Symbols Defined
The pentagram is a symbol of a star encased in a circle. Always with five points, each has its own meaning. The upward point of the star is representative of the spirit. The other four points all represent an element earth, air, fire, and water. It is the symbol that represents our connection to the energy that flows through all things, throughout every realm of existence. Many forms of Wicca have various meanings associated with this symbol. This definition is just the basic definition that is agreed upon throughout every Wiccan tradition.
Things to remember:
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The pentagram has been used in many cultures, spiritualities and religions all over the world. The definition above only covers most Wiccan spiritualities.
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The pentagram is ancient, it is one of the oldest symbols in the world. It has been seen throughout hundreds of cultures all over the world. The earliest documented sightings of it are found on pottery pieces that date back to around 3500 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. Each culture has a different definition and reason for using the symbol.
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In the 1940′s Gerald Gardner adopted the pentagram as a second degree initiation symbol for the neo-pagan rituals of the Wiccan witchcraft tradition. The pentagram in conjunction with the point up triangle symbolized third degree initiation, and the point down triangle represented first degree initiation. The Gardnerian Pentacle was also inscribed on Wiccan altars. Its points symbolized three aspects of the Goddess and two of the God and it was also surrounded by seven symbols which represented initiation, the horned God, the moon Goddess and a symbol for mercy and severity, or the kiss and the scourge.
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There is evidence that the symbol was used to represent the underground womb, from which all are reborn for the Ancient Egyptians.
The moon represents the phases of the maiden, mother and crone.
Phases:
THE MAIDEN
The Maiden symbol aligns with the crescent/waxing phase of the Moon, and represents the youthful phase of a humans life. This is the time of growth, reflected by the waxing of the Moon as it moves toward fullness. In the cycles of Nature, the Maiden is associated with dawn, sunrise, and the Spring season.
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The Maiden represents beauty, fresh potential and new life. In human beings, she is associated with the qualities of innocence, youth, self-confidence, intelligence and independence, and she symbolizes exploration, discovery, self-expression, and creativity. Wiccans may worship the Maiden in the form of the Greek goddesses Persephone and Artemis, the Celtic, Rhiannon, and the Nordic Freya, as well as others.
THE MOTHER
At the Full Moon, the Maiden becomes the Mother, giving birth to all of the abundance on Earth. She is associated with midday, and her season is Summer, the most lush time of year, with forests and fields flourishing and young animals growing into maturity. In the human realm, she is associated with nurturing, responsibility, adulthood and the fullness of life.
As the giver of life, she is the symbol most associated with manifestation. The Mother is considered by many Wiccans to be the most powerful of the Goddesses three phases, and it was a "Mother Goddess" archetype that inspired Gerald Gardner’s vision of the divine feminine. Goddesses who represent the Mother on many Wiccan altars include the Greek goddesses Demeter and Selene, the Roman goddess Ceres, and the Celtic goddesses Danu and Badb.
THE CRONE
As the Moon wanes and the darkness of the night sky grows, the Crone steps into her power. Called the Hag in earlier iterations of the Triple Goddess, she represents the post childbearing years of life, and is associated with Autumn and Winter, sunset, night, and the winding down of the growing season. The Crone is the wise elder symbol of the Goddess, and governs aging, endings, death, rebirth, and past lives, as well as transformations, visions, prophecy, and guidance.
Although feared she is the one who reminds us that death is part of the life cycle, just as the Moon's dark phase precedes the New Moon. The Crone is often represented by goddesses associated with death and the underworld, such as the Greek Hecate, the Russian Baba Yaga, and the Celtic Morrigan and Cailleach Bear.
Things to remember:
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In many forms of paganism and Wicca gods and goddesses are not "real". They are not beings that exist in our realm, or even necessarily in another realm. They are not omnipotent spirits that created the universe. They are personified symbols used to explain aspects of the universe. Humans find it easier to explain complex ideologies using human characteristics. For example, the goddess Demeter is a personification of Mother Earth, the harvest, prosperity, vegetation, summer and spring. The symbolism behind the meaning of Demeter is much easier explained using the picture and idea of a goddess.
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The mother phase doesn’t mean, in order to complete the stages you must have children. It is just when we become wiser, more mature, and we take responsibility for our own actions.
As a magickal tool, the Ankh has healing powers. The Egyptians would place them over wounds to promote regeneration and healing. It also opens to the doors to psychic communication with the divine. Some Egyptian art depict the Ankh placed over the forehead, where the third eye is, to foster a strong connection with the Divine. The Ankh represents the union of both the God and Goddess and the infinite creative power of the universe. The loop top depicts the rising sun, the horizontal bar depicts feminine energy, and the vertical bar depicts the masculine energy. The symbol is an Egyptian hieroglyph for life or breath of life. Egyptians believed that one's earthly journey was only part of an eternal life, the ankh symbolizes both mortal existence and the afterlife.
Things to remember:
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Witches use symbols from all over the world. We research pagan traditions from every country, and historical time period. We respectfully learn about the powers and energy that stem from ancient symbols, and we use that knowledge and understanding to enhance our own energy. Remember that it is always about gaining knowledge, and becoming aware of the spiritual significance of these symbols. It is never about claiming another culture as your own, or appropriating that culture and redefining it’s symbolism.