BOS Contents Page?

[AlleyCat]

Greetings all,

I know there are a few threads on what is your BOS and how did you make it/what do you use etc but unless Im really blind or just plain tired I havent really seen a lot as to what you should *have* in your BOS as in a "Contents page".

So my question for those that have set out their BOS in some order what order is it in and what topics do you feel are important to lay out in your BOS? I want this to be something to pass on to my kidlets if they decide they wish to be little wee witches as well so am hoping to cover a HUGE variety of topics, just not really sure what and in what order LOL

Cheers and thanks for any help and Im sorry if theres already a post containing this information (please point me in the right direction if there is) :lol: :floating:

Blessings,

Alley Cat

[LadyCelt]

I think it depends on the person and their path. For me, when I get time, I want to do the wheel of the year and the elements first. I also want to do things like my horoscope and astrology chart. I also want to do eities that pertain to me. I'm not much of an expert on spell work though. But, I want to add things with herbalism and wtih stones and crystals.

[Ben Gruagach]

LadyCelt is right -- it all depends on the individual, or the particular path they are following. Some groups are very structured about what goes in the BOS and how it is presented. For many others, particularly for solitaries, the BOS can be highly structured (a formal table of contents, page numbering, things grouped into topical sections, etc.) or it can be at the other extreme and have information in no particular order, all mixed up and every which way. It depends on the person and how they think and feel about what they are doing in their BOS.

Usually though there is a section where basic rituals are outlined (like a script -- its up to you how detailed or how general they are), a section with correspondences, perhaps some herbal information, spells, and inspirational or educational poetry or articles or stories. Some people make what are essentially diary entries in their BOS, while others keep their magickal diary as a separate book and keep the BOS more as the working "cook book" of how to do things.

You can see an example of the public-domain version of Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows at http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/gbos/index.htm It's interesting just as a historical thing as much as a place you can get started on for your own BOS.

A BOS for kids can be the same as an adults or it could be modified to whatever you think is appropriate. And as far as I'm concerned, the more artistic a BOS is (pictures, photos, colouring etc.) the better!

[AlleyCat]

Thanks for your help, its highly subjective I know, I have a lot written down but they are mostly files on the computer so are hoping to edit and print out and try and organise my information. So far I have:

Deity & The Afterlife
Wheel of the Year & Sabbats
Esbats
Casting and Ritual Guidelines
Daily Rites, Blessings and Chants
Dream Interpretation
Tarot
Runes
Crystal Correspondence
Herb Correspondence
Recipe's for Healing

Not that I've much under each yet but still sorting out my computers innards lol