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It’s a popular misconception that the Pagan pentacle is a satanic symbol. This is simply untrue.
The Pagan pentacle is an upright star inside a circle. The circle is seen as a representation of the feminine, eternity and/or the connectedness of all life. The star has five points, one which represents spirit (the top point), and the other four stand for the elements of earth, air, fire and water. It is a symbol of our faith, and considered a symbol of protection.
The Satanic pentacle is an inverted star, with spirit at the bottom, and the head of Baphomet filling the star. While similar, it is not the same and one should not be confused with the other. There are also other symbols that bear similarity to the Pagan pentacle. It can often take a trained eye to know just what you’re looking at, so it’s never wise to assume that you know what a symbol means.
It’s worth noting also, that a pentacle and a pentagram are not the same thing. A pentagram is a five pointed star drawn with a continuous line. A pentacle is a pentagram enclosed in a circle. Neither the pentacle, nor the pentagram, are used exclusively by Pagans, and can be found in other faiths and practices. The pentagram has been used to represent the five virtues of a knight, royalty, and the Star of Knowledge, among other things.
*Disclaimer: I no longer practice Paganism, but I’ve left these Pagan Myths articles active because I believe they’re still valuable in helping people to understand Paganism and reduce negative stereotypes.*
