Pentagram: Revealing the Mysteries of the Five Pointed Star

The Pentagram may seem like a simple star, but if you look closely, you can see the universe in it. Learn the best-known meanings of this controversial symbol in our Blog.

The Pentagram star is a five-pointed star with or without a circle around it. The symbol also contains pentagram triangles in different proportions. How many triangles are in a pentagram?
That depends: 10 simple triangles and up to 35 if you count where they cross lines! The word pentagram comes from the Greek πεντάγραμμον / pentagrammon which literally means ‘five lines’. Yet this simple symbol often represents the entire cosmos and carries meaning in various religions and cultures. Are you wondering, ‘what does a pentagram mean’? Don’t worry, because we will explain its most common meanings here.

What is a Pentagram? Natural Perfection!

A pentagram is a symmetric five pointed star, meaning that it fits perfectly inside a pentagon. The lengths of the various lines and segments between the points where they cross each other correspond to the Golden Ratio. Even many of the triangles within the pentagram are in the golden ratio! This is a pattern that you can see in natural phenomena and is thought by many to be the most beautiful ratio. Many Shells like Ammonite and flowers contain this ratio, and you can even find it in the human body, and that creates a bond! Because of this, since the ancient Greeks many people find that the pentagram represents natural harmony, peace and balance.

The Pentagram and the Planet Venus

When viewed from Earth, over the course of an eight year cycle, the planet Venus makes a pattern similar to a pentagram. Many people also see a flower with five central petals or the cross section of an apple core. Roses and apples have been symbols of goddess of love for centuries, so it’s very fitting that the planet with her name moves this way!

Pentagram Meaning in the Human Body

It’s not hard to imagine that for many, the pentagram’s five points represent the five senses. But did you know that an adult’s proportions of the neck, arms and legs also fit perfectly inside of one? Many people see that as a sign that your earthly body is connected to the great soul or spirit above it. Others see this as a connection between man and cosmos. You could think of your body as a small copy of the gigantic universe. This ‘as above, so below’ is also the idea behind a Horoscope: so in other words, what happens in the stars, happens between people too.

Inverted Pentagram: Upside Down

Pentagrams usually have one point up, two to the side, and two down. However, the star with a point downward has become infamous and even feared. By the 19th century the occultists had begun to associate the inverted pentagram with evil and a disruption of the natural heavenly order. Because of this, Satanists like to use this instigating sign. Inverted versions are also worn by Wiccans-to-be during their training, which indicates that they are still exploring their magic as a witch. Yet in every pentagram it is actually possible to see both the upright and the inverted. The center pentagon of every pentagram can fit its reverse perfectly within it. Because of this, weather inverted or upright, a pentagram is a symbol of balance.

Spiritual Meaning: Pentagram within a Circle

A pentagram with a circle around it is sometimes called a pentacle. The ring around the star then stands for the world or cosmos with five different forces inside. Explanations about exactly what those forces are vary between cultural traditions. In the Tarot, for example, the points represent the senses or physical well-being. If you draw a card with pentacles, it is about earthly things such as health and money. During Wiccan rituals, using a pentagram witches can make a magic pentacle circle. The pentacle would summon earth power, with which you could safely perform spells and rituals.

Check Out Our Wicca and Tarot Assortment

Pentagram: Symbol of the Five Elements

Pentagrams can also be representations of five natural elements. The best-known examples can be found in Wicca and Taoism.

Five Elements in the Wiccan Pentagram

Wicca and other western nature religions usually work with fire, air, water, earth and ether or ‘spirit’. The lines of the pentagram then show which symbolic place each element occupies. For example, the top point of the star represents Spirit, the left side represents Air, and the right side represents Water. At the bottom left you will find Earth and at the bottom right the Fire. You can therefore use the symbol as a compass to make a Wiccan Altar. Each object is then ‘in’ its own element, for example Witch Cauldrons on the side of the Water and Candles by Fire. Think of it as being similar to a crystal grid, but instead it’s a Wiccan Star!

Five Elements in Taoism

Also for Taoists, the pentagram is a sign of natural forces. They connect the five lines with water, fire, earth, wood and metal. For them, the star is a diagram that shows which elements reinforce each other and which hinder each other. For example, fire and water oppose each other in the pentagram, because they cancel each other out: fire evaporates water and water extinguishes fire. If you draw a circle around the five points, it becomes clear which natural forces work well together. This Wu Xing system is used, for example, in Chinese medicine, and in Feng Shui to make spaces relaxed.

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Working with Wiccan Symbols?

Has the pentagram taken on meaning for you? Then you might also be interested in other wonderful Wiccan Rituals. Check out Pendulum Dowsing, Seeing with Glass Balls or Tarot Cards for example. If you’re interested in sacred geometry and symbols, then maybe look into the Flower of Life.  Or if you are more a fan of the Eastern traditions,  then perhaps try learning about Tibetan Prayer Flags. Who knows, the peace in your home may increase! No matter what you try, enjoy expanding your spiritual horizons!