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Those Magickal Books: Book of
Shadows
Basically the Book
of Shadows is a book in which wiccan (and many pagans) keep a
record of their magickal workings. You may have seen movies and
cartoons of witches reading their spells and enchantments from a
book. Yet there is more to it than just spells. In it you will
find rituals, invocations, healing items, words of wisdom,
affirmations, insights, formulas, and other basic instructions.
Your Book of Shadows becomes your magickal journal. You do not
only record your spells and rituals, but also the results
whether you succeed or fail. The more details you provide the
better for you and future generations. You are providing
yourself and them with an extensive embodiment of knowledge
through your works and findings that will become invaluable. Who
knows? Maybe your Book of Shadows will become a heirloom!
Some wiccan and pagans also include research information and facts and
figures on subjects as astrology, elements, herbs, crystals, and
more. Others prefer to keep it on a separate book they call the
Book of Light. It is up to you whether you want to include
research information as part of your Book of Shadows or on a
separate book.
Anything can be turned into your Book of Shadows. There are
those who keep their Books of Shadows on special parchments
which they write with magickal inks. This is rather expensive
though. Others prefer to buy bound books. If you do not have too
much money you can use notebooks or write everything on papers
and have them bound. I hear those machines are quite
inexpensive. But if you are a computer freak like me, you can
keep your Book of Shadows on diskettes. (Just make sure you make
backup copies!)
This is a simple outline to start your first Book of Shadows.
Remember, nothing is written in blood. That means that there is
plenty of space for differences. You can make changes to this
outline to add your own touch, so feel free to do it.
Book of Shadows outline:
- Title Page
Here is where you can put the name of your Book of Shadows. It
can simply read "Book of Shadows," or you can add your
magickal name to it, for example, "Raven Dance's Book of
Shadows." If you have given your tradition some name, then you
can put it as part of the title, "The RavenLake Tradition Book
of Shadows." But it can also simply have a pentagram and your
name in runes. It is up to you.
- Rules
By now you must have created your own set of rules or code of
conduct by which you bide to. Write it down.
- Invocations of the Goddess and God or a book blessing
Again, this is up to you. You can write a couple of
invocations and put it after the rules. Some witches prefer to
write a blessing instead.
- An altar diagram
This one is self explanatory. Draw a diagram of your main
altar. Also write an explanation for each item in it.
- List of Deities
Write down the names of the deities that are part of your
pantheons as well as a description of each one.
- Tools of the Craft
List those tools that are important to you. Provide a detailed
description of each.
- Circle casting
Write in details those circles you have casted.
- Prayers, invocations, and chants
- Magickal rituals and spells
Remember to provide as much details as possible.
- Magickal information
Herbal lore, crystal information, symbols and signs can be
found in here.
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