Pentagrams & Pentacles

[Vampyresam]

Pentagrams & pentacles is a subject that has always been of interest to me. As a former full time, now semi-goth I have always owned a pentagram or pentacle. At first it was just part of the whole goth image but over the years I've learnt more about the origin of this ancient symbol. I wear a pentacle with the phases of the moon around it at the moment as the pentacle is considered to have supernatural properties and to be a protective symbol often used as a symbol to support transmission and communication with the spirit world.
The moon is also associated with clairvoyance and knowing without thinking.

The majority of people have associated the pentagram as a symbol of the "devil" used to invoke evil. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pentagrams & pentacles are in fact symbols of protection & its origins begin as much in ancient Egypt as in pagan times. The symbol has actually been adopted by several other reglions. I have found a few interesting sites regarding this subject. I'd be interested to know what opinions anyone else has on pentagrams & pentacles, good or bad.

www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm

www.witchvox.com/basics/pentacle.html

www.paganspath.com/magik/pentacle.htm

[Spooky]

I always thought that one way up it was a good thing and upside down was a bad thing.

Does it matter which way up a pentagram goes?

[Vampyresam]

From what I've read on the subject the five points of the pentacle represent the 4 elements - air, fire, water & earth with the 5th point, the top one, being the divine spirit, hence witches using the symbol as a protection. From what I understand this way up the pentacle would generate postive power. When satan worhippers "adopted" the pentacle they inverted it so that the "god" or divine spirit point of the symbol was at the bottom and therefore represented the devil or satan instead, with the 2 up points being the horns of satan. This is why the pentagram now have a bad reputation. The inverted pentacle isn't commonly used in witchcraft so I believe.

[Vampyresam]

I've found this great website on pentagrams. It explains all about the points of the pentacles & what they symbolise, plus it gives the history of the symbol too. It's a bit of a read I'm afraid but very interesting.

www.controverscial.com/Pentagram%20-%20Pentacle.htm