Symbols and correspondences
Pentagram and pentacle: meanings and differences
A pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn with intersecting line segments. It appears in mathematics, art, religion and magical traditions. Its presence on an object alone does not establish the user’s purpose or beliefs.
Updated October 25, 2026
Context and method
Pentacle can refer to a talismanic object or diagram and does not always contain a five-pointed star. Some contemporary uses call a pentagram inside a circle a pentacle. The convention needs to be identified.
How to study and use it
Describe the orientation, circle, lettering and other elements of the object you are studying. Find the edition or tradition in which it appears. Compare the whole figure rather than counting its points alone.
Important distinctions
An inverted pentagram does not have one meaning across every period. Interpretation depends on context and the people using it. The Pentacles collection offers further diagrams for comparison.