Basically.  

@ThePonyTheorist
 
obviously they have to leave it clear so they have room to install the giant friendship cannon at the output point.

@ThePonyTheorist  
Yeah, everypony can count the number of stars on Starbutt. <3<

@redweasel  
Another strange note; the region behind the castle seems devoid of houses.

@redweasel  
I wonder if the points of the star have different shapes, like Twi’s cutie mark? The top left in particular looks small compared to the others (look at the number of houses)

@thps48  
Twilight’s cutie mark has a six-pointed purple star, marking herself (or alternatively, the element of magic)  
5 stars orbit it, thinner white triangles linking them to her. This marks her friends (And the 5 other elements)  
Finally, the 6th opening of her cutie mark has no star, and the white triangle in it is wider. This marks that there is no ‘input’ here, and it’s solely an output - the element of magic’s purpose.

@ThePonyTheorist  
For six years, I’ve always imagined it had something to do with both friendship and stars, like with Sunbutt and Moonbutt, command of a star or several or something, I dunno. X3

@ThePonyTheorist
 
I have to point out that the crystal empire’s roads are also a 6 pointed star, with 5 pathways into it, and 1 pathway conspicuously missing. it’s basically twilight’s cutie mark.

@redweasel  
Her cutie mark doesn’t seem to be that important in and of itself, though it may reveal something about the nature of magic (The one white triangle not facing a star is slightly wider than the other triangles - a few degrees - this may be showing it as an ‘output’ point, showing that magic itself may not produce magic, and merely processes it)

@ThePonyTheorist
 
twilight’s cutie mark is a rune.
 
nice catch about the hidden five pointed star.

@redweasel  
The significance of the shape of the road-network wasn’t obvious until we had a proper rune to compare it to

so the ponies pouring their magic into the ground flowing up to the heart didn’t make this obvious?

@Background Pony #F86F  
Perhaps it was covered up under his armour?  
Perhaps the salesman knew of its corrupting effects / the effects on emotions, and didn’t think it was worth the quality of life issue? (could be that it was lost thousands of years ago, and it takes a long time to charge such an artifact)
 
And Equestrian magic runs on its own rules. Emotion = Magic = Emotion. It had all the effects on Trixie that it would have in that event - she became filled with emotions from the amulet.
 
As a side-note, if there is some manifestation of the slaves’ emotions working into her mind… Look back up at the image… All of the circles… “The Great and Powerful Trixie does not trust wheels.”

@ThePonyTheorist  
Then why that amulet doesn’t appear in the season 5 finale, if it was meant as King Sombra’s doomy thing? And if he lost it, why wouldn’t the chinese pony guy use it against him, been all Equestria pretty much fYayed up? If you really stretch it, you mean it’s like the ring of Sauron? Why wouldn’t then have more nasty effects on Trixie?

@Background Pony #F86F  
Picture it. Sombra fashions the Alicorn Amulet in an attempt for an ascention. Puts it in place of the Crystal Heart, and then does unspeakable things to the population.
 
All of those emotions supercharge the amulet - but since it doesn’t emit the emotions, it’s created with the intent of allowing a unicorn to channel all the emotions contained within into magic.
 
Of course, in the process of using the magic, the bearer would feel those emotions…

@ThePonyTheorist  
The Alicorn Amulet extracting power from the Crystal Empire? With no failsave to avoid the user to be overwelmed by the power of the amulet and go mad? Pretty much like in The Sphere?

@Lurks-no-More  
Actually, this could explain the Alicorn Amulet?

Mandalas from my “A White Mare” confirmed canon!

@BlurredTheLines  
It just wasn’t as obvious that the presence of specific lines was important.

Didn’t we already technically see this in action with the season 3 premiere?

ULYAOTH PARGON PARGON TIER PARGON PARGON ARETAK PARGON PARGON

There isn’t really anything confirming that. Don’t let the tin-foil gain a foothold.

@ArkyNoid  
True xD

Eh I don’t think I want to go far with this stuff here though. There’s two inevitable factions that’ll pop up that don’t allow for much middle ground. One being the religious fundies who think it’s wooooo demonic and eeeevil. The other is the people who see nothing past anime, pop culture etc references. Makes the study/discussion of symbolism more challenging.
 
People may believe what they want. No harm.

@ThePonyTheorist
 
I can technically spot a 666 also if we go by uses of swirls as sixes and the Hebrew character Vav whether regular or reversed (since master Crowley said things can also be read backwards). But a lot of people will think it’s a stretch/bullshit so haha I’ll let you be the detective and judge.