| The history of this religious symbol goes back | | | | * The element of Air has associations with thought |
| thousands of years. Christians claim the pentacle as a | | | | processes, thinking, intelligence and learning. |
| symbol of Christ's wounds and even the Star of | | | | * The Fire element is connected with creativity, |
| Bethlehem. | | | | movement and action. |
| Some say that the Ancient Greek Pythagoras | | | | * The element of Water is linked to emotion, intuition |
| interlaced five A's or Alphas and named it Pentalpha. | | | | and the subconscious. |
| (Pent meaning five and Alpha the first letter of the | | | | * The Earth element is associated with fertility, |
| alphabet). | | | | stability and prosperity. |
| Today, the pentacle is the most recognizable Wicca | | | | The fifth element is that of Spirit and can be seen as |
| symbol, sometimes referred to as the Witches Star. | | | | the full representation of the four tangible elements |
| To Wiccans, the symbol of the pentagram within a | | | | working in harmony. |
| circle represents the elements of Air, Earth, Fire, | | | | The five pointed Witches Star is used in magic spell |
| Water and Spirit and the God/Goddess. In many | | | | work and in rituals by witches. Each point of the star |
| ancient Grimoires, (sometimes known as a Book of | | | | is associated with a particular element and the circle |
| Shadows) the important protective symbol of the | | | | represents the God/Goddess. For any magic Spell |
| pentacle is seen. | | | | work the calling upon the elements and invoking a |
| Many Wiccans wear jewelery in the form of a | | | | deity are vitally important, and a pentacle is an ideal |
| pentacle as a sign of their religion and as a protective | | | | symbol to focus the intentions of a Spell. |
| amulet. Wearing a pentacle enables other Wiccans to | | | | A pentacle placed on an altar can be made from any |
| recognize instantly adherents to the religion, and | | | | material but is usually metal, wood or even stone, |
| therefore know they are in 'safe' company. | | | | and is circular in shape inscribed with a pentagram. |
| In times gone by it was clearly 'unsafe' to display | | | | The shape of a pentacle is often "drawn" in the air |
| adherence to Paganism or any form of witchcraft. | | | | by a wand or athame to attract or repel certain |
| Sometimes hidden pentacles in the form of intricate | | | | energies during Spell work. |
| patterns adorn jewelery so that only fellow Wiccans | | | | The pentacle is also a suit in the tarot deck and |
| recognize the symbol. Silver pentacles represent the | | | | represents the element of Earth and practical, |
| Goddess of the moon, while pentacles in gold are | | | | material and financial matters. |
| connected with the god of the sun. | | | | An inverted pentacle has become synonymous with |
| Wearing a pentacle in any form - even on a printed | | | | satanism and a sign of the Devil, of which Wiccans |
| T-shirt - acts as a protective amulet, as it represents | | | | do not believe in. |
| all the elements. | | | | |