The pentacle is the five-pointed star and is a powerful symbol of Wiccan spirituality. The pentacle is not the same as the pentagram, or at least I was taught that it's not. I was taught that the pentagram is a carving, picture, or other physical manifestation of the pentacle, whereas the pentacle is the mental representation. They can be surrounded by a circle, or not. However, some think of the pentagram as the pentacle surrounded by a circle. As with everything else in Wicca, neither is incorrect, so feel free to use whichever definitions suit you.

   As for the symbolism and correspondence(s) of the pentacle itself, they are many. The pentacle is a very old symbol, and in modern Wicca it is thought of as one of two things (or both):

1. A symbolic representation of a human, with feet set apart and arms outstretched

2. A figural reflection of the relationships between the five elements (air, fire, water, earth, spirit)

   When taken in the context of the first meaning, the pentacle represents a specific stance - that taken by the High Priestess during specific rituals (drawing down the moon, for example). The second interpretation is much more common, however. The placement of the four Greek elements is shown below:

    The top point corresponds to spirit, and its placement at the top is sometimes interpreted as the spirit's dominance over the body (represented by the traditional four elements). Likewise, and inverted pentacle would be seen as the body's dominance over the spirit. I don't interpret it this way, of course, simply because the terms "dominance" doesn't reflect my perception of magick. For me, no one element can dominate another - I invoke the concept of "different but equal." Simple because air is placed at a lower point than fire doesn't mean that fire dominates air. The elements are independent of the human concept of domination, or any human concept for that matter. Instead, I see spirit at the top because it acts like a beacon; it is the spiritual lighthouse that allows us to observe and work with the other elements. Perhaps it is more important from a human perspective because spirit is what we use to tap into these other powers, but it is by no means superior.

    Drawing the pentagram can be done in different ways, and the way you choose to do it can affect its energy and indications. Visit the Magick: Invoking and Banishing Pentagrams page for more information.

    For very detailed pentacle information and history, visit the following sites:

• The Pythagorean Pentacle

• Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon: The Pentagram