Help with a BOS

[DixieWitch]

MM all,
I recently lost my BOS, along with all my Wicca/witchcraft books (Scott Cunningham, Silver RavenWolf, amoung others) We moved a few months ago and I just unpacked the last box--all these items, along with a good bit of my altar items, were lost. It either got left on the moving truck or in our last apartment. I don't know if I'll ever be able to afford to replace my books and altar items, but I know I can work on my BOS. I'm writing out as much info as I can remember from my last BOS, along with printing out some material found on MW and other sites on the Net. My last BOS was actually a few folders--those paper kind with the 3 prongs in the center. (I got a bunch of them really cheap at the beginning of school) I had had plans to do better for it, but I lost it before I got a chance. I want something nice to hold my BOS together, but again, money is involved and I can't afford alot!! I was wondering if anyone has any inexpensive ideas as to how I can make a great BOS, that will hold all my information. What do you use for your BOS? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

MP,
~~Rowan

[Ceallach]

Hiya Rowan! Before my sweet hubby bought me a leather bound book for my BOS, I had planned to use a large three ring binder. To jazz it up, I would find some of your favorite material and cover the binder in it. You could use just about anything. You could also cover it in pictures, clippings or even flowers. You could use regular lined paper or find some really cool parchment to use. Lined paper may be best until you were sure you had everything you wanted to use for your book. Best of luck to ya!

:hugz:

Bright Blessings!

[Rain Gnosis]

A binder is actually an absolutely great way to do it - that way you can add things, move things around, or remove things really easily. This is especially good if you're just starting out.

[DixieWitch]

A binder is a good idea...with Halloween being so near, maybe I could find some interesting material to cover it with!

Is it ok for me to have info that I printed out in it? Or does that go against what is a BOS? I have horrible handwriting AND artritis, so my writing is limited.

MP,
~~Rowan

[Ceallach]

In my opinion, its your BOS.. you are putting your effort, thoughts, needs and wants into it. You should feel free to put anything from scrap notes to printed out items from the internet. Maybe just bless it and cleanse it when you are done!

:wave:

[Rain Gnosis]

*nods* I actually keep a few binders *just* for printouts. I don't have arthritis but my writing is illegible most of the time. I don't think that's a problem at all.

[Aldrick]

I actually like the binder idea. I myself have an Italian blue leather bound journal with a silver sun in the center of it. However no matter how fancy it sounds I find myself planning out how many pages I'll put something, a ToC, etc. With journals, esp if yu want certain spells in one place you kinda have to organize before you write. I should try that binder, although when I write spells I use notepads and such, infact I just wrote my last spell on awakening the psyche in my poetry note-pad. Lol

[Trinity Faith]

I use a three ring binder myself, always have and most likely always will. I love having the freedom to add to it, remove things from it and decorate it how I like, without ruining it. I change it up from time to time though. Currently it is a 4" binder covered in a green fabric with little gold glittery stars and moons all over it. It's filled with tons of dividers and regular lined paper, with info on any and everything I find useful or interesting.

As mentioned above, it's "your" BOS so do with it as you please. :)

[DixieWitch]

MM all,
In my undying attempt to search for my lost books and BOS, I've still uncovered nothing (sigh). But I did come across a notebook that listed every booked we own or have owned. Included in the list was my Wicca/occult/witchcraft books. I actually still have one of the books-The Wicca Spellbook by Gerina Dunwich. This was my very 1st book! I'll list them here so you can see just how big my dissapointment is.

These by Silver RavenWolf:
Halloween!
To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Witches Runes
Silver's Spells for Protection
Silver's Spells for Prosperity
To Light A Sacred Flame
To Stir a Magick Cauldron
Angels: Companions in Magic
Silver's Spells for Love

These by Scott Cunningham:
Divination for Beginners: Reading the Past, Present & Future
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home
Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects
Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen

These books too:
A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook
A Time for Magick: Planetary Hours for Meditations, Rituals & Spells
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
Bud, Blossom & Leaf: The Magical Herb Gardener's Handbook
Cooking by Moonlight: A Witch's Guide to Culinary Magic
Crone's Book of Magical Words
Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft
Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up
Green Witchcraft III: The Manual
Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft
Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows
Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents
Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Myth & Reality of the Triple Goddess
Wiccan Magick: Inner Teachings of the Craft
The Witches Tarot Book
The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation
The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home
The Craft: A Witch's Book of Shadows
The Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle
Tarot for the Green Witch
Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation
Praise to the Moon: Magic & Myth of the Lunar Cycle

I recently placed an order on OneSpirit.com. I got a 3 in 1 book by Scott Cunningham and the Halloween book by Silver RavenWolf. I didn't realize I had so many books until I posted them here. I bought most of them off of www.llewellyn.com. I am more upset now, seeing this list and knowing I'll never see my books again. Some of these books I might not buy again. But a good portion of the list I do plan to purchase as time and money lets me.

MP,
~~Rowan

[Rae ShadowWolf]

As for BOS/Grimoire, I keep two.

One is a three ring binder, and the other is a folder on my computer. I can't write half the time, so I keep the info on my computer. It works great and very organized. ;)

I'm very sorry you lost all those books and your BOS. Have you tried using a "Lost Spell" by chance?

Who knows, give it a try. ;)

[DixieWitch]

I'm very sorry you lost all those books and your BOS. Have you tried using a "Lost Spell" by chance?

Who knows, give it a try. ;)


I have tried it. But I've also gone thru all our stuff in the apartment... I just unpacked the last box. Except for the Christmas stuff and I even checked those boxes. Liek I said, it either got left behind at our other apartment or on the moving truck.

~~Rowan

[Aldrick]

You could always try contacting the moving company? And I'm sure the landlord of your previous apartment wouldn't mind letting you in or even sending it if they are indeed there.

[DixieWitch]

You could always try contacting the moving company? And I'm sure the landlord of your previous apartment wouldn't mind letting you in or even sending it if they are indeed there.

We moved in March. Yes, I am slow at unpacking!! LOL I've already called our old apartment--they said they don't keep records of anything that was found (but I bet the maintaince person remembered the beer we left in the fridge) and that they couldn't remember if anything was found. I also called the moving company--they showed no record of anything being left behind. So I think it was left at the apartment, they jsut can't remember if anything was found. They looked around while I was on the phone, but they didn't have any boxes. CHances are the clean-up crew threw the box out or they only keep the things for so long then dispose of them in whatever ways.

~~Rowan

[Siarlas]

I'm so sorry you lost your books. I don't know what I'd do if I lost mine.

I keep all my stuff in binders that I've decorated with images that I printed out. I cut out individual pics then stuck them on randomly and covered the lot in PVC.

As for help with your BOS, might I suggest http://www.freebookofshadows.com/home.asp ? As the URL suggests, it is free. They just ask that you pay the S&H.

edit - another one I just came across is http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/

[CalliopeHellice]

My BoS went missing as well...honestly, I think my ex has it (and if he does, it's burned by now). So, rather than having a BoS, I have various Grimoires.

-Chants and Songs
-Sabbat Lore and Recipes
-Incense, Herbs, Notions and Potions
-Moon Lore and Rituals
-Wheel of the Year Rituals
-Spell, Ritual and Divination Journal
-Spellcraft and Spellworking

I've come to see it as a "reaffirming" of my path and knowledge. Having to re-write and re-research everything is making the knowledge more clear and more "forfront" for me.

[Rain Gnosis]

Well, my BoS consists of 3 binders at this time - one 3", two 2", packed full of literature by Crowley, Fortune, Waite, LaVey, the Three Initiates, Peter J Caroll etc.

I need to commit to writing in a journal regularly. I'm bad for that :)

[DixieWitch]

Just wanted to post this...I bought some of these "posters" from this ebay seller tonight...I think they will make an awesome addition to my BOS. No, it is not me selling!!! I just wanted to post this because I think they are really awesome and maybe someone else might like them also.

~~Rowan

http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=20576800&ssPageName=L2

[luna rising]

Rowan -
Thanks for that link - those prints are really cool, and affordable, which is great for me! :money:

My BoS is just a little polka-dotted spiral bound notebook. It started out as being just a book for Tarot interpretations and spreads - I needed something fairly small that I could carry around with me. But it quickly grew into a full blown BoS as I added correspondences, rituals spells, you know. I think I am going to transfer to a three ring, though. Just for the convenience of rearranging and what not. Plus, I love to rewrite everything that I have learned and created. It helps my memory.

About the arthitis - I have it too. I'm 27 and my hands are already badly twisted. But I have found that by holding a writing implement between my index and middle finger with support from my thumb helps me out alot. Kind of hard to explain.

By the way - I LOVE the pic in your signature.

[sable]

Rowan-

The Wicca Spellbook by Gerina Dunwich was my first book too!

im sorry that you lost all your stuff, but at least you kept a list of books and such, i have the same, although it is in my bos, so if i lost that, i dont know what i would do.

good luck in getting all your stuff together.

[Kadynas]

Well once you actually find again all the stuff you want to put in it, "Your Book of Shadows" by Patricia Telesco has some good ideas for getting it all organized... I probably should just make separate volumes like some of you do... I keep running out of room and having to by bigger books and start all over! (I'm a bit of a perfectionist, Virgo Moon and all... it's annoying) :) I'm thinking of having just one main BIG book and then splitting the rest of the info into volumes... :lol: