The Book of Shadows. What is it? Where did it come from? There are many questions about the Book of Shadows. Despite many people's fantastic ideas, the Book of Shadows is a fairly recent invention.
Centuries ago, people believed Witches and Wizards used such books to hold their spells and secret potions in. Truth be told...during those times, many people were largely illiterate, for spelling and writing were luxuries reserved only for royalty and the privileged. Anyone who was merely a peasant or dweller of forested areas didn't have the luxury of learning how to spell and write, much less store pertinent information in a large, leather bound tome. Much of anything that was done during those times was committed to memory or orally taught.
Now this doesn't necessarily mean there perhaps wasn't any books out there a magician might have used...certainly there were magicians used by the royals and privileged, and were highly paid. With such luck and ability, came with them the skills to write and document what they did for future reference. Any such books were perhaps referred to as Grimoires or other fancy titles.
The Book of Shadows was never one of those types of books. The first Book of Shadows came about roughly at the time of Wicca's creation. Gerald B. Gardner, creator of the religion of Wicca, created his first Book of Shadows roughly in 1940-50's in his "Bricket Wood coven". Since then the usage of such a book grew with each branch of coven hiving off from there.
To this day, almost every Wiccan holds a Book of Shadows, utilizing it for mostly stored information. What goes into it depends largely on the individual or Coven they participate in (if any). Covens require their members after a period of time to copy the information from the coven's book of shadows into their own book and memorize it for future gatherings. The participant will then add their own information to the book, thus creating their own individually customized book.
The Book of Shadows is a highly individualized book, especially with solitary Wiccans, Witches and other Pagans. Most practitioners prefer their book to look as authentic and antique as they can, however such books can be quite hefty in price, ranging from about $500-$1000 US. These books however are not that difficult to make yourself. If you can use a ruler, scissors, pen and glue...YOU can make your own antique-looking book.
The following link shows how one can make their own "Charmed" looking Book of Shadows. Note though, that you don't have to put the replica pages into the book. You can put your OWN pages into it made by you on ANY topic you wish. This book is a screw-post bound book which allows for addition, removal and rearranging of pages (excellent for any Witch who is constantly learning):
Charmed Book of Shadows (Part 1)
(click on the creators channel to find subsequent parts)
If you want to make your own, but don't want to be as fancy as the one seen here, as well as make the book hardbound (this means permanent pages), there is but another tutorial on YouTube that gives great instructions on creating your own 5.5 x 8.5 book (perfect for a portable book of shadows). BaronessNZ Hardbound Journal Tutorial OR...you can take a look at this Pinterest pin on bookbinding (gotta love Pinterest).
Even still, if you don't feel like you're the crafty type, you can still use either pretty journals you find at book stores, or plain-jane spiral notebooks you find at the dollar store. You can even use a binder, and decorate THAT however you like. There is no limit to how you can make your own book, except by your own imagination.
As for what language one should use to write their book, I would suggest that one write it in a language they're familiar with. Lots of people are facinated with foreign languages, such as latin or greek, but have no idea how to read it. It would be kind of redundant to spend all this time and hard work to write your book in fabulous latin words, using a quill and ink, but be unable to read any of it. It would just be a waste of time and paper. It's far better to write it in a language you know well, and can read well (for instance, your first language...mine is English).
Also, don't be discouraged if you don't have the world's best handwriting. There are many Wiccans out there who don't like their own handwriting for whatever reason...be it a medical condition that causes shaky hands, or simply sloppy writing. Writing your book out on the computer and printing it out is just as acceptable, so long as you write out each word, as opposed to cheating by copying and pasting everything. The idea with handwriting a book of shadows is that you're infusing your book with your energies through manipulation of the pen to create the words. You're essentially doing the same thing if you type out each word on the computer, you're just using updated technology. Not only that, you are blessed with a WIDE variety of fonts readily available online for free, from fancy handwriting script, to gothic, to even Charmed style fonts. The possibilities are endless. PLUS...you can also add embellishments to each page, like borders or imagery to spruce up your pages and make them more fancy. In essence, the computer makes making a Book of Shadows more intricate, especially for those who are looking for the more fancy style Books like you see on tv, that are still practical.
As for what language one should use to write their book, I would suggest that one write it in a language they're familiar with. Lots of people are facinated with foreign languages, such as latin or greek, but have no idea how to read it. It would be kind of redundant to spend all this time and hard work to write your book in fabulous latin words, using a quill and ink, but be unable to read any of it. It would just be a waste of time and paper. It's far better to write it in a language you know well, and can read well (for instance, your first language...mine is English).
Also, don't be discouraged if you don't have the world's best handwriting. There are many Wiccans out there who don't like their own handwriting for whatever reason...be it a medical condition that causes shaky hands, or simply sloppy writing. Writing your book out on the computer and printing it out is just as acceptable, so long as you write out each word, as opposed to cheating by copying and pasting everything. The idea with handwriting a book of shadows is that you're infusing your book with your energies through manipulation of the pen to create the words. You're essentially doing the same thing if you type out each word on the computer, you're just using updated technology. Not only that, you are blessed with a WIDE variety of fonts readily available online for free, from fancy handwriting script, to gothic, to even Charmed style fonts. The possibilities are endless. PLUS...you can also add embellishments to each page, like borders or imagery to spruce up your pages and make them more fancy. In essence, the computer makes making a Book of Shadows more intricate, especially for those who are looking for the more fancy style Books like you see on tv, that are still practical.
NOW...as to what goes in it...that too is limited only to your imagination. It should be noted that a Book of Shadows is a practical...WORKING book. It's not only a place to store spells...that's what a traditional Grimoire is for (and generally only spells, rituals and ceremonies one has written and/or has had success with go into such a book. not ones plucked off an internet site or out of the latest fad spell book) but lots of other important info as well. There seem to be a lot of young people out there who don't seem to have the first clue as to what a Book of Shadows is actually for. They have this misinformed idea that the Book of Shadows is exactly what Charmed says it is...holding spells and potions for vanquishing demons, or to go back in time. The Book of Shadows is a workbook, not a spell book (and besides, spells like those don't exist anyways).
There is FAR more information that goes into a book of shadows than just spells and rituals. I will offer you a solution as to what may go into your book (do not see this as a "must" list though, but as an "if you want" list)...it is the current sections found within my own book.
-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
-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
This is, oh, by no means, all that can go into your book. If there's a topic that interests you, by all means, put it in there!!! Also if you see a section above that you feel isn't geared towards your study interests, omit it...it's not going to hurt my feelings lol :) :)
Interestingly enough though, throughout my time as a Witch I have seen a great evolution regarding the Book of Shadows. About a decade ago, when I started my path, the Book of Shadows was such a taboo subject for many Wiccans (this was perhaps a time when people STILL equated Witches and Wiccans). It was a BIG no-no for anyone to see the cover of one's Book of Shadows, much less the contents. People were so afraid of someone "stealing it's power" or some other such nonsense from a mere glance at the book. We should remember that the Book of Shadows is a practical book, but a book nonetheless. This book holds no inherent power on its own. Anyone saying that their book is a great and powerful book (that can catch fire at a second's notice) is full of it, and has watched one too many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A Book of Shadows can no more burn you than your favorite recipe book sitting in your kitchen cupboard. It would do all of us good, and would save on so many stereotypes if people would grow up a little and stop thinking of all of this as some fantasy show where we have mystical powers and can kill someone with a thought.
Now, as much as this book is practical, and serious in most of its content, decoration can be fun and a creative process. I have many times created and re-created my book...with different types of covers. The VERY first decorated Book of Shadows I had was a 3-ring binder, that I covered with white cloth (white being the only color cloth I had). I then drew a Pentacle on it, and glued appropriately colored jewels in the appropriate space on the Pentacle. It was quite amateurish in its design, if I do say so myself, but it was mine, and my first spiritual book. From then it went to a rather plain looking zippered binder. I liked the zippered binder, as it made it easier for me to have my book in the open, and not have someone peer into it out of curiosity. BUT...that too became obsolete, and I had to move everything to an even larger binder. A 3 inch, 3-ringed binder...it was rather large.
But with all these binders, and scrapbooks I use to hold ALL the information I have gathered in the 10 years I have been a Witch, I have also had smaller books that hold, more immediate needed information.
Using the above directions, I had made a smaller Book of Shadows to store spells, rituals, and prayers I used on a more regular basis. It turned out well, but unfortunatly I no longer use it. I'm ALWAYS on the quest for THEE Perfect Book of Shadows and I just haven't come to it yet. It's difficult for me to make all the information and contents to come together so well, exactly the way I want it. BUT the Book of Shadows is a constant work in progress and I know eventually I will get what I want :)
The Book of Shadows. A practical workbook, journal and record keeper. A serious tool, that can be fun, but should be respected as any spiritual book. Treat yours kindly and it will do the same in return (an example...I got mad at my book once and when I threw it down, it opened at a spell entitled "Letting Go of Fear, Anger, or Negativity") Sometimes, even though your book is just a book...it CAN communicate subtle things with you...so pay attention :)
Enjoy your Book :)
Ma’iingan
Ma’iingan
Related Interest:
Making a Book of Shadows from Scratch: At What Cost??Completed Practical Magic-style Book of Shadows
"Ouroboros" Book of Shadows
