The Gardnerian Book of Shadows

This is the text of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows. In one sense this is the central sacred text of the Wicca religion. However it is important to point out that there is no 'official' Book of Shadows. Typically each coven has a hand-written copy of a Book of Shadows sometimes in cypher or code which reflects its own practices and knowledge. This particular text is derived from a file posted on the Internet in the early 90s and quotes previously published material which was known to be in use by Gardner and his group. The Book of Shadows was attributed by Gardner to an ancient clandestine witch cult which he claimed to have been initiated into. However modern researchers have concluded that it was composed by Gardner.