How To Write Your Own Book Of Shadows
Traditionally, the Book of Shadows is a journal that belongs to a High Priestess or a High Priest of the Wicca Religion. The Book of shadows is also called the “Black Book”. In earlier times, people who were initiated into witchcraft were requested to copy the entire book by hand.
This book consisted of the thoughts and meditations of the person who initiated the new follower to the Wicca religion. It was assumed that all the knowledge of the Initiator would be passed on to the new Witch in the process of copying each of the pages filled with ancient knowledge. This book used to be kept a secret and the information in it written in a coded or jumbled manner to prevent non-believers from abusing them.
As Witches succeed in creating new spells, they may append these spells and rituals to their individual Book of Shadows. Later in life, if they become a High Priest or High Priestess and initiate other Wiccans, this book may be copied by hand by the new followers of the religion. In this way, the original information is passed down from generation to generation.
The term “Book of Shadows” originated with Gerald Gardner who helped spread Wicca all over the world. He is believed to have based the name on a Sanskrit manual that defines the length of a man’s life by the length of his shadow. Gerald Gardner’s Book of Shadows is published online at http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/gbos/ . It includes information on Casting the Circle, Drawing Down the Moon, Initiations, the tradition of Cakes and Wine, Sabbat Rituals, Chants, Helping the sick, the Scourge and the Kiss, The Eightfold Way, the Meeting Dance, Skyclad, etc. As he constantly updated his Book of Shadows, we can see the additions
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