When people think of the Wicca symbol, they're probably referring to the pentacle, a pentagram with a circle drawn around it. The pentagram’s five points represent air, water, earth, spirit, fire.
The pentacle represents the Wicca religion, a modern pagan or neo-pagan religion. Wiccan followers take the pre-Christian religion of Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia as their inspiration, and they are mainly identified as witches.
The five-pointed star pentagram is the main symbol of the Wicca religion, and when it’s drawn with a circle around it, it’s referred to as a pentacle.
Wicca Symbol: The Wiccan Pentagram
The Wiccan pentagram’s five corners represent five elements.
The Five Elements
- Air
- Water
- Earth
- Spirit
- Fire
The circle is the universe that connects these five elements.
Misconceptions about the Wiccan Pentagram
Some call the Wiccan pentagram a representation of good versus evil, but this isn’t accurate. Some people think that if the pentagram is pointed up, it’s good, but if it’s pointed down, it’s evil.
While the Wicca symbol is meant to be pointed up, this idea has nothing to do with good and evil. Rather, pentagram refers to spirits winning over reasons and matter. The top point represents the spirit element listed before, and the other four points represent four remaining elements.
When the pentagram is pointed down, it represents Satanism. Satanism adopted the symbol of the inverted pentagram with a goat head inside.
The Wiccan pentagram is the symbol of magic or the occult. It’s the Wiccan symbol of protection, perfection, the devil’s presence, and humanity’s presence.
What is a Pentacle?
A pentacle is a talisman that is circular or disc-shaped.
Throughout history, pentacles were seen in several places including Grecian coins and on the seals and tombs of Egypt and Mesopotamia. People used to draw magical symbols inside of pentacles.
Wiccans draw the pentagram on top or within the pentacle.
Long ago, pentacles made of parchment papers, cloth, or metal where the magical symbol was drawn.
Use of the Pentacle
Even though people consider the pentacle a symbol of witchcraft, evil spills, satanic rituals, and invocation of evil spirits, it was a widely-used symbol of Christianity.
Common Uses of the Pentacle
- The five points of the pentacle represent the Five Virtues of Knighthood
- Pythagoras, the famous mathematician, used the pentacle. He considered it a symbol of the perfection of man.
- Romani people consider the pentacle as the symbol of knowledge.
- Egyptians believed that the pentacle represents the underground womb from where all living things are born.
- Pentacle was also visible in the pottery of the kingdom of Judea, possibly to represent tax collection.
As we can see from the above points, people in ancient times considered the Pentacle as a symbol of positivity, virtue, and protection. But gradually, especially in modern times, people started relating it to witchcraft or evil spirits.
Pentagram vs. Pentacle: What’s the Difference?
Even though most people use the pentagram and the pentacle interchangeably, both are not the same. The pentacle is the five-pointed star drawn inside a circle, but the pentagram is drawn without the circle.
| Pentagram | vs | Pentacle |
| One of the oldest symbols used by humans | What is It? | Inscribed with sigils or magical symbols |
| Shaped like a star created by drawing a single line to represent the five elements | Shape | Disc shape that’s popular in tarot decks |
| Comes from the Greek word pentagrammaton which means five-lettered names.Represents the five elements | Symbolism | Symbolizes the balance between the five elements, not just the elements |
| Comes from the Greek word pentagrammaton which means five-lettered names. | Meaning | Thought to provide more protection compared to the pentagram |
Pentagram
Pentacle
Other Wiccan Symbols and Pagan Symbols
There are several modern and ancient Wiccan symbols. Practitioners have altered the meaning of ancient pagan symbols to fit in the context of modern usage.
Triple Goddess Symbol
The Triple Goddess symbol, or the Triple Moon symbol, is one of the most important Wiccan symbols. The Wicca religion is centered around two deities, and the Moon Goddess is one of them.
The triple moon symbolizes the three stages of the Moon Goddess: the mother, maiden, and crone. These three phases are a symbolic representation of the life of a woman.
The Horned God
Another important deity in the Wiccan religion is the Horned God. He represents man’s lifecycle: master, father, and sage. He is the male counterpart of the Moon Goddess.
The Horned God symbol is represented by a full moon and two crescent moons on the sides.
Trinity Knot
The Triquetra, or the Trinity Knot, is another important Wiccan symbol they associate with Christianity. The symbol looks like three interconnected leaves. In modern times, the Trinity knot represents three important elements: water, earth, and fire.
This symbol also appears in the Old Celtic religion, but its meaning is unclear. Earlier in Christianity, the Triquetra represented the Holy Trinity.
The Witch’s Charm
The Witch’s Knot is a symbol that originated to ward off witch spells or black magic. It was used to bind the winds necessary to sail in order to ward off seafarers.
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