I LOVE books of shadows. Books facinate me for some reason. Their composition, how they stay together, how they're made, etc. I love them. As for reading them, I have to be pulled in within the first couple pages, or I'm not interested...but I digress.
I was looking around YouTube for videos of people's books of shadows. I like to get ideas for my next book making venture, as well as ideas for making pages for my own book. As I was looking, I started thinking about the evolution of the book from the time I started, to now.
When I started...oh some time ago (feels like it, but it's only been about 10 years or so), the Book of Shadows was considered a sacred thing. It was completely taboo for ANYONE to show off their book in pictures, much less on YouTube. (I like to think I assisted somewhat in the revolution of opening the book to the public). When I started, I read and was told NO ONE was to look inside someone's book of shadows. The only thing anyone could look at was the cover (even that was if-y). Everything inside was personal and not for public viewing. As time progressed I thought, well this is sort of redundant, considering much of the information stored in many of our books of shadows are readily and openly available online, why the secrets?
I can understand if the book were copied from private covens. Naturally I would respect the secret nature of those books, however much of the books displayed on YouTube and on various web sites are from solitary practitioners, who gather their information from online sources and books. They're not so secret anymore. It's not so taboo anymore (roughly 10 years later) for people to openly display their books proudly. And really why shouldn't they? Honestly, you couldn't read someone's information on YouTube if you really tried, even with super HD or beyond 20/20 vision.
As well, it seems that color no longer seems to be as important as it did when I first started. It almost seemed that a book of shadows HAD to be black. Black absorbed negativity, therefore it wouldn't adhere to the book. Now, Books of shadows come in all kinds of colors and designs...people making them in the guise of the "Charmed" Book of Shadows; using journals obtained from dollar stores or department stores, spiral bound notebooks that say "Composition" on the cover, etc.
While the Book of Shadows IS a personally sacred item, it's not so sacred that it must be hidden from they eyes of everyone, particularly those who are new and have no idea WHERE to start with their books.
If YOU don't want to display your book in pictures or in a video, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The book is a personal thing, and if you hold it to a sacred value, then more power to you!! Don't feel that by this post I'm saying everyone must display their books for all to see. Far from it. But don't think that you must hide it from all eyes but yours and the Gods as well (unless you live with people who are not understanding of your practices). Unless everything written in your book is all by you (nothing obtained from other sources), it's ok to show others who are interested.
Happy Booking!!!
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