The Book of
Shadows is another primary tool used in Wicca. It contains
much of the magickal lore, correspondences and spells used
in Wicca. Some treat it as a magickal diary, with recording
their experiences. The first Book of Shadows was written by
Gerald Gardner, although there is still much scandal concerning
who actually wrote it, with a lot of finger-pointing toward
Aleister Crowley and in some cases Doreen Valiente. The name,
"Book of Shadows," is used to refer to the Witch-Hunt
days and the need for secrecy of the religion, and thus an
allusion is made to practicing within the shadows. Today,
the term Book of Light is sometimes used as the need to hide
and stay hidden is no longer necessary.
Often hand written out, the
Book of Shadows, or BOS can be typed out or kept on a floppy
disk as well. The best idea I've come across for keeping a
Book of Shadows is a three-ring binder so pages can be more
easily shuffled around, added and organized. If you choose
to write your BOS in a magickal language like the runes, make
sure that you can read it. It won't do to have all your writing
in a language that you can't read at a quick glance or need
to know. In the end, the BOS is a personal tool and becomes
personalized by the individual who uses it. Nor is the BOS
holy writing, but a guide line and source containing much
of a Coven's or Solitary's magickal lore and traditions.
As far as the Book of Shadows
is concerned, it may well have been inspired by the grimores
said to be kept by Magus' and Sorcerers throughout the Medieval
Ages. The most famous being The Key of Solomon. Gerald Gardner
is supposedly to have received the Book of Shadows during
his initiation in 1939. He later published it in his novel,
"High Magic's Aid." This Book of Shadows was then
expanded on by Doreen Valiente and Aleister Crowley. Many
Hereditary Witches claim that a similar book is kept, though
it is not refer to as a Book of Shadows. Kerr Cuhulain has
pointed out in his "Wiccan Warrior", that Gardner
did indeed draw on Charles G. Leland's book "Aradia:
Gospel of the Witches" published in 1899 as well as several
other sources when writing his Book of Shadows.
The term grimoire, or grammar,
means essentially a book of learning and the name seems to
make sense as a universal term for this type of book. The
name "grimoire" is not the actual name which is
used within any tradition. This name is used solely because
the real name of the book is secret, and so it serves as a
point of reference for the same item between traditions. The
things which are written within the book are religious rituals,
amendments to those rituals, and other things which have to
do with the religion. Things related to magick are written
in a different book. It does not serve as a diary. Most of
the time, this book is hand written by the individual. In
some families, this book is copied from what is referred to
as a "Great Book."
Whether called a Book of Shadows,
Book of Light, Mirror Book, Grimore, Great Book, ect. It is
a personal tool and highly individualized by it's user and
coven.
This is the basic outline
that most Books of Shadows have:
* Title Page (This usually
says: Book of Shadows, sometimes mentions what tradition and
often has your name listed on it)
* Laws (This is the rules, codes and ethics)
* Invocations of the Goddess and God (This is often a blessing
for the book, usually appearing before or next to the Laws)
* An alter diagram
* Circle Casting and dispersing instructions
* Rituals (Sabbats, Full Moon rite, tool consecrations)
* Prayers, chants, invocations, spells
* Initiation Ritual (Whether self or Coven)
* Pictures, Sketches
* Symbols
* Dream Working
* Magickal Rites (Herb Lore, Stone Lore, runes, correspondences,
ect.)
* Records of Magickal workings and experiences.
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