First, please read this disclaimer. Thanks!
This is Part 1 of 3 on Making a Pentacle. The only things we'll cover here is preparing the wood and drafting the pentacle shape.
Part 2 will be about adding embellishments, and Part 3 will be about burning the design.
This is Part 1 of 3 on Making a Pentacle. The only things we'll cover here is preparing the wood and drafting the pentacle shape.
Part 2 will be about adding embellishments, and Part 3 will be about burning the design.
1. Collect your Materials
You will need the following:
- A wooden disc
-Sandpaper (150 grit and 220 grit, or higher.)
-No. 2 Pencil
-Eraser, white
-Tracing Paper
-Compass
-Protractor
- 12" ruler
I draft each and every pentacle from scratch. I could make a
template, and use the template to trace out the pentacle shape, since the discs I use are mostly the same size. I've tried this before, in fact.
The truth is, working off of a template doesn't give me the crisp, exact pentacle I want. No matter how carefully the template is drawn, or how much care I take when tracing, the traced pentacle always looks off. You may find that using a template/tracing works well for you, but I've never been happy with the results, so I create my pentacles from scratch each time.
Remember, too, that a pentacle is supposed to be a tool of profound magic, and the creation of one is an act of devotion and worship in it's own right. Taking shortcuts for the sake of ease, perhaps, isn't the best way to go about creating one.
ALSO, before you start, make certain that your disc is sanded smooth. I start with a 150 grit and move up to a 220 grit, but you may feel that you need an even higher grit to get a baby's-bottom-smooth surface. The sandpaper will be used later, as well, so don't discard it.
- A wooden disc
-Sandpaper (150 grit and 220 grit, or higher.)
-No. 2 Pencil
-Eraser, white
-Tracing Paper
-Compass
-Protractor
- 12" ruler
I draft each and every pentacle from scratch. I could make a
template, and use the template to trace out the pentacle shape, since the discs I use are mostly the same size. I've tried this before, in fact.
The truth is, working off of a template doesn't give me the crisp, exact pentacle I want. No matter how carefully the template is drawn, or how much care I take when tracing, the traced pentacle always looks off. You may find that using a template/tracing works well for you, but I've never been happy with the results, so I create my pentacles from scratch each time.
Remember, too, that a pentacle is supposed to be a tool of profound magic, and the creation of one is an act of devotion and worship in it's own right. Taking shortcuts for the sake of ease, perhaps, isn't the best way to go about creating one.
ALSO, before you start, make certain that your disc is sanded smooth. I start with a 150 grit and move up to a 220 grit, but you may feel that you need an even higher grit to get a baby's-bottom-smooth surface. The sandpaper will be used later, as well, so don't discard it.
2. Find the Center of the Disc
There's
no easy way to do this, I'm afraid. Every disc you find is going to be a
slightly different size, and none of them are going to be perfectly
circular.
I use a ruler laid across the widest point of the disc (which I have to eyeball, unfortunately), and mark the center point. Then I turn the disc a bit, find the widest point, and mark the center again. I do this four or five times.
Using the marks that I've made, I can estimate the center point fairly easily. The marks will create a loose "circle" of their own, slowly centering in on the middle of the disc. It's not exact, true, but it's a technique that's fast and works surprisingly well.
I use a ruler laid across the widest point of the disc (which I have to eyeball, unfortunately), and mark the center point. Then I turn the disc a bit, find the widest point, and mark the center again. I do this four or five times.
Using the marks that I've made, I can estimate the center point fairly easily. The marks will create a loose "circle" of their own, slowly centering in on the middle of the disc. It's not exact, true, but it's a technique that's fast and works surprisingly well.
Mark this center point carefully, as the rest of your design will hing on it.
3. Draw the Circles
Use a compass for this part. Set the point of the compass carefully on the center point you've already marked. Now press hard. Don't
worry about the divot that this is going to leave; a small dot in the
center of your pentacle is unimportant, but having a crisp, exact circle
is critical. You don't want the compass slipping.
Create two circles to form your pentacle's outer ring. You can make them however large you like; this is up to your artistic discretion.
Create two circles to form your pentacle's outer ring. You can make them however large you like; this is up to your artistic discretion.
4. Mark the Points of the Star
First,
you'll need some math. A circle is made of 360 degrees. 360 divided by 5
(the five equal points of your star) equals 72. Each point is 72
degrees from the next point.
If you do some simple math, this means that the points of your star will lay at the following degrees on your protractor: 0, 72, 144, 216, 288.
I went ahead and marked these points permanently on my protractor using a Sharpie marker.
What about that second set of circles on my protractor? My protractor has a second set of degree markings, offset 180 degrees from the first set of markings. I marked the inner degrees the same way I marked the outer degrees, which gives me another point of reference along my guidelines. Maybe it's easier if I just show you what I mean:
If you do some simple math, this means that the points of your star will lay at the following degrees on your protractor: 0, 72, 144, 216, 288.
I went ahead and marked these points permanently on my protractor using a Sharpie marker.
What about that second set of circles on my protractor? My protractor has a second set of degree markings, offset 180 degrees from the first set of markings. I marked the inner degrees the same way I marked the outer degrees, which gives me another point of reference along my guidelines. Maybe it's easier if I just show you what I mean:
You see?
Three points on the same line: The outer marking, the center point of
the protractor, and the inner marking. This helps me make my lines more
precise.
IF you don't have a protractor like this, though, don't worry about it. You only need two points to make a line.
IF you don't have a protractor like this, though, don't worry about it. You only need two points to make a line.
You've now got markings at each of the five points: 0, 72, 144, 216, 288. If you have a protractor like mine, you may have an inner set of markings, as well, set 180 degrees off of the outer markings. You also have a center point.
This gives you enough to make five guidelines, which will help you create your star.
This gives you enough to make five guidelines, which will help you create your star.
5. Connect the dots to create guidelines.
If
you are careful marking out your degrees, and you are careful to take
your lines through the center of your disc, your guidelines will be
properly spaced to create a star.
Take your time with this part!
Also, do not skip this part. These guidelines will be very important when it comes time to create your embellishments. Even if you don't want to embellish your pentacle, having these guidelines in place will help you create your star with precision. Take the time to sketch them out.
It can be useful to make a mark on every other line, as seen here. All those lines can make it confusing to go from tip to tip of your star. If you mark out which lines are the tips of your star, it will make the next part easier.
Take your time with this part!
Also, do not skip this part. These guidelines will be very important when it comes time to create your embellishments. Even if you don't want to embellish your pentacle, having these guidelines in place will help you create your star with precision. Take the time to sketch them out.
It can be useful to make a mark on every other line, as seen here. All those lines can make it confusing to go from tip to tip of your star. If you mark out which lines are the tips of your star, it will make the next part easier.
6. Create your Outer Star
I think you are probably familiar with creating the pentacle shape.
Use your ruler to go from point to point, creating a nearly perfect five-pointed star.
NOTE: If your star comes out skewed or crooked, you've measured something incorrectly. It's best to erase your guidelines and re-measure them, taking particular care.
It's very difficult to get this right the first time. It's a deceptively complicated geometric symbol. Don't get discouraged.
Use your ruler to go from point to point, creating a nearly perfect five-pointed star.
NOTE: If your star comes out skewed or crooked, you've measured something incorrectly. It's best to erase your guidelines and re-measure them, taking particular care.
It's very difficult to get this right the first time. It's a deceptively complicated geometric symbol. Don't get discouraged.
7. Mark the Points of the Inner Star
Lay
your ruler along one of the guidelines, and measure 1/2" from the tip
of your star. Repeat for each star point. This will give you a series of
points inside each tip.
Draw lines connecting each of these points. This will give you the second set of lines for your star.
If your star looks too wide, erase the inner lines, measure 1/4" from each tip of the outer star, and try again. If your star looks too thin, measure 3/4" from each tip of the outer star, and try again. Play with the measurements until you get a star that is neither to wide nor too thin.
Your pentacle now has dimension.
Draw lines connecting each of these points. This will give you the second set of lines for your star.
If your star looks too wide, erase the inner lines, measure 1/4" from each tip of the outer star, and try again. If your star looks too thin, measure 3/4" from each tip of the outer star, and try again. Play with the measurements until you get a star that is neither to wide nor too thin.
Your pentacle now has dimension.
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