NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows is a collection of magical and religious texts of Wicca and other Neopagan witchcraft traditions, containing the core rituals, magical practices, ethics and philosophy of a Wiccan or other tradition. In Wicca, 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. For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ... Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... Witch redirects here. ... For other senses of this word, see ritual (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Initiation (disambiguation). ... Eclectic Wicca is a widespread branch of Neopaganism, in which followers, most of whom are Solitary Practitioners, include multiple aspects involved in various Wiccan traditions. ...

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. It has been suggested that New Forest coven be merged into this article or section. ...

In Traditional Wicca

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.^{[citation needed]} 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] Bricket Wood is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, approximately three miles from St Albans. ... Coven or covan was originally a late medieval Scots word (c1500) meaning a gathering of any kind, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. ... Doreen Valiente (1922 - 1999) was a co-creator of Wicca, together with Gerald Gardner. ... A witch-hunt is a search for suspected witches; it is a type of moral panic. ...

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] Eleanor Ray Bone (1910-2001) was an influential figure in modern witchcraft. ... Patricia Crowther is considered influential in the early promotion of the Wicca religion. ... North American redirects here. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...

Some Traditional 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.^{[citation needed]} Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ...

In Eclectic Wicca

In non-traditional or "eclectic" forms of Wiccan or neo-pagan practice, the term Book of Shadows is more often used to describe a personal journal, rather than a traditional text. This journal records rituals, spells, and their results, as well as other magical information. This can be either an individual or coven text, and is not normally passed from teacher to student. In many cases, this kind of Book of Shadows is an electronic document (disk or website) instead of a hand-written one. Some reserve the Book of Shadows for recording spells and keep a separate book, sometimes called the "Book of Mirrors" to contain thoughts, feelings and experiences.^[4] Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... This article is about the journal as a written medium. ... For other senses of this word, see ritual (disambiguation). ... The spell is a magical act intended to cause an effect on reality using supernatural means of liturgical or ritual nature. ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) through mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... A file in a computer system is a stream (sequence) of bits stored as a single unit, typically in a file system on disk or magnetic tape. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In popular culture

A fictional Book of Shadows is featured in the fantasy television dramedy Charmed. In the series, the tome is said to be hundreds of years old and has been passed down the Warren family line of witches, beginning with Melinda Warren, until reaching the three Charmed Ones. The thick leather-bound book contains spells, incantations and potion recipes, as well as information regarding other magical beings featured in the Charmed in-series universe. It is also demonstrated as possessing the supernatural ability to defend itself against demons and enemies of the show's protagonists. The front cover has a triquetra set on it which symbolises the power of three acting as one; the unanimous power of the three Charmed Ones together. Charmed. ... For other uses, see Charm. ... Melinda Warren is a fictional character on the WB television series Charmed. ... For other uses, see Charm. ... For other uses, see Supernatural (disambiguation). ... The demon Satan In folklore, mythology, and religion, a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as an evil spirit, but is also depicted to be good in some instances. ... Close-up of a triquetra on one of the Funbo Runestones. ...

In the 1996 film The Craft, which some critics saw as a major influence on the series Charmed,^[5]^[6] the Book of Shadows was referred to as an object in which a witch keeps her "power thoughts". The movie also focuses on the combined power of witches, and introduces the concept of the power of three which many of the spells in the Charmed Ones' Book of Shadows are based around. The Craft is a 1996 movie directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. ...

The 2000 sequel to The Blair Witch Project was entitled Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2. However, during the course of the horror film, a Book of Shadows failed to make an appearance. The title has been seen as a reference to the Book of Shadows made popular to its teen target audience on the series Charmed.^[7] AsThe 11th Hour Magazine argued, "its title is stolen from the hit Shannen Doherty WB series, Charmed." The Blair Witch Project is a low-budget American horror film released in 1999. ... Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 is the sequel to the movie The Blair Witch Project. ... Shannen Maria Doherty (born April 12), 1971 is an American actress and television director, perhaps best known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers, as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed. ... WB or Wb or wb may stand for: Internet chat slang for welcome back Wachovia Corporation, stock symbol Warner Bros. ...

"Book of Shadows" is also the name of an album by Zakk Wylde and a duology of albums by Dragonland. Zakk Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wiedlandt on January 14, 1967 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American musician, who is best known for his roles as a guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of Black Label Society. ... Duology also known as dilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that develop a single theme over two works. ... Dragonland is a symphonic power metal musical group from Sweden. ...

See also

Image File history File links Portal. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ...

References

Alex Sanders (June 6, 1926 - April 30, 1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter, was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. ... Occult author Scott Cunningham Scott Douglas Cunningham (June 27, 1956 â€“ March 28, 1993) was the author of dozens of popular books on Wicca and various other alternative religious subjects. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ... Triple Goddess symbol of waxing, full and waning moon Wiccan views of divinity coalesce around a Goddess and God, with the Goddess sometimes given primacy. ... For other uses, see Dualism (disambiguation). ... The Pashupati-like figure on the Gundestrup cauldron The Horned God is a modern syncretic term, invented to link together numerous male nature gods out of such widely-dispersed and historically unconnected mythologies as the Celtic Cernunnos, the Welsh Caerwiden, the English Herne the Hunter, the Hindu Pashupati, the Greek... A Triple Goddess symbol (probably originating from Classical Greek lunar symbolism), representing the three aspects of the moon (waxing crescent, full moon, waning crescent) and womankind (maiden, mother, crone). ... Pantheism (Greek: Ï€Î¬Î½ ( pan ) = all and Î¸ÎµÏŒÏ‚ ( theos ) = God) literally means God is All and All is God. It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent abstract God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. ... Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities. ... Witch redirects here. ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) through mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... In Neopaganism, the Wheel of the Year is the natural cycle of the seasons, commemorated by the eight Sabbats. ... Look up Samhain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Yule (disambiguation) and Jul (disambiguation). ... Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. ... This article is about the solar holiday. ... This article is about the Gaelic holiday. ... Midsummer may refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice and the diverse celebrations of it around the world, but more often refers to European celebrations that accompany the summer solstice, or to Western festivals that take place in June and are usually related to Saint John... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mabon is one of the eight solar holidays or sabbats of American Neopaganism. ... The pentagram within a circle, a symbol of faith used by many Wiccans, sometimes called a pentacle. ... The Wiccan Rede is a saying that was formulated to sum up the ethics of the neo-Pagan religion Wicca. ... The rule of three (or threefold law) is an important tenet in Wicca. ... Coven or covan was originally a late medieval Scots word (c1500) meaning a gathering of any kind, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. ... Gerald Gardner, first populariser of Wicca. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Raymond Buckland was the first person in the United States to openly admit to being a practitioner of Wicca. ... Dorothy Clutterbuck (January 19, 1880â€“January 12, 1951), also known as Old Dorothy, was a well-to-do woman who lived near Christchurch, England, whom Gerald Gardner claimed had initiated him into witchcraft. ... Occult author Scott Cunningham Scott Douglas Cunningham (June 27, 1956 â€“ March 28, 1993) was the author of dozens of popular books on Wicca and various other alternative religious subjects. ... Dafo is the magical name (an occultists pseudonym) for an otherwise anonymous woman that researchers such as Ronald Hutton and Philip Heselton have come to view as an important contributer to the development of Gardnerian Witchcraft, and therefore Wicca. ... Farrar, in a photograph taken by her husband, Stewart Farrar, demonstrates the Osiris pose in a 1981 book she co-authored. ... Stewart Farrar at home, 1999 Stewart Farrar (June 28, 1916 - February 7, 2000) was a well-known author of books on Alexandrian Wicca. ... It has been suggested that New Forest coven be merged into this article or section. ... Alex Sanders (June 6, 1926 - April 30, 1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter, was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. ... Alex Sanders (June 6, 1926 - April 30, 1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter, was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. ... Starhawk (born Miriam Simos in St. ... Doreen Valiente (1922 - 1999) was a co-creator of Wicca, together with Gerald Gardner. ... British Traditional Wicca (abbreviated BTW) is a term used to describe some Wiccan Traditions which have their origins in the New Forest region of England. ... Alexandrian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders (also known as King of the Witches) who, with his wife Maxine Sanders, established the tradition in the 1960s. ... The Algard Tradition is a form of British Traditional Wicca founded in the United States by Mary Nesnick, a priestess in both Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca, which deliberately fuses the two traditions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... The New Forest coven was a witchcraft coven that met in Englands New Forest region. ... A blue septegram is used as the symbol of the Blue Star tradition. ... Celtic Wicca is a synthesis of Wicca with Celtic traditions. ... Witta is the name of a modern Wiccan tradition described by author Edain McCoy in her book, Witta: An Irish Pagan Tradition. ... Christian Wicca combines Christian and Wiccan beliefs. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Odyssean Tradition of Wicca was founded by Richard and Tamara James in 1979. ... Faery Wicca is any type of Wiccan religion that focuses on the Fae (gnomes, elves, faeries, sprites, etc. ... Wiccans and many other Pagans celebrate the esbats, which are the full moons. ... In wicca, the Great Rite is ritualistic sexual intercourse. ... While most widely known as the title of an influential book by Margot Adler, Drawing Down The Moon is a powerful ritual now most commonly seen in Wiccan practices, although Judica Illes asserts that the ritual itself predates Wicca by centuries. ... The Fivefold Kiss is a ritual greeting that involves kissing five parts of the body. ... Depiction of nude witches from the 16th century. ... == Wiccaning Ritual ==]] Goal: This ritual is for the purpose of formally naming a child, and presenting him or to the universe. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Wiccan altars take various forms. ... The Magician from the Waite-Smith tarot. ... Besom brooms are the broom traditionally associated with witches and are traditionally made of twigs tied to a larger pole. ... Three-legged iron pots being used to cater for a school-leavers party in Botswana. ... Athame Athame, athamÃ© or arthame is what some practitioners of ritual magic call their ceremonial knives. ... The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the dukes daughter into a white hind. ... Derrynaflan Chalice, an 8th or 9th Century chalice, found in County Tipperary, Ireland For other uses, see Chalice A chalice (from Latin calix, cup, borrowed from Greek kalyx, shell, husk) is a goblet intended to hold drink. ... A pentacle or pantacle is an amulet, generally made of parchment, paper or metal (although it can be of other materials), on which the symbol of a spirit being evoked is drawn. ... A scourge (from the Italian scoriada, ultimately from the Latin excoriare = to flay and corium = skin) is a whip or lash, especially a multi-tong type used in order to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification on the back. ... A pentagram A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or, more formally, as a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... A Craft name, also known as a magical (or magickal) name is a secondary religious name often adopted by practitioners of Wicca and other forms of neopagan witchcraft. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Title page of the original edition of Aradia Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches is an 1899 book by Charles Godfrey Leland. ... The Charge of the Goddess is a traditional inspirational text sometimes used in Neopaganism and Wicca. ... Eko Eko Azarak is a Japanese Manga and movie series. ... The Wiccan Laws, also called the Craft Laws, the Old Laws or simply The Laws are the traditional laws of Wicca from the Book of Shadows. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall, England is a museum dedicated to witchcraft and has the largest witchcraft and wiccan related artifacts in the world. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... Ways of the Strega published in 1994, described Raven Grimassis view of Stregheria and popularized Italian-based witchcraft. ...

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