Witchcraft Mini lessons # 2 - Your Book of Shadows

~ Witchcraft Mini Lessons #2 ~

Your Book of Shadows

Think of your Book of Shadows (BOS) as your library of magickal information – witchcraft basics, correspondences, spells, resources, even Sabbat information and recipes! Some prefer to call their BOS a Grimoire (grim-wa), but this can be a completely different book. Others use a Grimoire as a magickal journal (tra la la la la) – tracking thoug...hts, experiences and the spells you perform.

Technology means you don’t need to have a physical book of shadows anymore. There is sooo much information on the internet (not all good mind you!) that you can easily cut and paste it into a word document. You would probably be better off creating a folder on your computer with subfolders for each topic.
Otherwise get yourself a folder and some dividers! You can always purchase or make your own special book of shadows later.

Remember anything you make yourself has your energy within it, and will be a more powerful tool for you. Your BOS is special – it is your own. You can put whatever you want in there, but as a Witch, your BOS will probably contain some or all of the following:

Basic Information
• Altars
• Tools
• Casting a circle and conducting rituals
• Glossary
• The Wheel of the Year
• Healing information – including techniques
• Initiation and dedication information

Correspondences
• Days of the Week
• Colours
• Elements & Elementals
• Months
• Incense
• Planets
• Astrological Correspondences

The Moon
• Moon phases and their meanings
• Esbats
• Drawing down the moon rituals
• Moon deities
• Spells and rituals specifically tied to the Moon phases.

Spells, Rituals and Chants
• Ones you write yourself
• Ones you get from others (and note the source so that you can find them again, or find other stuff from your favourite sites or books.)
• The Charge of the Goddess (there are a number of these around – or you could write one yourself)
• The Charge of the God (see above).

Pagan and Witchcraft Ethics, guides and golden rules
• Wiccan Rede
• Witches Rune
• The 13 Principles of Witchcraft

Deities
• Information you research or learn about the deities
• Your experiences with them and how you relate to them

Herbs
• Herbal Correspondences
• Information on how to grow, harvest and use herbs
• You reflections on the herbs you grow and use
• Ways you can incorporate them safely into your spells.

Divination
• Runes – Meanings, associations, uses as a language, record of your readings and experiences working with them
• Tarot and/or Oracle Cards – Meanings (the Little White book vs. your Intuition), Associations, Divination, records of readings, Tarot Path working and spells

Crystals
• Crystal correspondences
• Meanings, your associations
• Ways you can use them for life in general, healing, dreaming and spells
• Crystals for Chakra information

Food
• Magickal uses of different foods
• Recipes for Sabbats and Esbats.
• Recipes for incorporating magickal herbs into your life, or for healing

Dreams
• Dream information – dream journal, dream journeying
• Lucid dreaming
• Your interpretations of dreams
• Your own dream dictionary

Meditation and Astral travelling
• Ones you create
• Ideas for mediations
• Ones you use from others – being sure to keep the source so you know where to go back for more!
• Your experiences on the astral plane
• Places you visit, people you meet, messages you receive

Resources
• Your list of books and websites where you find your information – so you can return for more gems

Don't forget - you can put whatever you want in there It is totally up to you. Get creative! Or just keep it simple... there is no right or wrong way to create your BOS. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise


Sources: Much thanks to Ramblings of a Rainbow Witch - her list on what to include in a BOS formed a lovely backbone to the one I have created above
Image: the_lure_of_a_book_by_fictionchick-d5fjtd9