When you move into a new house, you expect dust, maybe an old coin, or the occasional forgotten receipt buried beneath a carpet. What you don’t expect is a mysterious symbol staring back at you the moment you peel back the floor covering.
That’s exactly what happened during my first week in my new home.
Peeling Back the Layers
While preparing to replace the worn-out carpet in the living room, I pulled up a corner and noticed something dark etched into the wooden boards below. At first, it looked like a geometric sketch—lines intersecting neatly, forming a shape that was clearly intentional.
Curiosity took over.
As I lifted more of the carpet, the full design revealed itself: a five-pointed star enclosed within a circle, drawn carefully, almost ritualistically, as if someone had spent time ensuring it was precise.
What the Symbol Means
A design like this isn’t accidental. Historically, a five-pointed star inside a circle has been used in various traditions—spiritual, ceremonial, and symbolic. In some contexts, it’s associated with protection, rituals, or belief systems that emphasize energy, intention, and symbolism.
Many people associate such a symbol with practices tied to historical or modern forms of witchcraft, where it can be used in rituals or as a protective mark. In these traditions, it can represent the elements—earth, air, fire, water, and spirit—balanced within a circle of unity.
Whether the prior homeowner used it for spiritual comfort, protection, or simply left behind a relic from a personal belief system, its purpose remains a mystery.
A Glimpse Into a Home’s Past
Finding something like this doesn’t necessarily mean anything sinister occurred. Homes often carry remnants of the people who lived in them—hidden notes in walls, names carved in wood, or symbols beneath carpets. These marks tell stories, even if incomplete.
What makes discoveries like this fascinating is the glimpse they provide into the life of someone who once called this place home. It raises questions:
- Was this symbol part of a personal ritual?
- Was it meant to protect the household?
- Or was it simply forgotten?
What I Did Next
After documenting the symbol, I cleaned the floor, refinished the boards, and continued with my renovation plans. Whether or not the mark held any power, its presence added a layer of mystery to the home’s history—an unexpected chapter I would never have uncovered without lifting that carpet.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the most ordinary renovations lead to the most extraordinary discoveries. What hides beneath a carpet, inside a wall, or behind old paint can offer a window into a home’s past and the people who shaped it.
And in this case, the house offered a story—a symbol of intention, belief, or protection—quietly waiting beneath the floorboards for someone new to find it.
