Why is it called a book of Shadows?

Question

I've noticed a few questions on here about a 'Book of Shadows' and although I've seen a book of Shadows on a TV series, I'm not sure why it is called a 'Book of Shadows'.

The name sounds dark, yet the girls on the TV show are good witches or 'White' witches.

A lot of the answers to 'Book of Shadows' questions talk about putting your own thoughts in there and recording your private spiritual journey in there.

This sounds like a nice idea, although I don't have spells that I'd include, but I have affermations. If I were to start my own book, I think I'd call it a 'Book of Light'. - It just sounds purer to me than 'shadows'.

Is there any reason why it's called a Book of Shadows?

Have any of you called you books something different?

Please don't take offense to my question, I'm not critisising, just looking for honest answers.

Thanks.

Answer 1

"Book of Shadows" was a Wiccan term for the magickal journal. I believe it was Gerald Gardner who coined the phrase, being a translation from 'Liber Umbera', which means of course Book of Shadows.

Before this the witch's book was known as a 'grimoire'. It should be understood though that books in the Craft are still a relatively new thing. This is because to be caught with one was certain death and not everyone knew how to read.

I have heard of some 'fluffy' Wiccans calling their grimoire a 'Book of Light'. It must be remembered that just because something is dark does not neccessarily mean its evil. Their must be a balance. Do not fear the dark, rather learn to embrace it as well as the light, for we all have a darkside. The ancient mystery schools used to have inscribed above their doors "Know Thyself". This means the darkside as well as the light.

The 'Book of Shadows' is one tool that can be used to this end. After you have written in it a while you can go back and read it picking up on though patterns, habits, strengths, weaknesses, and such. Thus, the 'shadows' of this book are those things you don't normally see in yourself.

BTW: Witchcraft is nothing like 'the girl on the TV show', as entertaining as they may be.

Answer 2

Perhaps shadows refer to twilight, a moment when you can have bright light showing up like at dawn, or darkness descending, like at nightfall. None is good or bad, it's just twilight, a magical moment, between the worlds. You can use the Book of Shadows, also known as Grimoires, of previous witches, but it is great to write your own and you've got a fantastic idea calling it Book Of Light :-) Some may even consider Book of Lights, with an s, too, but go for it! All the best on your personal magical path.

Answer 3

the TV shows are not real, please don't think any of what the likes of charmed etc; do has any relevance in the real 'craft'
The balance of nature, the world tree with feet in the ground and arms in the sky. The twixt light between day and night, all are balance,
To be in that moment twixt and between, the place where the wise had to hide from the oppressors.
All had to be cast as a shadow to go unseen

The "book of shadows" is a book of spells made by the individual, and recorded to be used again as needed,
" as you cast a shadow so you cast a spell" Thus the book of shadows.
The craft is used mostly to help and heal so it could just as easily be called the "book of life's aid"( this book is personal to you and you can name it as you will to suite yourself.)

So mote it be

Answer 4

i think that they are called this because it is full of secrets and this is one of the four rules of the magus if you do not know these you will never be successful in magick.
You may have heard of the Four Powers of the Magus, or maybe the Four Rules of Magick. They are all the same thing, and are referred to as the Foundation of the Witch's Pyramid: To Know, to Dare, to Will, and to Be Silent. When mastered, together they cause the magician to become very successful in magick.

To Know
To Dare
To Will
To Be Silent


They say that mastering these is the key to true advancement in witchcraft. Think about what they mean to you: some people think that "To Be Silent" means not to discuss your magick lest you dissipate the magick; do you agree?
this is why it i think that they are called the Book of Shadows because this is one of the four and in my opinion the most important. i persomally do not keep a Book of Shadows.
I am Wiccan and it is a personal choice not to keep a book of shadows, that true healing and magick is really in the heart of the witch.
I dont need anything to work magick and why use tools if I can attune yourself to the world and diffrent vibrations without them. I mean dont get me wrong they certianly do help but I feel that I do not need them.
I think as soon as you can establish the diffrence between light and dark and understand it then you can call on both energies at any time, without light how do you know you arent dark, without dark how do you know you are light.

BB
)O(

Answer 5

It is called the bos because after christianity came about the witches were not allowed to do their rituals in the open anymore. They had to do them in the shadows of the darkness. Instead of talking about spells they wrote them down in a book for fellow witches to see. to keep things in the shadows so they would not be outed... The performed their rituals in the shadows on darkness and wrote their rituals and spells in a book and so it became the BOS

Answer 6

It's called that because its supposed to be a secret. It is meant to be a personal magical journal, only shown to initiates of the craft.

I agree that the name is ridiculous. We pagans have a penchant for the dramatic. I believe the term was coined by Gerald Gardner, a controversial New Age pioneer. He claimed to have inherited a book written by an ancient coven of witches. It was written in a secret language to avoid incriminating its users during the Burning Times. Many of Gardener's claims were entirely spurious but as he was something of a trailblazer, much of his work has been incorporated into modern Wicca.

Some pagans call them a "Book of Mirrors" as they (wait for it) contain reflections as well as spells and rituals. I rarely bother writing anything down, so I just call mine my notebook. In this modern age you are more likely to come across a Disk of Shadows anyway.

Answer 7

well i suppose its called a book of shadows as shadows are between light and dark, magic can be both white or dark as so is nature, so the name reminds us not to use dark magic but tells us it does exist so we can focus on there being no dark outcomes in our magic.
You probably saw the book of shadows mentioned in charmed, its my fave show. I am also a wiccan

Answer 8

This goes back to the time of the inquisition where witches had to practise in secret (in the shadows)

So witches call it the book of shadows to remind them of the past, and it may be necessary to go back in the shadows.

Answer 9

I like what Rev Blackrose said about balance and would like to expound upon that. You have light and you have dark. Those are both the extremes. Then you have shadow, which is a balance of light and dark. The shadow is the balance.

Answer 10

Rev Two bears is right.
It goes back to ancient times when we had to hide our wisedom, or face death at the hands of inquisitors. It was also refered to as a Grimoire, or a Book of Secrets- which makes the reason a little more understandable.