Two of the most misinterpreted symbols in modern Wicca and Pagan practices are the Pentagram and Pentacle. They are often misunderstood in public history, as well as being confused for one another. They are even feared, and thought to represent something demonic and negative. These symbols are different from eachother in meaning and look. The Pentagram is a geometric shape that is made up of five continuous, straight lines in the shape of an interwoven star. This symbol is used in many cultures and religions. In Pagan practices it represents the five elements that are crucial to life. The top point stands for Spirit, or Akasha. The other points, going clockwise, are Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The Pentagram always has an interwoven center. “The center of the …show more content…
The makeup of the word tells you what it means. “Penta means 5 and gram means using one to line to create a shape intersecting that line at key points” (The Magical Circle School Resource Library). The Pentagram was also used in ancient times. It was a symbol in ancient Christianity for the “five senses, or of the five wounds of Christ” (Wikipedia). It is found in the Chinese Wu Xing as the five elements or phases- Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses this symbol, as well as the inverted five-pointed star in their architecture. They use this because of the symbolism in Revelation Chapter 12, “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve