Eliphas Levi stated that the inverted pentagram was satanic:
"The Pentagram with two points in the ascendant represents Satan as the goat of the Sabbath; when one point is in the ascendant, it is the sign of the Saviour."
-Ritual of High Magic, ch. 5
- Eliphas Levi"A reversed pentagram, with two points projecting upwards, is a symbol of evil and attracts sinister forces because it overturns the proper order of things and demonstrates the triumph of matter over spirit. It is the goat of lust attacking the heavens with its horns, a sign execrated by initiates."
"The flaming star, which, when turned upside down, is the hierolgyphic [sic] sign of the goat of Black Magic, whose head may be drawn in the star, the two horns at the top, the ears to the right and left, the beard at the bottom. It is the sign of antagonism and fatality. It is the goat of lust attacking the heavens with its horns."
"Let us keep the figure of the Five-pointed Star always upright, with the topmost triangle pointing to heaven, for it is the seat of wisdom, and if the figure is reversed, perversion and evil will be the result."
What he said is correct, we don't approach the spiritual by means of the "earth pole"- "triumph of matter".
Rudolf Steiner on the pentagram:
"We're always surrounded by five ether streams in the world around us on earth. They're called earth, water, fire, air and thought ethers. These etheric streams are also active in man: earth ether from the head to the right foot, from there water ether to the left hand, from there fire ether to the right hand, from there air ether to the left foot, and then thought ether back to the head.
This links in with another process used in Black Magic- drawing up forces through the feet."This is the occultist's sacred pentagram, the symbol of man. Its point is directed upwards, which indicates that the spirit streams to man from the heights. The pentagram is present in many flowers and other things in nature. The sign of black magic is a pentagram with one point at the bottom, through which magicians attract bad forces from the earth and send them out of the two top horns into the environment by means of their bad will in order to use soul and nature forces for their own egotistical, evil purposes."
Rudolf Steiner:
Streams of ether are always circulating out of the cosmos through the human body. One such stream enters through the head, passes from there into the right foot, then into the left hand, then into the right hand, then into the left foot, and from there back to the head. If we think of a man standing in the position just described, with outstretched arms, then the streaming has the form of a pentagram.-Guidance in Esoteric Training, Talks & writings 1903-1913, GA#245
It would be bad for man if the stream did not enter into him through the head but through the feet. All evil influences enter the human body through the feet. The black magicians make use of this.
Dion Fortune on forming the Pentagram: In dealing with elementals or non-human entities the Pentagram, or Pentalapha, is the best weapon. This
ReplyDeleteis a five-pointed star drawn in a particular way. Pointing the first and second fingers of the right hand,
and folding the others into the palm and touching their tips with the thumb, proceed to draw the
Pentagram in the air, keeping the elbow stiff and swinging the arm at full length. Start with the right arm
across the body, the hand about the level of the left hip, the extended fingers pointing downwards and
outwards. Swing it upwards, as if drawing a straight line in the air, until the fingers point straight
upwards above the head at arm's length. Now sweep it down again, keeping the elbow stiff, until the
hand occupies the corresponding position upon the right side to that from which it started on the left.
You have now drawn a gigantic V upside down. Next swing the hand across the body, on a rising
incline, until it is stretched on a level with the left shoulder, pointing to the left. Bring it across the body
horizontally until it is in the same position on the right, fingers pointing away from the body. Now swing
it downwards across the body till the hand has come back to the point by the left hip whence it started.
This is an exceedingly potent sign. The value of the Five-pointed Star, the symbol of Humanity, is
widely known among occultists, but its potency depends upon the manner in which it is drawn. The
method I have given is the correct one for banishing.
The potency of the sign may be illustrated by an experience of my own in using it, which the sceptical
are at liberty to doubt if they wish; I merely mention it for the sake of those who may be interested.
I was taking part in some work with an Indian occultist when I became suspicious that all was not as it
should be, protested, and was asked to withdraw. I did so, determined to watch proceedings from a
distance, and if my suspicions were confirmed, to have an expose. A few days later I was sitting in my
room one afternoon chatting with a friend; it was just getting dusk, and we were talking by the light of a
gas-fire. Suddenly we were both aware simultaneously of a presence in the room and turned
spontaneously in the same direction. My friend sensed an antagonistic presence, and I, being more
psychic, saw who it was, and had no difficulty in perceiving the form of my Indian associate in an
egg-shaped sphere of misty yellow light. I told my friend to quit the room and wait in the hall, and as soon as the door closed behind her, I made use of the Pentagram I have described, together with certain
Names of Power that are unsuitable for disclosure in these pages. Immediately the appearance in the
corner by the door shattered and vanished, at the same time there was a resounding crack, which my
friend heard in the hall. I called to her to return, and as she entered she exclaimed, "Look what has
happened to the door!" and we found that one of the panels had split clean in two. It was this that had
evidently caused the loud crack we had both heard. I offer no explanation of this incident for the good
and sufficient reason that I do not know what the explanation may be. I merely state what happened. My
readers can explain it as they please. https://archive.org/stream/FortuneDionPsychicSelfDefense/Fortune,%20Dion%20-%20Psychic_Self_Defense_djvu.txt