A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PENTAGRAM
© 2002, Frances Billinghurst (Published in "Insight" magazine, October 2002)
The pentagram, or five-pointed star, is a symbol most commonly associated with Paganism today. This association, in particular the wearing of a pentagram as an amulet, has only been with us since the late 1960s, or so it is believed. However, the pentagram itself is a very ancient symbol, and one that has long been connected with mysticism and magick.
Although the origins of the magickal five-pointed star may appear to have been lost in time, early known examples have been discovered dating back to around 3,500 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). From that time onwards, the pentagram has been referred to by differing names and used by various people, all of who have felt connected to this five-pointed star.
The Hebrews referred to the Pentateuch, which related to the first five books of the Bible that represented the concept of truth. In ancient Greece, the followers of Pythagoras referred to the Pentalpha, a five-pointed star formed by five "A"s ("alpha" being the first letter of the Greek alphabet), and this symbol represented absolute perfection. The Druids were believed to consider the pentagram represented a symbol for "Godhead", while to the Egyptians, it represented the "underground womb". Even medieval Christians were drawn to the pentagram, attributing its five points to the five wounds of Christ.
In magick, the pentagram is considered as the very important symbol for it represents the four elements of Life (being Earth, Air, Fire and Water), as well as Spirit, which makes up the fifth point. Therefore, when the pentagram is drawn upright, Spirit (the Unseen, the Divine Source) presides over the other four more Earthly bound elements.
The pentagram, as drawn above, represents the Higher Consciousness ruling over the lower Elements of our being. It signals the awakening of cosmic consciousness, and our human psyche moving beyond the realms of physical form and the perceptions limited to the five senses. This movement allows for infinite possibilities, which exist within the Universe, to be explored.
Another variation of what the pentagram means is that the three upper points represent the Goddess in her triple aspect - Maiden, Mother, and Crone - while the lower two points represent the God in his twin aspects - God of Light and God of Darkness.
Regardless of whether the points of the pentagram represent the elements or the God and Goddess, one thing is clear - all the points are connected. This means that each element, or image of the God or Goddess, are, in fact, an aspect of all the others - each are a part of the same whole.
But what of the inverted pentagram, where the point is drawn downwards? This symbol is often associated with Satanism and is, therefore, often misunderstood. If, as explained above, each of the points of the pentagram represent an element, then the inverted pentagram, therefore, represents the physical world (four material elements) dominating over Spirit, or Spirit hidden in matter (the material). However, this is not the only meaning the inverted pentagram has.
In some traditions of Wicca, in particularly Gardnerian Wicca, the inverted pentagram is used as a symbol of for someone who has obtained an advanced degree. In this case, the two upper points represent the horns of light, symbol of the God, who is the consort to the Goddess. Also, in medieval times, the inverted pentagram was a sign for Winter. The connection of the inverted pentagram with "evil" is believed to only relate back to the 19th century, when magickan Eliphas Levi illustrated the upright pentagram of microcosmic man beside an inverted pentagram with the goat's head. This goat was referred to as the "Goat of Mendes" (or Baphomet), a name given to a mysterious Deity who the Order of the Knights Templar were believed to have worshipped. © Temple of the Dark Moon (unless otherwise stated)
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