Pentagram Upsidedown?

[Scarlet]

.

[Caliburn]

nopers, well, it's kinda confusing. I'm not sure what a plain upside down pentagram stands for, but if it has a goats head in the middle it's a satanist sigil.

[Ben Trismegistus]

As far as I can tell, if you see an upside down pentagram, it means you're watching a bad 80s heavy-metal band.

[samiaminsane]

They could be a satanist or be wearing it for a specific reason. Not sure.

[FaeFollower]

I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where) that an upside down pentagram represents...argh, what was it? About the spirit going within, as opposed to right-side-up, with the spirit being transcendant. Something like that. Where did I see that?!

[Erincelt]

In some Traditions (in particular the oldest) the inverted pentagram represents Initiation to the Second Degree (might be Third for Gardnerian? Not an expert on that), and in some other practices (this part includes myself) it represents the sacred physical, whereas the upright pentagram represents the sacred spiritual. Just as the points of the upright pentagram are associated with the five elemental energies, some associate the inverted star with combinations such as life-breath-spirit-blood-body. Still might have been a joke, just wanted to point out an example of a legitimate inverted pentagram usage.

[CloakofStars9]

a PENTAGRAM is simply a 5-pointed star--the "the basic symbol" of the Witch. Each point represents one of the 4 elements plus akasha (spirit/essence). Each point is equally spaced from the others because they're all equally important.


a PENTACLE is simply a pentagram enclosed within a circle. The pentacle is used as a tool during ritual; it is the "working form" of the pentagram. It is also the symbol worn by Witches to signify their belief and allegiance to the Craft and the interconnectedness of all that exists in the world around us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Pentagram & Pentacle


This symbol is seen as a protective amulet much like the Christians see the crucifix.

Whats the diffrence you ask... During my journeys on the net, I couldnt find one single page that distinguished the diffrence between the two. So, that is what I am going to explain here.

The upright interwoven star is is representative of five things. The uppermost point stands for Spirit or The one, what ever your idea of deity or God is. The other four points on the star are representative of the four directions and elements.

East for Air ~ South for Fire ~ West for Water ~ North for Earth
http://www.geocities.com/duupaas/pentred.gif
EARTH: (lower left hand corner) represents stability and physical endurance.
FIRE: (lower right hand corner) represents courage and daring.
WATER: (upper right hand corner) represents emotions and intuition.
AIR: (upper left hand corner) represents intelligence and the arts.
SPIRIT: (at the topmost point) represents the All and the Divine.


Both words (pentagram and/pentacle) are used fairly interchangeably due to the fact that many do not realize the difference between the two.



The PentagramThe PentacleThe Pentagram is the design of the symbol.

http://www.geocities.com/duupaas/pentagram.gif

The Pentacle is the actual material thing, like a piece of jewelry. http://www.geocities.com/duupaas/pentnecklace.jpg





Now... For those of you who think this symbol is bad or evil, I suggest you do some research. When inverted, turned up side down, It can also be used for banishments and other spells. The symbol is not evil, nor those it represent evil.



http://www.geocities.com/duupaas/penta.html

[CloakofStars9]

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2002/carl-teichrib/9pentagrams.htm


the upside-down star/pentagram has long been recognized as the symbol of Satan. Anton LaVey, author of the Satanic Bible and The Satanic Rituals, lavishly used this symbol in his ceremonies and rituals–most often depicted as the "goat’s head."

The fact that LaVey chose the goat-headed pentagram as the mascot symbol for the Church of Satan is no surprise. As previously mentioned, occult symbols have been used for centuries. In fact, LaVey gives credit to these more ancient occult schools for the role they played in helping him develop his Satanic ritual work

[Morr]

the upside-down star/pentagram has long been recognized as the symbol of Satan. Anton LaVey, author of the Satanic Bible and The Satanic Rituals, lavishly used this symbol in his ceremonies and rituals–most often depicted as the "goat’s head."


true true...
if youre REALLY interested, here ya go:
http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html

enjoy! Its really interesting actually!
blessings,
Michelle

[Ben Trismegistus]

the upside-down star/pentagram has long been recognized as the symbol of Satan. Anton LaVey, author of the Satanic Bible and The Satanic Rituals, lavishly used this symbol in his ceremonies and rituals–most often depicted as the "goat’s head."
But I wonder if the upside-down pentagram had anything to do with Satan *before* LaVey started using it in his rituals. It seems to me that that may just be the *current* interpretation.

[CloakofStars9]

oh it has been ben, i'll see if i can find some info on it, i believe just like tha (SP) swastika was a symbol for good luck till hitler misused it, i believe the same goes for the upside down pentagram, but i could be wrong

[Erincelt]

Its my understanding that the Baphomet Sigil (the name of the white-on-black inverted star, double circle, "writings at the points", and goat head symbol used by LaVeyan Satanists) was originally attributed to the Knights Templar. Might be valid, might be bogus, I don't know, its just something I read at some point, and if I remember right LaVey's "Satanic Bible" even admits to reusing the emblem from some earlier source. *shrug?*

[CloakofStars9]

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/The%20Pentagram%20its%20real%20history.html




In the current day. it's use is mainly
as a sign of earth based
faiths..showing the four elements topped
with the realm of spirit. There are
many other examples:

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
This was not always so.

You will find links to many sites on this matter
that will speak of its history and use,
scattered throughout,
some of them may be a surprise... :)
In fact I am sure of it..!

But its also a quick fact list.
for those who don't have the time for
extended research

You will also find much the same
info as presented here
if you go hunting about
which I am very happy to see
in such abundance on the web... :)
but I have tried to present a few "new" facts that
may not be as common

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
First off:

Of how old it is...way beyond
what most people would expect..
3500 BC as a matter of fact

The Pentagrams association with evil is recent.
Before this demonizing the Pentagram was known
and in some cases is still known as:
http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif

A sign for royalty.. to mean
that their power spread to the four
corners of the world.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
A sign of protection against evil
and demons worn by people
and placed over their doors and windows
all over during Medieval times.
Called the "endless knot"
it was a symbol of Truth

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
A sign painted on Knights shields
to show the 5 virtues
of
generosity,
courtesy,
chastity,
chivalry
and piety.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
As a Christian sign
denoting the 5 wounds of Christ.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
As a sign showing the perfection of man. By the
Pythagoreans and called the Pentalpha
They were very into its geometry.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The sign of Freemasonry, (http://tracingboard.com/kadosh.htm)which
descends from Pythagorean
still uses the 5 pointed star as its sign.
interlaced and upright for
the Master of the Lodge

As well as many others, considered "Pagan" signs
For which they have received
all manner of bad press
claiming them to be satanists..!
Which is pure nonsense.

See the link above for a page
of the full detailed meaning
behind all their Regalia.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
For the Rosicrucian (http://www.crcsite.org/KabalisticPrayer7.htm)faith who
use the Kabala, it was and to my knowledge still
is the sign of humanity reborn

And as a means to study the faith
and the inner mysteries

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
As a sign of life and humanity for the
5 fingers,senses,ages
of man.

( Five is considered a sacred number
as almost all things
living down to the smallest
have things in groups of 5
see below for a site
that gives info on this idea from
just about every angle possible..)
http://www.sulis.net/five.htm

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
In Egypt the five pointed star represented
the underground womb. From which all
are reborn. The Celts used it for the same reason.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
Hermetic magicians used the Pentacle
for their model of Man in the Microcosm. (http://www.gnosis.co.nz/WhatisG.html)

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The five-petaled Lotus that appears
on the hands of the Buddha in many depiction's
and
A sign of mans quest for perfect enlightenment
(still hunting for a good image of this)

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
Shiva is called 'Panchanana (http://www.geocities.com/tantrawitch/shivyantra.html)' or five faced
and the Pentagram is still used today.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
Gypsies still cut an apple sideways,
to show the Kore,
the Pentacle of the Virgin,
which they call the Star of Knowledge.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
Among the Jews, the symbol was ascribed to Truth
and to the five books of the Pentateuch (http://celestials.org/ezine/vol3/iss1/Pg24.htm).

Which are the first five books of the bible
and represented as a whole ... the concept of truth

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The annual Christian feast of the Epiphany,
celebrating the visit of the three Magi
to the infant Jesus had the Pentagram
as its symbol for a time ‚
due to its adopted date by the church
as the birth date of the Christ,
which coincided with Winter Solstice (http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/SolsticeArticle.html).

( we wont get into why they did that..! )

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
As a mystical symbol
by the Gnostics (http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?discussionID=125161), who called it the Blazing Star
and still use it from time to time

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
For the Druids, it was a symbol of Godhead,
and used in much the same manner as
most current day Pagans as a sign of the elements

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The Pentagram with one point upwards
symbolized summer
; with two points upwards,
it was a sign for winter.
during the time of icons VS words
during mans mass illiteracy

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
Signum Salmonis (http://www.thornr.demon.co.uk/kchrist/pent.html),
the true mark of the Knights Templars ?
yes... no..? maybe..? you judge for yourself.

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
During the Roman Republic
the pentagram represented the building trades
Also seen on a great many coins stuck before
the conversion of Rome to Christianity
during the rein of The Emperor Constantine

( and just as a note
the only reason it got dumped in favor
of the Cross is the King chose the cross
as his royal sign and the people followed suit )

Likewise its all over the temples
of Egypt for the same reason

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The old temples of the Latter day Saints (http://www.softcom.net/users/mhreed/The%20Meaning%20of%20the%20Pentagram%20on%20LDS%20Temples.html)
have inverted Pentagrams on them to this day
( the link above is their site that trys to explain that..)

The Jews of old emulated the seal of Solomon, (http://www.ubalt.edu/kulanu/hexagram.html)
but did so with 5 points not six..'

http://paganandproud.bravepages.com/emeraldpent2.gif
The association of the Pentagram
with non-Christian belief,
and its modern "elemental" analysis,
was introduced during
the revival of occultism
in the 17th and 18th centuries. The distinction between the point-upwards
and point-downwards Pentagram
forms became accentuated in the minds of Pagans
During this same time frame



The use of the "inverted" Pentagram
to denote evil is quite recent

And first appears in the works of Eliphas Levi (http://33degrees.metalhordes.com/zine/bat.html).
a priest/occultest.

He is also the
source of the "goat's head" glyph. Before this, neither orientation
had evil connotations.
And the sad thing is...
not even HE intended it quite that way
He was writeing a theisis on Gargoyles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Rae ShadowWolf]

As someone has stated earlier... The Pentacle(Upright) is the interconnectedness of the 5 Elements and that the Focus is on the Spiritual. The Inverted Pentacle can be used for many things. One is as a initiate of a Second Degree. The inverted means Knowledge. Many attribute the Upside-down Pentacle as a symbol of Satanism, but this is not necessarily true.

The official symbol of the Church of Satan is actually the Sigil of Baphomet, not the simple inverted pentacle. The sigil is an inverted pentacle, with a double circle around the outside and the head of a goat pictured within the 5 points. The point facing down means the Focus on Materialism (and Desires).

To paraphrase something off the FCoS website: "The upright is about 'Becoming' and the Inverted is about 'Being'."

[Rockprincess]

I would say that the pentacle (or pentagram) can't be turned "upside-down", as it is an object with 5-fold symmetry in one plane and 2-fold in the other. Therefore it can only be rotated about it's axes of symmetry.

So - if you think "right way up" is with one of the points facing skywards, then having a single point face downwards is not an inversion, but merely a 72 degree rotation (1/5 rotation)

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Yep....waaaaaay too many crystallography classes...

[Bran83]

The inverted pentegram has many meanings. What I do know is that it is a representation of the manifest, or physical plane. The sacred physical is a good term. As the upright pentegram is spiritual, with the spirit point faced up. I have also heard it to be used as the representation of the God.

Baphomat is a guardian spirit of the Knights of Templar, thought to give fertility and either victory or luck.

I dont know if I would use it in banishing. Its a thought though.

[Ben Trismegistus]

There's a fair amount of evidence that Baphomet was not a demon at all, but rather the Qabbalistic name for Sophia, the goddess of wisdom.

FYI.

[LittleRhiannon]

I've read that wiccans sometimes use the inverted pentgram to represent the horned god.

[dragonkin]

I've read that wiccans sometimes use the inverted pentgram to represent the horned god.
That is one thing I have heard as well. Upright was a more goddess oriented worship and inverted was a symbol of the God of the Forest or a more god oriented worship.

[xblue420x]

I would say that the pentacle (or pentagram) can't be turned "upside-down", as it is an object with 5-fold symmetry in one plane and 2-fold in the other. Therefore it can only be rotated about it's axes of symmetry.

So - if you think "right way up" is with one of the points facing skywards, then having a single point face downwards is not an inversion, but merely a 72 degree rotation (1/5 rotation)

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Yep....waaaaaay too many crystallography classes...really good point there..im wondering...
okay now i know only the person doing it would know, unless each point was a different color or something, but would each point mean something else, and when one was inverted mean something different than another one? anyone following?

someone said something about which elements are which on the pentagram, i know the top is spirit-i dont remember the rest so for this hypothetical comment here im gonna say that the top left is air, top right water, bottom left fire and bottom right earth.
so, say you turn it so that fire and air are pointing up, water would be the one pointing down, earth and spirit on either side. turn it again and youd have fire and earth pointing up with spirit pointing down, again and its earth and water up, air pointing down...get the point?
haha yeah im sure you do. but yeah i wonder if each way would signify something else? or maybe like say if your doing a spell that is dealing more with water than the other elements that the water point of the pentagram be pointed up instead of spirit?
i dunno....i just realized how badly im ranting hehe so yeah im gonna stop now

[Erincelt]

really good point there..im wondering...
okay now i know only the person doing it would know, unless each point was a different color or something, but would each point mean something else, and when one was inverted mean something different than another one? anyone following?

someone said something about which elements are which on the pentagram, i know the top is spirit-i dont remember the rest so for this hypothetical comment here im gonna say that the top left is air, top right water, bottom left fire and bottom right earth.
so, say you turn it so that fire and air are pointing up, water would be the one pointing down, earth and spirit on either side. turn it again and youd have fire and earth pointing up with spirit pointing down, again and its earth and water up, air pointing down...get the point?
haha yeah im sure you do. but yeah i wonder if each way would signify something else? or maybe like say if your doing a spell that is dealing more with water than the other elements that the water point of the pentagram be pointed up instead of spirit?
i dunno....i just realized how badly im ranting hehe so yeah im gonna stop now
You know, that's actually kind of an interesting concept. Might be worth examining sometime when I'm in the right mood to. :)

A quick comment though: the associations of the points tend to differ from one group/person to the next. Some stick with the common Hermetic pattern, some who use a "non-basic" arrangement for sacred space might shift their star associations to reflect it, and so forth. For my own practice, fire is usually the upper right, and water the upper left, while air and earth could be either of the bottom two at any given time (though I usually have earth on bottom right, and air opposite). This has more to do with my personal cosmology (right word?) than anything.

[Rosanna]

What does it mean when someone wears their pentagram upsidedown. Because at another message board someone was saying something about theirs and they said ' and YES it was right side up! lol'. Is it some kind of Wiccan joke that Im not getting or what? Sorry if its a stupid question. :)


I was taught that the pent right side up was the representation of the 5 elements in the position of the Goddess, and that when it was flipped that it was the 5 elements forming the head of the Horned God, hence the two points up.

*Shrug*

[dr_zeus440]

id say its alot like them inelastic rubber bands that young'ns wear around their wrists. to some people, the meaning behind them is that when someone else breaks one on purpose, that they have strong, how can i put this, physical feelings for the wearer. to others, its just an accessory. the meaning is different to different people. if i saw someone wearing a 5 pointed star, whether verted, inverted or 6 foot tall, i would assume that the meaning was that the wearer was pagan, the tryhard variety of devil worshipper, or the tryhard variety of pagan. depends more on the person than the star (well, if you mean WEAR then it does). here, have 2 cents.

[Kadynas]

Could also be...
1st Degree - right side up
2nd Degree - upside down
3rd Degree - right side up with a triangle
But that's for trads that use degrees... :)

[Memnoch McKiln]

I always was told that with the star pointed up, it's a pentacle, with the point down it's a pentagram, the pentacle being for protection, and the pentagram representing the power within one's self (or satanism, it matters as to the wearer's ignorance) so...anyone who knows...how far off am I?

[Ben Trismegistus]

I always was told that with the star pointed up, it's a pentacle, with the point down it's a pentagram, the pentacle being for protection, and the pentagram representing the power within one's self (or satanism, it matters as to the wearer's ignorance) so...anyone who knows...how far off am I?
Pretty far off, sorry.

A pentagram is simply a five-pointed star, in any orientation.

A pentacle is any inscription of a pentagram -- drawing a pentagram on a sheet of paper, or a pentagram in jewelry, or in stone, etc.

So, when you call the directions in a Wiccan ritual, you draw a pentagram in the air with your athame, but you wear a pentacle around your neck.

Clear?

[Vampy]

actually its a Pentacle, when it is turned upside down, then it becomes a pentagram... those are satanic... if they have the goats head then they are the satanic sigil.... there are many different variations of the pentegram just like the pentacle... although the two are commonly confused...

Forever Yours,

[Erincelt]

those are satanic... I can already here my LaVeyan Satanist ex-girlfriend laughing hysterically... partially because she had a habit of doing that anyway, and partially because a simple inverted pentagram is about as satanic as apple pie. (Mm, pie.)

Okay, one more time.

Pentagram = five pointed star, from the Greek words for "five" and "written"

Pentacle = inscription of a 72-degree intervaled (distance between points) Pentagram, usually either enclosed with a circle, or else by a pentagon (often including another pentagon in the center in this case), often used as jewelry, long associated with mystics and magicians.

Sigil of Baphomet = Emblem used by the LaVeyan Church of Satan, consists of a black background inscribed or embroidered with white in the form of: a pentagram with one point aimed downward with the two upraised points slightly extended, a double circle wrapping the figure, a goat's head super-imposed over the star shape, with the horns filling the upper points, the ears the side points, and the muzzle and/or beard the lower point, and the five Hebrew letters for L V Y Th N (Leviathan) starting at bottom and writing counter-clockwise. Not in fact the original emblem of LaVeyan Satanism. See link for more (and somewhat interesting) information:
http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/BaphometSigil.html

Apple Pie = Symbol used by some Chaoists and Discordians to represent Divine Lust.

So are we clear on this now?

[Vampy]

Ahhh ok... I admit defeat, I was wrong... yes I said it I was wrong... (ouch that hurts)

LOL

Forever Yours,

[Ben Trismegistus]

I've got some more info on this topic. I asked my HP about it the other night (the dude has read EVERYTHING), and he said that the connection between the inverted pentagram and Satan pre-dates LaVey, but not by much -- mid-19th century or thereabouts. But the inverted pentagram has a long history of being used in a number of other contexts, including the logo for the Eastern Star.

Then I found this passage in Ronald Hutton's "Triumph of the Moon" (pg. 179):


[Aleister Crowley] also redeemed the inverted (one point down) pentagram, which [Eliphas] Levi had declared to be the sign of Satan and which the Golden Dawn had therefore vehemently avoided, by using it simply to signify the descent of spirit into matter.
For those who don't know, Eliphas Levi was one of the fathers of modern Ceremonial Magic, and is credited with, among other things, inventing the invoking pentagram.

[Crystal_Raye]

Well most of the time if you see someone wearing an upside down pentacle then they are either a Satanist, a poseurs, someone looking to make a fashion statement, or a person who has been misinformed about its meaning. But I've also have heard that an upside down pentacle is supposed to mean something positive in Wicca and Witchcraft too.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Well most of the time if you see someone wearing an upside down pentacle then they are either a Satanist, a poseurs, someone looking to make a fashion statement, or a person who has been misinformed about its meaning. But I've also have heard that an upside down pentacle is supposed to mean something positive in Wicca and Witchcraft too.
Or, like I said, the member of an 80s heavy metal band (I guess that would put you under "poseur").

But yes, many Wiccan traditions use the inverted pentagram to signify the second degree, because, with the one point facing downwards, it signifies going down into yourself.