Merry Meet Everyone! It's Rozel (for those who don't know) and I decided to give some knowledge to my loved coven, so I decided what is missing? I noticed there's hardly anything about creating a Book of Shadows so I decided to make a fourm on it :) This fourm will include all my information I know and can obtain on Book of Shadows and feel free to add your opinions and your own knowledge as well! I hope you all like it!
What is a Book of Shadows?
A Book of Shadows is a very important and strong book that is a must for every witch to have. I am not saying you must need it, though it will make one stronger and is a great way to record ones spells, rituals, experiences, and other topics. Many think of it as a Grimoire, but it should not be though of in that way. A Grimoire is a book of spells and rituals while a Book of Shadows is a book designed for the same thing only it has a more personal energy to it.
What are myths dealing with Books of Shadows?
(Obtained from my Grandmother)
It is said that it obtained its name Book of Shadows due to the fact that in the olden times they would write in their Book of Shadows only in candle light. There is a specific ritual in one of my Grandmothers Book of Shadows involving a candle that can be done to a Book of Shadows to increase its power (Ill get to that soon with permission).
Another being that when the witch is killed or passed away, it was a certain custom to burn the witchs Book of Shadows if the witch was being cremated or buried with the witch if being buried (though in that time, it was usually burned). Now in days, I would believe that the witch passes down their Books of Shadows to their children and them to their children. You are lucky to be born as a witch for most gain the knowledge from their ancestors, so Ive learned to appreciate the knowledge given to me and you should too!
It is also a myth that once you have filled a whole Book of Shadows, it is put away until your death. Many now in days create many Book of Shadows. Some create one every year and some create a new one once the old one is filled. I would find this myth horrible, because whats the point of putting away your Book of Shadows if they are the ones that have the information? Though I see the point of hording or protecting valuable information.
What should a Book of Shadows contain?
To begin with, you should start by obtaining the actual book! Now the book could be anything you like, from an expensive leather bound parchment book to a cheap 99 cent notebook. It doesnt really matter what the book is, as long as you feel drawn to it or feel like its right for you. This book can be written in it with cheap pencil or fancy ink pens, again, go with what feels right; its up to you.
Now what the inside must contain it up to you. It can have anything you want, and anything you need. Its yours! Put anything in it. Though I do recommend the usual basic needs: A title page, a blessing, your Code of Conduct, Self Evaluation, a table of contents, a dedication, and a special authors note (author page).
The title page can be made simple or can be made complicated. By simple I mean just the title. By complex, I mean a fancy title with drawing and all this extra things. Again, its up to you. A blessing is somewhat like a poem (like most chants or spells). It is like a prayer to the book, protecting the book and setting the intention of the book. The three main things a blessing should include are its intention/purpose, its followers deity/deities, and a personal part of the witch. These are considered personal so I will not be sharing mine, if thats okay. A Code of Conduct is like rules you set for yourself. Such as I will not abuse my powers or I will never use bad intended magick. They are like laws or promises you make to yourself. A Self Evaluation is similar to a self discovery. Though I think of it as a Correspondence Chart for yourself! What it should include is the things that you feel drawn to such as a Metal, Flower, Season, Rune, Gemstone, etc. Now a table of contents is just like any table of context in a textbook, it is used to keep the book organized, so I wont need to explain this. Same goes with a dedication; dedications are just like in any book, Dedicated to my family/dogs/deities/etc. Now an authors note, which I think of it, is a personal note that says who the book belongs to. What it includes is your name (it being your craft name, your birth name, or both!), the coven you belong in, and a little creative phrase.
The thing of a Book of Shadows is that it is personal and many chose to write in it as if it were a diary or a journal. I do this to record my time and my own personal life and to see how much Ive grown. The entries are both Magick related and just regular life like about my non-witch boyfriends or what I did with my friends, etc. Now as for the few pages of views, they are also important so that you may see how much youve grown throughout the years. Now I personally just start a new one when the other is full and I always include the Title Page, Blessing, Dedications, Authors Page, and a Few Views Pages (like around three of four pages). The view pages consist on your views in things, such as how you view black magick or love magick or magick in general. It can also be in views of every day life such as politics, homosexuality, economics, history, etc. It is all up to you. If you missed some views and say your already started your Book of Shadows and your around the middle of your book, just add it in a journal entry.
Now as for the actual information, again you can add anything that you would like from spells to experiences. It is up to you though many use their Books of Shadows to include their Dreams for Interpretation, Astral Travel experiences, Correspondences Charts, and much more! There is no limitation to knowledge, so shoot for the stars, or like what my ninth grade AVID teacher says Think BIG!
My Own Book of Shadows
I started a Book of Shadows in around Eight Grade but my parents never approved of Magick or Witchcraft so in their anger burned my Book of Shadows. I was mad, but what could I do? My parents never wanted anything to do with magick so they neglected their heritage, and though they can do so much to try and stop my dedication to the Goddess and magick, that will never happen. Its like denying my race, or my homosexuality, or the color of my eyes and hair for Goddesses sake!
Anywho, in my book of shadows (which was a leather bound notebook, same size as a normal school notebook, non-lined, black) I hade my simple title page which was just the words Book of Shadows with a drawing of a Pentagram (page one). On the back of this page (page two) I had my special personal dedication (author page). It went something like This book belongs to Rozel/Ricardo Rose with the strength of many generations and the spirit thats bright. (My grandmother actually wrote it for me :) On page three, I had my dedication page, which I dedicated mine to the Goddess, my two Chihuahuas that seem to like being in my circles so I use their energy (with permission of course!), and to my Grandmother which I love and will always be my teacher and friend all in one :)
Now for my Table of Contents...I didnt have one. I didnt have one because I dont really like them. In my Book of Shadows, I just wrote on the next page and just continued, so it was pretty unorganized, but I didnt really mind because my grandmothers Book of Shadows is the same and what I like about having no Table of Contents is that its like a scavenger hunt; your looking for something you need and you find a amazingly new thing that you werent looking for in the first place! So point being, I didnt really like a table of contents in my Book of Shadows. As for my blessing, like I said, I consider it personal so I wont share. Though I do plan to use the same blessing for every Book of Shadows. Same goes for my Code of Conduct and my self evaluation.
I write my Book of Shadows with an ink pen, but you can use anything you would like. The actually info I had was a lot. I had Correspondence Charts, Herb Charts, Spells, Rituals, The Basics (Obviously!), lessons, and so much more. Though the two things I find incredibly important are your entries and your few pages on your views.
End Notes:
I dont have a Book of Shadows as of right now, but I am planning to by one from the Spells of Magick shop. I hope you all liked this small lesson and I would really like feedback. And remember, this is your book; it is all up to you! I will also ask my Grandmother if I can post some of her rituals that she made dealing with Books or Shadows. If you have any questions or what some more in-depth information of anything of the Book of Shadows or anything you didnt understand, just ask me and I will clarify or add information as much as I can :)
Next Post...
In this first post, I explained how to build a Book of Shadows and some of it's myths. My next post will deal with things more "magickal". In my next post (and I'm not sure how much posts I will make for this Book of Shadows Thread), I will explain why and how a Book of Shadows is powerful, rituals you can use your Book of Shadows in, and about a Book of Shadows actual energy. Stay tuned...
(Next post will be next Sunday)
References:
My Grandmother, Her Book of Shadows, and some research on Google and some of my usual knowledge...
Rozel