I've been told a lot of things about what the two are and mean and was wondering if anyone could give me a definite answer, since I find different ones online. Basically, the thing I've been going with for a while (because it's what I've been told most) is that a pentagram is just a right side up star, each point representing the elements. A pentacle is the same thing in a circle and represents the elements unified. An inverted pentagram represents material over spirit, and same with the inverted pentacle. Is any of this right? Does it change from person to person or are people just misguided?
What the pentagram represents varies from tradition to tradition and from person to person. Your own thoughts on the matter are not things I would argue with. A pentacle to me is simply a pentagram within a circle, but pentacle can also refer to talismanic designs not containing a star- traditionally a pentacle refers to a talisman worn on the neck (look at the etymology) but the majority of the modern magical community does not look at it this way.
The pentagram is most assuredly a five-pointed star no matter who you ask. It's origin is that it is the shape which the orbit of the planet Venus makes in the sky.
When in a circle I would argue it contains the power within- place anything in a circle and it focuses the power within that circle and contains it.
Re: Pentagram vs. Pentacle By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 3 May 28, 2019
A pentagram is any five-sided figure, not necessarily a star.
A pentacle is a star within a circle. The star can point up or down depending on the meanings in your tradition. In Wicca it is generally described as representing the five Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water held in the circle of Creation.
However, Pagans are not the only ones to use the pentacle as a religious symbol. In early Christianity the pentacle represented the Five Wounds of Christ and the Crown of Thorns.
The inverted pentacle with the star pointing downwards is often used by Satanic practitioners. However, in British Traditional Wicca the downward pointing pentacle is the symbol of the 2nd degree initiation.
