Το βιβλίο των σκιών

by Gerald B. Gardner, Βάγια Ψευτάκη (Translator)

Για πρώτη φορά στα ελληνικά το αυθεντικό κείμενο των μυστικών της μαγείας της Wicca. Το Book of Shadows του "πατέρα" της Wicca Gerald Gardner (1884-1964) παρέμενε απόκρυφο για δεκαετίες και παραδιδόταν από δάσκαλο σε μαθητή. Σήμερα εκδίδεται για πρώτη φορά, πλήρες και ολοκληρωμένο, με εισαγωγή και σχόλια του Γιώργου Ιωαννίδη, αρχισυντάκτη του περιοδικού mystery.

Genres: Wicca, Witchcraft, Occult, Magic, Nonfiction, Reference, Historical

255 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2007

About the author

Gerald Brousseau Gardner was an influential English Wiccan, as well as an amateur anthropologist and archaeologist, writer, weaponry expert and occultist. He was instrumental in bringing the Neopagan religion of Wicca to public attention in Britain and wrote some of its definitive religious texts. He himself typically referred to the faith as "witchcraft" or "the witch-cult", its adherents "the Wica", and he claimed that it was the survival of a pre-Christian pagan Witch cult that he had been initiated into by a New Forest coven in 1939.
Gardner spent much of his life abroad in southern and south-eastern Asia, where he developed an interest in many of the native peoples, and wrote about some of their magical practices. It was after his retirement and return to England that he was initiated into Wicca by the New Forest coven. Subsequently fearing that this religion, which he apparently believed to be a genuine continuance of ancient beliefs, would die out, he set about propagating it through initiating others, mainly through the Bricket Wood coven, and introduced a string of notable High Priestesses into Wicca, including Doreen Valiente, Lois Bourne, Patricia Crowther and Eleanor Bone.
He also published two books on the subject of Wicca, Witchcraft Today (1954) and The Meaning of Witchcraft (1959), along with a couple of novels, and ran the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft on the Isle of Man, which was devoted to the subject. For this, he has left an enduring legacy on the modern Wiccan and Neopagan movement, and is frequently referred to as "the Father of Wicca".

Reviews

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been on a mission recently to read as many religions texts as I can lay hands on, and after accumulating the more common ones, I decided to set foot into witchcraft. Now that I have, I'm not entirely sure I can explain what it is.

I read Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows online, so it's probably a different version than this book, but I left feeling partly confused, partly disgusted and partly embarrassed. It's a combination of those three that is found in the magic of witchcraft, where people gather for some sort of secret touchy-feely ritual with candles and swords and knives and incense and whatever other hallucinogentic drugs Gardner was on at the time.

From what I can tell, Wiccans believe High Priestesses and Magi can purify them in a magic circle by kissing their bodies and chanting nonsensical remarks to some sort of natural deity. But I don't even know what I read. At first I thought it would be a book glorifying nature and creation and beauty, which I could at least support a little. But then it got too deep into a physical ritual and I was put off.

I always do research on what I read after I finish it, but Wicca and witchcraft and Gerald Gardner's life all seem to lead me down a rabbit hole that I can't comprehend and don't ever want to go down again.

[Claudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Misogynistic garbage

This is hardly the work of a master, but a man who knew nothing of the natural craft. A woman is called a girl in too many places, a man is called a Magus as though superior to females. Details that have no baring are pontificated ad nauseam. Total rubbish.

[Rafaèle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a witch so I had to read Gardner. I totally understand that he created a new mouvement and is now one of the reasons I am now a witch. BUT he is way too strict and he sometimes thinks that he is a god. If you want to start witchcraft, read Scott Cunningham, he is the best.

[Ezmyrelda Andrade · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was trash.

[Christine Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting in the context of exploring the history and development of neo-paganism. Not a fan otherwise. Too much scourging.

[Lucie_Nocciolata · Rating 1 out of 5]

La traduction française par Lune et Artus des Portes du Sidh est un travail incroyable , je l’ai d’ailleurs acheté pour leurs notes de bas de pages et la biblio hyper complète à la fin. En ce qui concerne le contenu, franchement c est difficile à lire tellement le texte n’est fait que de gros red Flag de partout. Et je suis pourtant familière avec la wicca , donc je connais le skyclad et d’autres pratiques pouvant heurter certains . J’ai eu du mal à passer au delà de tous les propos problématiques et à accéder à la « beauté » du travail de recherche et de pratique de Gardner et à l’essence de la Wicca. Je le savais et c’est pour cela qu’inconsciemment je retardais la lecture de ce livre , ceci étant fait et bien je persiste et signe : âmes sensibles ou rebelles s’abstenir 😁

[Ruben Schuster Postiglione · Rating 2 out of 5]

No offence, but I bet Christian Gray would be quite proud of these practices. It seems that this work is pretty outdated as of now, yet we should not exclude the past. Fine, some of these rituals are degrading, but this was a touchstone for a well-known pagan religion. Why the two stars then? Because it seemed to me less a sacred book and more a DIY manual for priests who are well-versed in such arts.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a slog. I decided to give it a go, as this year is the year I dive into Wiccan books. I know Gardner is a big name, but WOW. What misogynistic trash. Gardner likes to toot his own horn too much, and this was just one eye roll away from a suffering headache.

[•SAM• · Rating 2 out of 5]

Naked witchcraft?

REALLY?

This book is the author's poorly disguised kink. I read this book in order to learn more about Paganism, and I got naked rituals and whippings and kisses.

Time to read about Wicca from a different author...

[Kyle Plunkett · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is not what I expected to be. It is more like an instructional manual of Wicca. I wish it is more informative.

[Precious Clifford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book out of curiosity and frankly speaking, I got nothing out of it. I finished this book in one night but I got nothing. I guess it benefits those already with the craft. perhaps someday,I might see why I had to read it; as someone said "no knowledge is a waste". But how can I tell if I truly got knowledge from it? Lol

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's nice to know what this branch of Wicca practices but... not for me. Plus, I can't figure out WHY it will not let me adjust the ebook so I can read it vertically rather than horizontally. It doesn't take long to read, although the old English is rather rough if you're not used to it.

[Wendy Matta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Gerald Gardner

I am very respectful of Dr Gardner and Dr Buckland (Past 9/27/18) Their knowledge that passed on has helped my life of healing as well as following my path and finding my purpose...

[Jim Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good Book of Shadows if a little simplistic. I understand that practically all Wiccan Books of Shadows are based upon or, at least, inspired by it.

[Frankie Millaire pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Gardner's way of telling the readers about witchcraft without revealing too much A must read for Wiccan followers from none other but the father of Wicca