Is the pentagram/pentacle evil?

The five-pointed star has been used throughout history by many religions, even Christianity, as a symbol of the elements and protection. It has also been used by artists like DaVinci in the illustration of The Perfect Man.

The points on the five-pointed star, or pentagram, each represent different elements. Starting at the top and working clockwise: spirit, water, fire, earth, air. When the star is upright, with the odd point up, it means the element of spirit is in control. When the star is overturned with the odd point down, it means the elements of fire and earth are in control. Please note, however, that these elements can change from tradition to tradition.

The pentacle has the same meanings for the points and orientation but is encased in a circle which adds an element of protection and grounding.

So where did the “evil” connotation come from?

The pentacle is often drawn on the floor or ground as a protection symbol during many kinds of rituals – healing, hexing, and everything in between. It is also a way to ground and connect with the elements. It’s like wearing an apron while cooking or painting. The problem is, rituals scare people. For centuries the church has told the masses that all rituals are evil. Therefore, any sign that has to do with rituals becomes evil in the eyes of the masses.

Think about the crow masks the doctors during the black plague used to wear. Then, they were a symbol of healing, and the doctors would wear them to keep from inhaling/catching the plague and other illnesses. Now, they are used as symbols of the black death itself instead of healing. They have become a symbol for what they were trying to protect against, instead of the protection itself. That is what happened to the pentacle for people outside of pagan faiths.