The "Comments With Meaning" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out the responses I have received for a few of the stories I have posted from the recent vacation that my wife Carol and I had taken to the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.  The story that gathered the most responses was a story I published about one of the island's most notable families, the Buncamper family.  I wrote about Eddie who is perhaps the most interesting member of the family.  One response came from Carolyn who happens to be Eddie's daughter.  She thanked me for the story and the fact that I tried to be as factual as possible.  A few additions to my story told of items that I had not been able find myself.  She told of the house I had taken a photograph of at the end of Front Street and that it now belongs to she and her husband John. From what I had gathered, the first floor had at one time been devoted to retail space, but she said that was never the case.  She did add that one of her relatives, Walter, lived on "Old Street", which is closer to the middle of Front Street, and did have stores downstairs.  The house no longer exists.  She ended with a "Thank You" for the story about her dad.  A day later I received another comment on the  story from Marco who was addressing Carolyn's reply.  

The Buncamper home at the end of Front Street in Philisburg

He told of wondering about the history of the building at the end of Front Street and why the star on the front of the building seems to be upside down.  He asked for an explanation.  Carolyn replied in return telling Marco that there is a church on the island of Antigua that also has an upside down star on it, but the meaning behind it is unknown to her.  Well, Marco and Carolyn, I just had to try and find out for myself what the significance of the upside down star may be.  

Lancaster County's famous Star Barn with the point at the top.

Being that I live in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania where many Amish families live and have stars on their barns, I had plenty of places to find an answer.  It seems to be a decorating trend to have a star on your barn or home.  The star is actually known as a pentagram, pentalpha, pentangle or more formally, as a star pentagon.  It almost always is a five-pointed image that was used symbolically in Ancient Greece and Babylonia as a symbol of faith, such as the Star of David was used by the Jews.  It is said to have magical associations and if it features a circle around the outside edge it is a symbol of unity, wholeness, infinity, the goddess or for protection.  

Another barn in Lancaster County with a star on it.

When it is pointing up (one point on the top) the pentagram can represent spiritual dominance over the laws of the cosmos while if it is pointed upside down, it represents the physical world ruling over the spiritual world and therefore is associated with dark magic.  So, exactly what is dark magic?  It was founded shortly after witchcraft by a powerful witch named Francis Balcoin.  Seems that emotions such as anger and hate are prominent in dark magic. The upside down star is at times associated with evil and is used to summon demons or  is the symbol for the Devil.  Wow, scary stuff!  But yet, the five-pointed star is said to be a heavenly body and thus sacred.  Also has to do with the human body, since we have five fingers on our hands which give us mastery over our environment.  Many nations have stars on their flags and in the United States the Congressional Medal of Honor has an upside down star on it.  

A home in Lancaster with a star on it.

Could also represent the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire Water and Spirit.  And, some stars have seven points on them which was to keep the snallygaster at bay (the snallygaster is a dragon-like beast found in Frederick County, Maryland, USA).    So why is the star on the Buncamper home at the end of Front Street upside down.   Does it have to do with satanism?  Or is it part of some heavenly body.  Or, maybe when one of the Buncampers hung the star on the home it was because that's the way they liked it the best.  I guess you will never know and I wouldn't waste any time worrying about it.  It really makes the place look special!  So Carolyn, just be glad it hangs there and forget about its meaning.  It really does add a touch of class to the place!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.