram by some satanic cults who are probably more "Anti-Christians" than "Pagans". as their beliefs are not those of most Neo-Pagan groups. Modern media continues to distort the meaning of the pentagram by showing it in both its upright and inverted position, yet portraying all who use it as evil.
In spite of this difficulty history, the symbol has survived, and continues to be used by those who uphold the search for divine knowledge. The sacred pentagram maintains its many wonderful and magical ancient attributes and is still the symbol of life it has always been.
(Sharynne NicMacha is a Pagan of Celtic descent and teaches workshops in beginning and Celtic paganism and music. She sings with The Moors, a pagan rock duo.)
From Sharynne NicMacha- Note: Special thanks to Scott Dakota for his input and assistance in areas oif his expertise, including Pythagoras, sacred geometry, music of the spheres and Ancient Sumeria. Beannachdan.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/8/26987431/1396384684.jpg)
So there you have some explanations on the Pentagram & Pentacle. This is the one I wear to the left.
I think it represents my beliefs and my calling nicely. I recently was visited by the Lady Morganna and was told that I am to devote myself not only to her but also to the Norse path and the Old Gods. Apparently I was right in my choosing of symbols.
I hope that whichever belief you choose to adopt you'll find the right fit and feel more comfortable and proud wearing it!
Goddess Blessings! )O(
Erica aka H.F.
P.S. Heather Faolán is my magical name. Heather is Latin for Erica and Faolán is Gaelic for Little Wolf. Heather is also an Irish & Scottish flower plant-- kind of fitting no? lol
Now that I've talked your ear off- it's your turn! If you've enjoyed what I've posted and you'd like to leave a comment, a suggestion or feedback- please do! I always find it interesting to see who stops by and to hear what others think! Thanks for sticking this long read out with me! I am most graciously and humbly grateful!
And now I'm going to go shut up =D
I think it represents my beliefs and my calling nicely. I recently was visited by the Lady Morganna and was told that I am to devote myself not only to her but also to the Norse path and the Old Gods. Apparently I was right in my choosing of symbols.
I hope that whichever belief you choose to adopt you'll find the right fit and feel more comfortable and proud wearing it!
Goddess Blessings! )O(
Erica aka H.F.
P.S. Heather Faolán is my magical name. Heather is Latin for Erica and Faolán is Gaelic for Little Wolf. Heather is also an Irish & Scottish flower plant-- kind of fitting no? lol
Now that I've talked your ear off- it's your turn! If you've enjoyed what I've posted and you'd like to leave a comment, a suggestion or feedback- please do! I always find it interesting to see who stops by and to hear what others think! Thanks for sticking this long read out with me! I am most graciously and humbly grateful!
And now I'm going to go shut up =D