The Pentacle and the Element of Fire

An Eclectic Pagan’s Journey By Carla Jo Worth (July, 2017)

Merry Meet, Friends and Welcome to my Circle.

I remember a few years ago, I had been at a Pagan gathering and was still wearing my pentacle on the outside of my shirt as I drove home. The car was low on gas, so I stopped at a station. While I was inside paying for my purchase, a woman I’d never seen before walked up, looked at my pentacle, and said, “What a lovely Star of David. I didn’t know you were Jewish.”

I looked at this stranger and said, “Thank you. I’m not.” I walked away as she looked at me with a confused expression.

Most spiritual paths have one or more symbols they are identified by Islam has the crescent and star; Christianity has the fish, the empty cross, and the crucifix; Taoism has the Yin/Yang; pagans have the pentacle, the Spiral Goddess, and the Triple Moon.

We have discussed the Goddess and the Triple Moon before; today I’d like to talk about the Pentacle.

The Pentacle is a five-pointed star within a circle. Each of the points represents an element: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and the top point is Spirit. The circle around the star joins the elements showing that they are all connected. The Five becomes the One. As the Elements are connected, so is all of life.

Because of this connection, the Pentacle is often used in Spell Work and is one of the objects that lies on an altar. In the instance of my personal altar, it is not an object but is part of my altar cloth, along with the Triple Moon.

Drawing the pentacle for spell work depends on what type of working you intend to do. If I am calling something into my life, an Invoking Pentacle is drawn. Beginning at the top point, a line is drawn to the lower left point, then the right arm point, to the

left arm, then the lower right, and back to the top. The points are then connected by the circle from the top in a sunward (clockwise) direction. If the intention is to banish, you begin at the lower left point, move to the top, then to the lower right, left arm, straight across to the right arm, and back to the lower left. The connecting circle is drawn from the lower left point to the widdershins (counter-clockwise) direction. This type of Pentacle is called the Banishing or Warding Pentacle.

As an example of the Warding Pentacle’s use, my supervisor had a habit of coming around just to talk. He did this two or three times a week, interrupting my work for an hour or so and then would, later on, reprimand me for missing something or not cleaning as well as he expected.

I had enough and took just a few moments on my way into the building one night to draw a Warding Pentacle on the entrance with my finger saying, “Rob, stay out of my area unless you have an important question or message for me. You may also enter if I have a question or message for you” I did this three times in a row (three is a magick number) that evening, setting a clear boundary for my intention. From that night until my retirement nearly 18 months later, the boundary held. He didn’t even come to the custodial holiday potluck that became my retirement party!

Such is the energy/power of the Elements working together in the form of the pentacle.

I call upon the Elements as One and separately depending on the Working I am engaged in. When I invoke the Guardians for casting a Circle, all Elements are called. If I am looking for a way to do something, Air (thought) is called; inspiration is Fire; help in working with emotions, Water is my go to; and money, Earth is called.

As a Pisces (the Fishes), you would naturally think that Water is my primary Element but, although I crave the touch of water on my skin, the tinkle of water over rocks, and the sound of waves crashing on the beach, Fire has drawn me from early childhood. The light and heat, the images in the live embers and the dancing flames rising to the sky entertain me for as long as they live. Even the ashes and charred pieces of the wood call to me.

The images I see are Otherworldly beings or scenes from life. The embers are eyes watching us from somewhere Else; looking out on us in this cold dark world they cannot understand. They want to share their heat and light, seldom realizing that we frail humans cannot tolerate their world.

In the Tarot, the Element of Fire is symbolized by the suit of Wands (also called Rods). Each Wand bears living leaves on its top, and some also have sparks of fire in the air around them.

Fire is passion. Fire is an inspiration. Fire is heat. Fire is light. Fire is the direction of the South, watched over by the Archangel Gabriel, patron of writers and artists. On my altar, the Element of Fire is represented by the flame of the candles and the embers of the incense.

I call upon the Element of Fire to light my way when decisions are to be made or when the path ahead is unclear. Fire gives me insight to my problems and into those of others. The Flames hold not only the Otherworldly but also answers if I look with open heart, mind, and soul.

As I said, I see things in the flames and embers. At times, it seems I see scenes from past lives: A Gypsy dancing ‘round the campfire or dying while locked inside her wagon as it burns. There are happy times and sad. I have seen dragons and firedrakes in the flame of candles. And, once, a city rising from the flames to stand on a mountaintop.

Make friends with the Element of Fire. Learn that you can ask for help but that you do not control this Element or any of the others. They will work with you if you approach them with humility and respect. But, they will turn on you if used incorrectly or with disrespect. Learn to work with Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and Spirit both within and outside of your body and there will be little you cannot do. The Circle is Open yet, Unbroken.

Merry Part and Merry Meet again. Blessings of Fire be with you this Summer.

Carla Jo Worth bought her first deck of Tarot cards with her high school graduation money. She lives in a home and property purchased in 2013 with a black cat (surprise, surprise) named Loki. Carla spends her time reading, crocheting, writing, studying, giving card readings, and helping at Gathering Thunder Foundation. tellerstidbits@yahoo.com