A to Z Blogging Challenge Word of the day - Pentagram

Okay, today we are going a bit traditional. Most everyone, knowledgeable or not of the Occult has at least heard of todays’ word: Pentagram. Most may not know much about it, but maybe today’s word will enlighten us all.

Pentagram has an ancient and complex history. It was used in many cultures as a protective symbol, and thought to banish evil spirits, and bring good luck. The first occurrence of it in history is found in a Babylonian clay tablets dating from the 1^st millennium B.C.E.

Pythagoras were the first major Western occult traditions that made the symbol important. They did so by making it an emblem of physical and mental health. The Pythagorean Brotherhood marked themselves with the emblem, and in each point put the Greek word for health. The brotherhood members even wore a signet ring.

By Middle Ages the symbol had been routed to the Christian symbol associate with the five books of Moses, and stones used against Goliath. It was most often used for protection.

During the Renaissance Pythagorean symbolism was reestablished and it became common symbol for anyone in the medical field. Around the same time, writings gave the pentagram a new importance as the “Shield of Solomon” and “Seal of the Macrocosm.”

In the 19^th century the pentagram rose to a higher magical standing when Elipha Levi redefined it as the emblem of the supremacy of spirit over the four elements, and began to command spirits.

When the Golden Dawn developed the pentagram into a major ritual tool. It sky rocketed to the most famous magical symbol of the 21^st century. Wicca and Neopagan movement were readily welcomed it into their religion.

Modern Tradition gives it a variety of meaning and usage depends on whether it had one point ot two points upwards. One most commonly known is the pentagram with one point upwards representing the power of spirit over a real of the elements. An inverted pentagram with two points upwards hold dominion of spirit by matter and used to call the powers of evil. Each point of the pentagram is associated with the five elements. Most commonly known was introduced by the Golden Dawn and might resemble something similar to this photo, which was found on: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/300544975103994964/

Now we can’t forget to mention that the pentagram doesn’t only relate to the Occult. The star represents many other things, even right down to the stars represented on the United States Flag, and many other country flags around the world.

Hope all enjoyed today little brief history lesson on pentagrams. I found it intriguing, and even a bit freaky. Let me tell you why. * * * Spoiler Alert * * * When I was working on my co-authored book, Witch & Wolf, I didn’t know anything about a pentagram actually being related to the elements. Now my elemental compass design is different, but it was still a bit interesting to me to find this information afterwards. * * * Spoiler Alert* * * Teaches me that I need to do a bit more digging for research on my story ideas.

Hope each of you will come back tomorrow to find out what word I chose that begins with the letter “Q”.

Remember all the information for this post was found in:

The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer.

This particular word can be found on pages 367-368

Have a great day and remember:

 Let Imagination Soar

Write and Read With Creativity