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The pentagram and the pentacle are symbols of the Wiccan faith and of Neo-Paganism. A pentagram is a five pointed star worn for protection. The points represent the spirit and the four elements (water, air, fire and earth). The pentacle is a pentagram with a circle drawn around it. This is also used for protection and is usually found on a witch's altar. Pentagrams have been found on Mesopotamian pot shards that date back to 3500 b.c.e. Pentagrams were even used by Christians in the early Middle Ages. Typically, a pentagram has one point at the top and two points at the bottom. The single point on the top represents spirit over matter. An inverted pentagram has two points on top and one on the bottom. The inverted suggests the spirit is subservient to matter. Satanists use the inverted to express their beliefs. So if it used this way you could say it is evil.

Witches use pentagrams to help with their magick and pull in positive energy. It is also used to remove negative energy and consecrate objects. Earlier Hebrew tradition associated the Pentagram with the first five books of the Bible. It was also seen at that time to represent truth. Christians saw the pentagram as representing the five wounds of Christ. As such, it was considered a potent protection against evil. Knowing this I don't believe it is holy.

Scholars who have studied Wiccan practices trace the pentagram back to Eliphas Zahed Levi, a Frenchman who had trained in the Catholic church. In 1854, Levi recommended that magicians make invoking pentagrams in the air to call the quarters. Prior to this time it was believed that magicians used pentagrams to ward off demons.

I guess it depends on the individual, you can believe it is evil or you can believe it is used for protection. What actually makes it a certain way is the way it is used. I'm sure we can take a charm or some other item and wear it around our necks, than say it means we will have good luck. Does this mean everyone that wears the charm will have good luck? No. Many people see a pentagram and associate with evil because it has been used for that purpose but it is used for good too. That is why many witches won't wear one or they wear a tiny one because of what people might think. Many people don't know this and maybe wouldn't want to. There are witches that use pentagrams and they follow a religion that is protected by the United States constitution. This religion is called Wicca. In this religion they do not use pentagrams for evil but they don't consider them holy unless it is consecrated, meaning cleansed. Catholicism is another religion that believes in consecrating items to make them holy. So in my opinion, I would say that the pentagram is neither evil or holy until something is done to it.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Angel.
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