The Pentacle signifies the rulership of Higher Mind over the lower elements of Human Nature. The use of this Divine Symbol signals the awakening of Cosmic Consciousness and the Initiation of Human Consciousness manipulating its environment by reaching beyond the realms of physical form and perception limited to the five physical senses. The origins of the Pentagram go far back to remotest historical antiquity, as far back as Pre-Babylonian Sumer. It has been venerated by many other civilizations. To the Jews, its symbolically designated the Pentateauch, The Five Books of Moses. Early Christians recognized it as pointing out the five Stigmata--the wounds Christ suffered on the Cross. It has survived under a variety of titles, including "The Druid's Foot" and "The Witch's Star."
To the followers of Pythagoras, it was called "The Pentalpha," being composed of five interlaced Alphas. With Alpha being the first letter of the Greek alphabet, we can view the Pentacle as symbolically portraying the Unit of All things in the midst of multiplicity.
Ceremonial Magicians throughout the Middle Ages considered the Pentagram to be among the most potent, holy, and protective of symbols--being stronger in this way, than even the Cross. Those involved in Occult Practices could be certain that wherever the Pentacle was displayed, there, evil had no power.
Traditionally, each of the five angles has been attributed to the Five Metaphysical Elements of the Ancients.
EARTH (Lower left-hand corner)
FIRE (Lower right-hand corner)
WATER (Upper right-hand corner)
AIR (Upper left-hand corner)
Surmounted by
SPIRIT at the topmost point.
This becomes a graphic portrayal of Spirit ruling over the four elements and when the Pentagram is placed within the Circle (a symbol of eternity and totality or unity) its energy is focused and directed.
The averse Pentagram, with the single point buried in the depths of matter, has for many centuries been misinterpreted by the ignorant and those of ill intent as emblematic of the powers of evil and darkness. However, to the true student of student of symbolical philosophy, it represents Spirit subermged and bounded into the material elements. While the inverted Pentagram is representative of Spirit's descent into matter, the Pentagram aright, to those of Spiritual Perception, represents the redemption of Spirit from matter by ruling over it.
We personally use the Pentacle for Protection, Wisdom, and Empowerment.
(c) 1986 e.v. White Light Pentacles