eBook of Shadows

The Gardnarian Book of Shadows
The Alexandrian Book of Shadows
The Uncut Book of Shadows

A Book of Shadows is a book containing religious texts and instructions for magical rituals found within the Neopagan religion of Wicca. Originating within the Gardnerian tradition of the Craft, the first Book of Shadows was created by the pioneering Wiccan Gerald Gardner sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, and which he utilised first in his Bricket Wood coven and then in other covens which he founded in following decades. The concept of the Book of Shadows was then adopted by other Wiccan traditions, such as Alexandrianism and Mohsianism, and with the rise of books teaching people how to begin following Wicca in the 1970s onward, the idea of the Book of Shadows was then further propagated amongst solitary practitioners unconnected to earlier traditions.

History

The Roebuck tradition, as practiced by the Ancient Keltic Church, is a religious organization dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of the Pagan mystery faith of the ancient Celtic peoples, and the incorporation of this ancient faith into modern 20th century America. It was founded in 1976 by Ann and David Finnin as an experimental group called The Roebuck, which was made up of members of many different magical systems devoted to the exploration of a British mystery tradition made public in Britain during the 1950's and introduced into the United States during the years 1964-1966 through the writings of Robert Cochrane. Cochrane died in 1966. However, with the aid of the Cochrane writings and material contributed by other British traditionalists, the members of the Roebuck attempted to recreate this tradition and, through trial and error, forged a mystery school designed to teach its students the various methods of personal magical development.

In 1982, William G. Gray, a friend of Robert Cochrane, put us in touch with Evan John Jones, another member of the Clan of Tubal Cain - the British hereditary tradition of which Cochrane was the leader. After an apprenticeship which lasted nearly two years, Ann and David were adopted into the Clan by Jones and empowered to carry the tradition back to the States. Thus, a link between the old tradition and the new was formally established. In 1989, The Roebuck incorporated and became the Ancient Keltic Church, with all the rights and responsibilities pertaining to our legal status. Since then, we have worked to establish the Ancient Keltic Church as a modern day Celtic mystery school of the sort that might have come down to us from ancient times had nearly 2, 000 years of Christianity not intervened.

Philosophy

We carry on a tradition that practices magic and taps into ancient and primal sources for the power to do so. We invoke the aid of unseen forces and use natural materials like stones, herbs, animals, etc. to channel our will in order to make things happen. But we are, above all, a Pagan religion with a complex theology and strict code of behavior. We believe that spiritual development comes first and that magic is secondary, coming once a certain level of attainment has been achieved. 'Our belief, ' as Cochrane wrote in 1966, 'is concerned with wisdom; our true name, then, is the Wise people and wisdom is our aim.'

One of the ways in which this is accomplished is through contact with the inner plane guardians of the circle. These guardians, called gods and goddesses or "shining ones" are described in Irish, Welsh and Gaelic folklore and are associated with the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. These guardians, along with a Father God and Mother Goddess, make up the pantheon of deities that are called upon to aid in any magical work that is done by the group to which a member is introduced, first through guided meditations and then through personal contacts.