Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm by Emily Carding Page A

As you will see below, many of the associations connected with these symbols are surprisingly recent, and they all hold a number of equally relevant meanings.

    from top: septagram, pentagram, triskele, equal-armed cross,
four-leaved clover, the great glyph of the sidhe
    Septagram
    The seven-pointed star known as a septagram or heptagram is used by many people who walk a Faery path to represent their beliefs, where it is known as the Faery Star or Elven Star. However, this is a very recent usage of this ancient symbol, originating in the 1980s with the Elf Queen’s Daughters, a group originating in the hippie movement of 1970s California who believed themselves to be elves incarnated into human form to help guide the planet towards peaceful ways. This inspired many to “awaken” to their own natures as incarnated magickal beings, such as the Silver Elves (who are interviewed later in this book) and the Otherkin movement that emerged in the 1990s and use the septagram as their identifying symbol.
    One of the oldest uses of this star is to represent the sphere of Venus and the power of love within the Qabalah. It can also be found within Christian tradition as a symbol of protection, representing the perfection of God, hence its appearance (inverted) on some sheriff’s badges in the States.
    The recent nature of its association with Faery does not, however, detract from its significance in this role. The number seven and things of a sevenfold nature are deeply significant in understanding the patterns of the world and the otherworld. It is fascinating to note that in most accounts from folklore of people being taken away to Faery, it is for a period of seven months or seven years, and through ancient myths the number seven constantly occurs in matters relating to Faery.
    Not only can the septagram represent the seven planets, the seven days of the week, and the seven colours of the rainbow, but it can also stand for the seven directions that we use in our work with Faery and other paths that acknowledge the importance of above, below, and within. It has been used as such in the structure of this book, taking as the chapter headings seven qualities needed in Faery Craft, which correspond to the seven points of the star, the directions, and the elements. For this purpose, the points have been labeled sun, moon, stars, earth, air, fire, and water. The sun in this case represents the inner light of self, the within, and the quality of honour. The moon represents the below and magick, the stars represent the above and connection, earth is trust, air is knowledge, fire is inspiration, and water is joy. As the book progresses you will grow to understand not only why these qualities are so important but how they relate to the directions, as well as how they relate to the contents of the book.
    The sacred number three can also be found within the mathematical pattern of this star, as when it is drawn point to point, every third point connects. This shows that though its use as a sacred symbol within Faery traditions is extremely recent, the relevance is inherent within its very structure.
    Pentagram
    The five-pointed star, or pentagram, has become very recognisable as a symbol of Pagan beliefs, most particularly Wicca-based paths. Within this context it represents the balance and power of the five elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit, and it is used for both invoking and banishing the powers of these elements, as well as for protection. However this symbol has been in use for many thousands of years and by many different cultures.
    The Pythagoreans, to whom it symbolised mathematical perfection, used the pentagram as a secret symbol by which to identify each other. They identified the five points of the star with the five elements, which continues to this day. Though many Christians may look down upon this symbol due to its overuse in kitschy horror flicks as well as its association with Pagan and magickal paths, early