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Pentacle

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, used as a protective sigil in witchcraft and occult traditions, symbolizing elemental harmony and spiritual defense.

Detailed Definition
Pentacles in poetry signify the intersection of magic and order, the microcosm mirroring the macrocosm. They appear in esoteric verse as emblems of balance, sacred geometry, and the witch’s silent authority over unseen forces.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Macbeth, the witches circle the pentacle: “Round about the cauldron go”; in Blake’s “The Book of Urizen,” the pentacle is the cage of reason; in Yeats’ “A Vision,” the pentacle is the symbol of the gyre’s turning; in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” the fallen angels draw pentacles in the dust of Hell; in William Butler Yeats’ “The Magi,” the pentacle is the star that guides the soul to mystery; in Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day,” the pentacle is the circle of grass where the grasshopper dances.
Additional Notes
Pentacle is a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, used as a protective sigil in witchcraft, symbolizing the elements, spirit, and the unity of microcosm and macrocosm. In folklore, it wards off evil when worn or drawn. In poetry, it represents wholeness, balance, and the sacred geometry of the feminine. Poets use it to evoke ritual, protection, and the hidden order beneath chaos.
Other Meanings of “Pentacle”
Also Known As
Pentagram Five-pointed Star
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