BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Wicca Book of Shadows

Almost all of us have a Book of Shadows in some form or another.

Some have been passed or copied from the Book of thier tradition, some are more free form and personal.

Some are fancy leather bound lovelies, others are simple notebooks, and some are bound by hand.

Mine is a green leather hardcover book that I got from D'Vyne Wrytes. It was a little on the expensive side but for me it was worth it.

My tradition is more a collective of solitaries so there is not one book we all copy from. Each of us has our own special place and personal information.

Tell me about yours...

Just what constitutes a book of shadows? I've always been curious...

Actually I have 2 articles which I hope will answer that question. But if they dont, please feel free to ask more!

Book of Shadows Basics - the Book

Book of Shadows Basics - The Information

Fiona's articles are great, and there are a variety of ways to keep a BOS. I started by keeping a journal of rituals I'd written and performed and their results. I also started a separate book of rituals and articles written by others that I particularly liked. I added this to the lists of correspondences, etc. that I'd started in the beginning, so this one is more like a reference book.

Back when I was still practicing, I kept a log of my rituals on my computer. I've still got them. More a Disk of Shadows <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well I apparently have my own 'BOS' however its more of an accordian style fle folder crammed full of information Ive gleaned from all over covering everything from herbs and moon phases to fairies and the abenaki language....I actually need a 2nd file now.

Hope- I actually do have some things on my computer too. But then I lost a lot when my laptop died. I like the feel of copying them into the book though. Feels special somehow.

Wendy -I actually have a box that all of my "notes" get crammed into until I have time to sort through and put the stuff into my book. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Are you Abenaki? I have a friend who is but he lives out here and is travelling the Lakota Red Road right now.

Yes I am abenaki - or atleast that is what the family theory is. My mothers family is all from the central part of maine...which is abenaki, micmac, passamoquoddy, penobscot etc. I just say abenaki because most people know of that tribe.

My BOS actually is in its second volume at the moment. It is a variety of information from the web, other witches, other healers, other teachers, my own experiences with rituals, spell-casting, healing, herbs, etc. that is divided into categories and kept in a purple binder, now two of them. Some of it is typed, some printed from a computer, some handwritten. Somehow the texts that are handwritten seem to hold more power for me.

In addition to being a research tool and a source of information for future actions, I also keep track of the results of spells, rituals, and incantations. Thus, while the ritual entry might take place on one day, the results might be logged in a week later. It allows me to take into consideration HOW things happen and sometimes even WHY.

There are some parts of my book that have passed to me by family members or other practitioners. I will pass it one to my daughters one day. Until then, it is there for all of us to learn and to glean advice from.

KendraShai

Mine is a normal black book. I've got two of them actually. It contains the basics of witchcraft, sabbaths, herbs, some own spells etc. etc...