About the Author

Lady Sheba was one of the first people in the United States to officially establish the Craft as a legally recognized religion. She registered "The American Order of the Brotherhood of Wicca" as an religious organization in Michigan on August 13, 1971. She stated that she was a witch "by traditional heritage" and a "Gardnerian Witch by choice."

Reviews

Lady Sheba's was the first published Book of Shadows in the United States. The author brought it to Llewellyn in 1970; it was released in 1971 and reprinted in 1973. The impact was enormous. In many ways, this event was the touchstone for Wicca as a religion for the New Age. Yes, it is the "Old Religion," but it also speaks for the re-emergence of the Goddess as women moved beyond the Piscean patriarchy; it speaks for the re-emergence of the Pagan identification with the world of Nature and respect for the environment; and it speaks for the Awakening of the New Age spiritual experience. Lady Sheba was among the first (perhaps the very first) to register Wicca as a religion (in the State of Michigan) and inspired many others to do the same. With publication of The Book of Shadows bringing Wicca "out of the closet," Lady Sheba became the target of some animosity. She was accused of violating "oaths of secrecy" and of publishing material that wasn't original with her. She answered that the time for secrecy was past, and that she never claimed to be the author, for this was the Book of Shadows as passed on to her. In one instance, the Invocation of the Horned God, we want to acknowledge that much longer poetic version was earlier (1965) published and copyrighted by Doreen Valiente in Pentagram.
Following publication of The Grimoire of Lady Sheba (1972), she withdrew from public life and we lost contact with her. With rumors of her death, and with no contact with the family, we were reluctant to reprint the books. However, this year, following her eightieth birthday, we are again in contact with Lady Sheba and her family, and are re-issuing her works. Blessed Be, Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, Publisher