A pentacle is a five pointed star; usually inside a circle (the circle symbolizes unity and infinity). It corresponds to the element of earth. North is a pentacle’s direction its energy is female. This is the star of the goddess. It is pointed upwards for protection, blessings, consecration, meditation and positive energy; downwards for banishing and binding. Some say you should never invert a pentacle, but rather draw it backward for banishing or binding. The five points (starting at the top) can represent any of the following sets of symbols.

• Birth, initiation, consummation, repose, death;
• Love, wisdom, knowledge, law, power;

In some traditions the points represent

• Spirit, air, water, earth, fire;

But in other traditions

• Spirit, water, fire, earth, air;

A pentacle is also a tool used in magical workings. It is usually placed at the center of the altar and magic is worked on of it. It can be simple or elaborate, handmade or purchased, fashioned of whatever you like. A pentacle the is drawn or written is called a pentagram.

Pentacles are also meditation tools. They can be used to call spirits or invite entities. You make the sign of the pentacle by tracing the star in the air, or on some person or object. A silver pentacle offers the most protection.

Satanists use a downwards pointing pentacle as a symbol of Satan or evil. Their perversion of our sacred symbol doesn’t make our symbol evil any more then their inversion of the cross makes that Christian symbol evil.