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Creating a Book of Shadows
What is a Book of Shadows?? Well, it’s also known as a Grimoire. The term Grimoire is used less today, however. A BOS is information for Witches’ reference. A Book of Shadows is similar to a Magickal cookbook with recipes that are ineffective to anyone not properly trained in Magickal Working.
Witches can accurately record all of their Magickal information, important dates, research, where supplies are purchased, and other information and have this information in one place. The Book is unique to each Witch.
There is no one true Book of Shadows. Every Witch has one and Covens may have a main book but coven members usually keep individual copies that are similar to the Coven BOS but individualized by each Coven member.
The Book of Shadows is an ongoing and never ending creative work. This will continue through your entire Wiccan life. As you continue to grow during your study of the Craft, the Book will reflect this and grow with you. The BOS shows your history and progress of a Solitary Witch or Coven.
HISTORY
There are many theories on the history. Silver Ravenwolf’s ‘Solitary Witch’ has covered this subject quite extensively. I will cover a couple of theories here.
It has been believed that Egypt was the origin of many of the earliest texts. It’s been discovered that there were Magickal books in Egypt as far back as five thousand years ago, although Magick or ‘Wisdom’ books have been discovered in other areas.
Earlier witches practiced an oral tradition passed down by word of mouth. As persecutions took place, rituals were written down so they wouldn’t be lost. Covens met for rituals ‘in the shadows’. Thus their book became the ‘Book of Shadows. Unfortunately, most of these books were later destroyed because others didn’t understand what they were. Or, more likely because they did understand and wanted the books destroyed.
Many of the rituals were written down in a hieroglyphic or runic type of writing. This coded handwriting could have been from lack of education or as a Magickal Alphabet so that others couldn’t read what was in the book for the Coven’s protection. An ‘outsider’ would not know what was written, therefore wouldn’t know that it was a Witches book.
There was usually only one book for a Coven. Paper was expensive, photocopiers and printing presses weren’t even heard of and the time it would take to copy each page of a huge book by hand was insurmountable. And, don’t forget, Witchcraft was grounds for hanging (and in Europe burning). Some Coven members may have had bits or pieces of the BOS but there was only one complete BOS for each Coven.
It was usually kept by the one in charge of the recordkeeping or the High Priestess. This was the one item taken out of the house upon the Coven member passing onto Summerland. Another coven member would enter and take the book, thus assuring that it was passed on to the next coven member in charge of recordkeeping.
In 1949, Gerald Gardner wanted to replace the word ‘Grimoire’ with ‘Book of Shadows’. Doreen Valiente, a member of his coven, discovered this term was borrowed from an article published in ‘The Occult Observer’. The article was about an ancient Sanskrit manual, known as a Book of Shadows, which taught how to tell a person’s destiny by the length of their shadow.
MAKING YOUR OWN
With the onset of computers came the High Tech Witch. You can keep your Book of Shadows on your computer. There is also software designed to keep your personal BOS organized.
The big thing to remember with all this technology is to back up your BOS on disk or burn it on a CD. All it takes is one nasty virus or a failed hard drive (both of which I’ve personally experienced) wipe out all of your hard work.
One can also purchase a three ring binders and paper. This can be the lined loose leaf paper used in school or unlined. Both can be purchased with the three holes already punched or you can invest in a three hole puncher.
An advantage to a three ring binder is adding paper and also moving sections around as your book grows. I have, personally, taken out sections and moved them off into their own books as my personal BOS has grown. One cannot do this with a spiral bound tablet.
Most prefer the black BOS as black repels negativity. However, some Covens choose a certain color and require the color be used for each members BOS. Personally, I use black three ring binders. I purchase the type with the clear plastic for inserting a title and have labeled each book on the front and spine for ease at finding the correct book I’m looking for.
The last way we will cover is creating a BOS from scratch. One can take poster board or thin pieces of wood (you will need two pieces same size for front and back. And, after making two or three holes on the front and back, you can use ribbons or yarn to tie the pages and outside cover together.
Making your own in this fashion can be lots of fun. Plus you can make it any size you want and also have the satisfaction of truly making a Book of Shadows from scratch with your own two hands.
DECORATING
This is an art in itself. This will personalize your book and also place some of your energy in each book you create. (You didn’t think you’d only be filling up only one book, did you??)
You can use artwork, markers, paints, glitters or purchase stencil kits. Fabrics, such as silk can be used to create a new cover, too. If you want to use your computer, fonts are wonderful. Fancy fonts for cover lettering or calligraphy would really be a nice touch.
One can also attach stones, gems etc to the cover as well. Remember, however, with any gem stone attachments you will need to be careful when storing them. They could come off so allow for extra room on your bookshelf etc.
Making each book individual is what will make each one special. Perhaps your book on Rituals and Ritual work could have a cover of the moon phases. The book on your First Degree study notes could have artwork of your vision of the Goddess or of a bookshelf of Wicca books.
The possibilities are endless and remember this, too are an ongoing project. You will add to the cover as you grow.
STATIONERY AND PENS
The stationery you use can be simple and inexpensive as you want or can very elegant and come with an equally elegant price tag.
Personally, I purchase reams of 20 lb recycled white paper at the local discount stores. I type and run off my BOS pages on the computer printer. I use a three hole puncher to make the holes. (One can purchase the paper pre punched for a higher price tag but this also requires remembering to load it in the printer the correct way!) One ream of recycled white paper is $7.
I’m a big believer in recycling which is why I chose recycled paper. These stores also carry some pastel colored papers as well.
From the same stores I also by page dividers with tabs for my sections.
Quite a few pre made BOS also include some parchment paper.
Parchment paper looks and feels beautiful. It comes in many colors and can really dress up a book. It can also be ordered over the internet if you can’t find it locally or if it’s too expensive. Parchment paper also is heavier and will take up more room in your BOS. Locally, a ream of dove grey 26 lb paper is around $25 to $30.
If you want to use parchment paper but the price is out of range, consider using it just for Rituals, for page dividers, for your cover page or Book Blessing. Many office supply stores sell different grade and types of paper by the ream, by sheets of 25 or 50 pages or by the sheet.
If you are using your computer printer for your BOS, remember to make sure the paper will go through your printer ok before making a large quantity purchase. Some heavier bonds may not make it.
Always keep a special pen or marker for your Book of Shadow use only. Some Wiccans prefer using a special ink and a feather with the tip cut for use as a pen. Personally, I find this a very slow process for writing, but it is possible.
Some office supply stores have beautiful pens. You could get a pen that takes refills so that you can always use the same pen. If using markers, make sure they are water resistant. One stray drop from the Chalice during Ritual could wipe out your carefully written ending to your Summer Solstice Ritual!
One item to remember when writing Ritual items is to use a darker ink, and use legible, larger lettering. You will most likely be reading this by candlelight. Some of your fancier more elaborates lettering and fancy fonts are very hard to read in subdued light. If using the computer typeset at 14 or higher with bold on using Franklin Gothic, Georgia or Impact fonts usually works. Fancy fonts look wonderful but can be quite a challenge to read!
CHAPTERS
Below is a list of possible chapters for your BOS. This list is not complete nor is it a list of topics that are required for your BOS.
Affirmations
Altar Diagrams
Animal Magick
Artwork
Astrology
Astral Projection
Candle Magick
Chakra Research
Chants
Charge of the God
Charge of the Goddess
Circle Casting
Color Magick
Book Blessing
Definitions/Jargon
Divination
Dowsing
Dream Work
Earth Magick
Elemental Magick
Esbat Ritual
Gem Magick
Ghost Work
God Research
Goddess Research
Graphology
Herb Magick
Invocations
Magickal Alphabets
Magickal Correspondence Tables
Meditations
Miscellaneous (Rules, things to remember)
Pantheon Research
Poetry
Prayers
Quotes
Ritual Work
Rune Research
Sabbats
Sabbat Corresponding Work
Songs
Spells
Spellwork
Tarot Research
Telepathy
Tools of the Craft
Vision Questing
Wiccan Rede
As your Wiccan library and cupboard grow with books and supplies, you may want to keep lists of the books and authors that you have and lists of supplies you have (altar cloths, candle colors, herbs etc) in your BOS (or at least keep a lists in with the items) so you know, at hand, what you have. Trust me on this!
Also, if you start running low on something, make sure you make note of it. Azuregreen and Magus Books both ship very quickly when ordering online with a credit card but you never know if their supplies are running low. If you live in a larger city with stores at hand, you are lucky!
CONTENTS
For content, the only thing I will say, other than the content is up to you, is to please note your source.
There really aren’t any copyrights on Book of Shadows (unless you’re trying to publish one!) and much of any Book of Shadow is taken from various sources.
Ethically, please annotate where you received the information. Book source, author, pages, yahoogroup, website etc. are all very important items to credit.
Witches rely on each other form information and this material will get mixed up with your information, spells etc in your BOS so that it becomes a part of you.
For example, when my mom’s cat was lost recently, I took parts of two spells I got from two different sources, plus some herb information and created a spell with candle magick to help us find him. It worked. Twenty two days later – ten days after I cast the spell we found him. I made sure I wrote down the information from the other sources and wrote up the final copy with all this information.
You may want to refer back to the source at a later date, or pass on the information to someone else.
If you create a ritual or spell, would you want to see is it being copied around on the internet without proper credit?? Perhaps it wouldn’t matter to you, perhaps it would.
One item that I feel is required is a Book Blessing. This should be the first item you see as you open your BOS (or each BOS depending on how many books you have).
Each time I open one of my Book of Shadows, I read the Blessing and remember the love and devotion I put into the Book and the connection and energy to the Goddess the Book has.
BOOK BLESSING
Here is a Book Blessing I found years ago and the author is unknown. (Yes, this was the credit on the copy I found!) This will get you started.
BOOK OF SHADOWS BLESSING
by unknown
Beautiful Goddess of many faces…
Bless this book that it may enhance
All who choose to read its pages.
Bless this book as my relationship
With You may continue to grow.
I pray to You that You will grace me
With Your love and Your Blessing.
STORAGE
Storage of your BOS is important. Also, it depends on if you are in the closet or open about your Wiccan Ways. You will want to keep it dry and out of harms way. Also out of the hands of any visitors. You will want to make sure that they don’t touch the BOS as you wouldn’t want any negative energy to transfer to the book. Touching your BOS would be the same as someone touching your Altar and Ritual Tools.
You may want to keep it in you Altar Room, if you have one. Maybe keep a book case special for your Wiccan books and BOS. Investing in one with doors would be a good idea.
Another option is to have a special storage trunk for your Wiccan supplies and keep your BOS there.
CONCLUSION
The main thing to remember is the Book is to be YOU. Use the colors, covers, papers, ink and writing utensils that YOU want. This class is to give you ideas but the final decision is yours alone!
I will leave you with my favorite writing.
It’s by Rae Beth and in her book ‘The Wiccan Path’.
RESOLUTION OF A WITCH
May I be as the one who weaves the cloth
in a forest, deep hidden.
May I sit at the work, uninterrupted.
And may I remain an outcast, if that is what it takes.
May I know the seasonal procession in my spirit and
in my body, celebrate cross quarters, solstices and equinoxes.
May each Full Moon find me looking upwards, at trees
outlined on luminous sky.
May I hold wildflowers. May I cup them in my hand.
May I then release them, unpicked,
to live on in abundance.
May my friends be of the kind who are at ease with silence.
may they and I be innocent of pretension.
May I be capable of gratitude. May I know
that I was given joy, like mother's milk.
May I know this as my dog does, in her bones and blood.
May I speak the truth about happiness and pain
in songs that sound of the scent of rosemary,
as everyday and ancient, kitchen-herb strong.
May I not incline to self-righteousness or self-pity.
May I approach the high earthworks and the stone circles?
As fox or moth,
and disturb the place no more than that.
May my gaze be direct and my hand steady.
May my door be open to those who dwell outside wealth
and fame and privilege.
May those who have never walked barefoot never find the
path
that leads up to my door.
May they be lost on the labyrinthine journey.
May they turn back.
And may I sit beside the fire in winter
and see in the glowing logs what is to come,
yet never feel the need to warn or to advise, unasked.
May I sit upon a plain wooden chair, in true contentment.
May the place where I live be as the forest.
May there be track ways where there are caves and pools
and trees and flowers, animals and birds,
all known to me and revered, loved.
May my existence change the world no more nor less
than the gusting of winds, or the proud growth of trees.
For this, I go in cast-off clothes.
May I keep faith, always.
May I never find excuses for the expedient.
May I know that I have no choice, and yet still make the choice
as the song is made, in joy, and with consideration.
May I make the same choice every day, again.
When I fail, may I know forgiveness for myself.
May I dance naked, unafraid to face my own reflection.
by Rae Beth
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