basic guide – Pagan Roots

Book of Shadows

These are a few ideas for beginning your Book of Shadows. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and there’s no reason for you to include everything here if you don’t want to.

Deity: Information on Gods and Goddesses in general; what each deity represents, as well as more detailed information on the God(s) and Goddess(es) that you feel a particular closeness with.

The Sabbats: Information on when the eight Sabbats are, and what things are associated with them, as well as the story they tell about the cycles of nature. You may wish to include rituals and activities for each specific day.

Altar

Your altar does not have to be paticularly big, or highly decorative. These are the basic things you will need to create your own altar;

A table, positioned traditionally in the north. The ideal size is held at waist high, and an arm’s length wide, but a smaller one won’t make a difference; it’s just easier to fit all you might want to on a bigger table.

An altar cloth, which can be just a plain cloth all year round, or different colors, matched to the season or sabbat. You should choose a cloth made from natural fibres, if at all possible. PVC has a time and a place, and this is neither.

Traditions & Faiths

This page gives you a quick look at some of the better known Wiccan traditions, and other Pagan paths. Wicca is a very open religion, with a focus on finding what works best for the individual, and there are almost as many different ‘flavours’ as there are people practising them. Many of these will follow a similar core set of ideas or beliefs, and from there a new tradition is born. One of the benefits to following a set tradition is the guidance available to you from people who have walked that path ahead of you, but it can be just as rewarding and fulfilling to find your own path as you go, practising a form of eclectic Wicca or Paganism.

Tools of the Craft

This page is a glossary of different tools used by Pagans and Wiccans. Some of them are everyday items that have special names, meanings or significance for Wiccans, while others you may never have heard of before. I’ve tried to give a simple definition for each object, as well as including links to more information where possible.

Altar: An altar is an area set aside, normally a table, where sacred items are placed. There are many altar layouts that can be used, though most have something to represent the God and Goddess, as well as earth, air, fire and water. Altars are used during ritual or spell crafting as the focal point. They can be placed in one of the four corners (north, south, east, west) or in the middle of the circle and are used as a ‘workbench’ by the witch.

Words & Phrases

This page can be used like a simple Wiccan or Pagan dictionary, listing many of the terms commonly used. I’ve tried to provide a quick definition for each word or phrase, as well as links to more information when possible.

Adept: A person who is highly talented at a particular type of magic, for example kitchen magic, ceremonial magic, Egyptian magic etc.

Akasha: The fifth element, represented on a pentagram by the topmost point. Spirit, and spiritual power, this is the energy which forms the other four elements. Akasha can be thought of as that which everything else is part of – the Lord and Lady, spiritual energy, physical objects, human souls – everything is connected through Akasha.