A book containing beliefs, rituals, Witchcraft laws and
ethics, herbal lore, incarnations, chants, dances, spells,
divinatory methods and other 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.
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.