The elements are placed in order of density - Spirit, Air, Fire, Water, Earth.  Earth and fire are basal, fixed.  Air and Water are free, flowing.

In ritual, the pentagram is sometimes drawn in the air either using the hand or a ritual knife known as an athame.  Drawn one way to invoke, and the other way to banish.

Invoking Pentagrams

Air - yellow, Fire - red, Water - blue, Earth - green

Banishing Pentagrams (same colours apply)

Single point upwards signifies ruling matter.  It is a symbol of rightness.  With two points facing upwards and one (spirit) pointing downwards, it signifies subservience, the emphasis is on the carnal nature of man.

Open Pentagram

A pentagram may be open, without a surrounding circle - known as a pentacle.  This is the active form symbolising an outgoing of oneself, prepared for conflict, aware, active.  As a pagan/wiccan religious symbol the open pentagram represents an open, active approach.

Closed Pentagram

A circle around a pentagram contains and protects.  The circle symbolises eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature.  The circled pentagram is the passive form implying spiritual containment of the magick circle, and the individual nature of the pagan/wiccan religious path.

Inverted Pentacle

The implcation of inversion of a pentagram is the spirit subserviant to matter, man subserviant to his carnal desires.  It has come to represent the 'dark side' and is considered a symbol of evil by Christians.  In the 1940's, Gerald Gardner adopted the inverted pentagram as a symbol of second degree initiation in the newly emergent, neo - pagan rituals in what was to become wicca.  It represents the need of the Witch to learn to face the darkness within so it will not rise to take control.  First degree uses a downward pointing triangle, third degree uses one - point up pentagram together with a upright triangle.