Suggestions for Your Book of Shadows

[raynelae]

In my personal experience, I've found it's easiest to use a binder or loose leaf folder when making a Book Of Shadows. Journals are so limiting, unless you have everything you want in your Book planned out completely. I like a binder because you can add and remove any information you want. Also, I've found the paper you put in the binder to be bigger, leaving more room to add pictures to a page. Pictures are good to have in your BOS because images stimulate your mind. For example, you would put a drawing of the rune Fehu on a page that holds a money spell.
When adding rituals, spells, and whatnot into your BOS, only add what speaks to you. While you may feel like researching for a spell, it is usually best to write your own spell so you can put more energy into it from the beginning. On to rituals, I must admit, it seems to be hard to write them totally from scratch...but you can always use a pre-written ritual as a basis for writing your own..that's what I do.
Correspondences! Ahhh...they're so useful. My personal suggestion is to start by writing down correspondences for Sabbats. They will be useful when you're trying to figure out how to celebrate the Sabbats. Also include basic color, days of the week, moon phases, etc. correspondences.
This is the total beginning of making a Book of Shadows..I hope you will be moved to make your own! It's a rewarding and spiritual craft that is fulfilling indeed!

[MsMollimizz]

Lots of great info for the those just starting out !!!
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[Firebird]

I gotta tell ya, I use a loose leaf note book as well, you can put lined pages, blank pages, pop holes in printouts from workshops and the like. It's easy to clean house and rearrange or whatever. However over the years it began to fall apart. (I had a really cool canvas covered one that was pretty old, I haven't been able to find another one like that...they all seem to be plastic covered these days ) I finally went and bought a really nice black leather one that I might embellish one day.
Great suggestion Ray.
BB, FF

[raynelae]

Thanks for the kind words both of you! Firebird, I get what you're saying about pages falling apart. A bit worried about that myself...guess I'll just have to be careful with the pages and when they fall apart..well, it's time to start over I suppose. One always has to keep Craft information lively

[ValerieAnne]

I just started a new Book of Shadows, I also prefer a binder of some sort. I also divide the sections up (Each spell category has it's own section, etc), it makes it easier for me to get to the section I'd like to look at. Since I am using a binder that can hold many types of paper/resources I tend to use more than one type. If I am writing and I want it to be precise as far as straightness/neatness goes, I tend to use lined paper. Other times I tend to use regular, plain white printer paper, etc.

The fist Book of Shadows I made (really short/little) I was 12, and I used a journal. I found it very limiting on how much I could write, etc. I didn't like the feel of it and it always had a tendency of not staying open unless I opened the cover/pressed the cover down really hard (then it had a hard time closing if I did that). I had mainly chose the journal since I was in school and could easily get away with writing in a journal.

[raynelae]

I began the same as you, ValerieAnne lol. I like my binder much better.

[frozenlight]

Does anyone know of a good site (for me, I would prefer in UK but can wait for shipping if necessary) selling themed binders that are witchy themed?

If not, could be a business venture for one lucky individual!

FL

[frozenlight]

http://www.brahmsbookworks.com/

I have always drooled over these books. I just keep simple journals. I scribble and doodle in them.

I plan t buy one of the codexs and take a calligraphy course. Worth the wait I think. And the expense. I hope.

[raynelae]

I don't know where you'd buy one...maybe ebay or etsy? If you're the crafty type, you could make your own.

[Firebird]

I think I found a new thing to drool at too!