The Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows is probably my favorite subject, probably because I am a very crafty person a love to make things (including books) from scratch.

There have been many questions asked on how to make one, and contrary to what some believe, it's really not all that difficult. In a nutshell, its writing down everything regarding your "Witchy" path in a book for storage, more or less. Whatever you feel is important to your Witchy Workings should go into this book. I have several books, most of which carry the same information, but my main Book is rather large, and coming up on getting a second volume (because I have no more room and cannot find a binder large enough anymore).

What the book can be made from is limited only by your imagination. Many feel that they must have these intricate, antique books that look like they're about to fall apart in order to store their book of shadows, OR that a Book of Shadows is something they can obtain, already complete with spells ready for working. Neither is true. As stated, mine is in a binder, 3-rings, 3 inches large with just under 30 sections. I would have prefered mine stay within a zippered binder, as it keeps nosey people from prying, but alas, it's not meant to be.

The book of shadows can be in any type of book your little heart desires. A binder, however, is perhaps more practical, and cheaper (at least as a starter book), as you can obtain one from any cheap, dollar store, and you can decorate it in any way you want. My first binder I decorated with cloth, and painted a pentacle on it with glitter glue and rhinestones. But as my book grew, I knew that I coulnd't keep decorating books only to remove my information to transfer it to a bigger book. But one shouldn't worry about that, start off simply.

As practical as a binder can be, it can also quickly get costly, with one having to purchase paper to put INTO the binder, and eventually section dividers, etc. For one's very first book of shadows, I'll suggest one get a spiral-bound notebook. Any dollarstore should carry these (if not some other type of blank journal). At this point you don't have to worry about sections, but be sure to mark the pages as such that way when you do obtain enough information to warrant sections, you'll be able to place your information in the appropriate area. Once you feel you have enough information, you can "graduate" to a binder if you wish.

What goes in the book should reflect YOUR path's tastes, not what someone else tells you, you must have. What I offer here is only a suggestion of the things you can have in your book, not must.

-Title page: This can carry your real name or "magical" name, date started, as well as the title of your book
-Book blessing: This is to bless your book for magical work. You can also place a protection spell here to protect it from damage by those you don't want touching your book
-Ethics: personal laws and rules
-Blessings: Any other blessings you have gathered or created
-Preliminaries: This can include altar setups, circle casting chants, charges to deities, calls to quarters, calls to deities, farewells to quarters and deities, Simple Feast ceremonies, etc...
-Spells
-Rituals
-Ceremonies
-Sabbat Rituals: instructions on how to perform holiday ceremonies
-Lore and Information on Sabbats: information on why these holidays are important
-Prayers: Collection of prayers (if you do so)
-Divination: A section on the different types of divinatory practices, origins, and techniques
-Tips and Techniques: A section on techniques including meditation practices and concentration exercises
-Oils: Information on oils, their properties, and how to make them
-Herbs: Information on Herbs and their properties
-Stories, poems and jokes: A section on stories, poems and/or jokes you enjoy or have written (lets face it, while the book of shadows is a practical book, there's no reason why it can't contain fun stuff as well)
-Dream Magic-Deities: A section on deities, including information on the deities you primarily follow (not always necessary, as not everyone believes in deities)
-Charms and Symbols: A section on charms and symbols, and their meanings
-Recipes: Recipes for all kinds of things, including oils, incense, and sabbat meals
-Animals: Information on animals and their representations
-Celestial: A section on planetary movements and information as well as lore and myths
-Stones and Crystals: information on such
-General Colors: Information on colors and their properties
-Journaling: A section for journals on the path, as well as a section for record keeping (very important)
-Articles: My book of shadows contains a section on articles on the path I have discovered. Remember to cite authors as well as sites/books from which the information came from
-Candle Magic: Information on candles and their properties
-Miscellaneous: A section for information with no home

Again this is just a sampling of what you can place in your book. You can place whatever sections you like, whatever information you like, or omit sections I have added here. Re-arrange the sections and make your book your own.

Have fun creating, and remember, that while a book of shadows is a sacred one, there's no reason you can't have fun making it.


(you can find a bit more information on the Book of Shadows by clicking the post entitled Thrifty Pagans and scrolling down to the section "Book of Shadows, as well, check the side board to the right of the page and scroll along to find other posts on the Book of Shadows...there may be more in the future)