This symbol is a very old and wide used visual device. It is even one of the first things children start to draw, remember drawing it when you were in elementary school? The pentacle is often believed to be a sign of the Devil, but people forget that Satanists use the pentacle upside down - two points facing up - rather than right side up - one point facing up. I would highly recommend people begin to clear themselves of the notion that the pentacle is used for purely Satanic reasons.
A common way to look at paganism is any religion that is polytheistic - meaning more than one God/Goddess/Deity/etc... Other people believe paganism to be any non-mainstream religion. One could debate what is and is not paganistic, mainstream, etc. for hours, but basically if in doubt, check it out!
Wicca today has become a "new age" religion, it's roots are deep and old like the oak, but the tree itself is just starting in on a new generation. I think everyone has there own take on Wicca, and depending on who talk to there will always be a change of ideas even if they seem the same. People in general believe all Wiccans are witches, and vice versa, that all witches are Wiccans. In all actuality neither statement is true. Not all witches follow the Wiccan path, and not all Wiccans are witches.
A B.O.S is an abbreviated form for Book Of Shadows. A book where many Wiccans and witches list their spells, experiments, experiences, or their day to day diaries. These books can have many names, I've heard them called: Books of Life, Books of Spells, Books of Spirits, and any number of things people can think of.
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