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The Pentagram was known in ancient China and is still used today by
Taoists, to whom it symbolizes the five elements of wood, fire, wind,
water and metal. In the Chinese concept, these are five processes by
which energy transforms itself through constant creation and
destruction. They represent both the outer processes of the universe
and the inner processes of the self. The Chinese elements correspond
to the later Western elements of spirit, fire, air, water and earth.
Wise men in China sometimes wear a pentagram to symbolize their
awareness of and mastery over the process of change.
A pentagram is a five-sided figure and a pentacle is a five-pointed star.
The older word 'pentacle' has been replaced over time by the less
precise 'pentagram.' Today, the pentacle refers to an engraved copper
disk engraved with a pentagram used by Witches to represent the
element earth in the magic circle; this follows Eliphas Levi's
original illustration of the tarot suit of coins, which he called
pentacles, as coins engraved with pentagrams. The pentacle should not
be confused with the pentacle. The pentacle is a many-pointed star
design created by a magician to summarize his or her magical
attainment, and is unique for each individual. The pentacle is also
usually an engraved copper disk and is also used in the magic circle
to represent the element of earth. Both the pentacle and the pentacle
are used on the altar for consecrations, and at times may even replace
the altar. Confusion between the pentacle and the pentacle has arisen
because modern Witchcraft has borrowed heavily from ceremonial magic
and proper distinctions have sometimes been lost in the process. The
pentagram was also inscribed on the altar pentacle, it's points
symbolizing the three aspects of the Goddess plus the two aspects of
the God in a special form of Gardnerian Pentacle.
Satanists use pentagrams much the way they use the Christian cross:
they turn it upside down either as a sign of disrespect, or just as a
variant. They use the Pythagorean pentagram inscribed in a double
circle
It is a pagan
religious symbol that is one of the oldest symbols on Earth and is
known to have been used as early as 4000 years B.C. It represents the
"sacred feminine" or "divine goddess" (Brown 2003, pp. 35-37).
However, in modern American pop culture, it more commonly represents
devil worship. In the novel Da Vinci Code, dying Louvre museum curator
Jacque Saunière draws a pentagram on his abdomen with his own blood as
a clue to identify his murderer . |
