The pentagram is a symbol commonly used in Wicca, a modern pagan religious movement. Wiccans use the pentagram as a representation of their beliefs and practices. The pentagram is a five-pointed star, often enclosed within a circle. Each point of the star represents one of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. In Wicca, the pentagram is seen as a symbol of protection and power. It is believed to have the ability to ward off negative energies and evil spirits.
H. conica‘s tendency to stain black makes it easy to separate it out from most species.
In his book, Jensen describes how the 1215 Fourth Council of the Lateran required all Jews to identify themselves by wearing the Judenhat Jewish hat or horned skullcap. Medieval representations tying Jews to Satan were nothing new, and by the late 13 th century, Jewish attributes had soaked up enough ugly significance to tar all unbelievers, hypocrites, heretics, pagans, and demons, Jensen writes.
It is believed to have the ability to ward off negative energies and evil spirits. The five points of the star are associated with different aspects of life and nature. The top point, known as the "spirit" or "divine" point, represents the higher self and connection to the divine.
The Witches Hat
Samhain Greetings to you all! Today we have the second instalment of Nell's wonderful blog series.
The Witches Hat.
Those of you who did not grow up in Blighty, or who were born after the death of Elvis may not recognise this picture.
It is a Witches Hat, one of the scariest, most exciting, and deathly dangerous of all the many forms of playground equipment which were banned in the course of the 1980’s. This was a period during which the realisation slowly dawned that small children, high velocities and concrete surfaces were not such a good mix. Needless to say, you couldn’t get me off the things. I fell off repeatedly, I also threw myself off, as I did with swings, slides, those manic roundabout things, even the tandem rocking horse. This sort of thing was considered as a mark of valour and a character-building challenge to which one could only rise with honour or sink with shame in the playgrounds of the early Thatcher years. I draw attention to the Witches Hat to illustrate just how ingrained this symbolic shape is. The playground equipment was actually patented as ‘The Ocean Wave’ when it was invented in the early Twentieth Century, but even the campaign to have it re-instituted refers to it as ‘The Witches Hat’. The real ‘Witches’ Hat is a bit of a contentious issue. Its important to bear in mind that even the things we think of as iconic and immoveable are innovations, the Green Skinned Wicked Witch of the West was a victim of technological change just as much as Dorothy’s Slippers: changed from Silver to Ruby, which just looked so much better in Glorious Technicolour. The real or imagined antiquity of a tradition has a bizarre moral force. Things aren’t really hallowed by time, if they were then slavery, domestic violence and stoning would all be considered sacred. In fact all three have been supported by arguments of ‘time immemorial’, Biblical Authority and indeed legal precedent. Rather than recycle claims about pointy hats and ancient magical practices, in this post I’d like to briefly examine the how the symbolic importance of the Hat evolved in print.
In discussing the symbolic value of the Witches Hat there is no better place to start than with a quote concerning one of my favourite Witches, Terry Pratchett’s Granny Weatherwax, from her apprentice Esk: ‘It’s a Witches hat because you wear it. But you’re a Witch because you wear the hat’. Granny, whose combination of headology and herbology makes her a woman after my own heart, invests heavily in her costume. Looking the part is essential to the ‘Headology’, which lends efficacy to her Craft. Another of Pratchett’s Witches the ancient Eumenides Treason orders fancy dress accoutrements and interior decor from the Boffo Novelty and Joke Emporium. Her apprentice adopts the name ‘Boffo’ as the term for ‘putting on a show’. Like Granny, Mother Treason employs Boffo to inspire the appropriate respect for herself and her Witchery and to activate the powers of both expectation and suggestion, all essential aspects of Headology. Granny wears her Hat in public, not in the forest. She wears it to be seen, this is real power dressing, albeit without the big hair and shoulder pads.
The point is, if you’ll pardon the pun, Hats are extremely visible, some of them quite literally eyecatching, especially tall pointy ones, which lends a great deal of power to their symbolic use, and their role as easily identified marks of status. In the era of Westerns the Black Hat and White Hat of the Cowboys performed this function, a trope which has now crossed over to differentiate different types of computer Hackers. The status which a Hat marks can vary however. The alleged Heretics prosecuted by the Spanish Inquistion were made to wear paper Capirotes, at the highly public ceremonies, the ‘Auto de Fe’, which sealed their fate. Red hats were worn by those sentenced to death, whereas penitents and other criminals wore Hats of different colours. In an interesting twist, Silk versions of these are still worn by the Penitent Orders in Catholic Countries.
As in this picture, different colour denote different Penitential organizations.
It symbolizes the spiritual aspect of Wicca and the connection to the gods and goddesses worshipped in the religion. The other four points of the pentagram represent the natural elements. The bottom point represents earth, symbolizing stability, grounding, and fertility. The top right point represents air, representing intellect, communication, and intuition. The top left point represents fire, symbolizing passion, transformation, and energy. The bottom points, representing water, represent emotions, intuition, and healing. Together, the points of the pentagram symbolize the balance and interconnectedness of these five elements. They represent the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, as well as the balance between the spiritual and physical aspects of life. In Wiccan rituals and ceremonies, the pentagram is often used as a protective symbol. It is drawn or held up as a way to create a sacred space and invite positive energies into the circle. Some Wiccans also wear pentagrams as jewelry or tattoos to symbolize their faith. However, it is important to note that the pentagram is not exclusively a Wiccan symbol. It has been used in various cultures and religions throughout history, often with different meanings. In Wicca, the pentagram is a powerful symbol that represents the beliefs and practices of this modern pagan religion..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Power of the Pentagram in Wiccan Divination"
1. Michael - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Pentagram used in wicca". As someone who is interested in learning about different spiritual practices, I was excited to delve into the world of Wicca. However, this book didn't provide me with the information I was hoping for. The content was shallow and lacking depth. It felt more like a brief introduction rather than a comprehensive guide. I was left with more questions than answers. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thorough understanding of Wicca and its use of the pentagram.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I found "Pentagram used in wicca" to be highly misleading. The title suggests that it would provide a detailed exploration of how the pentagram is utilized in Wiccan practices. Instead, it barely scratched the surface. The information provided was basic and generic, lacking any real substance. It felt like the author hastily put together a few paragraphs on the subject without truly understanding its significance. I was left feeling unsatisfied and misinformed. It's safe to say that I won't be recommending this book to anyone.
3. John - 2 stars
I was really hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the pentagram and its significance in Wicca from "Pentagram used in wicca", but I was sorely disappointed. The author barely touched on the topic, merely mentioning it in passing without providing any meaningful explanation or insights. The book also lacked supporting evidence or references, making it difficult to trust the information presented. Overall, I found this book to be lacking in substance and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Wicca and its symbols.
4. Emily - 1 star
"Pentagram used in wicca" was a complete waste of my time. The information provided in this book was rudimentary at best. It did not offer any new or insightful perspectives on Wicca or the use of the pentagram. It felt more like a shallow summary that failed to engage with the reader. I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated. There are far better books available on the subject, so I would advise skipping this one altogether.