Okay.  I've been reading through Bramble's books.  Unfortunately, most of them are just overviews.  So, I figured I'd come here to ask a question.  First off, I feel a bit nervous about asking the wrong questions.  So, if I do ask something or say something that sounds inappropriate, please forgive me.

Anyway, my question (today) pertains to pentacles.  One of Bramble's books mentioned (briefly) that what a pentacle does and is used for depends greatly on its position and how it is draw (left to right, top to bottom, or etc.).

It didn't go into very great detail, though.  So my question is: what do the different positions do?  And which direction should a pentacle be drawn for varying intents?

I hope that makes sense.

Hiya Zero,

There are many definitions of magick, but I think this definition will help you gain a better perspective:

"Magick is the puroposeful application and manipulation of symbols, which influence and alter the manifestation of reality both within and without the practitioner."

Of the many types of symbols used in magic, direction in among the most common. Every direction has associated with it a specific archetypal significance. There are the four cardnial directions (North , South, East, West), left and right, center, and up and down. Each direction has a diferent meaning, so the direction you focus on in the beginning and end of a spell should be in correspondence with the desired out come of the spell. Here are some basic associations for the directions:

Left: feminine, passive, absorbing
Right: masculine, active, force

East: inititiation, birth, growth, Spring, air
South: creativity, transformation, Summer, fire
West: fruition, thought, Fall, water
North: Stability, order, Winter, earth

Up: air, thought, creativity, spirit, transcendence
Down: earth, manipulation, stability, power

Center: balance, transcendance


The pentacle is the five pointed star with the point up. This for of the shape is considered the more feminine form, associated with transcendence and worship of the spirit. Many witches consider this the primary shape for white magick, but I thinik it is better to think of this as the more passive symbol or the symbol of personal cultivation. It is the symbol you use when you want to build healthy connections with the energy fields around you. Each point represents a direction: top point = center, upper right = north, bottom right = east, bottom left = south, and upper left = west.

A pentagram is a five pointed star with the point facing down. It is the more masculine symbol, and is used in the manipulation of the physical reality. Many witches view this as a dark symbol, but I think it is more out of caution in avoiding doing harm. Basically, if you have no idea what you are doing and you try to manipulate physical reality, a lot of bad things can happen. Many people associate this symbol with satanism, but it has been in use in the occult and alchemy a long time before the Church invented their boogeyman. However, that does not make the symbol intrinsically evil. In this star, the directional associations are the opposite of the pentacle.

Soooo, here's a simple example. Let's say we are going to use a ritual with a pentacle to enhance our creativity. South is the direction for creativity, so we will want to start and end there. Most rituals using the pentacle invlove working around the directions in a circle, thereby enhancing and containing the energy of the pentacle within a symbol associated with protection and continuity.
South, being the fire direction, may be reprecented with a candle or lamp, and we may put a symbol of our spell under that candle or lamp. We will want to call the spirits associated with that direction, and provide offerings that are suitable.

Get the idea? Each direction has a special meaning, so the pivital  parts of the ritual center on that part of the pentacle and the tools associated should be used as well.

I have to go work the reference desk, but if you have any more questions feel free to ask

This is a cross-post from this conversation that may be relevant to your question: http://www.paganliving.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=45228#45228

"Hi again,

The pentagram or inversted pentacle predates the invention of the Christian concept of Satan as the devil. The pentagram is believed to be a symbolic remenant of the worship of ancient goat-headed gods, such as Pan. To take this a step further, the anthropologist, Maria Gimbutas argues that the depiction of the horned goat head in ancient art is actually a symbolic representation of the female reproductive system. In a nutshell, Gimbutas maintains that prehistoric societies were matriachal, and that with the rise of agriculture, private property, and influx of war-loving, patriarchal pastoralists (herders), the new aggressive patriarchy overthew the matriarchal societies and villanized the symbolisms of female authority. Those who advocate Gimbutas' appraoch view the inverted pentacle and goat headed gods as rememenants of ancient goddess worship.

On another note, the inverted pentacle in the occult circles (Masonic, Kabbalistic, Hermetic) refers to the casting of rituals meant to alter physical reality. Basically if the point is facing up, you are working with air and spirit. If the point is fasing down, you are working with flesh and earth.

However, modern Satanists have adopted the inverted pentacle and the goats head has a sign of chaos and evil, so if you see someone wearing the symbol, I would not immediately assume they are goddess worshipers or Masons.  Also, Statnists do tend to were more overt and visible symbols than the other groups.

PS: Many people refer to the five pointed star as a pentacle and the five pointed star inclosed in a circle as a pentagram. If you want to be really anal retentive about it, a pentacle is any depiction of a five pointed-star, and a pentagram is the drawing of the five pointed-star. Most people use pentacle and pentagram interchangeabley."

Very interesting.  Hm.  This does help quite a bit.  Thank you.  Although, I think it may have compounded my sense of being overwhelmed.  Heh.  It might just be the fact I haven't slept tonight.

Anyway, I will think about this and study it.  Maybe try a few simple spells, too, and see how it works.  I'm far better at learning with visual aids, as it were.

Thank you for helping me.