Book Of Shadows
A
book containing beliefs, rituals, Witchcraft laws and ethics, herbal
and healing lore, incarnations, chants, dances, spells, divination's
methods, and miscellaneous topics that serve to guide Witches in their
Craft and religion. There is no one general or definitive book of
shadows for Witchcraft; each tradition may have its own standard book
of shadows, which can be added to or adapted by each coven. In addition
to this, individual Witches may add their own personal material. Until
recent times the book of shadows was kept in secrecy, however, some
Witches have gone public with their books over the years.
Traditionally,
it was held that only one book of shadows was to exist in a coven, and
kept by the high priestess or high priest. However, this rule proved to
be unfeasible, so now, generally, each Witch have their personal
copies. It was customary that the Witch's copy had to be hand copied by
the Witch from the copy of the high priestess or priest. But, as with
all things changes do occur; now days it is not uncommon for a copy of
the book of shadows to be copied from a computer floppy disk.
Frequently
it is customarily for some Witches, especially solitaire Witches, to
begin their book of shadows when they enter the Craft, and sometimes
before their entrance into a coven. Such books are often thought of as
personal notebooks, or diaries. The material in them enables the Witch
to grow in the Craft. The books are kept until the Witch's death. Some
Witches feel that they return to their book of shadows when they are
reborn (see Reincarnation).
Much
about the book of shadows prior to the reawakening of modern Witchcraft
in the mid-twentieth century remains a mystery. In the early centuries
folk magic and lore was not usually recorded but was orally described
to the next generations. However, it seems, as some hereditary Witches
claim that some of their descents did record some of their secret
spells and lore in little black books. One of the first prototypical
book of shadows published in English was Ardia, or Gospel of the
Witches (1899) by Charles Godfrey Leland. Leland claimed it contained
Witch lore passed to him by an Etruscan Witch.
The
book of shadows of Gerald B.Gardner might be taken as an example of the
way that a book of shadows may be acquired and passed on. Gardner was
initiated into a coven of hereditary Witches in 1939. The basic rituals
he published in the pseudonymous novel High Magic's Aid in 1949. Within
Gardner's book of shadows were extracts from material written by
Aleister Crowley. During the years from 1954-1957, with the help of
Doreen Valiente whom Gardner had initiated in 1953, Gardner's book of
shadows was rewritten with most of Crowley's material eliminated. The
book became the basis for the Gardnerian tradition of Witchcraft. It
subsequently was used by Alexander Sanders and modified to form the
Alexandrian tradition of Witchcraft. Gardner's book has inspired the
books of shadows for other traditions as well.
Normally,
the book of shadows reflects the practices and beliefs of each coven
within a tradition, and those that are independent of a tradition, as
well as the interests and specialties of an individual Witch. It can
serve as a dynamic collection of information, with additions being made
when necessary.
Traditionally a Witch's book of shadows is burned upon the person's death. However, Gardner's book was passed onto Valiente.
Probably other books of shadows are kept as remembrances or documents of historical significance. A.G.H.