confused about a book of shadows

[louise_holm]

is a book of shadows a collection of information,spells stuff about crystals andherbs etc and is it something you make up of your own or do you buy it can you please explain it to me many thanks,louise

[Gypsy flower]

Both, that is the best way I can explain mine and results and your thoughts on the whole experiance.:broomride

[louise_holm]

thank you so i already have one of those because i've been noting down spells herbs and crystals and what they do and just general information about akters and stuff i should get, thank you. isn't the book of shadows a bit dark sounding to you?

[StormVixen]

no... whats wrong with the dark anyway...? mines called a book of Wisdom because i dont hide it. there called books of shadows for a reason... something to do with hiding them... i think...

[vikinggoddess]

It is basically a journal of your activities relating to your practice in the way how I understand and make mine. You may also include note from other people's work, but you should reference their work in it. I have filled a few journals. The one I have now starts out with my garden layout, info on the plants uses and propogation. Some reflective material and ideas, tarot card reading results for myself, referenced info on stone medicine from my teacher, formulas and intake from people who ask me for herbs, illustrations, etc. It depends what you are working on at a particular time in your life. you can also make one in digital format. some things that I feel are less personal and more useful for other people to know I put on my website/medical journal. I have this space that I also make availabe for other herbalists to share successes.

[louise_holm]

oh right thanks stormvixen i get why it's called that now! mines definitley a book of shadows! so i just write down what spells i do and anything else and how successfull they are and what i could do to improve and stufff like that!

[Toby Stimpson]

And if you look at the name a "book of Shadows" it denotes hiing ofcourse as Stormvixen said, but also it denotes hiden knowledge and understanding. Also a shadow is always behind a source of light, so it could also mean a dual perspective. I personally do not use the name, although i know a lot of others do. I put together mine on my computer which i will then print when it is done nicely and have professionally bound in leather...will be expensive but the information will be compiled in such a way that my grand children can use it if they grow into a spiritual tradition that uses magick, or alternative religion.

Namaste

Tobias

[Ben Gruagach]

The term "Book of Shadows" was attached to the idea of a magickal journal by Gerald Gardner back in the 1940s or 1950s. He borrowed the term from the title of a book about an Indian method of divination that apparently involves measuring one's shadow and then looking up the measurements in a book to figure out the meanings.

"Book of Shadows" tends to be used mostly by Wiccans, since Wiccans are spiritual descendants of Gerald Gardner. Others tend to use other names such as "grimoire" or simply call it a journal or diary.

[David19]

I think a Book of Shadows is basically a record of your spells, rituals, meditations, herbs, crystals, other metaphysical and magical things like chakras and auras and maybe stuff you find interesting. Also i think it's what you want it to be, i know that some wiccans/witches call it a grimoire and some keep seperate folders e.g. one for divination, astral projection, etc.

[Agaliha]

Here are some threads about Book of Shadows that may help you out--

Question about BOS (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=106689)
Book of Shadow Questions (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=105130)
Book of Shadows picture thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=6057) <--see other's BOS's
Naming BOS (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=99037) <--doesn't have to be called "Book of Shadows"
BOS stuff (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=93113) <--has ideas for contents
BOS categories? (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=87481) <---some great ideas or organizing

[RubyRose]

My Book of Shadows started out as a journal, but I quickly gave that away. (simply because I'm no good at regularly keeping journals) Actually my complete Book of Shadows is located on my computer, clearly labelled, so if anybody was nosy enough and went through my files, they'd come across tonnes of stuff. Fortunately though, my privacy seems to be intake. :lol:

I do have a folder, which I've printed out a fair amount of what's in my Book of Shadows, though, so I have access to the information.

As for keeping it hidden, well my Bookcase in my bedroom just happens to be several drawers in a cabinet. If I had an actually Bookcase (along with enough room, to accomodate it) it wouldn't be hidden.

As for content. Anything and anything. I'm currently in the middle of compiling a 'Child's Book of Shadows', because I'd like to share Paganism, with my son when he is born.

[Lady Valkyrie]

I used to call mine a Book of Shadows. However, the more I thought about it the more I found it to be "My Spiritual Journal." It contains everything that one would think a book of shadows would contain, spells, rituals, info on herbs, gardening, crystals, sabbats, esbats, gods, goddesses, etc. But it's somuch more... it also contains my random spiritual thoughts. It is truely my spiritual journal concerning my spiritual journey on this earth.

[aluokaloo]

is a book of shadows a collection of information,spells stuff about crystals andherbs etc and is it something you make up of your own or do you buy it can you please explain it to me many thanks,louise


You can do it either way, I don't have enough money to get the big book of shadows, but I have two on my computer, and I've got a couple of ones that are plain old regular notebooks. It's up to you, however you wanna do it.

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

*A* Book of Shadows is your personal (perhaps private) spellbook or book in which you put any useful bits of information.
*THE* Book of Shadows is the one written by Gerald Gardner, and contains rituals for putting up the Circle, Sabbats, and Initiations, as well as some bits on healing (very headology-like healing bits!), a list of 'Old Laws' which many dispute in this day and age, and other bits and pieces. The oldest version of that one is, to my knowledge, held by the Wiccan CHurch of Canada and is known as Ye Bok of Ye Art Magical.
Presumably you could buy one, but I wrote mine.

[Catiana]

My Book of Shadows is where I keep my spells, rituals, info on stones, herbs, etc.

My Book of Mirrors is my journal.

[AlAskendir]

is a book of shadows a collection of information,spells stuff about crystals andherbs etc and is it something you make up of your own or do you buy it can you please explain it to me many thanks,louise

Back before the middle ages, Alchemists and Ceremonial Mages would have their apprentices take notes on the stuff they couldn't memorize, as a way of helping them memorize it. Should an apprentice become a journeyman, he then would have to create a code and encrypt his grimoire, usually calling herbs interesting but outre or 'yucky' animal parts, etc. Again, this made the information even more intensely imprinted into the journeyman's mind, and provided a way where, when they were seperated and the new master was on his own, they could send letters to each other and not worry about people stealling their 'secrets'.

When Wicca for modern times was being developed, and parts of Ceremonial Magick were being thrown into the mix, tradition-holders noted the tendecy of hand-written information to be more fully memorized and incorporated it into their traditions - - - the student must take notes by hand on what she or he is taught, keep that book of notes with them at most times and definately at every moon-meeting.

As Wicca spread out in the many varieties available today, the cachet of the grimoire and the book of shadows continued into the use it has now, usually hand-written (often typed into computer files or burned onto CDs) into a specially bought blank book from any source of learning that the student or practisioner may come across.

I hope that has helped you.

[blackfire1985]

It is basically a journal of your activities relating to your practice. You may also include note from other people's work, but you should reference their work in it. you can also make one in digital format.

yeah what she said

[AlAskendir]

thank you so i already have one of those because i've been noting down spells herbs and crystals and what they do and just general information about akters and stuff i should get, thank you. isn't the book of shadows a bit dark sounding to you?

Yeah, the darkness is like the encrypting of the Journeymen Alchemists...the book is supposed to be mysterious, the notes should remind you of whatever you need to remember, while if anyone should happen to 'come across' the book and read thru it, they shouldn't be able to tell what any of it is about. That 'mystery' invokes the Law of Resonance, and confers some of the conceptual Momentum of everyone who has ever written in or used a Grimoire or Book of Shadows....

[StarCraftLia]

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