In Wiccan tradition, the Book of Shadows (BOS) is a book where a record of rituals and spells of a coven or a solitary witch are secretly kept. The term "Book of Shadows" was coined by Wiccan founder Gerald Gardner as a substitute for "Grimoire," the traditional magician's book. Gardner's original Book contained information from numerous sources, including the works of folklorist Charles Leland and Magician Aleister Crowley, but was later updated with original material with the help of his initiate and priestess Doreen Valiente.

Some form of the Book of Shadows is used in nearly all Wiccan and related Neopagan traditions. It is a repository of magical knowledge- the book is usually a long time in making and jealously guarded.

Most such books are highly personalized, hand written and elaborately decorated- although many today are created on computers. In Gardnerian and other traditional groups, 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, but it is not unheard of for beginners in the religion to purchase or copy ready-made books with basic information contained.

A typical BOS may contain:

• basic information such as the Laws of the Coven or tradition, version of the Rede, etc.
• tables of magical correspondences- astrological, elemental, etc.
• directions for casting circles
• Rituals for sabbats
• prayers, poems, and chants
• Spells for healing, love, prosperity, etc.
• Runes and magical alphabets
• Herb-lore, stones, oils

An elaborate Book of Shadows

Related Articles:

• Wiccan Symbols
• Casting the Circle from the Gardnerian Book of Shadows
• Online Books of Shadows

Related Categories:

• Druidry/Neopaganism
• Hermetic Tradition
• Ritual Magick