Your Book of Shadows

© Copyright 2024 Emily Jones, All Rights Reserved.

Many people new to witchcraft often seek out a Book of Shadows (in Wicca-speak BOS). Over the years, I have experienced people who expect such a book to be filled with all of the information that they need, already written for them by somebody else. But a true BOS is much more magickal that that. A BOS is a blank book waiting for you to fill it up as your magickal reference and recipe book. The BOS gives you one central place to write down all of the things that seem important to you as you move along your path. It changes and grows with you over time, showing you where you have been and leading you to new explorations. Think of your BOS as an enchanted atlas for recording all your experiences as you journey into a fascinating new realm.

The first thing to keep in mind when creating your BOS is that there is no wrong way to do it. Remember that you are creating a collection of the information that you feel is relevant and central to your spiritual path. Traditionally, your BOS is a place where you can write down rituals and spells, prayers and chants, magickal correspondences and information you want to access at a later time. You can keep track of the phases and signs of the moon, as well as any other astrological information you want to pay attention to. If you have any visionary or meditative experiences, journal about them here. If a spell works really well, having a record of all the things that went into it will help you duplicate it in the future. If a spell does not work, journal in your BOS about why you think your magick did not succeed. If you create an oil or incense, writing the recipe in the BOS will ensure you can make it again. Keep track of the stones, herbs, candles, colors, days, and any other correspondences that you work with. Feel free to experiment and document the results. Over time, you will find that you have created an essential magickal resource that is personalized to you and is far more helpful than a book written by somebody else.

If the prospect of starting a BOS seems daunting, here are some suggestions that might help, but keep in mind that you can really make the book any way you want it to be. Try dividing the book into sections, such as Deities, Spells, Rituals, Tools, Stones, Herbs, and Meditations/Journeys, just to suggest a few. If it feels magickal to you, invest in the most beautiful journal you can find. If you are afraid of writing in a nice journal, start out with a blank notebook. There are also black, blank hardback Books of Shadows readily available. These are perfect for starting your first BOS. Do not be afraid to start writing in your book. As your practice evolves, you can revise and update things. Do not worry that your book has to be perfect. You are creating a reference book personalized to you, and as such, all it needs to do is reflect your magickal journey, including detours, missteps and spells that did not work out. If you can think of your BOS as a reflection of you and your path, you will realize that perfection is not required. Build your book spell by spell, ritual by ritual, correspondence by correspondence until it is a physical repository of all the information you have gathered along your journey. Start your book with a sense of adventure and optimism and let it grow into your most valuable magickal resource.

Recommended Products
Book of Shadows Blank Book Large	Soft Leather Journal with Key
Book of Shadows Blank Book Small	Soft Leather Embossed Pentagram Journal