Book of Shadows - Scott Cunningham - WitchCircles.com

255 Pages·2010·2.77 MB·English

book

af
Sh a Jd (Ci UE Spe

Cunningham's

Book
oS
Shadomr
‘About This Book
‘The bai for this Hook of Shadows is an unfinished manuscript Scott
Cunningham started moce than thirty years ago. The way twas placed in
nenvelope with the title shows us Scott intended i tobe published

‘We believes would be a disservice publish itin thera and for
that rearon we have excerpted passages from Scott’ previously pub:
lished books to serve a introductions to sections otto create bridges
where materia was not completed. The primary resource was Whee A
(Guide forthe Solitary Practitioner, and those passages ae nord fr cavity.
[None of Scouts original words were changed for this book

“The original manuscrip was produced on red IBM Seleeic®rype-
writer, and many of those pages have been reproduced exactly as they
were created, including Scotts handwritten notes and corrections in
the margins. Alsomany ofthe hand-drawn symbols and related artwork
have Been reproduced just ashe drew them,

‘This is nota trsditional Book of Shadows because Scott intended to
‘reate something truly unique The genesis ofthat ides andthe content
ofthe book is explained in the "How to Use This Book” section writen
by Scouts publisher, Cae Llewellyn Wescheke,

“The appendices contain memories of Scot from some of his sb
lings teachers, and closest fiends.
Cunningham’s

Book
Shalows

The Path of an American Traditionalist

Scott Cunningham

Lewellyn Publeaions
‘Woodbury, Minnesota
iehiait, Nove. 1986-2988
Cunninenem’s book of shadows
ithe path of an American

“The Bling Prayer 3
How to Use TI Bok 5

‘Words from the Old Ones 31
Calling the God and Goddess 2
Creating Sacred Space 29
“The Sabbats 35
Full Moon Ries. $7
Prayers,Chants, and Invocations 67
Rites and Lore 75
Recipes forthe Feast 89
‘An Herbal Grimoire 105
Herbal Recipes and Secrets 115
Incentes 121
ile 157
‘Magical Love, Spels and Rituals «72
Systemsof Power 207
Rue Magic 237,
Signs and Symbols 252

Bibliography 361
‘Appenie Uydetac Regula 265
Append 1 by Manes Bigelow 72

Append 1 by Christine Ashworth 375
‘Aprende IV by David Harmon 379
‘The Blessing Prayer
Inthe name of Dryghtyn the Ancient Providence,

which was rom the beginning snd is for exeriry

mle and female, the origina source of all things:
all4enowing al-pervading all-powerful changeless,
‘tesnal: inthe names ofthe Lady of the Moon

snd out Lord the Horned Onein the namesof the Spirits
ofthe Sones, rulers ofthe elemental realms

Bless this place, and this time, and they who are

(Go be suid before every st, just after building the Circe of Stones)

* Scout Cunningham hd second version of thie blessing preyer, in which he
ded deity erves:the Lady of the Moon, Diana and our Lowd the Horned
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
By Car Dewey Werchcke
“The book you holdin your hands is nether an ordinary book with ts
‘printed pages nor aTeaditonalist Book of Shadows.

Before I explain what the diflerence is and how to use this book, 1
‘want to tell you afew things relating to the author that may help your
understanding.

‘The manuscript for this book had been “lst” among bores of Scott,
‘Cunningham writings since his deth in 1993. His original proposed
title was"American iaditionalist Book of Shadows” Due to events over
the last quarter century, we felt thatthe word "Taditionalis” was no
longer appropriate philosophically in association with the subject of
Wiees,

Make no mistake, Scott Cunningham considered himself Trad
tionalis inthe original concept ofthat word: A deep vet fo ition,
‘special forcultwal or veligions practice, But our dictionary ls offers a5
slernative definition: The ea tht all krowledge comes fom dive rel
thon and spsied an by tradition. It this later definition that gives us
some difficulty.

‘Wicca is not “reveled knowledge” stemming from a single source
that becomes established as theologically ssrosanc, but is instead alive
{ng tradition that is personally experienced and iegrated into your
life.

‘Wicca does not havea fixed theology administered and taught by 2
“Council of Elders similar to historic authoritarian religions. There a
«1 numberof Wiccen churches established to administer tothe needs of
‘their membership for such purposes 2s marviage, funerals, personal

counseling, etc, and there are many small covens bringing people to-
‘ether, but most practitioners of Wicca ae “solitares" who see them
selves nor separated from others by belief and lifestyle but fully ine
_rsted ino the larger community while finding their piriaal strength
rom within

1 was mostly for these individuals that Scot wrote his books.
6 Scot Cunningham

1s importnt to our understanding of how to use 2 Book of Shaws to
Clearly separate Scott Cunninghatals writings from the antimodetnism
snd gid fundamentalism characterized by tht alternative definition
cof "Traditionalist”Iis also important ro understand that Cunningham's
book s distinctly Amencan, not Clic or European,

‘Wicherafeisas old as the hill and is basically perceived as systema
ofnnatute-bsed magic and shamanism. Wicca is modern natue-bosed
religion that absorbed some practices and beliefs from traditional Brit-
ish Witchcraft Yes, those beliefs and practices are mostly age-old, but
they at sso universal and readily adapted the culture in which the
prsetitioners ate residents.

Teis inthis sense of attunement with the ebb an flow ofthe natutal
‘environment, and in the scredness of those energies and the very sil
ofthe locality, chat Wicea has its experiential rots—and notin some
claimed revelation from "on high and held sacrosanct, to be explained
«othe west ofusby theological authorities

‘coe Cunningham was an American initiated ino Caria coven
atan early age because of his interests znd devotion onatucl magic. He
hhad many teachers and he was» petsistent researcher, but mostly he
learned through practice, meditation, selstudy, and experimentation.

‘Seott wrote more than ity books on many aspects of Wices snd na
‘ure magic during his too shor life (June 27, 1956-March 28,1993), He
had tremendous respect both fr his primary subject, Wieea, and for his
readers. Yes, he ad a deep respect fr cultural and religious dition,
‘but noe fr historic of religious authority His authority came from hit
‘own research and experience. He was very concerned that nothing he
wrote could result in harm to his readers and never provided arial»
recipe ora formula that was nat thoroughly tested by himselE
Book ofShadows 7

All of this is important othe subject of this ebay on How Use This
Bok

“Teditioaly the sudent of Wee intrested in joining a coven wat
given that roup Book of Shadows copy in longhand. In every sense,
that handweten book was the poticular group act, containing
basic tual, celebrations and lore, the Laws, an the names ad forms
ofthe divine presence they integrated into their practices These names
and fms, the specific gods and goddesses are among the most impor
tant secrets held by the group members

‘Bu, once copied, the Book of Shadows aio became the students
personal rma, record book ofhis or he personal practices, med
‘Hons tesnations. experiments and esearch 1 ving book, js ike
the fe that Scout Cursinghar lived.

‘And this isthe pint of my litle essay. Respect your Book of Shad
cos, honor See and those who have gone before, but never Become
rigid in you belief or practices, for Wice ia living religion, fe is
ever changing, and the ene mesning and purpose of you Mei 0
‘row and Become more than you at. Allof us at inthe process of be
‘ominga whole person, integrating body emetion, mind, and sii

In our magia practices and celebrations we lear to inwardly tp
into the eolecive wisdom (socalled he collective unconscious) and
bring into our persons consciousness the knowledge we need o gro

Inthis bok you wil find the hire Gol of With:

1. Know yourself
Know the Craft
il Lesen
1X. Apply yourlearing
W Achieve balance
Vi. Resist temptations
VIL Keep your thoughsin good order
VIL Celebrate life
1K Attane with the cyles ofthe universe
1X. Breathe and eatcoretly