From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article describes the traditional book of Wicca; for other uses, see Book of Shadows (disambiguation).

The Book of Shadows is the religious text of Wicca, containing the core rituals, practices, and wisdom of a Wiccan tradition. It is normally copied by hand from the book of one's initiating High Priestess or Priest, who copied theirs from their initiator. In modern Eclectic Wiccan terminology, however, a Book of Shadows is a personal magical journal rather than a traditional text.

Within traditional lineaged forms of Wicca there are a number of versions of the Book of Shadows, their contents varying to a greater or lesser degree from the early versions belonging to Gerald Gardner, who first popularised Wicca. While Gardner seems to have originally treated the book as a personal journal, it has come to be considered a religious text in most traditions.

Gardner told his early students in the Bricket Wood coven that the Book of Shadows was a personal cookbook of spells that have worked for the owner; they could copy from his own book and add or remove material as they saw fit. Although his own book had been put together with the help of Doreen Valiente and included material from a variety of modern sources, it also included sections written in an antique (or mock-antique) style, including advice for witches brought to trial and tortured. Gardner claimed that witches had not been allowed to write anything down until recently, to avoid incrimination; when at last Books of Shadows were allowed, the rituals and spells had to be written in a jumbled manner to prevent any non-initiate from using them.^[1]

It seems likely that Gardner told his three subsequent initiatory lines that the book should be copied word for word, and Wiccans descended from Eleanor Bone, Patricia Crowther and Monique Wilson have widely believed that the book was of ancient provenance.^[1] North American Gardnerians of the Long Island line allow covens to add rituals and teachings to the book, but nothing may be removed.^[2]

Alexandrian Wiccans keep two Books of Shadows: one book of core rituals which does not change, and from which new initiates copy; and another coven book for ritual use, which is different from group to group and may contain much added material. Such material is often traded between covens.^[3]

Some Wiccans keep a personal Book of Shadows in addition to that of their tradition. This is typically for individual use and is not passed on to one's initiates.^{[citation needed]}

The term Book of Shadows is believed to originate with Gardner, who is said to have taken it from the name of a Sanskrit manual of divination through the length of one's shadow.

Pagan Is me 04:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)==Making a book of shadows== There isn't really a wrong way about it, some witchs use a three ring binders and while others use a "notebook" as their book of shadows. I use a notebook cause its easy to carry around. heres how I made my own.

First you need a notebook and then you write (book of shadows) on the front cover, and draw pentacle down bottom. call me old fashion but I like it this way cause I want my pages stay were they are and not change anything. while others used wood and lether as there front and back. theres also download your own book of shadows, I gotta warn you now those don't work. you MUST put your enrgies into the book of shadows..NOT the online one. just a heads up. when you add your index heres afew things you can add.

Herbs-page 1 Potions-page 2 History-page 3 Spells-page 4 Chants-page 5 Pendulums-page 6 Tarot-page 7 Symbols-page 8 Signs-page 9 Gemstones-page 10 Rune stones-page 11 Moon terms-page 12 Gods-page 13 Godesses-page 14 Festivals-page 15

These are just some ideas. when you add info on each pages its a good idea to add a number to a page (see list) thats only an example.

Good luck with your book of shadows! Pagan Is me 04:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)Pagan_Is_me

Contents 1 In popular culture 2 Notes 3 See also 4 External links

A fictional book of shadows is featured in the television series Charmed; it bears little resemblance to the Wiccan Book of Shadows beyond its name. It has a triquetra on the front of the cover and can protect itself from demons and other evil.

In the film The Craft the Book of Shadows is described as a book in which a witch keeps her "power thoughts".

Zakk Wylde, a popular metal guitarist has a solo album titled "Book of Shadows". Power metal band Dragonland produced a cycle of two albums entitled Book of Shadows.

The first book in the Sweep series is entitled "Book of Shadows".

The 2000 sequel to The Blair Witch Project was titled Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 - although the Book of Shadows itself made no appearance.

1. ^ ^{a b} Lamond, Frederic (2004). Fifty Years of Wicca. Sutton Mallet, England: Green Magic, pp. 14-15. ISBN 0-9547230-1-5. 
2. ^ Lamond, Frederic (2004). Fifty Years of Wicca. Sutton Mallet, England: Green Magic, p. 63. ISBN 0-9547230-1-5. 
3. ^ Sanders, Maxine. "A Talk by Maxine Sanders" part 1, Witchcraft and Wicca Issue 3, p. 4. London: Children of Artemis.

• Neopaganism
• Wicca

• The Gardnerian Book of Shadows
• Starting your own Book of Shadows