Pentagram Altar Tile, 2.75 Inch

An interwoven pentagram. The lines weave over and under each other in the traditional endless-knot style, the form Wiccans use to show the five elements bound in balance.

Bright white metal, 2.75 inches. The reflective surface reads clearly on a dark cloth and the compact size fits a small altar, a travel altar tin, or a shelf shrine.

A base for charging and consecration. Anything set on the pentacle, a candle, a charm, a stone, a petition, rests on the symbol of Earth and the balanced elements while it is blessed.

• Size: 2.75 inches (2 3/4 inch) across
• Material: white metal
• Design: interwoven pentagram
• Weight: about 1.6 oz

A pentagram altar tile, called the pentacle when it sits on the altar, is used in Wicca to represent the element of Earth and to consecrate and charge tools, charms, and offerings. In the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions the pentacle is one of the core altar tools alongside the athame, wand, and cup, and it is usually placed at the center or the north of the altar. Many eclectic witches use it the same way: a small platform where the working is set to be blessed.

The five-pointed star itself is far older than Wicca. It appears in Mesopotamian seals, in Pythagorean teaching as a sign of health and harmony, and in Renaissance magic, where Agrippa drew the human body inside it. In Wicca the five points stand for Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, and the circle around them, when present, binds them together. You can use this tile to consecrate a new tool, to charge a charm bag, to hold the salt dish, or as the base for a candle in protection work.

1. Cleanse the tile with incense smoke or a sprinkle of salt water, dry it, and set it at the center or the north of your altar to stand for Earth.
2. To consecrate a tool or charm, lay it on the pentacle, pass the four elements over it (salt, incense, candle flame, water), and speak a short blessing naming its purpose.
3. To charge a petition or spell bag, set it on the tile overnight or through a candle burn, then carry it.
4. Use the tile as a base for a chime candle in a holder, so the candle's work rests on the symbol of the balanced elements.

Some witches keep the pentacle covered when the altar is not in use; others leave it out as a daily reminder. Either is right.

• Pentagram Altar Cloth, 36" x 36": An altar cloth with the same symbol to set beneath the tile.
• Altar Bell With Pentagram Design, 2 1/2 Inches: A bell to open and close the ritual the tile anchors.
• Pentacle Cast Iron Chime Candle Holder, 1 1/4": A chime candle holder to set on the tile for candle work.
• Long White Chime Candle, Set of 20, 1/2" x 5": White chime candles for consecration and general blessing on the pentacle.
• New Essential Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Includes Author's Book of Shadows) by Scott Cunningham: Cunningham's guide to the altar tools, including how the pentacle is used.

What is a pentagram altar tile used for?

A pentagram altar tile is used in Wicca as the altar pentacle: it represents Earth on the altar and serves as the platform where tools, charms, and offerings are consecrated and charged. Set a candle, a stone, a ring, or a folded petition on it during a working so the spell rests on the balanced five elements.

Is the pentagram a satanic symbol?

No, the upright pentagram is the primary symbol of Wicca and modern witchcraft and stands for the five elements in balance, with Spirit at the top. It is not a satanic symbol, and it has no documented use as a hate symbol. The inverted pentagram has been adopted by some Satanist groups, which is a separate matter.

What is the difference between a pentagram and a pentacle?

A pentagram is the five-pointed star itself. A pentacle is that star enclosed in a circle, or, in Wiccan usage, the physical altar tool bearing the star, whatever its shape. So this tile is a pentagram design and, once it sits on your altar as a tool, it is your pentacle.

Which direction should the pentagram face on the altar?

Place the pentagram with a single point up, which puts Spirit at the top and the four elemental points below. Most Wiccans set the pentacle at the center of the altar or in the north, the direction of Earth. If your tradition places it elsewhere, follow that; there is no single required layout.

How do I clean and care for a white metal altar tile?

Wipe the white metal tile with a soft dry cloth after use and store it away from damp so it keeps its shine. Salt water used in consecration should be dried off promptly, since salt can dull metal over time. Cleanse it energetically with incense smoke or moonlight whenever it changes jobs.

Can beginners use an altar pentacle?

Yes, an altar pentacle is one of the first tools a beginner sets up, and there is nothing to learn beyond placing it and using it. Set it at the center of the altar, lay a candle or a stone on it, and you are already working with it. It grows with your practice.