• Open Pentagrams~
  
  A pentagram may be open, without a surrounding circle. This is the active form symbolizing an outgoing of oneself, prepared for conflict, aware, active. (One wearing an open pentagram must be physically aware of the danger of sharp points sticking into their skin from time to time.) As a pagan religious symbol, the open pentagram represents an open, active approach.

• Circled Pentagrams~
  
  A circle around a pentagram contains and protects. The circle symbolizes eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature. The circled pentagram is the passice form implying spiritual containment of the magick circle, in keeping with the traditional secrecy of witchcraft, and the personal, individual nature of the pagan religious path, of its non-proselytizing character.

• Inverted Pentagrams~
  
  The pentagram may be inverted with one point down. The implication is of spirit subservient to matter, of man subservient to his carnal desires. The inverted pentagram has come to be seen by many pagans as representing the dark side and it is abhored as and evil symbol. Fundamental christians, indeed, see any form of the pentagram as such. However, these are recent developments and the inverted pentagram is the symbol of the Gardnerian second degree initiation, representing hte need of the witch to lear to face the darkness within so that it may not later rise up to take control. The center of a pentagram implies a sixth formative element, love/will, which controls from within, ruling matter and spirit by will and the controlled magickal direction of sexual energies. This is another lesson of the initiation.

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