Your Book of Shadows?

[Sowelu]

I am in the process of slowly putting together my BOS, and was wondering...How many here actually have one?
Did you decorate it? How? I've pressed flowers in mine and they stick to the pages, so I write around them. Plus some of the pages smell like roses. I was just hoping that someone could share with me any special touches they may have applied to theirs.:)

[Mithrea]

I got one of those odd commercial black ones that says "Book of Shadows" on it in gold. I'm planning to buy a pentacle patch and use a hot glue gun to cover that up but I haven't gotten around to it yet ;)

I'm a bit lo-tech and my book is no thing of beauty but that resonates well with me because I always more interested in function over form. However, my Mom gave me these great sort of Victorian stickers that have perfume bottles and feathers, butterflies and fairies. I decorate the pages with those. I also do alot of drawings to go along with my spells or recipes. I just use colored pencils and sharpies. I try and be careful though because it's pretty full now and the more I decorate, the less info I can put in. I also annointed the inside covers with sandalwood oil to protect it. So it smells good from that.

Now I also have sort of an herbal grimiore which has all of my plant information and some more crafty stuff as opposed to my BOS which is mostly M&R and some food recipes to go along with the rituals. My herbal is just an ordinary spiral 8 1/2 x 11 sketchbook and I just draw like crazy. Also, if I can take pictures of the herbs growing around my house or growing in my pots, then I add those too.

Both books have articles, flowers, notes, etc. stuffed between the pages also. Also, it's my understanding that many people only use one type of ink or one special pen. I don't do that because I think uniformity makes it look less personal. I like mine to look used and messy (like everything else I own!) but that's just me ;)

I don't know if that's what you are looking for but that's what mine looks like. I think the most important thing is that it reflects you. :D

[WandererInGray]

*grins* I'm a slacker when it comes to BOS.
I've got a little spiral journal that I jot down spells in as I'm doing them, but 95% of my stuff comes off the top of my head, so it's usually if I'm doing something formal and just need to make a list to make sure I don't forget anything.

Then I've got a recipie book I'm putting together with a ton of loose papers that were floating around the house, I'm trying to get it in some semblance of order so that finding something I want to make for dinner isn't a total chore. :D

But other than that...*shrugs* It's never really been one of my driving impulses.

[Melysande]

Mine is a huge white binder with a couple Robert Vavra unicorn pictures on it that I cut out of an old calendar.

I've got a LOT of stuff in it. Holiday decoration ideas, favorite quotes, tons of recipes, meditation techniques, information on tarot, totems, familiars, essential oils, aromatherapy, kitchen witchery, segments for my poetry (I have none at the moment), segments for other people's poetry, jokes, webweaving contact information, segments for when I bother to write down spells (I'm usually a spur of the moment person but sometimes I write things down), prayers, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Tao Te Ching, information on Shinto, descriptions of gods and goddesses that have personal meaning for me, a section on ethics, a section on herbology, a section on gardening, astrological charts, corrspondence charts, moon lore, sheet music, and much, much more....

I used to keep my journals in there, too, but now those journals have their own binders.

[Mystic Wolf]

Mine is technically 4 different books...

The main book is a 5 inch 3-Ring Binder. This will contain everything that I get from my teacher. It has things like rituals, songs, spells and our laws.

The second book is currently a 3 Subject Spiral Bound notebook with 200 pages that I keep for notes. There is a section on Herbs, Plants and Oils, One for Gemstones, Candles and Tools, and the final one contains recipes and concoctions that I am developing. Each section also contains a reading list of related books that I plan on buying over time.

The third book is my journal. This is a leather bound book that I keep musings, dreams and experiences in.

The final "book" is a collection of things I have collected on the Internet. These could be words of wisdom from here, numerous mailing lists that I am on or articles and stories that I found interesting.

My wife and I will most likely be creating a Formal Book for ritual use later as well.

[MammaStar]

I made mine. Sort of. I took one of those plain white photo albums you find in craft stores and covered it in this funky blue/green cloth and the inside back & front covers I found "starry" paper and pasted that in. I have everything pretty much in mine. I received green parchment paper a while ago, and wrote all my rituals on that paper. I didn't use the same ink for each either. I bought gel pens and used the color that I felt represented the Sabbat (i.e., Pink for Beltaine, Red for Litha, Blue for Yule, you get the idea) Then the pages that came with the book (they weren't photo type) I wrote activities that I do during Sabbat. I have articles from MW newsletters, threads, etc. Articles from different websites and pictures that i've cut out of printed out.

[Lavender]

Mine is really a box...ok...a couple of boxes. They're full of bits of papers, articles, whatnots. Mine are mostly herbal stuff, notes & folklore that I've collected over the years. I love herbal lore & anytime I hear anything interesting, I jot it down on whatever's on hand. I have napkins with stuff written all over them. :D

I do have a very nice fabric bound book with acid free pages that my hubby gave me years ago. Other than my name and a favourite poem, it's still blank. Heh! Someday.

[Jeleia]

I have a drawer that I keep all my stuff in. I have a folder (well 2) that I have with all my info from the net. I keep my books as well. I have a notebook with a few spells and such in it. I've been planning to organize it all into a books, but I just haven't got around to it. I was also thinking of putting it all onto disk.

I was thinking about making my bos like a scrapbook. Pasting pictures, articles and drawings, as well as my spells/info/ect, If you visit some craft stores you can find some neat page patterns too.

[Sowelu]

WoW, alot of creativeness here!

I have actually a large, black scetch book with thick pages inside that I bought at the store. I also do the gel pen thing too here and there...
I think that what I'm going to do is place pictures inside, maybey some pressed fresh herbs between the pages, flowers...scrap items,,,,and I will probably leave the outside of the book plain (undecided yet) Anything I print off the internet I cut out (pics) or try to hand write it in the book. I love the ideas you all have shared.
And, I love to draw so I'm sure it will be full of alot of my scetches.:)

[Run_With_Wolvez]

My BoS isn't decorated much, I haven't really done anything to it, besides write in it. I haven't added anything to the cover or inside yet... I might though. Give it my own personal touch. *nods*

[Faery-Wings]

Ugh. Everytime I read about how nicely done everyone else's BoS is, I say I have to re-do mine. Mine is in a plain white three ring binder and I was just so excited when I finally got it organized into sections! Someday I will get it redone, rewritten, better organized and blessed....someday...

:)

[phoenixsong]

My main book of shadows is a red binder, which is looking pretty full now as there's more than a hundred handwritten pages in it, from diary-type entries to things copied off the computer (I have no printer, so anything I want available off line I have to hand copy, very tiring, poor me :D). I also have hundreds of text files on my hard drive copied off net sites and mailing lists. If I want to find anything specific, I can just use the 'Find files and folders' utility, which is quick and easy.

[Flaire-FireStar]

Mine just happens to be in a series of a 3-ring binder..nothing fancy.. Then a spiral notebook (with blue paper. ;) hehe) and finally a whole bunch of stuff on disc waiting to be copied down. I was going to do something fancy, but decided againsed it.

[Radocs]

I just use a little three subject notebook.

[Sowelu]

I also enjoy using black paper with gold and silver gel pens...:)

[Emy]

I am in the process of reorganizing my BoS, since it currently isn't working too good, I can't seem to find what I am looking for in it. :) My BoS is a four ringed binder. Some pages have been laminated so that I can take them out even if it rains... :)

However I am gonna reorganize it some, and make two or maybe three books instead of just one. I am gonna decorate them, since that means a lot to me. :) I also try to have all of it handwritten, but some stuff I have written on my computor instead and printed it. I also got plans on pressing flowers and herbs to attach to my BoS, I am hoping to find herbs to put in my herbal grimoire part. :)

[Rubi Waters]

mine is a 3 ring binder (Red & White) nothing fancy (yet). I have it sectioned off into subjects. I've been trying to come up with a different idea how to decorate it.

[Fire_Crotch132074]

I'm in the middle of making one, it is basically a plastic 3 ring binder thing that I put this black fuzzy carpet thingy over it and I'm about to cut a circle in the middle of it so my silver pentagram will fit in it. It will look quite neatoe. I have a disk of shadows now because my mom found my original bos in my room when she went snoopin around and threw it in the FIRE PLACE! I was mad but laughed quite hard later. Well when I complete my bos I will tell all.

[Silver]

What you people call a BOS was/is called (originally) a Grimoire and was/is used to remind a mage of his spells/information etc.. Mine is a leather covered spiril bound sketch book.

[Ganga]

Wow, you people... So much creativity here. I have to admit that I have neglected my BOS lately. It's a notebook with pictures of herbs on the cover, and I write down spells I do, which is not too often. I'd like to start using it more as a journal in which I note my realizations, meditations and what I did on Full Moon, even if it was just a walk in the woods. Your ideas are so nice that I think I'll print these pages out, and get into serious re-organizing.

[Flar's Freyja]

I took a wire-bound five-subject notebook and glued some celestial fabric that I liked to the cover. On the dividing pages, I painted titles for the sections and glued crystals and magickal herbs.

I was regularly documenting every ritual that I did in my BOS, along with meditations and workings. I'd look back every now and then and note the results. I've fallen out of that routine. Thanks for bringing this up and inspiring me to get back into it!

[BrigitCayenne]

Mine is just a turqouise folder with a holographic cat sticker on the front. I keep prayers, songs, chants, rituals, and poems in there. There's really nothing fancy about it, and after reading about everyone else's BOS mine seems very mundane. It would be very difficult for me to rewrite everything in there in a notebook, but maybe I will get a nicer folder, and bless it.

[phoenixsong]

I keep mine very plain on the outside in case someone finds it. But it would be really cool to have it velvet- or other nice material-covered, and with symbols and such.

OT: Until recently, I was keeping it at the back of my wardrobe, where it was safe. Then one evening, I stuffed it in an old schoolbag and put it elsewhere - I didn't know why at the time - before going to work. When I returned, my room had been completely cleared out, wardrobe included, and if I hadn't moved it, either my mother or my sister would have found it, and there would have been ructions. Thank goodness for intuition.

[Fire_Crotch132074]

welp my bos that I had finished is now missing!!! But ohwell I'm about to finish my 3rd!!! one now. First one was thrown in fire, now 2nd one is missing, this one will not go missing if my mom likes haveing air in her tires. Grrr!!! Ohwell this one is a 3 ring, plastic binder thing, with a pentagram made of glitter (my old pentagram that cost me about $35 was silver and it is now missing with my 2nd bos!!!) Welp this looks cool, its got 2 of my poems, a couple of meditation things I go through on a nightly basis, a blessing, and it will have the spells and rituals I've done so far in the near future. Well thats it for me right now.

[cherrywind]

I've decided to redo mine. My old one is just a plain book. My new one I want to be a plain book, unruled, and I'm planning on finding some nice green material and gluing it on and then decorating it with some pressed flowers I have. I might decorate for a few other things too, but that's getting a bit ahead of myself. I'm having a hell of a time just finding a plain unruled book.

[Ganga]

I've kept my word and re-organized things. I still keep my first BOS for more personal stuff: writing monthly "asessments" at full moon (about the things I've done on my spiritual path, realizations, etc.), jotting down spells as I go, and so on. My new one is one that I can share with those who are interested. It is a three-ring-binder, divided into sections such as "gods & goddesses", "musings", "spells", "herbs", "sabbats" and "moonlore". I do some creative art (creativity being one of my personal goals for this year), especially in the sabbats-section (lots of sunny pictures and overflowing cauldrons full of pressed flowers to honour the Summer Solstice, for example). I copy poems in the "musings". Collect herbal knowledge, stories of gods and goddesses, etc. Write down spells that were succesful and which I want to do again at some time in the future. My kids saw this new Grimoire and insisted that they also want to make their own "scrapbooks". So, I bought three-ring-binders for them, too. My daughter named hers "The Shadow Book" and my son, "The Book of Earth" (because his has a green cover)

[McKennaRain]

I orginally started writing everything out with nice pens and paper...but soon my hand started to get cramped up and I was told I was getting the symptoms of carpel tunnel...so I quickly stopped that. I went out and bought a really sturdy binder (that cost $12) and some cool material that has stars and moons on it from the fabric store and made a cover for it. I then found a really nice font and used that to print all my pages with on white paper.

It turned out really well and I'm totally happy with it.!

[Fire_Crotch132074]

Nice BOS McKennarain :thumbsup:

[McKennaRain]

Why thank you. I just redid it last night and rearranged it all...Does anyone know where I can find some pagan/wiccan pictures that I can put on my pages? The pages are all white and I wanted to spruce it up a little.

I basically freehanded the cover for my bos (look at pic link above) and I'm so happy that it fit!. I may have to do another one soon. it's gettin kinda full...

Periodically I burn a CD with all my stuff from my bos and keep that in a safe place in case I lose or wreck my book. I learned my lesson in college...did a project and didn't back it up and I lost it...so now I backup EVERYTHING I don't want to lose.

I love my bos and I use it quite often!. It's definitely something I want to save and pass on to my son or daughter.

I love this site too! you guys have such good ideas!

blessed be!

Michelle (aka McKenna Rain)

[Jeleia]

Thats a lovely bos McKennaRain!!!

:)

[Arwen Evanstar]

McKennaRain,

I've seen rubber stamps at craft stores that might work for your BOS. They have wizards, suns, stars, moons, faeries, etc, if that's what you had in mind. Hope that helps!:-)

[Silverfern]

Mine is 2 pieces of cardboard and on the left side I've stuck some leftover oakboards from the floor the cardbaord that is coverd with foamrubber and on top of that i glued dried leaves from the trees in our garden. inside I used several pieces of cardboard to make sections for my herbs, rituals, etc these are covered with dried herbs poems etc. For the paper I write on I've used handmade paper but very thick.
I stuck pictures dried flowers etc on the pages I write my stuff on Used various inks and paints to make it me.

Hope this makes any sense otherwise have a look at auctionwitch.com they have one for sale on the mainpage now wich is a similar design

[yemayasdaughter]

I am so happy to hear that I am not the only one without a outlandish BOS...I actually purchased the generic BOS (black with gold letter.. I like to call it the NO FRILLS BOS) But totally did not like it. Also bought a huge black sketch book, but decided against using that as well... so in the meantime, my BOS is a blue loose leaf notebook! :lol:

[*~*Chary*~*]

Mine consist of three hard disks filled with information hee hee (its mainly pictures)

but i intend of getting a nice one to put things in

[yemayasdaughter]

This place has beautiful Book of Shadows.. if you can afford them!! Magickal Enchantments-CLICK HERE TO SEE BOS (http://www.magickalenchantment.20m.com/bkshadow.htm) :heartthro :heartthro

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Originally posted by Wildchild
Mine is really a box...ok...a couple of boxes. They're full of bits of papers, articles, whatnots. Mine are mostly herbal stuff, notes & folklore that I've collected over the years.

WildChild that is a great idea. That's how I keep up with stuff the kids do that I wanna keep. It's much easier than a scrap book. I have one of those plastic storage boxes for each of my children and when I wanna save something I just drop it in. Things stay pretty much in order ( I can't spell chronilogical:T )! For a time I had to store these boxes in the old barn, but because they were plastic the contents were safe from the rodents!

Back to the BOS. Mine is a binder that has a sleeve on the front with a "window". So I traced a picture (can't draw well) and slide into that for the front. Mine is kinda messy. I have those dividers in it so that I can group stuff. Mostly I write notes, thoughts of the day, prayers, spells on just any page and go back later and organize.....although I haven't organized in a while:eek: !

And Phoenixsong, I know how you feel, cause I don't have a printer either. All that writing can get tiring but it can be a good thing! I tend to remember more because I write it down instead of just printing. I know the BOS is created so that you don't have to remember everything and can have a reference, but it helps me remember where I put it, that it is acutally in the book and can be found, and sometimes things I've written in it will just pop into my head where as what few things I have printed off (using another computer) don't usually help me unless I happen to run across it while looking for something elese.:)

[Cait]

I'm another one who actually has a Floppy Disk of Shadows... :) It's full of essays, random notes, rants, thoughts and assorted silly stuff. It just made sense to me to do it on the computer - I type much faster (and neater, heh) than I write, I can change it around whenever I like without making it all messy - and besides, this way I can password-protect it.

Recently, though, I also started keeping a paper BoS. It's not very elaborate, just a plain black A5 sketchbook, and it's terribly messy, full of scribbly little drawings and computer printouts and my horrible scrawly handwriting... but I rather like having it, partly because I can draw little pictures and decorations and diagrams around the writing, which is fun, and also because, unlike a computer, I can actually carry it around and look at it whenever I need to.

[aria]

well, mine is currently a fuzzy blue book in which I have handwritten everything. I've got random poems, drawings, and pictures that I've printed off my computer as decorations. But I'm also working on re-working it: I'm typing everything on my computer (so I can actually read it, unlike my handwriting...) and adding the pictures directly into the text. Eventually, if I ever finish, I'm going to print it all on nice paper and hand-bind it.. someday, perhaps...

[ChelleOfShadows]

I am currently working on my 42nd BOS. Every year I give myself a new book. Usually I buy these offline or at a bookstore.

I have been keeping them yearly since I performed my first ritual at 4. The first 2 books are all my drawings etc. Once I got a little older I bought diaries, then moved to spiral notebooks etc. quite a few years have 3 or more.

When I was 13 my mother bought me a beautiful leather bound vellum paged book. It was the first year I used my BOS for my prayers and poetry in addition to my spells and rituals. It was also the first year I did not run out of pages in a long while. From that year forward I have always made sure whatever I bought had at least 400-500 pages and that it was pretty. That is my vanity coming through but I like pretty things.

I have always considered them my magickal diaries rather than BOS's. I have also copied until my 23rd year onto my computer and have saved it to disc.

[lisseth]

I just started mine maybe a year and a half ago. It's bound with red leather, hard cover, a heart with a crown above it imprinted on the front, the sides of each page are gold.

I believe the next BoS I keep will be online considering I'm a much faster typist, and my current BoS has about twenty pages left that I intend on filling up anytime now.

I was thinking about joining a free "diary" company and keeping my BoS there, saving it on a floppy afterwards. *shrug* Probably far more organized then my current BoS. =)

[Myst]

Ok I'm sure I've responded to this question before but eah... don't know where or what I said.. :D I've been cleaning and sorting a lot of stuff so I can start packing to move in a couple weeks, and I found I have a binder for printed materials - it's black and fairly undecorated, just has nice dividers and lots of printed stuff. I also have a big black hard cover book of shadows with those words embossed in gold on the cover which I've decorated a bit on the inside but not much, and write all kinds of stuff in. I also have a small hard cover book of shadows (identical to the one I just mentioned but smaller) for journal type writing, though it never does seem to get written in.

[Morgandria]

My first BoS was a binder, which was much easier to carry with me to school. As I got older, it got fuller...and eventually a couple of years ago I decided I wanted a new BoS. So I bought a plain black sketchbook, copied it all in by hand, and illustrated almost every page. I painted the cover, too.

Then, in March, my sketchbook BoS quite literally fell apart in my hands. The binding broke. I started to hand-copy it into anothe book I had, but soon discovered the pages were too delicate for it to be used a lot. It is so pretty, too....was very disappointing to me. I still have to finish it, tho, because I do like my handwritten versions.

So I made another - two covers of cardboard, covered in cloth, and bound together with cord. I put a lovely pentacle made of stone chips on the front cover. I made some chapter cover pages in parchement and painted them in watercolours, to keep my sections separate. And then I cheated - I typed up all my pages into Word, and printed them out in a lovely, large, and easy to read font, punched some holes, and tied the whole book together.

So I have come full circle - a binder, to a handmade binder. ;)

-M.

[Élistariel]

I tried using a notebook and writing things down in it. That proved too tedious as I LOVE to collect every little bit of info on a topic possible. (been studing paganism on and off for 5 years and I'm still looking for info, if that tells ya'll anything...)
Now my BOS is a smooth-feeling Lisa Frank zipper notebook with a girl with a wand sitting on a cresent moon.
So far, all I have in it is some zodiac and birth chart stuff. My printer is quirky, and I need a 3 hole punch, or some page protectors. (as soon as I can afford them as a college student)

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Well, I've just got mine organized. Nice and Neat.....and readable!

I really needed to get this done. I had been reluctant to take more notes because I had such a monster I felt if I added more fuel to the fire, I would never get it tamed!

[Phacia]

Congrats on getting yours organized!


Mine is just a 3 ring binder, with dividers for different categories to sort my information. Amazingly, it's pretty organized. Works well, too, I can always find what I need, and it's very easy to add new information.

[Shy Hawk]

Originally posted by Mithrea
I got one of those odd commercial black ones that says "Book of Shadows" on it in gold.

Oh, you have one of those too?!?! Hehe....I don't mind though. Mine has about 60 pages or so of information. Both original and copied. I also have a large binder with a folder in it. About 20 pages of info written down, and about 20 more pages stuffed in the folder of that one.

I'd like to get on to using it more often, but it's hard to keep up with sometimes in the hustle and bustle of every day life.

I, at the moment, don't do spell work at all...just for lack of reason to really...not that I don't believe in its validity. So, I do a lot of silent worship, meditation, and herbal references. Things that are directly me and the earth working together. I do ritual quite a bit, so that is a bit part of it aswell.

My Grimoire is pretty functional and not so pretty...the few pictures in it serve as diagrams or examples, not for decoration or asthetics really.

~Hawk

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by Freyja
I took a wire-bound five-subject notebook and glued some celestial fabric that I liked to the cover. On the dividing pages, I painted titles for the sections and glued crystals and magickal herbs.

I was regularly documenting every ritual that I did in my BOS, along with meditations and workings. I'd look back every now and then and note the results. I've fallen out of that routine. Thanks for bringing this up and inspiring me to get back into it!

:) I have been better about documenting my magick since this that post.....and it just occurred to me that the paper in my wire-bound notebook can be torn out and placed in a three ring binder at some point if I choose to do that :rolleyes:

On another list, I read that someone had found a wooden photo album and had burned magickal symbols and designs into the cover. I would love to have that kind of a BOS but haven't seen wooden photo albums anywhere.

[KissMeImIrish!]

Mine is a black suede book that i drew my personal 'crest' on, which consists of a pentacle and symbols that represent special things to me. Inside is quite simple, nothing artsy. Like others who have posted, practicality is number one to me. I don't really decorate the inside, I write in a magickal alphabet with a silver pen sometimes, usually just titles though. It's alot easier to read the important stuff if it's in english to me lol. Oh, I also copy down poems and quotes I like. That's about it!

[Jeleia]

I just started organizing all my stuff into a three ring binder. This is mostly just things like articles, resources, correspondence and that sort of thing. I'm also getting in the hang of writing in a small note book everynight, recording things like my thoughts, weird dreams, tarot readings, quotes rituals and spells.

[Ne0Pagan]

I actually have two.

One is the actual "Book of Shadows", in which I keep spells, rituals, and other things on the elements, and different Gods and Goddesses, and of course all the correspondences. I also have my dream journal, and magickal diary in here. (it's pretty big) I use like a 4" inch three ringed binder, and dividers so I can keep everything organized.

The other is the "Grimoire", which is a book of all my crafts, incense recipes, oil recipes, and anything herbal.

[Witchy Cowgirl]

(NeO, your sig is soooooo cool) :cool:

[Ne0Pagan]

lol Thanks Witchy!

But I didn't make it. I saw someone using it a ways back, and I don't see them anymore, so I figured I'd borrow it.

So, I'm not taking any credit for it, lol, just incase there's a copyright!

[yemayasdaughter]

A little update to my last post... I was shopping at Duane Reade and I saw these awesome fabric book covers that was in the Back to School section.. they have them in various colours and prints (even camoflauge) I bought the black velvet with silver glitter one and it fit PERFECTLY on the Black w/ Gold Lettered BOS. I am going to buy now a silver pentacle and hot glue it together... I will take a picture of the results.

[yemayasdaughter]

I searched online to find the site.. and I think this is the same company that I bought the Book Covers (http://www.book-looks.com/huge_selection.html) from :D

[McKennaRain]

Started Book of Shadows 2 today. My 2 inch binder was full....I bought some really neat material for the cover (if any of you have seen the pic of my first book you'll know what I mean). I've just collected to much information. I've even started burning my stuff to CD as well as having a hard copy of it so in case I lose or ruin my book (heaven forbid).

Michelle

[Flar's Freyja]

received this in an e-mail:

A BOS Blessing

'Beautiful Goddess of many faces......
Bless this book that it may enhance
All who choose to read its pages
Bless this book as my relationship
with you may continue to grow.
I pray to you that you will grace me
with your love and your blessing'
'So Mote It Be!'

~ source unknown

[Flar's Freyja]

bump for licorice whip

[licorice whip]

thank you for bumping this freyja, its a great thread. ive gotten lots of new ideas from it!

i guess ill add a little something about my BOS in the works!

its a white, three ring binder, with a plain cover. i am typing all of my information, so it will be easy to change and add things. all the headings are in a neat art nouveau type font.

for my section title pages, i put a picture of a john william waterhouse painting (hes my favorite artist). most of his paintings are based on mythology, and some have a very witchy feel to them.

i attached one of my favorites. :)

[Flar's Freyja]

I love his stuff, and I love that painting. I'm not as organized as some of you but I remember how much fun it was to put these tools together when I first got started :)

[catlin]

I have 2 BOS: The Grand Grimoire of Light and Shadow compiled by Solitaire (my nom de plume - in this book I write the epic texts like the Rede, Blessings, etc) and the Lesser Book of Shadows (in the latter I write down practical magick like rituals, spells, etc).

[BabyblueCedes]

well currently mine is just a spiral notebook, with all my spelles,invocatons,deities,important info, and other stuff like that b/cuz i just started practicing. the cover has BOS and little drawing i did when i got bored... at the same time im workin on a 3 inch binder. the cover is decorated with stickers,rose petals, and drawings. inside are blank pages with herbes and rose petals pressed against them. later on when my spiral gets full i'll put the pages in the binder.

[mrzebra]

My book of shadows is made out of oak which is stained a golden color. On the cover I burned the triquetra and it's bound together with binding posts. I got the idea off of ebay and my book turned out really nice.

Blessed be.

[Jax]

Originally posted by JadeDragonfly
I am in the process of slowly putting together my BOS, and was wondering...How many here actually have one?
Did you decorate it? How? I've pressed flowers in mine and they stick to the pages, so I write around them. Plus some of the pages smell like roses. I was just hoping that someone could share with me any special touches they may have applied to theirs.:)

I have one which is overflowing and needs sorting out so that I'll have two or three when I'm done!LOL!:rolleyes:
I'm going to make the covers out of leather (an idea given to me a while back by wiccamoon:D ) and then 'brand' them with ecclectic symbols (don't know which ones yet but I'm sure I'll be 'shown' what to do!;) )
Flowers and leaves will probably adorn them too along with essential oils!:D

[Morrighana]

I'm in the process of redoing my BOS. It used to be a bound notebook, but it got quite disorganized. What I am doing now is this:

I got a journal from my sister that has unruled manilla pages and a decorative cover (three colors of handmade paper layered on each other with a gold celtic sheild looking decal in the middle). I'm going to write up all of my tried-and-true spells and rituals, and my favorite poems, artwork and other stuff on white paper using calligraphy pens for the writing and watercolor pencils for the embellishments. Then I am attatching them to the pages of my book with photo corners, so that since they are all the same size, I can reorganize my book and add things in the middle without having to tear pages out, and also if I wish to take a page outside, I can take it out of the book and put it in a protective sleeve so that both the book and the page do not get damaged.

It's kind-of an ambitious project, and I don't expect to finish anytime soon, but it will be beautiful when it's done.

[Flar's Freyja]

That does sound like it's going to be beautiful, and the tools that you make yourself always end up being very special.

I was recently reminded when I read somewhere that your BOS is either supposed to be destroyed or given to your coven, if you belong to one, when you die. I'd prefer that mine be given to my children or a grandchild. Thoughts?

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I guess that would really depend on the children or grandchildren. Of course every one dreams that they'll get along splendly with their offspring - but what if you don't?
Or what if you did, but their SO didn't like you very much - actually downright hated you and what you believed in. Would you give it to those offspring then?

As it stands now, I would like for my oldest to have mine. He has a slight interest in my beliefs.

[Flar's Freyja]

Mine are cool. They don't have any interest in practicing themselves but they're okay with me. The youngest even jokes about it all the time, calling me a "Frikkin' Wiccan." I'd probably want him to be the one to have it, especially because he actually went to a few informational meetings when he was in basic training.

No grandkids yet, but when they get here I do intend to spoil them and spend lots of time with them. It would be nice if one took an interest, but I'd be satisfied if they appreciated it just as a symbol of our time together.

[RubyRose]

Ah ... my BOS ... well as I haven't come across any books I really like ... I have started a BOS on my computer and have it all sectioned off, and pretty fonts etc ... if I do find that elusive book maybe I'll think about copying everything into it, but as things such as these tend to grow, I'm considering keeping it on the computer ... that way it'll forever be neat and organised ... beside's I have enough notebooks ... of thoughts and musings anyway ... but don't all writers?

[Bainidhe Dub]

My BoS is a three ring binder. I made a cover for it out of this pretty purple/stars fabric and beaded a pentacle on the front. It seems like I'm always organizing it.

As to what to do with it if something ever happened to me... well I don't have kids, so I'd probably give it to my brother (who has already told me he wants all my books if "something" ever happened to me with a gleam in his eye LOL)

[Sky_SilverRain]

My BOS is currently just a disc sitting next to my computer! (I have horrible illegibal handwritting!)

However I have a binder and am working on getting everything printed out and put in the book! Hopefully soon! (Today I'm planning a trip to Wal Mart for fabric, stickers, and dividers!)

I love some of the ideas that everyone has shared!! LoL!

I dont' have much "saved" on the disc yet... just research I've done and stuff like that...

[Labby]

Labby here...:wave:

Although new to the Craft of the Wise I am developing my Book of Shadows. I also have a Mirror Book. A Mirror book is a kind of journal of my spiritual development. I write what has moved me, of spiritual discoveries and happenings, and questions that I have.

I also have a Grimiore. In this book are my correspondences, spells that have worked well and recipes for home remedies, etc.

Lastly, I have a Book of Light. In this book I write and compile learnings, that is, instructions on the Kabbalah or History of Wicca or information about the various traditions. I put in information on meditation, Tarot or palmistry or anything else that I might use for reference as I learn and grow.

A few months back on a full moon Esbat I dedicated and consecrated my books to the Goddess and learning. Since that time, I view my books with reference. They have a special unique energy about them. Each page of my Book of Shadows and Grimiore has been decorated by me. I treasure these books. The energy they contain are both a confort and blessing.

BTW, my Book of Shadows, Grimiore and Mirror Book all are ONLY hand written. There is a transfer of personal energy when one does this that makes the books truly yours.

[indigo rain]

i'm on my fourth bos, and i think this will be the last one. my first was a small leather journal my aunt gave me for high school grad, but it was too small and my beliefs changed so i scrapped it. then number two was an expensive one, black book with pewter corners and pewter penticle in the middle, it was more organized and reflected my newer beliefs... until they changed again... so number three i bought at booksamillion, it has a scene with a fairy with a quill and book, which i thought was fitting, though i don't work with fairies, and it reflected my new beliefs, was even more organized, but my beliefs changed again... see a pattern? so i'm on book number four, it's a book covered with a velvety cloth cover with beadwork and gild-edged pages, absolutely gorgeous. i've scrapped the organization thing, because i've decided it's impossible for me as my books invariably start out organized and then get disorganized fast. i'm doing it in diary format, making an entry whenever i find i've discovered something that works or has meaning. i practice it, then i write it down, instead of what i was doing before, just copying every bit of info i could find, then scrapping it when i found out i couldn't really use it. so maybe this one will be my final bos. it's turning out to be more of a personal journal and story of my experimenting and studies, more than just a collection of info organized into neat little sections, and that just has more meaning to me.

[LittlePerson]

I've been wanted to start making my own BOS to work with. I'm interested in creating my own spells and adding things I find to it. So the three ring binder sounds great. We were grocery shopping last week and I kept stopping at the back to school stands and my husband would pull me along. I was looking for something that would work. I think now would be a good time to find sales.

[minx]

Er, I have a folder of shadows on my desktop :lol:
I'm looking for a suitable book to use but so far no success...

[LittlePerson]

I just made mine today. Yippee for me. Nothing is in it yet. That is what I'm working on now.

[BlueFlame]

I've got a neato Black faux leather cover with a raised design and gold gilded edges.

You can see it in the center of my altar:
http://freakzngoths.homestead.com/files/Altar002.jpg
I've only written a few things in it. I only put things that I have written myself in there, or refrences I've resarched. I hardly ever do spells, and when I do, they are usualy improv, so there's not a whole lot going on in that department. I try to write a little something about each sabbat I celebrate, but I think the last time I did was Beltane 02, lol. I feel bad about skipping them, so I figure, I'll start agian next year where I left off! I'm a rather artistic person, but the inside of my BoS dosn't have much going on artwise. I've never really felt the need to write my views of the Gods down, I doubt it could do them justice, and I'm sure in a month or two my views will have changed slightly. My views are very fluid, so I'll probably never write them down.

When I see a neat chant, or spell, or a great quote I Ctrl+C it into my .doc of shadows. I've got a lot of stuff in there, it's very messy, and I refer to it as ritual fodder. If I want to plan a ritual, I open it up, mix some stuff around a bit, take bits and peices and compose the ritual.

[SylverStar]

I started one a coupl of weeks ago but I'm really bad at keeping anything in one place. I'm not very organized.

[Rae ShadowWolf]

My BOS is just a folder. I'm throwing a bunch of writings, spells, rituals, thoughts into it. I haven't written anything in it yet, (though I have the pagaes written) and I'm going to perform the ritual tonight. Or does it have to be on August 12, which is the "Full Moon" though it does look full tonight.

[JeweledNight]

Being new to the pagan path, I don't have much of one at this point, but I do have a small paper notebook with a blue paper cover that was handmade and given to me as a gift. No decorations on the cover at this point, but I have blessed it and use it as a journal of sorts, writing about my journey down this new path. I should have it full by the time my studies are over and at that point, will most likely start a "real" one.

[RubyRose]

I've finally started my BOS ... it's a 2 ring leaver arch file, covered in a misty starred material of which I got a couple of meters of ... I'm planning on making the remaining into an altar clothe ...

[LightDancer]

My BOS is my Yahoo account . I was part of an email group awhile back and I saved all the useful info in different folders, and I still forward stuff into that account if it's useful pagan information.:)

B*B
Jamie

[Jenne]

My BOS is a word document in the "My Documents" file in my puter. I've kept it for 4 years, and I'm thinking it's time to print it out and put it in a binder and then clear it out for a new one. I want to do serial BOS's, sort of show how my Path is evolving/how I'm maturing. My first one is basically all the stuff I have found over the years, accumulating it but not really organizing it. My next needs to be more journal and ritual, less factual.

So...that's me! :)

[Haruka2077]

I use a three ring binder with dividers in it, because I'm obsessed with organization. I handwrite everything though, because it helps me remember it and makes it more personal. I haven't started to decorate it yet, but I'm looking for a nice picture to put on the front cover.

[Pesha]

Over theyears have made many, currently I have five that I work with and add to.

BB
D'S...also known as....

[sable]

right now, its just a 3" white 3 ring binder. with a mishmash of dividers and information.
i have been wanting to redo it for a really long time. i want to get a hard bound book and copy all the stuff that i really want to keep into it. but i havent found one that i like yet.

[door]

I like to make my own books and journals, so mine is handmade with rice paper and a wooden dowel clasp. I like to use my ink well and quill for keeping spells, prayers, chants and recipes. Sometimes I do use a regular ink pen.

[LadyWillow]

Mine is a three ring binder in which I have it separated into sections with dividers. Mine is pretty mundane.

[Ceallach]

I have a three ring binder as well. But on my anniversary, my christian (!) hubby bought me a goddess journal in real leather that I am now using as a BOS. I am slowly transplanting things I know I will always want in there. But what I really want is one of those huge BOS you can buy for 300-400 dollars. But, unless my green underwear money spell starts working, that may never happen! :hehehehe: :hehehehe: :lol:

[indigo rain]

i replied earlier that i was on my fourth bos and was hoping it would be my last. lol. i'm on my fifth now. it's a three ring binder, one of those you buy that's already cloth covered and has a zipper. it's really very pretty, dark indigo (fitting, yes?) denim with flowers and a butterfly embroidered on it in browns, rusts, and olive greens. mucho pretty. since it's a binder and i can rearrange, add, and subtract at will, this will hopefully be my last bos. ...hopefully. it's got a table of contents at the front and dividers for each section. the sections are as follows: 1. me - indigo rain, 2. thoughts and philosophy, 3. wicca, the sabbats, and moon lore, 4. egyptian mythology, 5. shamanism, healing, and the chakras, 6. qabala, 7. tarot and runes, 8. correspondences, 9. sacred space and ritual, 10. poetry. right now i have stuff in it that i tore out of my old bos's and put in page protectors, but i'm working on getting it all typed up in pretty fonts and printed on nice paper. (my handwriting is awful) and it's mostly backed up on my floppy of shadows, except for the stuff my shamanism teacher is giving me, that's going straight in the notebook in the shamanism section. after i finish my training with her, i might redo it and make it more personal, but i don't think i'm really ready to do that now.

[CanisFirebrand]

Sounds like a great BoS Indigo. :)

I'm getting ready to start mine.

I'm going to get a little bit of plywood and get some padding and sew a cover for both pieces. Then attatche it with bolts or something similar so that you can open the book(in a sense it will work like a 3-ring binder).
I'm also going to put a nice clasp on it to keep it closed.

I'll be able to add and move things around or remove things as necessary.
Probably going to decorate the cover fabric with different symbols drawn with a dark fabric pen.

I'll have to post pictures when I complete it, though not sure when as I have a lot on my plate.

[Bainidhe Dub]

*sighs* I'd love to have one of those nice 300-400 dollar books lol. But currently I have three 3-ring binders full, so working on getting a new 4th book. I've got printed pages, written pages, and pictures, etc. I've pasted into it.

[WiccanGoddess]

My Book of Shadows is a notebook and a journal. I currently have three copies, and they are both over one hundred pages long. I mark rituals and other things there, along with the common stuff, like stones/herb usages.

[sable]

due to insane amounts of creativity, and massive boredom
i started re-doing my bos a few days ago.
i now have 1 main 3 ring notebook, with all my important info. stuff i have to have.
i also have 2 small half inch 3 ring notebooks, one full of only spells, and the other is full of stuff i havent gotten around to putting in the main one.
and i have my old bos, 3 ring notebook.
which im still working on weeding through.

[Aidron]

Mine is actually all stored in my head.

I'm saving up for a Book of Shadows I love. Don't have one set in mind, but I'll know it when I see it, whether it is a 3 ring binder or an expensive leather bound one.

[mothwench]

ah, the new header! but i wanted cloak of stars' one! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
what was i actually replying to? oh, yeah the bos, hee hee.
that's actually one of the many things on my to do list, at the mo, all i've got is a collection of notes and pictures and lots of other to do lists... :rolleyes:
i'm so ashamed. i hate my disorganisedness.

:smoke: bb,
the mothwench

[mothwench]

i was just thinking: when i do get around to doing my bos, it's gonna be huge. I'm talking A3 or maybe even A2 size. on a bookstand. the huge pages are so i can fit every bit of information i find on one particular herb, for example, on one page, or at least on two pages that are facing each other. i don't know why i want to do this, but at the mo it seems like a real good idea.
:floating:
i'm sorry. i'm feeling a bit mad today.
bb,
the mothwench

[jaiden]

Seeing this thread, and the resulting discussion with a friend has made me start back to work on my BoS... I'm actually really proud of it, even though it's nowhere NEAR where I would like it to be, (and until now I haven't done much with it or my personal practice in over a year). Many of the sections are waiting on work, but I have a gorgeous wood cover, that's about 3/4" thick on both sides, and opens flat. The Triquestra is engraved on the front cover and I've strung very special ribbons up through the binding that overhang far enough at the top to be used as book marks, and just tail out of the bottom a bit. I've divided it into the following sections (so far):

The Crafte (all the basics, such as the Rede, etc)
Magical Tools (athame, cup, chalice, etc)
Sabbats & Esbats
Circle Magic (different ways to cast one, etc)
Magical Aides (stones, herbs, alphabets, symbols, etc)
Rituals
Chants & Songs
Wisdom & Wit (for fun and inspiring quotes)
Spells
Dieties
Legends & Lore (for short stories & such)
Lessons (actual practical exercises)
Remedies & Recipes
Shadows (A journal section of sorts, for records of how lessons, rituals and spells went.)
Memorials (for those who have walked the path or inspired and passed)

So... thanks to the gang at MW for inspiring me to get off my DEAD BUTT on this!!!! And any input is greatly appreciated!

:D

[kewlhippiechick]

My Book of Shadows is compiled of two folders. One's a three ring binder and one is just a heavy bound folder. Both are full to the brim with xeroxed pages from my High Priest and High Priestess's BOS as well as notes I took during my coven's weekly classes, and more songs, spells, and recipes that I've been picking up along the way.
I keep saying that I'm going to retype it all and put in onto disk so that I can access it in a more organized manner...but whew! THAT'S a lot of pages!

Ah...some day...

~Morgaine

[Kalika]

I have a book of shadows... Its not really decorated... and is a constant work in progress... but I do have one. :) I get ALOT of my things online also.

Does anyone else use printed pages in their BOS, along with written?

[aida]

I have a quite big, white-leather covered book that you can buy from bookstores under the title "guestbook". it has few spells in it, but mostly I put my thoughts and dreams there. I haven't decorated it at all though... I would, but I have so litlle time... :/

[seastone81]

I have been reading over everyone's replies here, and it seems like several people have really good ideas. I still have this nagging dilema though that just won't go away: the neat freak in me wants everything to be easily put in its place, making a three-ring binder almost necessary. But then the archivist (or something like that) in me wants to be writing all of this down in an inspirational place. I'm one of those people that will look for hours for the right journal to get to write in... I've been to the store several times to look for a good BoS but I just can't seem to find anything that lights my fire. Maybe I need to just make one. I wonder if there's a good compromise between having a journal type book that's all in dated sequence but out of order as far as topic is concerned and having a three ring ugly that has everything in its proper place?

Maybe the trick is finding some way to bind it that's not as artificial as metal rings... what if I used string? No... hmm... I think I need to sit on it for a while longer. In the mean time, things will just keep piling up here with no place to go! Oh well...

BB

[Leander]

I have been reading over everyone's replies here, and it seems like several people have really good ideas. I still have this nagging dilema though that just won't go away: the neat freak in me wants everything to be easily put in its place, making a three-ring binder almost necessary. But then the archivist (or something like that) in me wants to be writing all of this down in an inspirational place. I'm one of those people that will look for hours for the right journal to get to write in... I've been to the store several times to look for a good BoS but I just can't seem to find anything that lights my fire. Maybe I need to just make one. I wonder if there's a good compromise between having a journal type book that's all in dated sequence but out of order as far as topic is concerned and having a three ring ugly that has everything in its proper place?

Maybe the trick is finding some way to bind it that's not as artificial as metal rings... what if I used string? No... hmm... I think I need to sit on it for a while longer. In the mean time, things will just keep piling up here with no place to go! Oh well...

BB

What I've done which seems to work for me (and it looks really cool), is I took a large sheet of black hardboard, and cut two slightly larger than A4 bits out. I then used a holepunch to make holes in both of them, and a (very large) pile of blank A4 paper. I then took about 24 cm of strong, organic string, cut it in half and put each half through the holes in the hardboard, the paper and the hardboard on the other side and tied the two ends together. That way when I've used up all the paper that's in there, I can untie the knots, and just put a load more paper in. In between each section I put a coloured peice of paper. The cover can then be decorated any way you want. It does the same job as a ringbinder, but it looks better and puts more of you into your BOS.

[Midnight Siren]

After reading the replies...I don't see anyone with one like mine (maybe I'll spark some creativity in someone) ...
Mine is made of two 16" X 12" flat canvas' (the kind you buy at Wal-Mart in thye craft section for about $2.50 for a two pack).....I drilled 5 holes in each so they would line up ...kinda like a binder and I bought one of those big sketch pads (found in the stationery section of Wal-Mart) and took all the paper out and made holes in the paper with a hole punch so they would line up with the canvas holes and I attached it all together with "book rings" found in the stationery section of Wal-Mart as well (these are really cool because if at any time you want to add more pages or take any out these rings pop right open).
Then I painted the book (being a artist.....I can't look at a blank canvas very long without going insane... :lol: )

I will try to attach a link to pics of the book rings in case some don't know what I'm talking about.
http://www.keysan.com/ksu2712.htm (BOOK RINGS)
****I can't get the link to work right for some reason...but it works if you copy/paste.

[Flappersquirrel]

I've finally started working on my bos. I've been taking notes and practicing my path for a few years, but I just now feel like I've gotten the hang of it enough to start writing it all down. I suppose this could be more of a grimoire, considering I'm only putting in spells, rituals and techniques that I've done a few times and know exactly how they work for me. Though the opinions will be thrown in there to be cringed over in the future, heh.
I spent more than I really expected for the actual book. It's made of that neat Tibetan paper, with pockets and a strap that holds it shut or marks a place. Very pretty. I've started sketching out a triskele for the cover that I intend to outline in shark's teeth.
I'm a word person by nature and I think putting things down officially to me in writing in a special book has actually given them more energy. Or told a tiny part of me that they do which will influence me to give them more power. Either way, it's a good thing.

edited to fix the haven't-slept-for-two-days mistakes. Yuck.

[IvyWitch]

Mine's really nothing on the uber creative side - I have one of those gorgeous Oberon Design (http://www.oberondesign.com) journals (this one in particular (http://www.oberondesign.com/buy/dym_jsm.php?image=M20&&color=red)), my boyfriend bought it for me as an anniversary gift last summer. I use that as a journal - I keep a record of spells, rituals, little spiritually related things I do during the day, and any prayer/spell results I see in addition to just notes about the day. I'm also trying to add some health journal stuff in there (I'm working through the "Wiccan Wellness book"), but can't seem to decide if I want something else for it. And sinceI'm an avid scrapbooker, in my shopping travels I tend to pick up stickers and other stuff like that to stick on the pages on a whim.

I also have a folder on my computer and a big black binder that I use to keep a record of spells that work well, as well as rituals that I would do again (as in the ones that were moving, rather than "eh"), and also all my reference material I've compiled from books, and internet sources.

[Felidae]

I used a three ring binder, a canvas covered one. I then covered the entire thing, front, back, insides, with 2 coats of acrylic paint, then one of acrylic topcoat (plastic based so it 1. Adheres to cloth really well, and 2. Has a little bit of flex.)

Then I printed out a design I did in Paint Shop Pro and decoupaged this onto the cover. As the binder was equipped with one of those clips on the front I disguised the brads with a few tiny wood craft circles painted with silver, then glued those on with more decoupage glue.

Then I drenched the whole thing with a couple of coats of aging laquer.

With the exception of the computer design, everything I used was found at Michaels, in the wood/acrylic arts section. A little pricey, and the whole shebang, from step one to the last, takes about a week, as you have to let the paint and topcoat dry for at least 8-10 hours per layer, but worth the investment in the long run.

I have mine divided into 5 sections so far, using a set of dividers that I found at Wally World. They're clear except for the wavy, colored section areas.

Quite frankly, I see the purchase of another set of dividers in my future...

The actual pages I'm doing in Word, so I can use pretty fonts and insert art, etc. (take that, Charmed Ones! - LOL). Anything I do or see that is useful I either copy/paste, then format to go in the book, or I jot down quickly and then hand input at a later date.

But then I'm an extremely anal-retentive Bookkeeper at heart. :rolleyes:

Just presenting you with an option.

[JLCfan2613]

mine is a 3 ring binder (Red & White) nothing fancy (yet). I have it sectioned off into subjects. I've been trying to come up with a different idea how to decorate it.
:fprtyman3
I also have a 3 ring binder. My BOS originally started as one of those black and white composition books - I got that because I was in a hurry to get started. I have since added the 3 ring binder so that everything is more organized. I still use the composition book for the original notes then copy them to the more organized binder.

Like you I still haven't decided on a cover for it - I was thinking of some sort of pentagram and incorporating it with my magickal name.

[moonmorgan]

My BOS is in a white binder which has as of yet not been decorated in any way. That is because it's not the final resting place. It is quite thick I might add LOL.

[MoonFaerie]

I wish I could say that I had a lavishly decorated BOS..
but I don't. :rolleyes:
The majority of my material is also within a 3-ring binder. Several for different topics. I'm picky.. I have a box if 'blank' journals I've picked up. I'm sort of scared to write anything in them yet though. Only time will tell what I end up doing :)

~ MoonFaerie

[WiccanGoddess]

I currently have three BOS, one in a spiral notebook, and the other two in journals. I decorate it with many of the pagan symbols for God and Goddess, and in the cover is a pentagram with "God and Goddess Bless" wrapped around it. Inside is a blessing, then a "curse" against those who should not read it. It's mostly spells/herbs/gods/goddesses/poems/stories about the path.

[paul_no]

Would some of you who have created their BOS out of wood, leather or the like share some ideas or pics of the construction? I want to do this, but really do not know how to actually put it together. I want it to be expandable, yet have a side binding. I have not had any luck finding book making techniques. And of course, I promise not to directly copy any one else's ideas. I appreciate the effort and individuality each person puts into their work; I am just looking for ideas and inspiration.

Paul

[Lil Miss Witchy]

WoW! Some of you all are VERY creative!!

I just have a 3 inch 3 ring binder (it's blue) which I hope to someday have organized, but it's just a mess of papers; I don't have a printer (although it's in the plans for the near future!) so everything is hand written!!

Perhaps I'll organize it tomorrow; I have the tab divider thingys that would make it easy to organize if I'd actually do it!

[Eclectic Celt]

merry meet! :RuNew:
my bos is just a ring binder which iv'e decorated by drawing on the cover and if i find anything small enough and pretty i just stick it to the cover.

when it comes to spell casting i write the apropriate rhyme on parchment in the apropriate coloured ink.

my bos includes;
my introduction
the wiccan rede
candle color and correspondance
days of the week and correspondance
elements
the eight sabbats
crystals and theyre uses
herbs and they're uses
moon phases
deities
divination (tarot,runes and tea leaf reading)
chakras
incenses and oils they're uses (and how to make)
charm bags (how to make& what for)
planetary rulers
herbs caution list

ritual items
casting a circle (how to)
self dedication ritual
inviting the elements
inviting lord and lady
cleansing ritual
banishing elements
thanking god and goddess
rite of winf and cakes
and closing the circle.

i think that is it,but i'm still adding to it nearly every day when i get any spare time! :lol:
hope you find this guide useful.
blessed be!

[ButterflyBranwynn]

I tend to be a bit "crafty" when it comes to doing anything. So my current Book of Shadows is a brown hard cover with the Triquetra (love it!) on it. I have some stamps on some of my pages. :) I love spending a lot of time on my BOS for some reason.

Blessings,
Wyn



I am in the process of slowly putting together my BOS, and was wondering...How many here actually have one?
Did you decorate it? How? I've pressed flowers in mine and they stick to the pages, so I write around them. Plus some of the pages smell like roses. I was just hoping that someone could share with me any special touches they may have applied to theirs.:)

[rain_fallen_tears]

My first attempt was a large black journal....but it didn't work out well...now i have a thick smaller black book...with hand made pages....i got it at Barnes and Noble...very nice but it makes me envy you who can so easily organize yours!sigh....oh well....i do love mine!:)-Blessed be

[colusaskye]

I have a spiral notebook that I use
I carry it around with me everywhere, so in case I get an idea during class, I can jot it down.
I don't do rituals or spells, so I usually take notes on the Tarot, mythology, and my thoughts on the Godddess and whatnot.
It's not decorated in any way. If it was, it wouldn't feel like me.

[redthewitch75]

My BOS has a thick paper cover and parchment-like pages and has a band that wraps around it. I have flowers from my husband taped inside and a moonphase paper that my 1st grader made in class, some stickers, different little things. Mine is sort of like a scrapbook BOS in progress. I have been neglecting it lately.

[Chanda]

I dont actually use a book, I have a box with index cards. Been using it for awhile and it works really well for me... Here is a link where I described it in another thread.

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=587673&postcount=4

Peace,
Chanda.

[Antoninus]

My book is a simple three ring binder with notebook paper and a cover with a pentacle sticker on it. Noting fancy. I dont have much in it yet but I add to it frequently.

[KoKoMe]

I dont actually use a book, I have a box with index cards. Been using it for awhile and it works really well for me... Here is a link where I described it in another thread.

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=587673&postcount=4

Peace,
Chanda.


I also use a index file to keep correspondence,moon,element ,etc. info on.I also use the A-Z index dividers for herb ,stone...etc. info. You are right it makes it easier to access the information and pull out what you need.I use the Jan-Dec dividers for keeping Sabbat information in and other important dates.I have extra blank dividers for other interest of mine,like tarot readings, book info,etc. I have a three ring binder I use too,nothing fancy but functional. Kokome

[blueiris]

I have two notebooks. One is spiral bound has a few divided sections, that's where I have my dream journal and the first copy of any rituals that I'm writing out. My second notebook is a 1 inch three ring bound - far too small I need to get a new one - and has my rituals typed, any information on holidays, correspondences and so on.
I've got to organize it again - there aren't enough sections anymore.

[Galaxia]

Ω

[morlock]

you should try to put some of your soal in it. try putting you birthstone on it

[Aidron]

I finally had saved enough money to purchase my dream grimoire a few months ago. For some reason I had the strongest urge to take a picture of my grimoire and athame a few moments ago, and after I had uploaded the pictures I remembered this thread. (I remember something, what a surprise!)

So, here they are:

[AquariusWolf]

Wow! They are beautiful!:)

[Aidron]

Thank you. :)

[ArKane]

That's beautiful. How much did that cost?!?

[Aidron]

That's beautiful. How much did that cost?!?


Over $300. ;)

I know, sounds extravagant (especially for such a thrifty shopper like me), but this will be my legacy so Wal-Mart notebooks just won't do. :lol:

[RubyRose]

Aww. Makes me want one ... though I'd never write in it.

[Aidron]

Aww. Makes me want one ... though I'd never write in it.


See, that's why you shouldn't get one then. :lol:

I plan to write on every space available in this thing, I just haven't yet as I plan to cleanse and empower it first, which is not a priority at the moment, unfortunately.

[RubyRose]

See, that's why you shouldn't get one then. :lol:

I plan to write on every space available in this thing, I just haven't yet as I plan to cleanse and empower it first, which is not a priority at the moment, unfortunately.

Yeah but if I started it ... and wanted to add more information to something later, I'd be too scared that I'd run out of room, and then it gets all messy and unorganised.

[Aidron]

Yeah but if I started it ... and wanted to add more information to something later, I'd be too scared that I'd run out of room, and then it gets all messy and unorganised.


Ah, but see that's the great thing about this book! You can subtract and add pages on a whim! It's called a codex binding, and each parchment has three holes punched into it. All you have to do is flip to the back of the book, unscrew the three screws, and voila, you can remove or add whatever you wish! :D

[OpheliaDrowns]

Hehe. I'm still in the process of looking for a BOS. But when I do get one, I'll make it all pretty with flowers and whatnot. Hmm, I gotta get round to that...

Blessed Be,
Sia

[Antoninus]

I HIGHLY reccomend a 3-ring binder. If I was ever to buy a really nice book, I would write my own personal spells and such in it to reduce the chances that Ill need to change or remove something.

[Aidron]

I HIGHLY reccomend a 3-ring binder. If I was ever to buy a really nice book, I would write my own personal spells and such in it to reduce the chances that Ill need to change or remove something.


That's why I would never purchase an expensive grimoire without being able to remove, add, or re-arrange whatever I wished on a whim, cause the moment I can't, I'll want to. :lol:

[OpheliaDrowns]

any ideas for decorating a BOS? lol, I found a brand new book lol

Blessed Be
Sia

[ArKane]

I have in mine:

What is Paganism?
History of Paganism.
Redes, Creeds, Principles, Laws,.
Tools of the Craft. (Candles, Oils etc)
Archetypes, Deities, Mythology.
Gods/Goddess.
Sabbats and Esbats.
Spirits, Angels, Animals, Dragons, and Fae Folk.
Gemstones (Crystals).
Numerology, Magic Squares, & Sigils.
Tarot.
Runes.
Dreams.
Visualization and Meditation.
Astrology.
Satanism.
Magical Alphabets (coptic, hieratic, hieroglyphic, theban, etc.)
Poetry.
Resources & Literature.

I also have a seperate one for Rituals and Spells and a smaller book for Dreams, Tarot, Runs and Quotes.

I also have another one just for my thoughts.

I decorate mine all myself. I love the personal touch. I draw pictures relating to that caterogory. In Tarot I have different pictures of tarot cards. In Runes I have the Runes, In Gods/ess I have pictures of my Gods/ess, etc

Go Wild! Mine has a very dark/glomy feel to it. It reflects my personality.

[RubyRose]

Ah, but see that's the great thing about this book! You can subtract and add pages on a whim! It's called a codex binding, and each parchment has three holes punched into it. All you have to do is flip to the back of the book, unscrew the three screws, and voila, you can remove or add whatever you wish! :D

Ooh. I'm intrigued now. So just how much did it cost you?

[OpheliaDrowns]

Twisted_Arcane, you have alot of topis, which inspiries me to write some stuff like the Wiccn Rede and tools. Hmm. Very interesting in what you have in your BoS!

Blessed Be
Sia

[Aidron]

Ooh. I'm intrigued now. So just how much did it cost you?


Already told a page or two back. ;)

[RubyRose]

Already told a page or two back. ;)

Ah silly me. Wow. $300 is a little outa my price range. :lol: I think I'll stick to my covered 3 ring binder for now.

[Raina_Moontide]

My Grimoire (I prefer that title to BoS) is a really simple 3 ring binder. At least for now. Eventually I am planning to purchase several blank Journals of different sizes and styles and creating my own vloumes. I've decided to dedicate each of the books to one topic. For example, one for herbal magick, lore, etc., one for Healing Spells, Protection Spells, etc., one for Prayers, Chants, songs, poems, etc.

[DragonflySpirit]

As the Southern Hemisphere has just celebrated Samhain and the Witches new year - I figured it was time to do some clearing out of my own. For my upcoming 29th B-day, my in-laws are going together to craft me a very unique BOSLM (Book of Shadow, Light & Mirror) My FIL is very handy with wood (making wands, staves, and many other mundane bits) and he is a true Rockhound - totally into his cyrstals and gemstones. My MIL - she is a true crafter - and she is putting together the inside for me. It is to be bolted down the side - to make it totally expandable. I have decided on Black pages - so I can use my Metallic Gel pens and pastels - should be cool!

This will be a fully scrapbooked BOS - from cover to cover with herb shakers, hidden pockets, flap lifts, rotating wheels, and lots of faerie sparkle and handwritten verse, poems, spells and rites. One really special feature for me is that there will be a place carved in the back cover for me to inset a tinted mirror of about 4" x 6" for Shadow Journeying and Mirror Work.

I have read what many others have in their books - but as I am of a Celtic/Faerie/Shamanic Path - and not Wiccan, I wondered what other Pathwalkers used instead of the Reed, Creed, Charge of the Goddess. I have poetry that I find touching like the Desiderata and my own work. I would love to know what other non-Wiccans have in their BOS?

And of course - Dragonfly will feature in heavily as will my guides and other totems. Love to hear other ideas!

DragonflySpirit
I am a Child of the Universe;
No less than the trees and stars;
I have a right to be here....
"Desiderata"

[LittlePerson]

Dragonfly,
I love Desiderita. It's my favorite source of inspiration. I recieved a copy of it in ninth grade from my english teacher and hung onto it. One summer I even had it memorized. That last part that starts with you are a child of the universe, I still have memorized up to the end. It's my favorite part. But it was paper and faded and became fragile, but when I graduated from highschool, a friend of my mother gave me a plaque version. I have that one hanging in my cubicle at work now.
Your book sounds lovely and it should bring you a long life of pleasure to work with. All I have right now is a three ring notebook that I made into one. It's not great, but my index page is the black paper too.
Blessed be and happy Beltaine.

[DragonflySpirit]

Dragonfly,
I love Desiderita. It's my favorite source of inspiration.

It recently came out here in NZ in a little book form - with a section of the poem on each page and an appropriate picture on the other - had to get one - and it fits in my purse - so I always have a copy on me and can share with anyone who hasn't read it yet...Love it!

DragonflySpirit :broomride

I am a Child of the Universe;
No less than the trees and stars;
I have a right to be here....
"Desiderata"

[Avalonia]

My BOS is a black binder with dark blue cloth taped and glued around it. I did have gold star stickers on it, but they sort of fell off. It's getting dusty now, because I haven't gotten around to dusting it off (it's hiding under my bed at the moment). Inside, I've got some journal-like entries (where I ramble about just about anything and everything), some historical data, some stuff on divination, and that's about it.

I've been meaning on printing out some stuff (half of the book is handwritten, the other half is typed) on chants and studd, but I really haven't gotten around to it.

[theblackrose]

I have several BoS's, my first, and absolute fave is my red leather a5 unruled book, that came in a little cotton black and red drawstring bag. Its lovely, and is kept for my poetry, personal feelings, events etc, so my journal if you like. The second is a large black hardback book for all my lore, herbcraft and rituals etc, and the third is a tiny little oriental cloth design that fits in my pocket. It has ruled pages with little orienal designs and are all different pastell colours. I carry this one everywhere and jot down things i see, hear, think or whatever so i can remember them and take them home to transfer into the relevant book at a later date. I also have a shoebox with all types of trinkets, and dried flowers, and little things that refer me to certain landmarks in my life, i open the box, and its like staring back at the last 21 years, its really nice! :bubbles:

[scaerie faerie]

I do decorate it a little...not too O.T.T. though! :) It's actually one of those photo albums that has the peel & press pages that hold the pictures in - the book itself looks like an old-fashioned black leather (it ain't really leather) bound book, and the pages inside are an off-white. I write the entries in black ink on off-white letter writing paper, and then stick them in. I can then build up little collages of any related images and such around the written piece. :) I love my book! :D

[Crystal_Raye]

I bought a nice, thick, blue/purple swirl, hard back book that I use as my BOS at Walden's for like $6. I haven't gotten off my lazy butt and put anything in it, though. I have taped some cut out articles and Pagan store business cards to the inside of the front and back covers. I've got a few spells, magickal poems, and quotes for it I just haven't felt the "right time" yet. Plus I haven't bless it either.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

i'm working on my third book of shadows. :3 my first was a notebook when i was about 10, second was a binder when i was about 11 and a half, and now i'm working on my most recent one. it's a black sketchbook, and essentially i'm just writing things in it with black pen, though the order is incredibly screwed up (my first entry is on runes, then magick, then beliefs... bit backwards, but oh well i suppose). i'm wondering how to make it more individualistic... and am quite out of ideas. especially with everyone else's amazing grimoires about, tis intimidating xD because they all sound so beautiful <3

[DragonflySpirit]

Plus I haven't bless it either.

This made me think about how I bless things - I just started a new thread to share on - don't know what bumping is or what I should do so I just started afresh....should I post it here as well?

Link is here: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=51154

[The High Queen of Faerie]

This made me think about how I bless things - I just started a new thread to share on - don't know what bumping is or what I should do so I just started afresh....should I post it here as well?

Link is here: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=51154


actually, i haven't blessed my book of shadows, either... blessed it properly or written a little book dedication, which i usually do. hm.

[DragonflySpirit]

I am working on a Scrapbook BOS....

I have just done a posting on another thread with photos of my new album and first finished layout for Mabon - please have a look....

Other BOS thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=34220&page=3)

[mooneyes]

I submitted my message, but it came out blank :whatgives

I was writing that i had worked all morning on my Book of shadows. It is computer written and in a white thre-ring binder w/symbols on it. I worked on my Esbats section, and re-printed some pages that were mussed. It felt good to finally sit down and work on it.

[Luminara]

My BOS is made out of dried leaves and sticks. I bought it at a store in the mall. It is small, but I am just starting out and when I do more stuff I will get a bigger one.

You guys are all so talented, I am not very crafty at all.

BB, :broomride ~Luminara

[Sharish]

Merry meet...hi could u send me the lovely pic of Rayne....Dancing with Dark Fey...where did u get this from.send to sharish@webmail.co.za
Regards
sharish


My BOS is just a folder. I'm throwing a bunch of writings, spells, rituals, thoughts into it. I haven't written anything in it yet, (though I have the pagaes written) and I'm going to perform the ritual tonight. Or does it have to be on August 12, which is the "Full Moon" though it does look full tonight.

[Holly Ariadna]

Well, my BoS is just a black binder with golden star-stickers on the front cover. I write in black, mostly, but also blue ink, or other colors. I have different sections, and in the flower and herb sections, I stick some flowers or herbs onto the pages. :)

[Wolffang]

I put alot of pictures on mine around my book(some I hav on goddesses,gods,anime etc.)...and within the pages I write poems or whatever that suites me...

[HorseCrow]

I have a BoS. A huge, balck one where I can add pages, that's very practical!

[Karmendi]

I like the majority here have a binder. I found one of those black zip up ones w/ 2 zippers so I can lace a lock between them, and it has a hole puncher built into it. I also have another binder I use as my journal(s).
Sections of the BoS:
1. Not really a section but my first pages are the blessing, Rede, Charge of the goddess etc.
2. Astrology
3. Basics of Ritual
4. Correspondenses
5. Deity work
6. Divination
7. Health/Healing
8. Life ceremonies
9. Meditations
10.Misc
11.Poetry/Prose
12.Recipies
13.Sabbats
That got full and I didn't have the heart to get rid of it (yes I am a pack rat) so I have my second binder, a series of journals which includes:
1. Dreams
2. Spells/Rituals
3. Personal

[Flamelily]

lol i'm not too great with keeping up with my BOS, maybe cuz i didn't like the book i used... *looks around* haha but once i'm done exams i gotta go hunting for a book that calls to me :) Not a big fan of the look of binders but they are very good for organizing things. i go for spiral books

[edenbolake]

mine is homemade and filled with spells from my ancestors and I just keep adding to it. It is about the size of three packages of typing paper glued together and still growing. And I continue to write more spells, as my ancestors thought that the more spells and magick you add to the book the more the magickal energy flows through it to you,as you are suppose to be a part of the book and the book is a part of you. Kind of like an extension of yourself.

blessings edenbolake

[DragonflySpirit]

...as you are suppose to be a part of the book and the book is a part of you. Kind of like an extension of yourself...

I sooo agree - I think it doesn't matter if it is an ancient hand written book, a computer generated CD of Shadows or like mine a scrapbook of shadows....just so long as it reflects you and your energy.....

[misschief]

i didnt do much to mine... but i'm thinking of getting a new one and copying and starting over. mine has flowers and things on it.. but it came that way*blush*. mine has things scribbles inside the covers, in the margines... everywhere. its a mess... hahaha. but i know exactly where everything is. i tend to not be specific.. like.. if a certain container is required for mixing or something i dont write that in... i just remember it, maybe just in spirit of no one understanding my things. *shrug*... but mine is purple... the cover is some kind of coarse cardboard, recycled looking. it has a ribbon page holder.. and a plastic cover. thats all :)

[The Renegade Divo]

I've noticed that so many Witches today don't keep up with their Book of Shadows- me being one of them for my first four years of practicing, starting back in junior highschool.

There has always been a discussion on how a lot of today's witches are getting lazy, and are sometimes compared to the Christians who only live the Christian life when they meet their family in church every Sunday (which they'll skip ever so often because their favorite TV show is on).

I think that this is truly an issue, and the lack of committed activity in the Craft is something that we have to spread awareness about.

You aren't a witch, a pagan, a wiccan, whatever only every full moon. This is a spirituality- a day to day way of living- and your Book of Shadows actually mirrors that committment.

[DragonflySpirit]

You aren't a witch, a pagan, a wiccan, whatever only every full moon. This is a spirituality- a day to day way of living- and your Book of Shadows actually mirrors that committment.

I think so as well - although I do know many friends who are pagan but the path they walk has no BOS - such as the Shamanic road - they simply live their lives in the best way they know how - none of the paths I pull from actually keep BOS's either (Pictish/Shamanic/Veil) but I am still starting this huge project - it shouldn't be a chore but a chance to explore further and decide what is right for you - and express it in a manner that expresses a bit about yourself....if it is a chore - it isn't right for you....

[BlueFlame]

I've noticed that so many Witches today don't keep up with their Book of Shadows- me being one of them for my first four years of practicing, starting back in junior highschool.

There has always been a discussion on how a lot of today's witches are getting lazy, and are sometimes compared to the Christians who only live the Christian life when they meet their family in church every Sunday (which they'll skip ever so often because their favorite TV show is on).

I think that this is truly an issue, and the lack of committed activity in the Craft is something that we have to spread awareness about.

You aren't a witch, a pagan, a wiccan, whatever only every full moon. This is a spirituality- a day to day way of living- and your Book of Shadows actually mirrors that committment.
I don't think thats true. Besides, how much can words really express spirituality? Isn't that something that you always have with you all the time? Sure you can copy down the Rede, or the Charge of the Goddess, or some handy bits of info for spells or whatever, but thats not what Wicca is really about, is it?

I do worry about a growing trend of Wiccans/Pagans who just pick up one book, and declare themselves a Priestess. They're lazy and impatient. They might also have a BoS that's positively busting at the seams.

Commitment to the Gods, and to Wicca isn't in your BoS, or saying prayers every day. It's in your heart.

[Garden of Eden]

People always talk about how nice it is to have a handwritten BOS... I agree it must be nice but I find it impossible to keep my writing neat and I end up spending hours copying out things which I can't even read... I wonder if it would be ok for me to choose a nice font and print the things out? And then I could decorate the pages with little drawings of my own and such... what do you guys think?

[RubyRose]

People always talk about how nice it is to have a handwritten BOS... I agree it must be nice but I find it impossible to keep my writing neat and I end up spending hours copying out things which I can't even read... I wonder if it would be ok for me to choose a nice font and print the things out? And then I could decorate the pages with little drawings of my own and such... what do you guys think?

Garden of Eden,
I think that personally printing things out and placing them into a folder is fine. Actually it's what I do. I decorated a 3 ring binder, and am slowly printing out my 166 type written Book of Shadows. Wow! I didn't even realise it contained so many pages.
Blessings and Light,
RubyRose

[Garden of Eden]

That's what I'm gonna do then ;) I've picked a dandy little font and I'll go buy a binder of some sort on Monday...

*Looks at her black hardback book*

Meh... he can go back in the cupboard...

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

I have several binders that make up my little collection. One is my working book, that I use most often. I have book of articles of interest, correspondences, and my "green" book (herbs, incenses, ect). The pages are in sheet protectors and organized by tabbed dividers by subject.

I have no done anything fancy with most of them, other than my working book has a collage of goddess pictures on the front and a quote from the Charge of the Goddess on it as well.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[The High Queen of Faerie]

People always talk about how nice it is to have a handwritten BOS... I agree it must be nice but I find it impossible to keep my writing neat and I end up spending hours copying out things which I can't even read... I wonder if it would be ok for me to choose a nice font and print the things out? And then I could decorate the pages with little drawings of my own and such... what do you guys think?


why not? the important thing about a bos is that you can read the information and find it quickly without having to sift through dozens of books... so as long as it serves its purpose, i dont see the problem with it. :)

[Garden of Eden]

I really want my BOS to be something special... I'm trying to find a book-type-binder of some sort that will allow me to organise all the sections and move things around (and add paper) but I don't want it to be too bulky to carry around and hide from the parents... does that sound impossible to you guys? :wth:

[The High Queen of Faerie]

I really want my BOS to be something special... I'm trying to find a book-type-binder of some sort that will allow me to organise all the sections and move things around (and add paper) but I don't want it to be too bulky to carry around and hide from the parents... does that sound impossible to you guys? :wth:


yeah, that's definately possible. you might want to try office supply stores, sometimes they have some nice notebookish planner type of deals that can be used for... other purposes. ;) you could also just try typical journals and stuff. nothing looks suspicious about that!

[Linx]

Ohh, I need to come in here more often. I recently started making wooden BOS's They are completely adjustable as far as page adding and removal goes, and I can even customize the designs on the covers. I have not finished completing my own yet. As soon as I do I will post a pic of it. I had another completed, but neglected to take a pic before mailing off. I need to hurry up and find time to finish mine so that I can make more. hehe.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

Ohh, I need to come in here more often. I recently started making wooden BOS's They are completely adjustable as far as page adding and removal goes, and I can even customize the designs on the covers. I have not finished completing my own yet. As soon as I do I will post a pic of it. I had another completed, but neglected to take a pic before mailing off. I need to hurry up and find time to finish mine so that I can make more. hehe.

sounds gorgeous :bigredgri

[Ben Gruagach]

Ohh, I need to come in here more often. I recently started making wooden BOS's They are completely adjustable as far as page adding and removal goes, and I can even customize the designs on the covers. I have not finished completing my own yet. As soon as I do I will post a pic of it. I had another completed, but neglected to take a pic before mailing off. I need to hurry up and find time to finish mine so that I can make more. hehe.

For those in the US, you can find plain wooden books (just add paper and decorate it yourself) pretty cheaply at Michael's craft stores.

Wooden books are great for doing woodburning designs, or for painting or decorating with stuff you hot-glue on. You could also cover them with cloth or leather or stuff like that. Or use Sculpey and hot-glue the things you make onto the covers.

[Garden of Eden]

I live in Ireland... no Micheal craft stores here unfortunately... :(

[Ben Gruagach]

There are also instructions on how to hand-make books at places like the following:

http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/book/

http://www.diynet.com/diy/pa_books/article/0,2025,DIY_14152_2268188,00.html

http://world.std.com/~deanb/zgg/book_5st_1.html

There's a lot of stuff out there on scrapbooking that is useful too (including more and more magazines on the newsstands.)

[AreagneTheo]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/776814/Picture560.jpg

This is my BoS... I dunno if it's very clear but its like a deep red velvet book with a gold stitched pattern on it. Inside is sheets of parchment paper with a gold lining type thing. :D

[Bewitching Pixie]

my BoS is a purple book with a delicate pink flower detail at the bottom. :d V.nice actually lol

[AreagneTheo]

It sounds lovely :D

[cornishfaerie]

I have a book for my spells, a book for my results in I-ching and tarot, 1 4 my inner jouneys and syring results and an A4 sized notepad wit pebles on the front for my dreams!!! But my other books are just plain bokos...at the moment! I love the sound of ur decorating tho....have fun...keep up ur imagination (no1 gets anywhere witout 1, and wit 1 we can fly and go EVERYWHERE!) and smile!!!

[SilverNightShade]

http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0857.jpg
the front cover of my BOS
http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0858.jpg
the inside cover

[AreagneTheo]

Your BoS looks great. Mine (Previous page) is nice but its not personalised like yours.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

wow. :3

everyone has such pretty bos'. mine are so plain :) but that's okay i guess ne? :D

[Asthmorte]

http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0857.jpg
the front cover of my BOS
http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0858.jpg
the inside cover


thats beautiful!

mine is currently a three ring binder with half the pages scattered throughout my room. one day it will be nice....one day....its an old old old three ring binder too....used to be my mom's....all I could find though.

[SilverNightShade]

mine is a binder...just covereed in cloth and paper.

[WickedBttrfly]

I have this black BOS with a gold ankh on the cover. I haven't done anything in it yet cause I'm afraid I'll mess up and it will look like crap. As soon as I get over the fear I'm gonna start writing and decorating it.

[mothwench]

i have bookmarks of shadows. :T and a sloppy binder which i refer to as my grimoire, to be perfectly honest i just think the word sounds snazzier. :p
but i plan to change that. *wistful sigh* i want to make a proper grimoire with hemp paper and a leather cover and aaaah, got loads of crazy ideas. :kooky:

[Khuinaset]

I finished up making mine today! :D

I have another smaller plain binder which I plan on using for correspondences, and then I'd like one of those small hardbound black books with either an ankh or an eye of horus on it to use as a spiritual/divination journal. :)

[The High Queen of Faerie]

I finished up making mine today! :D

I have another smaller plain binder which I plan on using for correspondences, and then I'd like one of those small hardbound black books with either an ankh or an eye of horus on it to use as a spiritual/divination journal. :)

that's absolutely beautiful :D

my genius brother thought it was a moon though, hehe :p genius kid ne?

[Sadb]

I am in the process of slowly putting together my BOS, and was wondering...How many here actually have one?
Did you decorate it? How? I've pressed flowers in mine and they stick to the pages, so I write around them. Plus some of the pages smell like roses. I was just hoping that someone could share with me any special touches they may have applied to theirs.:)

Merry Meet

I've done the same as you only I also added
pictures of places that remind me of nature .
My actual book is a little bit more complecated .
The main part is a larg three inch binder and inside it is two one inch binders :
one attached to the left = Druidry , the middle = meditations and spells
and one attached to the right = wicca .
when folded out all the way out its three feet wide !

Bless Be

[savannahrose44]

http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0857.jpg
the front cover of my BOS
http://img7.photobucket.com/albums/v17/ofunsoundmind/pict0858.jpg
the inside cover

Truely awesome job! Glad it worked out for you! :floating:

[The High Queen of Faerie]

Merry Meet

I've done the same as you only I also added
pictures of places that remind me of nature .
My actual book is a little bit more complecated .
The main part is a larg three inch binder and inside it is two one inch binders :
one attached to the left = Druidry , the middle = meditations and spells
and one attached to the right = wicca .
when folded out all the way out its three feet wide !

Bless Be

holy crap, three feet wide!
:holycow:

i just have a notebook for everything. :) ie, one notebook for the cycle of the year, one for... info on meditation, etcetc. there are a lot of notebooks :p

[Sadb]

holy crap, three feet wide!
:holycow:

i just have a notebook for everything. :) ie, one notebook for the cycle of the year, one for... info on meditation, etcetc. there are a lot of notebooks :p


Well that was last year befor I put two notebooks on the end of the two smaller binders and replaced the order by placing another three inch binder in the middle . Now I have no clue how large it is and want to leave it a mystery . :vanish:

[ObsidianShenKa]

It's not the size of your book, it's how you use it.

Remember that.

I learned after de-fluffing that I don't need a BoS.

Everything I know, I already know, and everything I don't know, I can reference from the myriad meta books on my shelf, or if not, five minutes on http://www.google.com - there's no reason to collect your knowledge into a single book that someone else can get a hold of and corrupt.

[Grey]

*shrug* Ive got two books... one has all sorts of particulars from rituals to family history, even some sketches. The other is full of theories and essays that Ive written. Both were books that I was given, and I like having them to see what Ive done and how I think. Useful mediation works.

[Fairyelf]

I have 2 huge binders for my book of shadows,
which include tons of chants and rituals.
I was thinking of buying a journal that I saw at Waldenbooks once.
It was very thick and the inside had a ton of pages in white (unlined)
I thought it would be a perfect book of shadows for me so that I could draw or even add pictures on the sides of the pages w/ my rituals in the middle..

[RhiamonButterfly]

I posted mine is another thread...have a look :0)
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=1088373&postcount=22

[MerrisHawk]

I have my main BoS that holds my personal works and lists of what I've done, correspondences and my more personal charts. It's a plain three ring binder.
I have a couple of smaller books I take with me to functions where I need them, they are mostly copies of my main book and useful where a the big one is my personal mess and I know where everything is. ;)

[SunBeam]

I've been through so many BoS, simply because I wasn't satisfied with the way I'd laid it out.

At the minute I have two different ring binders; One for practical information - rituals, spells, works of divination, and the other for information such as correspondences and research.

I also have a small book which I use as a log for all the rituals/spells I've done.

[DragonflySpirit]

Just a quick note to say that my newest BOSLM pages are up - for Yule - at

http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/silverwolf/BOSLM/lo3.htm

[The High Queen of Faerie]

Just a quick note to say that my newest BOSLM pages are up - for Yule - at

http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/silverwolf/BOSLM/lo3.htm

****ing beautiful :hearteyes i love the colour scheme

[SunBeam]

Wow they are lovely :) Your very creative

[Pringles]

Heh, mine is a txt file on my computer, the computer being the only thing I have thats easy too keep private from my parents, thankfully they dont know how too use the search function, and they'll never figure out my maze of folders. easier to organise and get pictures for too.

Im such a technocrat.

[BabyBird]

My BOS has three parts. A pretty leather bound journal my father gave me holds my personal thoughts and dreams. My computer has a numbr of files containing info I got from the internet. And a spare 5-subject, wide-ruled, college bound, perforated notebook with a skyblue cover holds rituals, inspiration, and anything else I think is important enough to put into it. But, really, the 3 parts have become pretty much interchangeable.

[Witchy_Momma]

Thanks for all the ideas!

Leslie

[Zhr Morgana]

My BOS is also just a black 3-ring binder...with dividers so I can organize my crap from Moon magick to my spells to my witchy-style poetry...I have a separate binder for material that I print out from the Internet, because unfortunately I ran out of space trying to keep both printed and original materials together.

[Niamh celtic mist]

My BOS is a 3 ring binder...I'm actually just starting to put it all together. :)

[God]

Though I keep more than one, you can read the one on my site....just click the banner at the bootom of the screen....

My other books are personal, I keep them in binders..

[djc114]

I love coming in here and reading this thread.
I'm going to be re-doing my BoS shortly.
I've had it for several years now and over that time I've changed and my spiritual beilefs & practices have changed so I think my BoS needs a makeover too.

It's a 3 ring BIG black binder. I have a TON of sections for all my different interests & stuff.

I also have a red sketchbook that I am going to use. Not quite sure how yet...

[TripsieD]

Ohh, I need to come in here more often. I recently started making wooden BOS's They are completely adjustable as far as page adding and removal goes, and I can even customize the designs on the covers. I have not finished completing my own yet. As soon as I do I will post a pic of it. I had another completed, but neglected to take a pic before mailing off. I need to hurry up and find time to finish mine so that I can make more. hehe.

OMGs that is so what I've wanted to do for ages lol!!!!! I could never find the sheathing for the screws to hold it together lol At some point, I'll be getting one of those though ! (mebbe with my tax return money)

My BOS started waaaaaay back when...it was the old PODSnet BoS (took me about 3 or 4 years to finally reformat it the way I wanted it). Takes up a whole 6 inch binder and the rituals takes up about a 4 inch binder. Both of which Kaylara has lol...yes, I forgot to put the page numbers in lol.

I gotta get cranking on a new one though...been lazy...this thread was a great reminder!

[zilith]

My first book of shadows was a plain black sketchbook that I wrote down one spell in then just used as a sketch book.

Just recently though I decided to make a new one and actually use it as a book of shadows. I started with another sketchbook that was covered in that cheap plastic stuff that is supposed to look like leather. I use some good ol' tacky glue and recovered it with this really cool green plant like cloth. Then I burned incense under it for a while to make it smell nice.

[silversky89]

My BOS is a green composition notebook with the Wicca Rede on the cover(I wrote it in blue sharpie) and drew a pentacle on the corners of the white space. In purple swirly letters I wrote My Book of Shadows and that fills up the white space. The inside cover has what the days stand for, the first page is a color chart written in colored Sharpies, then the next page is an astrology chart, the moon phases, and the Runes. Other than that, the rest is yet to be filled. I don't want to decorate mine extensively yet because I don't want to lose alot of space(it's only got 200 pages in it and I write quite large). I made the covers mine, but that's all I can do for now. I'll have to go shopping for supplies with my friend.

[Felis Sorror]

Mine is in a black personal journal with an inlaid silver willow tree. The quote "If you tell your secrets to the wind, do not fault the wind for telling them to the trees." is written in silver as well. Inside, however, is personal.

[silversky89]

My BOS is a green composition notebook with the Wicca Rede on the cover(I wrote it in blue sharpie) and drew a pentacle on the corners of the white space. In purple swirly letters I wrote My Book of Shadows and that fills up the white space. The inside cover has what the days stand for, the first page is a color chart written in colored Sharpies, then the next page is an astrology chart, the moon phases, and the Runes. Other than that, the rest is yet to be filled. I don't want to decorate mine extensively yet because I don't want to lose alot of space(it's only got 200 pages in it and I write quite large). I made the covers mine, but that's all I can do for now. I'll have to go shopping for supplies with my friend.

[silversky89]

This place has beautiful Book of Shadows.. if you can afford them!! Magickal Enchantments-CLICK HERE TO SEE BOS (http://www.magickalenchantment.20m.com/bkshadow.htm) :heartthro :heartthro

Try these:
BEAUTIFUL BOS'S (http://www.fabricdragon.com/books_blank_grimoires.htm)
impossible to buy

[Enozgirl]

My "working" book right now is actually separated over several 3-ring binders. I've got notes from various classes I've taken, broken up into category, plus information I've gleamed from journaling and meditations.

I'm working on a "scrapbook"-esqued BoS. I picked up a "make your own wooden book" thing (which is basically just the front and back cover, along with some posts) which I'm staining and painting with all sorts of designs and sigils. I've already picked out the paper I'll be using for the inside flap liners, and am working on layouts for the pages themselves.

For example, I'll have a 2-page spread for each Sabbat that includes information about the mythos surrounding the sabbat, the timing, activities for the sabbat, recipes, etc.

[omar]

PENTorHEX? Why is it called putting a HEX on someone when a Pentacle is used? A pentacle or pentagram is a 5 point star the 6 point star is a hexagram or hexacle? The 6 point is the Star of Daved & the Seal of Soloman??

[Ravenoak13]

My BOS is a huge binder with over 300 pages of information. I get stuff off the internet and type it myself. I use vivaldi font in the pages.

[EntwinedScylla]

I'm slowly working on mine. For the most part it's hand written and hand-illustrated, but as time goes on I'm incorporating some printed stuff just to save my hands. The book itself is trimmed down from a giant scrapbooking "post binder" which can be expanded pretty much as large as anyone would dare make it. Unfortunately I didn't have the forethought to use archival paper, but it should last a while anyway.
My next project for it is to find some bookbinding leather and tool a cover for it. Green naugahide just doesn't do it for me. ;)

[Crystal Raven]

I too have a few books...
I have 2 small notebooks for Divination & Dreams (this one stays by my bed)
I have a beautiful black journal, for thoughts, musings, gratitude lists etc..
Then I have a big black 5" 3 ring binder, it has all my notes from classes taken, snippets off the web, rituals, sabbats, spells, correspondances, decorating and whatever I pick up along the way...its basicly my "rough" draft.
Then I have my BOS, its a black hard covered/bound sketch book that I treat as a scrapbook. I have my dedications in there, any spells that work, any rituals that I repeatedly do or love. I also have sketches, favorite poems and quotes, leaves, herb pieces etc...
AND I am thinking of having a completely seperate correspondances book as I keep adding as I go and hate having to look everywhere for them!!!

[Omaedon]

wow...most people use binders...no offense to anybody but in my own opinion, (no, I'm not self-indulged) mine is probably the most creative, mine is actually 90% hand-made, I took the spiral spine from a large spiral spined notebook, straightened it very carefully, wrapped it threw about...200-300 pages of blank paper, and I used to have a carpenter for a step-dad so I'm well adept in carpentry/woodworking. Anyway, I bought a piece of lumber, and carved out the front and back covers for the book, the front cover was originally about 1/2 inch thick and the back cover was 1/4 inch thick
so I put the back cover onto my make-shift BoS. With the front cover I used a carving drill and carved out a large leaf that kind of pops out of the front cover in 3D. I then chared the wood black and then painted the leaf green and the stem of the leaf brown.

Put quite simply, I have a Black wood-covered BoS with a leaf carved into the front cover with roughly 200-300 pages, took me about 10 hours to make.

[Ben Gruagach]

Put quite simply, I have a Black wood-covered BoS with a leaf carved into the front cover with roughly 200-300 pages, took me about 10 hours to make.

Please post a photo! I'd love to see it.

[Sambya]

Well I am making an actually BoS at the moment, but whilst it is being made I sort of have a board of...shadows, I suppose. It is basically a noticeboard that has bits and pieces of information, memorable quotes, a picture of my deity, on it- its a good subsitute and quite incospicious (sp?) actually :D

[Omaedon]

By request I've decided to post a pic of my BoS, Some people may get offended by the type of leaf carved out of the front cover. Others may still think it's a book purchased from a store...which in a way it is...due to the fact that's where I got the idea to make it...would've bought it but 50 bucks is far to expensive for me to be able to afford to spend on a blank paged book =p

[Ben Gruagach]

By request I've decided to post a pic of my BoS, Some people may get offended by the type of leaf carved out of the front cover. Others may still think it's a book purchased from a store...which in a way it is...due to the fact that's where I got the idea to make it...would've bought it but 50 bucks is far to expensive for me to be able to afford to spend on a blank paged book =p

Very cool! A hand-made book you created yourself, even if it was modelled after a commercially-made one, will have much more meaning for you.

[Qeniheru]

My BOS is a little handmade journal I bought at a local new age shop. It's blue and has an interesting flower effect with white and brown...I'll post a picture later. ^.^ I was surprised by the price when I got it, it was only $9 for something so pretty! :D

I also put down miscellaneous information that would fill my book of shadows too quickly (like the variety of tarot spreads I have learned) in a red phoenix binder.

[enchancea]

By request I've decided to post a pic of my BoS, Some people may get offended by the type of leaf carved out of the front cover. Others may still think it's a book purchased from a store...which in a way it is...due to the fact that's where I got the idea to make it...would've bought it but 50 bucks is far to expensive for me to be able to afford to spend on a blank paged book =p
Its still really nice. A little too thin for me but the cover looks great.

[Moriquenya]

By request I've decided to post a pic of my BoS...

Wow. That's an amazing piece of work. I wish I had such talent. Have you ever thought about using that as the basis for a Pagan enterprise? I know I'd purchase one (without that particular plant, lol).

As for my own BoS, I am still laboring away at it. It is a copper and rose colored spiral-bound blank book with a raised crescent moon and stars embossed on the cover. I love it!

[amakaliani]

By request I've decided to post a pic of my BoS, Some people may get offended by the type of leaf carved out of the front cover. Others may still think it's a book purchased from a store...which in a way it is...due to the fact that's where I got the idea to make it...would've bought it but 50 bucks is far to expensive for me to be able to afford to spend on a blank paged book =p



Dude AWESOME book

[Platinum Dove]

I've got a black leather bound book that I've got correspondences, a few spells, and some of the lessons from MW in it. I'm hoping to later be able to give it to my daughter when she's much much older. :)

[LadyShade]

My book of shadows is an old note book I decorated the outside black, inside it is illistrated by me, I have pics to go with my spells and poitions, I record stories...every thing witchy and alive with magic gose in it :)

[arianrhods_daughter]

Mines computer typed currently as Ive not the means or the motive to go further and Im still learning and likely to make huge changes to my works, when Im finally "settled" then I may make a big old style book with caligraphy writing for my children etc when Ive passed on but Im not sure yet, I also have a diary for scribbling in

[Triquetra]

I bought my nifty, leather-bound, designer style BOS at... Wal-Mart. Does that make me a bad person? Because it's certainly not impressive.

[maudlin]

i need to reorganize mine, go through and weed out the info thats not needed anymore.

but right now its in a 3 ring notebook with dividers.
the front cover is a picture of a faery a friend years ago drew for me, slid down in the plastic piece. the back is a piece of art my boyfriend did for me of a moon with my name in it.

[Eryck]

I just purchased a really beautiful blank journal to use as my personal Book of Shadows. I have read in a few places that the book ought to be properly prepared before actually recording anything in it, meaning cleansing rituals using a candle and sage smudge. Can anyone elaborate on good ways to accomplish this? Thanks!

[RunningRiot]

I just purchased a really beautiful blank journal to use as my personal Book of Shadows. I have read in a few places that the book ought to be properly prepared before actually recording anything in it, meaning cleansing rituals using a candle and sage smudge. Can anyone elaborate on good ways to accomplish this? Thanks!

A basic blessing and cleansing ritual I know..
White Candle
Sandal Wood Insence
Salt, Water

Light the candle and hold the book over the flame, "I bless you with fire."
Run it through the insence smoke, "I bless you with air."
Sprinkle it with salt, "I bless you with ground."
Sprinkle it with water, "I bless you with water."

[Amryn]

(sigh) Mine is a big black 3 ring binder. It's a total mess! I have newspaper clippings, rituals, computer printouts, notes, correspondences,quotes, spells, etc. and they're not in any particular order. I can never find what I'm looking for. I really need to organize it....someday. :hehehehe:

[Raven Nightwind]

I actually use a three ring binder, I like to be able to move pages around when the urge hits me.

[WiccanGoddess]

Which Book of Shadows would you like details on?

My spiral bound notebook?

My journal?

My hardcover?

My miniature?

My tootsieroll? (Tootsieroll shaped. Don't ask.)

Or the 3 others I have lyring around?

(Yeah...I have no life.)

[MidnightFire]

Mine certainly isn't fancy. I wound up making it from and old sketchpad I had from school. Tore the pages out, took part of the cover and some yarn, voila. Now I have a book almost small enough for pocket size, at least for a big pocket. My BOS has a few drawings and things in it, but nothing great, mostly they are there if they pertain to a spell or ritual. I do plan on embellishing it somewhat when I have more time though.

[Deranged Hermit]

i need to reorganize mine, go through and weed out the info thats not needed anymore.

but right now its in a 3 ring notebook with dividers.
the front cover is a picture of a faery a friend years ago drew for me, slid down in the plastic piece. the back is a piece of art my boyfriend did for me of a moon with my name in it.

I have something similar, and I do the same with the covers. It has the clear plastic 'slots' as well, and I change the art/pictures that I have on the covers to correspond to the step of the path that I'm on. :)

[Golliath]

I've made my BOS out of two plywood peices that I cut, burned, and stamped and then I joined them together with door hinges, then drove 3 screws on the far left side that holds all my paper. it was quite a task but i love it! and its awesome for sitting straight during rituals and also updating it or writing in it is just as easy as picking up the pen since its so sturdy ^^!

[Ben Gruagach]

I'd love to see more photos posted here of people's books and pages that they have done. It's nice reading about them but pictures really show off your hard work much better!

[Tanya]

Mine is a small leather bound black diary. In the front I I general philosophic thoughts that I use to center and focus my work, then I divided it by Sabat. skipping oodles of pages between each to keep adding stuff. Usually a Sabat has songs, chants, spells that are appropriate, as well as recipes, and notes on appropriate activities, flowers, altar decorations and candles. In the back I have miscellaneous spells... i.e. love spells. protection spells... etc. I tryed to lay it out so I could keep learning and adding to it.

I also keep a personal journal

and a series of 5 journals about my land: Herbs, Natives, Non-natives, Fruit and Nuts and a yearly garden journal so that I can track how different plants respond to my place and my care.

I also keep a huge box of recipes organized by food type (proteins, starches, fruit/veg, deserts, cookies, breakfasts, drinks) that get used every night at supper time but are also linked to Sabat feasts... (i.e with notes "make for Imbolc...." or 'replace OJ with apple juice for Samhain')

Being a poet, I have several poetry journals I use as writing tools, sometimes my own poetry goes into the BOS, sometimes poems come out of spells I wrote for my BOS.... life likes to cross pollinate

And.... I keep a nature journal... usually more paintings and description than poetry... I use it to further my natural history studies, though often what is in bloom in the forest and going on in the natural world affects rituals in my BOS and obviously creates poetry.

[MankyCat]

I agree, pictures would be interesting to see. :)

I found my newest that has nothing done in it except a front page. The other BOS if floating around somewhere. I should write in them more. :hahugh:

[MankyCat]

I also keep a personal journal

and a series of 5 journals about my land: Herbs, Natives, Non-natives, Fruit and Nuts and a yearly garden journal so that I can track how different plants respond to my place and my care.

I also keep a huge box of recipes organized by food type (proteins, starches, fruit/veg, deserts, cookies, breakfasts, drinks) that get used every night at supper time but are also linked to Sabat feasts... (i.e with notes "make for Imbolc...." or 'replace OJ with apple juice for Samhain')

Being a poet, I have several poetry journals I use as writing tools, sometimes my own poetry goes into the BOS, sometimes poems come out of spells I wrote for my BOS.... life likes to cross pollinate

And.... I keep a nature journal... usually more paintings and description than poetry... I use it to further my natural history studies, though often what is in bloom in the forest and going on in the natural world affects rituals in my BOS and obviously creates poetry.


Sounds like me. I have a ton of journals from my past, and am working on one now. I have online blogs (ranging from personal stuff to recipes and health and so forth), poetry journals, quote journals, recipe journals, and so forth. Not that I have a ton of time anymore, but they are still there, and slowly being added too. :cheers:

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Some have asked about 'bookmaking' sort of suggestions. I wanted to post this site of an artist who shows some close-ups of her bindings--I've looked at handmade books and other really designer/interesting albums to get ideas and this shows something one can try at home:

http://www.lakehousecreations.com/handmade_journals.htm


Some of this can be done by folding art paper, punching holes using a single hole punch and embroidery thread. Granted, hers looks glorious...(my home-made work in progress is the next post)

My next post will be hopefully samples of my 'home-made' album with explanations...let see if my upload works...