Banishing and Invoking Pentagrams

This is something that I always get mixed up with even though I've been practicing the Craft formally for about 4 years. So here's a chart for everyone. Of course, in different traditions there's bound to be different ways of doing this. This is one of the most common ways. Some traditions don't use a different invoking and banishing pentagram for each element. These traditions would have only one way of doing so. In my tradition we use the fire invoking pentagram for all invocations and the banishing earth pentagram for all banishings. We use the technique based on movement -- it's not based on elements.

When invoking, visualize blue flames coming from the tip of your wand, athame, sword, or from your fingers. When banishing, visualize the flames going back to where they came from.

http://www.llewellyn.com/blog/2011/10/magick-101-6-3-1-understanding-the-formulation-of-the-pentagrams/

Pentagram Vs. Pentacle

Image from: https://www.facebook.com/ALLMagick

So, I notice that "pentacle" and "pentagram" get used interchangeably, however, they are different. The main difference as you may notice in the picture is that the pentagram is just the 5 pointed star whereas the pentacle has a circle around the star. That is the noticeable difference. They also have a slightly different meaning because of this.

The Pentagram represents the 5 elements of Wicca: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit. The 4 lower points represent the material realm and elements (Earth, Fire, Water, and Air) whereas the upward point represents the Spirit and points toward the Divine. The Spirit point may also represent the mind/spirit over matter.

Picture from: http://www.squidoo.com/blazingstar

The Pentacle is a pentagram which has been encircled. When the pentagram is encircled, this is said to represent the elements bound in harmony with one another. It also creates a center point of energy which is used in rituals to consecrate and energize ritual items.

Both these symbols, when worn, can be used as protection. Although, the pentacle and pentagram are shown upright and are worn upright they also have meanings when the point is down. When the pentagram or pentacle are worn with the point down it is said to represent matter over the mind/spirit. It is also the symbol for a second degree Gardnerian Witch. However, most people (even some Wiccans) consider the inverted pentagram or pentacle to be a symbol of blasphemy and Satanism. 

Here's a link to an interesting website that speaks of a different way to define the pentagram and pentacle.Its always good to look at different points of views to help draw your own conclusions!

http://www.paganspath.com/magik/pentacle.htm