The Book of Shadows (also known as BOS) is a book that modern witches either create themselves or purchase pre-blessed to record their deepest secrets, spells, and magical workings. It’s not just a place for spells, potions, or prayers; it holds anything a witch finds important or necessary for rituals or things they might need in the future.
The term "Book of Shadows" was first coined by Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca, in the 1950s. He came across the phrase in a document about divination using shadows and apparently liked it so much that it stuck. However, there are some common misconceptions about the BOS. For example, one popular myth is that, in the 1400s, witches would meet at night and write in manuscripts, forming a book of spells, which is why it’s called the Book of Shadows.
While this belief has a certain medieval charm and magic to it, we need to be realistic about the time period and the BOS itself. In those days, it wasn’t common to have the financial means to create a book with fine parchment or leather covers. Nor were most witches literate enough to produce such elaborate written works. Only a select few had these privileges. If there were any hidden occult manuscripts, they would likely have belonged to the upper echelons of society—masters, priests, aristocrats, or royalty who could afford to commission such information to be written down. These would certainly not have been the books of simple farmers or midwives of the time.
As a modern-day practitioner of the magical arts, I personally suggest that a Book of Shadows should be handcrafted by the witch themselves. This adds an extra layer of magic and personal connection. Each part of the book becomes imbued with magical intent during its creation.
---
Note: All images posted on this blog are sourced from the internet. Any images that are my own will bear the insignia of our shop.