h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have been a follower of Wicca for many years now and continue to look for sites that are real, and not just trying to make money out of the "new age" of wicca.

I have a question that has been bothering me for a long time. Many Wiccans today talk about their "Book of Shadows" maintaining that ancient Wiccans kept a book of this type. I have to ask, how, during a time that even the richest people often could not read or write, did these women (and sometimes men) keep a "Book of Shadows". The use of the word book suggests writing and therefor a knowledge of the written word. I have a very hard time believing that many, if any, women from ancient times were able to write and subsequently keep a book of shadows. Thank you for any enlightenment that anyone can offer.

Hi funnyangelice!

Try asking that same question at <./>AskH2G2</.> and I'm certain one of our researchers will be able to answer.

Hi there and welcome to hootoo

I'm Wiccan , and although the craft is ancient, Wicca as such is a much younger branch. As far as I know the term book of shadows was first used by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's .