Pentacle in the Religion of Wicca
Because the pentacle is most commonly known for its use in the Wicca religion, it’s important to understand what this religion is and what the pentacle is used for. The Wicca religion believes in worshipping a god or Goddess and these two are uniquely different and quite opposite however, their opposites are exactly what makes them complement each other so well. The religion of Wicca is extremely feminist and in some covens, the god is not worshipped at all while in others, the god is both the child and the lover of the Goddess.
Wicca is a form of witchcraft and therefore they hold many rituals, observe certain happenings in certain seasons, and perform various sorts of magic. Although most Wiccan practices exhibit all of these behaviors and acts, there is a wide variety of Wiccan practices and some adopt new beliefs and practices while abandoning others. If one wishes to become a Wiccan, there is a specific initiation that one must go through. The first is to recognize oneself and have others recognize the initiate as a witch. The witch must then become a member of a coven and if the Wiccan wishes to teach the religion from that point, there are other steps that must be followed including obtaining the title of “High Priestess” and being granted with the tolls to open a coven of their own.
As with most religions, it is the specific practices to the Wiccan religion that people find most interesting. The Wiccans have many different rituals. When most of these are being practiced, the Wiccans usually gather in a magic circle with a prayer to each of the four elements, or the four corners of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. This circle and praying to the elements is derived from the pentacle. The Wiccans believe that the five-pointed medallion has specific meanings to each of the points. Each of the lower points is to recognize one of these elements and the fifth, uppermost point is to be recognized as symbolizing the Spirit, presiding over everything.
The Wiccans will often bring many tools to these rituals that are important to the practice that is about to take place. Some of these tools include a broom, a cauldron, a chalice, a wand, Book of Shadows, athame, boline, candles, crystals, and incense. Regardless of what else is brought, one thing that is brought to just about every ritual is the pentacle. The Wiccans will then lay the pentacle on the altar and continue with their spells or other magic.
Some forms of the religion also require that the circle participants bathe or fast for a day before entering the circle. Once the ritual is over, the Wiccans will give thanks to the god and/or Goddess and the circle will be closed.
