The Wiccan Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows is a book which contains all of your spells, rituals, recipes and many other Wicca related things. In Covens it is generally given to a Witch when they have been Initiated, or some Covens have one Book of Shadows which everyone contributes to. The Book of Shadows can contain the Coven's traditions, beliefs, Sabbat notes, ritual workings, religious texts and any other notes which the Coven have deemed worthy to put in the Book.

Solitary Witches often make their own Book of Shadows, below I have listed some things which you may wish to include in your Book of Shadows.

• The Cover can have your name or simply 'Book of Shadows' on it
• Write out your Dedication to Wicca in the front
• Write out what you want your book to do for you, what do you want to include in it?
• How do you want to organise your book, with sections? With tags?
• Many books include the following information: your traditions, beliefs, your initiation ceremony, your God and Goddess, dedications, rituals, spells, Sabbat rituals, Divination, magical recipes and religious texts.
• Having all of that information, can muddle up your book. So I would suggest, having it in the form of a three ring binder or just as a number of volumes.
• You can also have illustrations, dried herbs in the pages, a record of all the Wiccan books you have read and many other special items.
• Do you want to handwrite it or type it? I suggest hand writing it, as it transfers your energy to the pages and it makes it more personal.

Those are just a few suggestions, it is entirely up to you on how you design your Book. I suggest not having one until you have performed a Self-Initiation, as you can bless your Book along with the rest of your Wiccan items. Also, having the book in front of you during any spell making is useful, as you can add notes while you are in the Circle.

Herbs and remedies

The use of herbs and plants are a very old practice which go back to our early Ancestors. Having knowledge of some of our most common herbs, is a start to learning about their healing and magical properties. Some Witches aspire to have a few herbs in their garden, or at least go to a healthy foods Supermarket. But I suggest growing your own herbs in the garden, as you feel linked to nature and there is a feeling of accomplishment when you use them. However, be careful when making remedies and stick to the common herbs at first, as some plants are very toxic when consumed. Only choose to explore further once you have become quite skilled in the properties of herbs. Below I have listed some of the common herbs, their properties and what they are used for.

Herbal Infusions/herb teas


For making a herb drink, just pour hot water over a table spoon of herb leaves. Leave for a few minutes then strain into a cup. If you are taking the tea for medicinal uses, then drink the tea three times a day.


Camomile - A soothing and relaxing tea which helps in the relief of anxiety. Can also be given to children to aid sleep. Used in baths and will help someone that has greasy hair or skin. In ritual camomile can be burned to break bad habits and drive away bad thoughts.

Elderflower - Good for colds and eases sinus problems

Fennel - Eases the digestive system and stops bloating in the stomach.

Peppermint - Eases nausea and bloating. This herb aids in concentration and study, rubbing this herb on your skin can increase your energies before you have a ritual.

Raspberry leaf - Soothes the digestive track

Rose hip - Very high in vitamin C, when combined with hibiscus flowers it has a lemony flavour

NOTE: Pregnant women are advised to avoid any herbal teas, with the exception of peppermint, lime and camomile as they help women with their morning sickness.

Herbs in cooking


There are so many different herbs which are common in the use of cooking, I will only list a few of the most popular herbs.

Basil - Generally used in tomato dishes, basil is good for the nervous system

Bay - Stimulates and aid the digestion, bay leaves can be used in soups and casseroles

Chives - Often used in potato, egg and soup dishes. Chives help the digestion

Coriander - Can be used for treating a urinary infection. Very good in the use of curries, salads and sauces

Dill - Used in soups and pickles, Dill can relief gripes and a gassy stomach.

Fennel - Aids the digestive system and is generally put in stuffing for fish

Mint - For savoury dishes and deserts, very good for colds and aiding digestion

Parsley - Good for many foods and drink, parsley can be used as a stimulant to menstration and is very good for bad breath. It can be eaten both raw and cooked.

Rosemary - Used in lamb and chicken dishes, a stimulant to the nervous system and soothes digestion. Also very good for concentration and can be put into the bath.

Sage - Used in stuffings of meat, good for indigestion, sore throats and sweating. It aids in weight loss and stimulates the metabolism.

Thyme - Very good for aiding a cough and catarrh, also good for the digestion. Can be drunk at night as a mild sedative and is used in many foods.

There are many more types of herbs to use in cooking, before experimenting I must advise that you DO NOT put something in your cooking unless you are absolutely sure you know what it is is and what it's properties are. I also advise you read a few Herbal books, as they will contain a larger bank of information on different herbs. For an introduction into herbs I suggest you read Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies by David Hoffman.

Candle magic

Candle magic is a simple and traditional technique. It has been around for many years, an early example of it would be in the Lascaux caves when the caves would go in so deep that carrying a flame was necessary, it was thought that the flames would create a liminal boundary between the living and the dead. Candle magic is a very powerful form of Sympathetic magic (For a list of different types of magic click here).

Candle magic is good for drawing positive energy and focussing your inner mind. You can request for something or ask the God/Goddess a question. However, like any other form of magic, whatever you do will return to you three fold, always keep to the Wiccan Rede. Be very careful with the words you use, as your request may come true in a very unconventional way. Some Candle magic is performed over a couple of days, while others can be performed during a specific moon phase. It is a good idea to place your candle on an alter, to keep it safe and out of the way.

A candle can be blessed and consecrated. It is also important, that you pick the colour of your candle wisely. As each colour has a specific meaning. Below is a list of different colours and their meanings:

Green - Growth, health, fertility and love

Yellow - Intellect, inspiration, creativity and confidence

Red - Strength, fertility, passion, attraction and power

White - Balance, cleansing, purity, healing and truth

Black - Protection, new beginnings, hex-breaking and healing

Pink - Devotion, faith, friendship, peace and the purest form of love

Gold - Protection, wealth, masculinity and luck

Lavender - Mother spirit, selflessness, understanding and calming

Blue - Truth, peace, wisdom and protection

Purple - Power, wisdom, psychic powers, confidence and divination

Brown - Balance, home, prosperity, learning and concentration.

I find that the white candle is the most effective during any ritual, I generally use that colour all the time because it is untainted and pure. Note: If you can avoid it, don't use a scented candle, because I find it distracts your senses when meditating.