Pentacle: A five-pointed star, the points of which represent earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Pentacles are frequently set within a circle, which can represent the wheel of life, the encircling of the divine, or the union of the material and spiritual realms. Despite Hollywood's insistence otherwise, the pentacle is not a symbol of Satan or evil.

(See also: Pentacle, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Pentacles: One of the four suits of the Tarot, corresponding to the modern Diamonds and to the merchant class of medieval society. In the system of the Golden Dawn, corresponds to the element of Earth and the final Heh of Tetragrammaton.

Also See: Coins, Discs, Disks, Deniers, Money

(See also: Pentacles, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

pentacle

Any talisman used for psychic operations that hangs

(See also: Pentacle, Body Mind and Soul)

THE PENTAGRAM

The pentagram, or five-pointed star, may be the most misunderstood religious symbol around these days. Being the most common symbol of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, it has nevertheless been denigrated by movie and publishing industries which seem 'hell-bent' on connecting it with Satanism and other malevolent practices. However, like the Roman Cross or Crucifix, it is only when the symbol is INVERTED that it alludes to negativity. And even then, there are exceptions, as we shall see.

Read more here: » Paganism: THE PENTAGRAM

Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca (Witchcraft)

The roots of the religion called Wicca, or Witchcraft, are very old, coming down to us through a variety of channels worldwide. Although any general statement about our practices will have exceptions, the following will attempt to present a basic foundation for understanding.

Some of the old practices were lost when indigenous religions encountered militant Christianity and were forced to go underground for survival. The ancient mystery religions were lost when the practice of the rites were stopped and the old verbal traditions were no longer available.

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca

Historical records of Tarot decks date back to the fourteenth century when people first used them for card games. The Roman Catholic Church condemned them as a device for the devil, referring to them as "The Devil's Picture Book." Today they are still being used, and are actually seeing a resurgence in popularity. The Tarot is a wonderful tool for awakening our intuition and putting us in touch with our inner and outer worlds through meditation, reflection, spiritual growth, problem-solving and divination.

Read more here: » Tarot: Getting Started Reading Tarot Cards

The first time I noticed conflicting ritual elements was when I was invited as a guest to attend another Coven's esbat celebration. When the time came to 'invoke the Watchtowers' (a ritual salutation to the four directions), I was amazed to learn that this group associated the element of Earth with the North. My own Coven equated North with Air. How odd, I thought. Where'd they get that? The High Priestess told me it had been copied out of a number of published sources. Further, she said she had never seen it listed any other way. I raced home and began tearing books from my own library shelves. And sure enough! Practically every book I consulted gave the following assoications as standard: North = Earth, East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water.

Then where the heck did I get the idea that Air belonged in the North?

Read more here: » Paganism: RE-THINKING THE WATCHTOWERS or 13 Reasons Air Should Be In The North

In Medieval Jewish, Islamic and Christian legends, the Seal of Solomon was a magical signet ring said to have been possessed by King Solomon (or Sulayman in the Islamic version), which variously gave him the power to command demons (or jinni), or to speak with animals. In one of the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, an evil djinn is described as being imprisoned in a copper bottle for 1,800 years by a lead seal stamped by the ring. Other, later books (Pseudomonarchia ...

Including:

• Seal of Solomon - Use on National Flags

Read more here: » Seal of Solomon: Encyclopedia - Seal of Solomon

Asiyah is the 4th and last of the worlds in which exists the kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is known as the World of Actions. In Western occultism, the sephirah in this world are associated with an astrological influence, such as a planet, and this world is associated with the suit of pentacles in the Tarot. Other related archivesTarot, Tree of Life

Read more here: » Asiyah: Encyclopedia - Asiyah

Agiel (Hebrew Word: אגיאל) The Intelligence(beneficial spirit) of Saturn. Is mentioned as a Spirit in books in the like of; Key of Solomon. As it says on the 10th Plate: "The First Pentacle of Mercury.--It serveth to invoke the Spirits who are under the Firmament.". And the letters forming the names of the Spirits Yekahel and Agiel. Other related archivesKey of Solomon, Saturn

Read more here: » Agiel: Encyclopedia - Agiel

Alex Elmsley ( March 2, 1929 - January 8, 2006) was a British Magician and Computer programmer. He was notable for his invention of the Ghost Count or Elmsley Count. He began practicing magic in 1946, as a teenager. He studied physics and mathematics at Cambridge University; whilst there he was also secretary of the Pentacle Club. His day job was as a patent agent, and later computer expert. Otherwise, he was an amateur card and close-up magician. ...

Read more here: » Alex Elmsley: Encyclopedia - Alex Elmsley

The Minor Arcana of the Tarot deck consist of 56 cards, which are closely related to the deck of 52 playing cards used in most modern card games. It is comprised of four suits, most commonly named Wands, Cups, Swords, and Coins (esoterically called Pentacles or Disks), although there is a wide variety of different names and suit symbols used in different decks. Often, the suits are associated with one of the four classical elements, with a common set of associations being the following: Wands with fire, Cups with water, Swords ...

Read more here: » Minor Arcana: Encyclopedia - Minor Arcana

A pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. In fact, the word pentagram comes from the Greek word πεντάγραμμον (pentagrammon), a noun form of πεντάγραμμος (pentagrammos) or πεντέγραμμος (pentegrammos), a word meaning roughly "five-lined" or "five lines". The name indicates that a pentagram is not simply a five-pointed star; the symbol must be composed of five lines. That is, it must include the interior pentagon. It is also known as a pentacle, pentalpha (as it ...

Including:

• Pentagram - Geometry
• Pentagram - Some relevant trigonometric values
• Pentagram - History
• Pentagram - Pythagorean use
• Pentagram - Christian use
• Pentagram - Satanic use
• Pentagram - Neopagan Use
• Pentagram - Brigate Rosse
• Pentagram - Flags
• Pentagram - In literature
• Pentagram - 3D

Read more here: » Pentagram: Encyclopedia - Pentagram

As discussed in more detail below, the Tarot is usually a deck of 78 cards composed of: the major arcana, consisting of 21 trump cards and the Fool card; the minor arcana consisting of 56 cards: ten cards numbered from Ace to 10 in four different suits; traditionally batons (wands), cups, swords and coins (pentacles) (40 cards in total); and four court cards, page, knight, queen and king in the same four suits (4 per suit, thus ...

Including:

• Tarot - The Tarot Deck
• Tarot - Origin and History
• Tarot - The tarot deck
• Tarot - Use of tarot cards in divination
• Tarot - Differences among decks
• Tarot - Symbolism
• Tarot - Psychology
• Tarot - Storytelling and Art
• Tarot - Divination
• Tarot - Layouts or spreads
• Tarot - Further Information

Read more here: » Tarot: Encyclopedia - Tarot

A minor god in Greek mythology, Aristaeus or Aristaios was the son of Apollo and the huntress Cyrene, who despised spinning and other womanly arts but spent her days hunting. According to Pindar, Apollo spirited her to Libya and made her the foundress of a great city Cyrene in a fertile coastal plain. When Aristaeus was born, Hermes took him to be raised on ambrosia and be made immortal by Gaia. The Myrtle-nymphs taught him useful arts and mysteries, how to curdle milk for cheese, how to tame the Goddess's bees and keep them in ...

Read more here: » Aristaeus: Encyclopedia - Aristaeus

An amulet (from Latin amuletum; earliest extant use in Natural History [Pliny], meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble") or a talisman (from Arabic tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word "talein" which means "to initiate into the mysteries.") consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include: gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occas ...

Including:

• Amulet - Amulets and talismans in folklore
• Amulet - Hermetic talismans

Read more here: » Amulet: Encyclopedia - Amulet

Cartomancy is a form of fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards. The practice of cartomancy has been observed since playing cards first came into use in Europe in the 14th century. Some practitioners (known as cartomancers) have claimed its origins date back to Egyptian times, the art being derived from wisdom given to the ancient Egyptians by the scribe-god Thoth, although this belief is by no means common today. A standard deck of Anglo-American playing cards (i.e. 52-card, four suit set) are used for the p ...

Read more here: » Cartomancy: Encyclopedia - Cartomancy

The Star of David (Hebrew Magen David or Mogen Dovid מגן דוד, Arabic Najmat Dawuud نجمة داوود). It is also known as Solomon's Seal, or Seal of Solomon (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Shield of David, Arabic Khatam Sulayman خاتم سليمان) is a generally recognized symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity, although it has been used also in Islam as well as the Eastern Religions. Geometrically it is a hexagram. It i ...

Including:

• Star of David - Origin
• Star of David - Shape
• Star of David - Shield form
• Star of David - Shield with stars
• Star of David - Used by Jews
• Star of David - Used by Arabs and Muslims
• Star of David - Used by the Nazis
• Star of David - Other uses
• Star of David - Heraldry
• Star of David - Red Magen David
• Star of David - Occurrence in Eastern Religions
• Star of David - Theosophy
• Star of David - Zion Christian Church
• Star of David - Latter-day Saints Mormons
• Star of David - Raelism
• Star of David - Notes
• Star of David - Footnotes

Read more here: » Star of David: Encyclopedia - Star of David

Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in the fictional Discworld city of Ankh-Morpork, staffed by a faculty composed of mostly insane and inane old wizards. The motto of UU is "Nunc Id Vides, Nunc Ne Vides", loosely translated as "Now you see it, now you don't". The coat of arms is: A livre des sortilèges, attaché en cuivre, sur un chapeau pointu, on a field, azure. (That is: a book of magic spells, with copper clasps, over a pointed hat, on a blue background.) As usually rendered, it bears more than a slight rese ...

Including:

• Unseen University - Staff
• Unseen University - Notable past students
• Unseen University - Previous Archchancellors

Read more here: » Unseen University: Encyclopedia - Unseen University

By Bahá'í/Bábí split is meant the process when most Bábís accepted the Bahá'í Faith as the fulfilment of their religion, leaving a remnant of Bábís who now refer to themselves as Bayanis. This occurred after Bahá'í founder Bahá'u'lláh made his claims public in 1866, leading to expressions of support from the majority of the Bábí community, and opposition from the remainder. The breach was the foundation of several murders, and attempted murders, which both sides claimed the other ordered, and was used against bo ...

Including:

• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Leadership After the Báb's Execution
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Appointment of Subh-i-Azal
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Revelation in the Siyah-Chal
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Public Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Confrontations
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Dayyán
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Poisoning of Bahá'u'lláh
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Siyyid Muhammad
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Doctrinal Disputes
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - The completion of the Persian Bayan
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Year of Revelation
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Bahá'í Views of the Split
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Taherzadeh
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - John Walbridge
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Qazvini
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - Letter to Subh-i-Azal
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - A Contrary Point of View of Bahá'u'llah's Claim
• Bahá'í/Bábí split - After the Split

Read more here: » Bahá'í/Bábí split: Encyclopedia - Bahá'í/Bábí split