Book of Shadows

      In Wiccan tradition, the Book of Shadows (BOS) is a written record of the beliefs, rituals, Witchcraft laws and ethics, herbal and healing lore, incarnations, chants, dances, spells, divinatory methods, and miscellaneous topics that serve to guide Witches in their Craft and religion.

      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.

      There is no one general or definitive Book of Shadows for Witchcraft. Instead, each person or tradition may have its own standard Book of Shadows, which can be added to or adapted by each coven. 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, 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.

      Most such books are highly personalized, hand written and elaborately decorated- although many today are created on computers. In many traditions, one of the duties of a coven's initiates is to make personal, handwritten copies of the coven's BOS. Many witches use the book as a magical diary, and record the results of rituals and spells, mood and feelings, and so on. A witch is expected to create his or her own book, when they enter the Craft or before joining a coven, but it is not unheard of for beginners in the religion to purchase or copy a ready made Books. Upon the death of a Witch, their Book of Shadows is burned.