EP 13 : Book of Shadows and a book review

Today’s episode is a two parter… in the first part we talk about a witch’s Book of Shadows. What it is, why it is useful, and how I use mine. Part two is my review on a published book of shadows, Scott Cunningham’s Book of Shadows: The Path of an American Traditionalist. Cunningham’s book will be rated using my scale of 1-5 broom sticks and we’ll chat about why it received its rating.

Witches have many tools, in today’s episode, we look at a very important and seldom discussed tool, a Witch’s Book of Shadows. So, what is a Book Od Shadows? Well… it is more than a grimoire listing spells, it is a personal log of your spell work.

Now since it is so very personal what each individual records will vary. Some of the more common things a witch may take note of in their book are:

• the moon phase, maybe the time of day that a spell was casting
• the deity that was invoked
• the invocations used
• what alter dressings you have chosen
• maybe listing the offerings laid out.
• The spell that is cast or the intention of the working is logged as well.

The idea behind keeping detailed records is then you can go back once the work has manifested results and see what worked well and what you can adjust.

In preparing for this episode it occurred to me that I have not written down spell outcomes for many years, even though I keep fairly detailed records of the spell work I do. It is in my book of shadows that I work out most of the spells I cast. I used to always log the manifestations of my work and I cannot actually tell you when I stopped doing that. Currently, I will notice when the magic unfolds, I acknowledge it and give gratitude. The results often takes on a form more spectacular or nuanced than I intended. What I am often logging and learning from these days, is how a spell I have grabbed from a spellbook feels when I cast it. If I choose to do any substitutions, an example I give is for a clearing spell that used coloured cording, it called for red and the 1st time I cast it I didn’t like the look of it. For no particular reason, the results were fine but the colour did not vibe with me. So, I substituted black one of the times I did the working, there was no change to the results, the work felt better but not quite right. On the 4th casting, I used a white cord, and that is what I have stuck with now every time I use that clearing method. The white colour and my personal associations with clean bleached cloth worked better for me that the suggested red.

It is not just individuals that keep will a Book of Shadows, a coven will keep them as well. As well as spell casting records a coven may also record.

• Who led each circle
• Track whose turn it is to bring wine and cakes
• whoes turn it is for all the thigns duties you share and rotate
• maybe even recipes for the coven’s favourite feast snacks
• group books can be a bit more like a grimoire, listing favourite invocations

I think of it as very snazzy meeting minutes for my favourite club ❤

Scott Cunningham’s Book of Shadows: The Path of an American Traditionalist.

If you don’t know Scott Cunningham’s work, I am so honoured to be the one to introduce you to him. Cunningham was an influential writer through the 80’s Wiccan revival period. He has published an anthology of beautifully written work, his writing has influenced how we practice the craft today, including the idea of self-initiation and solitary practice. Cunningham published works that at the time were considered secret. He spoke openly about struggling to find a place within traditional Wicca that affirmed his sexual orientation. At a time when much of the moon rituals and covens were Gardenarian based, they were highly sexualized and focused on the “Devine Union,” between the Goddess and God. His voice opened the new age movement to LGBTQ people. It is my personal feeling that the conversations he started made those dimly lit coven circles a safer place for everyone.

https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/scott-cunningham

This particular publication is a complete Book of Shadows, taken from his personal coven and made public. For a relatively small volume, it has abundant information. Some of the chapter titles include… Creating Sacred Space, the Sabbits, Rites and Lore, Herbal Grimoire, Systems of Power. There is wonderful information in here for both solo practitioners as well as covens. 

My favourite part is the chapter on rites. I love the handfasting ritual. I have known of the practice, as many of us have, where you bind two loves’ hands as they make their vows to each other. This is the only actual written out ceremony I remember ever reading.

I typically use this book as a reference for many of the spells I case, I have used many of the incantations as a basis for my own work altering htem to suit my own tastes. Or I will consult the appendixes when I am building spells or even creating some of my Sprite Soaps products. 

My rating for this lovely little book full of information is ……..

I’ll leave you with the quote that tipped it over the edge to 5 broomsticks rating

“This book of Shadows is your book and your grimoire and can be adapted for group use or solitary use. It is your sacred book.” 

– page

This book is a gift to us from this beautiful author, who came up in a time of deep secrecy when Witches did not share knowledge openly. Scott Cunningham gifted to the new age movement his collection of tired and true spells, incantations and rites; with full permission to adapt them and breathe our own magic into them