How do you make a 'Book of Shadows'?

Question

I was wondering if anyone had any tips or any good sites or even books for help on making a 'Book of Shadows'? Thanx!

Answer 1

I use a three ring binder. makes it easier to rearrange pages as needed. I have one that has a clear sleeve on the cover so that i can put my favorite witchy artwork on the front & back cover. (susan seddon boulet has some nice calanders that make excellent cover fodder when the year is out) As for fill. I always start each new B.O.S. with a "word to the wise"...usually something along the lines of the witches creed. Followed by a daily devotional ( a short ritual in which i use to honor my patron diety and my ancestors) I have a section for the Sabbats, & Esbats each ritual is recorded & dated with a little extra room for additional notes as time passes (was the spell work successful, what did that scrying session mean, how accurate was that tarot or rune reading etc, what would be better to do next time) I have a section for seasonal recipies, and a section for spells, and herbal concoctions. I have a series of tables in the back such as the planetary hours, herbal correspondences, different magical alphabets, ephemeral information( astrological charts) I also keep a seperate notebook for what i am currently studying... i suppose i could just add another divider to my binder, but the lessons i am working on now are very intensive & there is alot of paperwork. There are several books of shadow available to purchase that you might want look into for additonal information
If you are just starting out you might want to include a glossery with a pronunciation guide. The most important thing to remember is that your Book of Shadows is a catalouge of your journey along a magical path. It is a record of your successes & failures, it is just improtant to remember both so that you can learn form your mistakes. It is akin to a journal or diary of your practice. It is a private thing... remember the witches pyramid "To Know, To Will, To Dare, To Keep Silent"

Answer 2

Greetings! If you feel the need, make or buy Ink and a Quill. Performing Ritual Actions always slows one down, causes Focus. We have a Class in Magickal Ink, Quills, Paper-Making, and Book-Binding, but for right now, you should just write down your ideas in a Format of Pencil, and Three-Ring paper for a Journal. You WILL find later, that some of the pages are good, and some you will want to get rid of-------Pencil is best, as you will make mis-spellings, and they need to be corrected before you copy anything from your Journal, to your B.O.S. The main focus of Wicca, and any Religion, is about study ( or should be! ), so keep all your School supplies! With the advent of the Modern World, I have developed Ink which is used in re-charging your Printer cartridge, and Calligraphy felt pens. Also, work on which Alphabet you plan to Work in. We use a modified Runic, with Titles in Ogham....it works well enough for our purposes, as you will find that the Wiccan Wheel of the Year contains 4 Celtic Festivals, and 4 Norse Festivals, so we alternate the Format. Have fun! /!\

Answer 3

Guys, it's NOT the name of a book from a fictional tv program. It's real. A Wiccan's holy book is called a Book of Shadows. Sorry to burst your bubble but Wicca is a religion. Yes, it's real and it does exist. It's not from the tv show, Charmed.

Now... to answer the real question... it's just a book. Nothing more, nothing less. Unlike in that tv show (one of my favorite shows btw), you'll not be able to cast spells on it so it can't leave your house, etc.

A Book of Shadows is just the place you record all your religious observances, your feelings about the god and goddess, your knowledge about your religion, and your spells and rituals.

You weren't very clear. Did you want to create one from scratch? Like... make the homemade paper and everything?

Or did you want to just buy regular paper and bind the pages yourself with a cover you make? If that's what you want, go to the library and there are plent of book to tell you how to do book binding.

You can also buy a book from anywhere to turn into your Book of Shadows. Sometimes craft shows and the like have beautiful leather bound journals that you can stamp with your own symbols.

It's something you'll have to look into.

Answer 4

The only reference you need for your Book of Shadows is yourself and your God/dess. After all, these are the only entities who will see it. Therefore, there's no right way or wrong way to do it, although always be mindful that as it is a special book which should, therefore, be made with a certain reverence.

Answer 5

a book of shadows is nothing more than a book of spells and ideas its a lot like a diary it dosent need to be any thing fancy hell i use a 5 subject note book and i have been an active member in a local coven for nearly 10 years now please dont pay any mind to some of the stupid answers you got OK oh a book of shadows can also contain art work and things deal ling with astrology be sure to keep things dated in the book you will be glad ya did if you have any other questions feel free to send them to me ok
blessed be

Answer 6

You can buy some nice blank ones on eBay.
I suggest you use a lose leaf one though, so that you can add things and move them about as you go.
Have sections to record you various rites, your thoughts, your observations and any interesting activity.
Have a poke around on Amazon for books on the subject. I recommend "Wicca for Dummies", and Scott Cunningham's "Wicca; a guide for the solitary practitioner".
Hope that helps

Answer 7

get yourself a blank book. start putting in info about wicca, and different about magick in it. or buy u a binder, and use loose leaf paper and then put the paper in the binder. but make sure you put a protection spell on the book.

Answer 8

you put in your most private thoughts like a journal, add in some spells, and some dreams and anything weird that happens to you and build up a "scrapbook" of wiccan things that go on in your day to day life!

Hope this helps

queen_talos

Answer 9

It would be a pity if you just added another one of pretty much the same to the list.
Make your own, following your own designs and your own heart, you could still structure it according to the seasons and the holy days, as most people do.
May the Mother guide you and give you Her blessing.

Answer 10

Here is a redirect from Wikipedia about creation of your own.