Do Not Follow John Constantine - The Comic Book Is Not a Grimoire

What is John Constantine drawing and what does he have to say about it?

"This magic circle was designed by John Dee in the 1600s when he wanted to keep demon Choronzon away. Nothing occult or hexing will hurt you here."

The original pentacle:

The pentacle in the comic picture is from the Keys of Solomon.

It is the Sixth Pantacle of Saturn. According to its description, it possesses the chosen person with demons. It comes from the 17th century Italian manuscript Clavicolo di Salomone Re d'Israel figlio de David.

The text that is around the pantacle is David's Psalm from the Vulgate (108:6) "constitue super eum peccatorem et diabulus stet a dextris eius" and (King James Bible) it is translated as Psalm 109:6: "Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand."

We may also translate it by another variant (English Standard Version) as: "Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand."

Or even (New International Translation): "Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand."
 

Standard American Version: "Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand."

The word diabolus is from the Greek διάβολος, from the verb I trow across - διαβάλλω, which is from the compound διά - across and βάλλω - I throw. It is also translated as slender, deceiver or to make a quarell. The devil is himself a slanderer, a deceiver, an adversary, or even an accuser.

So the author of the comic picture has used the Saturnian pentacle for the protective circle in which John Constantine stands (with this psalm written around it).

The likely motives for the use can be attributed to the visual aspect of the pentacle and the failure to address the relevant caption or simply omitting available information.

The pentacle is not intended for the use mentioned in the comic, and any use of demon-possession pentacle for a protective circle is not appropriate at all. 

Generally speaking, the idea of having a pentacle large enough to stand on and be in is a good one. Simply, a pentacle can be small or large. As long as the idea of a large pentacle is in line with the possible action and not in opposition to entities and spiritual forces, it shouldn't even be a problem. Whether on the wall or on the floor. It is conceivable or imaginable for some of the pantacles of Claviculae Salomonis.

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Source:

- picture of John Constantine - Justice League: Dark #5

- Claviculae Salomonis - Figure 16.-- The sixth pentacle of Saturn.-- 

- Bible Hub Psalm 109:6