it's really annoying when the pentagram is associated with evil in movies, books, etc! me thinks that the public ought to be educated in such "heathen" religions and realize that such things are not in accordance with satan and all!

Actually, some Satanic rituals do involve use of the pentagram. Though usually, yes, they used the inverse pentagram or the Baphomet as their symbol.

*me thinks out loud*

Perhaps this should be moved to Issues? I think this is a good topic to talk about.

There was a particular problem at my junior high school when I was there about a year ago...my friend who is Wiccan wore a pentagram necklace and he got in trouble, but the administrators let all the Christian kids wear crosses.

Shame, really...

I agree with you, Sarah.

Off to Issues we go!

Continue on.

Pentagrams are used to protect from evil, usually.

Even the "evil heathens" want to protect themselves from the things they try to summon

I love this quote from The Mists Of Avalon:





That just sort of fit in with the whole "heathen" religion thing. Meanwhile, Commie is right about Satanists using the inverse of the pentagram, so that's probably why some people use the pentagram to represent evil in movies and such. They probably just didn't do their research properly and got confused.

Wicca, and other "heathen" "religions" get enough bad press without being confused with Satanism etc (Look at the Stupidest. Site. Ever thread in media [cos i have no idea how to link it] for a good example)

Itseems to be ecoming more accepted now, but a couple of years ago, Christian kids in our C of E school were literally "out to get" people who practised any of these. (if that makes sense)

I *love* that quote

it's not evil...I'm pagan so I get really mad when ppl say it is...like say my parents makes me soooo mad that they freak out when I wear on or draw one...*sighs* I want it to stop I'm tired of getting in truble for everything about me...if it's not my sexuality it's my religein...or simply my hair color....ok sorry about that small rant but I just had to say it...any way...it's not evil....

I know what you mean, people refuse to accept me for who i am either, especially my mother.

Youd think theyd be happy I was warding myself from evil....

i wear a little teeny weeny silver pentacle ring on my right index finger and you would not believe the crap i get for it sometimes (and i dont even follow a particular pagan religion)

the funniest was when a pair of old ladies in a shop asked if i wore it there so the "evil shot out of me better when i pointed at people"

yes - i am the anti-sabrina

why didnt i see it before ...

i just like the idea behind the design to be honest (for anyone who doesnt know each point represents an element and the top peak represents spirit with a surrounding circle for protection generally)

I wear pentagrams. I also wear crosses and Stars of David. I like to combine them, it confuses people.

Looks like my hubby to be and I have ANOTHER thing in common

I have a small collection of interesting pentagrams, most of which I just unearthed in my recent move. I also have a rosary made from black and clear raver beads. It's like Catholicism with a beat. It's great.
Followed by ankhs, Eye's of Ra, etc etc etc, it goes on. I like Celtic crosses, they're purdy. Point is, religious imagery is all well in good, but sometimes you just want to look nice.

I may be wrong but the pentagram is mostly used for evil. This is what I've learned:

Pentacles : Sign of protection often used in Wicca and other similar religions. The star is right side up

Pentagrams : symbol often used in satanic rituals where the star is upside down.

Side note stars of david are also used in Wicca as a sign of protection.

LoLo......I adore you. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about that. Pentacle/pentagram. Of course it also varies a little bit on who you talk to. *nod nod* There's a few different opinions out on that one.

Man, it's been YEARS since I've been involved with Wiccan study

*goes to dig through boxes for his Scott Cunningham books*

Satanism does occasionally use the pentagram, but is far more likely to use the inverse pentagram, inverse pentacle or Baphomet (inverse pentagram which contains the head of a goat (horns in the upper two point of the pentagram, beard and ears in the lower three, and Hebrew character at each point spelling out "Leviathan"). Satanists tend to associate pentagrams with Wicca and what they term "white-light" religions, which they reject.

Pentacles are a suit (sp?) from Tarot cards...

Correct me if im wrong but on my deck they look nothing like pentagrams

Pentacles are just the five pointed star itself. The pentagram is the star in the circle. And most tarot decks I use have pentagrams representing the pentacles. Although, one uses sacred circles and another uses coins.

My deck uses sacred circles... I guess it just depends on the deck

I know what a pentagram is though

It pretty much doesn't matter what symbol the tarot wands, pentacles, swords, etc.... use, so long as it works. I'd LOVE to see a modern tarot deck with different guns for the swords and other stuff like that.

That doesnt really appeal to me for some reason I prefer to keep my deck "old style", and actually tbh i prefer all of my "occult" stuff old style... i dunno why but putting modern designs and things into it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Yes, but the more modern it is the better perspective I get on the future. My old-fashioned decks are great for relationships and stuff, I just don't have one that works specifically for just the future.

I only have the one deck. If i just have one and use it alot, the readings tend to be more accurate than if i have one deck for each specific type of reading. If i have many decks, the readings become more and more general until only a 3 card spread is really accurate. I guess maybe one deck can be "trained" or something.

Im also pretty sure that the accuracy of the specific parts of your reading partly depends on you and the person being read for. Some people cant get the hang of riding a bike, some people cant get the hang of say, seeing the future. I know I have problems with the family side of readings but then again that might just be me

i got a deck, i never use them tho. dont like messing in things i dont know about. Baaaad idea to do that.
i dont wanna be burning them or anything in me back yard.

Er actually it's the other way around. Pentagram is the 5 pointed star and pentacle is a 5 pointed star enclosed in a circle. Hence the 'cle' endng like circle? Well that's what I always thought. There are variations though. The 5 points represent the 4 elements and finally spirit and the circle enclosing them representings the circle of life, death and rebirth and also protection. Well that's my view on it

Satanism is a Christian concept alledgedly created by the church to make witchcraft look bad. Wiccan's don't believe in a devil (well I don't but I'm not strictly wiccan either ) Anyhoo, how can I be Satanic if I don't believe in the devil?!? From what I can remember, it's said that Christianity adopted the god Pan, goat god, and made him into a devil like creature so actually I guess in that aspect you could say I believe in a god that LOOKS like the devil?

I have lots of pentacles, pentagrams, ankhs, fae necklaces, etc. I just love pretty jewellery but I wear those to show my 'affiliation' if you will to Paganism

Sam
x

'throwing the horns' (a hand gesture) that is usualy linked with rock/metal/punk music is also considered to be evil. Its actually a gesture to ward away evil. so ner.

Pentagram is the star in a circle im pretty sure.

Pan was a greek god! Its seems to me like the most confused of all the religions atm is christian

But the root of the word Pentacle is 5 (pent) and circle (cle)

I've always thought it was that way round from a grammar perspective but I could be wrong

Sam
x

EDIT: I've looked both words up in the English dictionary and we are both right! The shortened versions are that a pentagram is "a five pointed star" and a pentacle is "another name for a pentagram". So both could be either Personally though I'm sticking with the whole 'cle' ending relating to circle Don't want to annoy anyone but that's just how I choose to define it

Hehe fair enough

Heh It's one of those things with Paganism and that you do whatever feels right for you so why should the symbolism be any different

Right now though I haven't worn a pentagram or pentacle for some time. I am wearing quite a bit of fae jewellery as it just feels 'right'. Aha, see above

Sam
x

My current favourite piece of jewellery is a necklace with a black chain and dark purple beads, and one of those extra bits that comes down where the pendant usually is on a normal necklace which has an amethyst flower on it... My friend got it for me and its purdy but not symbolic. Well i guess you could classify it as fae but tbh who cares...

[Edit] Ok so she cast a protection spell on it thats not the POINT

My fae necklaces are just silver changes or thongs with little fairies on them

You're sounds lovely and practical to from a protection point of view

Sam
x

When I say "Satanism", I'm referring to the Church of Satan, which certainly does exist. They don't believe in Satan in the sense of "nasty man in Hell torturing people", or indeed as a deity at all, but more as a symbol of rebellion, darkness and hedonism. They invert the pentagram because since the pentagram represents the spiritual, so the inverse represents the carnal, which is what the Church of Satan is all about.

Oh yeah I know about that. What I was getting at is that Satanism can't be practised by witches because they don't believe in the devil and therefore can't worship something they don't believe in. I'm not saynig that all witches don't believe in the devil or something similar. They might. They might be satanic witches but Wiccan's don't.....er....I think.....oh I don't know anymore! I've just got e-married and my mind is all over the place

Sam
x

Like I said when I posted that.......I could be wrong. That was just all I had ever heard. I just went and looked it up and yeah I was wrong, but I did find this really cool article on the sign for those who may not know anything about it.

The pentacle and pentagram article

I wear my pentagram all the time. I feel naked without it. But I always wear it under my shirt, because around here there's a good chance I could get lynched for being a Witch some fine day. And I don't look good in flames or nooses.

Ok I can clear this up right now. Pentagram= Right side up. One point. Inverse pentagram= 2 points up.

Ok the pentagram represents right hand paths (Wicca and such) and the inverese represents left hand path. In satanism it is inversed with the two points up "thrust in defience" representing the satanists defience to follow as they are told. In Wicca the pentagram stands for Spirit (point) earth, fire, air, water. For more on satanism I recomend the following sites:

First Church of Satan
Church of Satan

The first has an excellent FAQ section although doesn't follow the original Church. The second is the original satanic following from Anton La Vey. Enjoy and dispell the fear.

Oh yeah and Satanism isn't about devil worship contrary to the name. Satanism believes that each man and woman is their own god. I highly recomend "The Satanic Bible" by Anton LaVey, even if your a Christian. It has excellent insite. VERY good read.