Pentacles and Protection

Pentacles are a powerful symbol of protection – in fact, many pagan and Wiccan practitioners consider it a symbol of absolute protection.

It can protect people, energy, and even property. While we often see pentacles as pendants or jewellery, they can be any size, any material, and even drawn in the air with a finger – it all counts towards protection.

If you cast spells or conduct rituals, a pentacle is considered an important talisman to keep you safe and protect you from negative energies.

Pentacle Symbolism in Different Cultures

In Wicca and a lot of modern magic, the star’s points represent the elements air, earth, fire, and water. The fifth, the one pointing upwards, represents the Spirit. This matches the ancient Greek symbolism of the pentacle, according to Pythagoras (the triangle guy!)

In the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, the points represent mercy, wisdom, justice, understanding and transcendence. In ancient Sumerian, the symbol stood for the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Ancient Chinese and Japanese religions used the pentacle to represent the five elements of life, while Ancient Babylonians represented their Gods.

The circle generally represents unity, bringing all the elements together. In Wicca, it’s the wholeness of the elements and a love for nature, which is why the pentacle is most strongly associated with earth, even though it includes all the others.

Pentacles in Tarot

The suit of Pentacles in Tarot covers the material aspects of life – the physical and tangible. It relates to prosperity, not just in matters of money but also things like family, health, the body, and work.  

They represent the practical side of relationships as well as stability and security. And, like the pentacle itself, they’re associated with the element of earth.

Some Tarot decks replace the minor arcana with different symbols. Pentacles might be coins, stones, rings, or discs. The symbols generally still relate to either the material or earthly element of the suit.