How to Compile a Book of Shadows

A Book of Shadows, also known as "BoS," is a personal journal in which spells and rituals are recorded. Originally, a Book of Shadows was passed on from teachers to students, but it's now more common for every Wiccan to create her own journal. A BoS is not a sacred text comparable to a Bible (there's no such thing in Wicca). Instead, it is a collection of the owner's thoughts, experiences and research. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook or three-ring binder
• Decorations

Instructions

Make Your Own Journal

1. Get a notebook or journal big enough to record a few months worth of material. There are many online shops that sell Wicca items decorated with pentagrams and other symbols, or you can use a plain notebook purchased from any local shop. Some people prefer to use a three-ring binder so they can keep adding pages as more information is recorded.

2. Create an index section, so you'll be able to find information as the journal grows larger.

3. Add your ideas and modifications of spells to the book. The BoS is a working journal, and Wiccans are encouraged to learn the Craft by practicing and experimenting.

4. Compile a range of useful information in your BoS. You may want to include things that don't seem directly related to Wicca, such as special recipes you can use during the Sabbats, tips on growing and drying your own herbs or ideas on how to rearrange your house for good energy.

5. Include personal experiences in your BoS. If you are part of a coven or have been initiated into a particular tradition of Wicca, include details about it. This can take the form of a poem, an account of a ceremony or simply a reminder of what the event was like.

Tips & Warnings

• Decide whether you want to put your BoS on a computer disk. While there are no set rules for this, many Wiccans argue that a BoS should be written by hand and not saved on a computer disk or printed. This is due to the fact that words have long been considered powerful and magical by Wiccans.

• Know that your BoS can be used to compile personal thoughts or to save spells and bits of information found in other books or the Internet. The purpose of the book is to serve as a reference for future work. The BoS should also compile information about the eight Sabbaths and how to celebrate them.