The Pentagram

/ Pentacle

Orientation	Tradition	Meaning
Point up	Pythagorean	Health and well-being; the “Pentalpha.” Each point = one element (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Spirit)
Point up	Christian (medieval)	The five wounds of Christ. Used in churches, notably on Gawain’s shield in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Point up	Masonic	The Blazing Star. Represents divine providence and the light of knowledge. Displayed on the lodge floor
Point up	Esoteric/Wiccan	Spirit over matter. Protection. The pentacle (pentagram in circle) = the contained human within the cosmos
Point down	Esoteric (contested)	Some traditions: spirit descending into matter (not evil). In Levi’s illustration: the Goat of Mendes / Baphomet. Widely associated with dark magic since the 19th century
Point down	Masonic (Order of the Eastern Star)	The women’s Masonic body uses an inverted pentagram — represents the Star of Bethlehem, NOT Satanism

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