Book of Shadows

[RubyRose]

Just a random question regarding your Book of Shadows.

When do you update your own Book of Shadows?

I find I only update mine after I've done a ritual or spell or something along those lines.

But because my Book of Shadows, is first written up on the computer, then printed out and put into a 3 ring binder, I find I write more in notebooks, then transfer it later onto the computer. I'm probably close on 6 months behind.

So how do you keep up with it all, if you have a similar method of keeping a Book of Shadows as me?

Bendithion,
RubyRose

[Enozgirl]

I update my Book of Shadows whenever I do a spell or ritual. I also update it with research and tarot spreads I've done (or the results of whatever other divination I'm doing). I do try to also update the divination and spell pages when what I saw/asked for comes to pass.

And yeah, I write it up in a notebook and then transfer it to my DoS (disk of shadows *LOL*)

[Aidron]

My grimoire is for finalized works only, thus when it is updated can be at any time in my life.

In the case of older magical workings that work wonderfully for me where I may have recently just acquired a new grimoire, they go straight away. When new magical ventures are created by me or on the rarity that I discover what I find appealing, they are tested first before ever being entered-and my general rule on that is they must be performed 3 times. Now, if it's something that I will probably not even cast 3 times within a year, I tend to make an exception based on how well it has worked for me-though I will not scribe anything in without performing it at least once.

Information goes in once I can confirm it, which must be able to be confirmed by many other sources in the case of facts, such as historical references to how various deities that I am interested in were worshiped. Instances where it's a matter of perspective such as correspondences with colors, they go in after I've had time to draw up a good first draft, meditate on it a few times, and confirm that this is in fact my stance on the work.

Like I said though, I could update at any time really. I don't exactly mark it on a calendar, so I never get behind.

[Kalika]

Not very often....

Usually when I find something that I really want to remember, want to try, or find interesting. :p

[Aedrais]

Lol, I am *so* behind on my BoS/Grimoire... it's like... gah! >.<

I used to keep both by hand, but recently I just started an online Computer BoS, and so I should really be typing up everything I have in my notebooks... I haven't been caught up in years. I think with this online one that I'm just going to start *fresh*. I've started with the Wiccan Rede and a bread recipe which I love, and I won't enter anything new unless I try it all over again. It'll help cut down on the work, and re-organise my stuff. :D

[MoonDust]

I haven't tuched my BOS in so long.... *shakes head* I need to get back to it

[RubyRose]

:lol: Nice to know I'm not the only one whose fallen behind.

[Pandoras]

My Book of Shadows is more of a dresser drawer of shadows. It consists of several journals, random notes on random little pieces of paper, a three ring binder, and countless loose papers. I constantly jot down notes, ideas, references, etc. and toss them in the drawer. It's organized in the sense that I can find what I'm looking for. I've been in the process of putting it on my computer so I can later print the pages and make a real book, but it's years of notes so it will take a while.

[-Ember]

My BOS is a messy as anything anyone has discribed. I add things when I feel like it... I'm a poor journalist. I do have more organized books drawn out of my totes full of notes and some research collections, but they only get added to when I'm working with something that fits.

[Azar]

I know that I update mine when I cast a spell and it is all hand written and bookmarked in the books I used...Looks like something of a cracked out college student studing for exams.

[Pan]

I haven't updated mine in nigh on 2 years.

[Lady Avalon]

I have never update my BOS as far a rituals are concerned. As for the Magick, I have my favorites.

I'll be redoing my BOS soon. It will be hand written in a leather bound book on parchment. I like to do things the old way.

[RubyRose]

I'd love to do things the old fashioned way, but I find working on a computer, I can be more creative easier. Plus my writing is never neat enough.

[Shatril]

I only put things in my BOS that really work, and I know I will use repeatedly. The scribbles and things that I take notes about, I don't even bother with. I have like the correspondences, the witches pyramid, the training part of the path I have followed. The rituals and spells, are not always worth keeping anywhere. hehehe.

[RubyRose]

I only put things in my BOS that really work, and I know I will use repeatedly. The scribbles and things that I take notes about, I don't even bother with. I have like the correspondences, the witches pyramid, the training part of the path I have followed. The rituals and spells, are not always worth keeping anywhere. hehehe.

I prefer to keep spells and rituals, at least the basics anyway, just so I have an idea of what I did last time, incase I were to ever need a similar spell in the future. My rituals, well no one has ever been the same and I've done about 5 or so, since I actively started partaking in my path.

[Rubber_Piggy]

Still being quite new to Neo-Paganism my BoS is still updated quite regularly with ideas etc. I read read or found in my research. However It's starting to be updated less and less often now...

[SparkleWytch]

I am still working on my full BoS. I have currently a book blessing, Charge of the God and Goddess, A basic ritual structure, and some correspondences tables. i keep a notebook (journal) where i jot down ideas, write spells that I've done and journal my magickal life in but I don't transfer anything until I have it all fully thought out and/or tried it.
I like to type everything out and stick it in my BoS due to the fact that I have poor vision and even more poor handwriting. It's important to be able to read it during ritual :)

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

My actual Book of Shadows I update whenever I find anything interesting I like. The most recent additions have been the song of Miss Le fay Morgan from Dion Fortune's 'The Sea Priestess' and the Old Laws from the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, because I liked them.
My grimoire, on the other hand, has Gods know what manner of things in it. The grimoire contains spells, whereas my Book of Shadows has more ritualistic and religious-type things with the odd poem or song tossed in. My Grimoire has.....oh, let's see.....the book of Fifty Names from the Simonomicon, some things pertaining to necromancy, one or two spells by $RW that I liked and may find useful (I have to admit, I think she does good spells), etc etc etc. Eventually I'm going to put bits and pieces of the Lemegeton in there, as well as a few of the Solomonic Planetary pentacles. My grimoire is more fun than my Book of Shadows, because I hand-bound it and it's written mostly by quill pen (admittedly with a pen nib crammed in the shaft of the feather) although there are bits and pieces on ballpoint. The general feel of it is that of the spellbook of some insane magus (I really must go to a handwriting analyst one day to see if I really DO have the scrawl of a madman) due to the ecclectic content and very, ah, interesting, handwriting.
I would like to make a larger book bound in leather-covered wood as a family Book of Shadows for when I *have* a family, as well as a nice one for the coven I hope to have one day. And of course my actual Grimoires....it would be nice to have a handwritten Simonomicon and Greater Key. I probably should have started on those quite some time ago, as it'd take a while.

[RubyRose]

My actual Book of Shadows I update whenever I find anything interesting I like. The most recent additions have been the song of Miss Le fay Morgan from Dion Fortune's 'The Sea Priestess' and the Old Laws from the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, because I liked them.
My grimoire, on the other hand, has Gods know what manner of things in it. The grimoire contains spells, whereas my Book of Shadows has more ritualistic and religious-type things with the odd poem or song tossed in. My Grimoire has.....oh, let's see.....the book of Fifty Names from the Simonomicon, some things pertaining to necromancy, one or two spells by $RW that I liked and may find useful (I have to admit, I think she does good spells), etc etc etc. Eventually I'm going to put bits and pieces of the Lemegeton in there, as well as a few of the Solomonic Planetary pentacles. My grimoire is more fun than my Book of Shadows, because I hand-bound it and it's written mostly by quill pen (admittedly with a pen nib crammed in the shaft of the feather) although there are bits and pieces on ballpoint. The general feel of it is that of the spellbook of some insane magus (I really must go to a handwriting analyst one day to see if I really DO have the scrawl of a madman) due to the ecclectic content and very, ah, interesting, handwriting.
I would like to make a larger book bound in leather-covered wood as a family Book of Shadows for when I *have* a family, as well as a nice one for the coven I hope to have one day. And of course my actual Grimoires....it would be nice to have a handwritten Simonomicon and Greater Key. I probably should have started on those quite some time ago, as it'd take a while.

Sounds interesting. I've always wanted my BoS to have a more whimsical feel to it. At the moment though its just lots and lots of blank and white printed pages. Cause we don't have a decent enough colour printer at home, and I haven't gotten around to printing off what I want in colour with the colour printer at Tafe yet. <sigh> Which I will do one of these days. The most creative my BoS gets at the moment is that the 3 ring binders (I have two) are covered in fabric that has caught my eye on trysts to the craft shop in town.

[Toby Stimpson]

My book of shadows is in my head right now. I plan on researching and compiling it on my vcomputer and then arranging it and hand sewing it into a book. I find that it's a lifelong process so I keep all of the research on a floppy. So in essance, I always update it. Namaste.

Tobias

p.s. Just a question...what sorts of things do you have in your books?

[Aidron]

p.s. Just a question...what sorts of things do you have in your books?


Well, mine is-or will be soon as I finish the artwork on my divider and title pages-divided into four sections.

The Craft: The first section and the largest, containing any information I find to be useful or valuable (and knowing me that's almost everything, so long as it does not carry the stench of BS).

Skill and Talents: This section contains all my knowledge on developing various skills and talents (surprise!), from reading the tarot, to honing your telekinetic skill, to shapeshifting and much more. Here is where you will find methods on how to develop the skills themself, where as the information regarding them would be in section one.

Chants, Spells, & Rituals: The third section will contain everything that the title suggests and a few things more that fit here better than anywhere else that I A.) use regularly, B.) have proven to work and be useful for me in the past. 99% of it will be my own creations, and nothing will go in without testing it first.

Charms and Recipes: From amulets and talismans to potions and sachets. This is where everything goes that involves my craft oriented side of my craft. Incense recipes, magical monograms and so forth are just a few more of the things you would find here.

[Raven Reed]

My BOS mostly contains training from my coven... A little tarot and info on runes have crept in, but so far that is it. My DOS, on the other hand, is total chaos. Anything, including pagan related humor, goes in there. I hate to imagine how many pages it would take to print it out. So I don't. But it is all very organized into folders and what not. But there is so much of it, I often wonder if I should cull some of it.

[enchancea]

I update mine at least once a week. Im currently working on doing it in a scrapbook style and have alot of catching up to do and its hard not to update when you have a great site like this with all this great info.

[RubyRose]

p.s. Just a question...what sorts of things do you have in your books?

What do I have in my Book of Shadows? Well here (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=832350&postcount=2) is a general idea.

Bendithion,
RubyRose

[Toby Stimpson]

Thats qite indepth Ruby, I like it. Got a few ideas :). I've basicly just worked on my Pantheons section this past year...

Greek/Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian/Sumerian, Celtic Pantheons, Norse Pantheons, Vodoun/African Pantheons, Hindu/Indian Pantheons, Taoist + Buddhist Pantheons, Japanese Shinto Pantheon...as well as some information on most of the world religions. Was running out of major things to study. lol. Thanks all for the good posts.

Namaste.

Tobias

[RubyRose]

Thats qite indepth Ruby, I like it. Got a few ideas :). I've basicly just worked on my Pantheons section this past year...

Greek/Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian/Sumerian, Celtic Pantheons, Norse Pantheons, Vodoun/African Pantheons, Hindu/Indian Pantheons, Taoist + Buddhist Pantheons, Japanese Shinto Pantheon...as well as some information on most of the world religions. Was running out of major things to study. lol. Thanks all for the good posts.

Namaste.

Tobias

Yeah well for 160 odd pages (typed) it should be. :lol: I've still got loads of information sitting on my computer that I haven't put into my Book of Shadows yet, but I never seem to find the time.

Glad I gave you some new ideas.

[DixieWitch]

I update mine on a pretty regular basis. Usually whenever I find new information I want to add.

[RubyRose]

Cool.