THE GODDESS AND MAGICK

BOOK OF SHADOWS

Traditionally hand copied book of rituals, recipes, training techniques, guidelines, and other materials deemed important to a Witch or a coven. Each tradition has it's own standard version of the Book and each Witch's book will be different as he or she adds to it with time from many different sources. Only another Witch can see your book of shadows. Also, traditionally, it may never leave your hands or possession until death, when it should be destroyed, or (in some traditions) returned to the coven for their disposition.

In modern times the Book of Shadows is also referred to as a Book of Light and Shadows, which in my opinion is more appropriate. Witchcraft has come back out into the light of day now and our work is not all done under the guise of night

Topics to include in your Book of Light and Shadows

These are some ideas of subjects / topics to include in your book of shadows.  You decide what you want to include. You can leave things from this list out and you can add other things that aren’t on this list if you feel like including them.  A Book of Shadows is extremely personal — make it your own!

Title Page

Include your name, contact information, and the dates you start and end that Book of Shadows. If you end up keeping different Books of Shadows for different subjects, then label the subject too.

Dedication Page

Write down your spiritual commitment. Things like why you are practicing Witchcraft, what you hope to learn, how you hope to grow, that kind of thing. If you want to dedicate your book to a particular God, Goddess, or more than one, write that down and why. Include the date and whatever astrological information you know. Over time, you may find that you want to change your dedication. That is fine. In that case, add a new dedication page and keep the old one — you will want a record of how you have changed and grown in your craft. Don’t be embarrassed by old dedications — they are a record of how you grew in the craft. Some Witches add a new dedication once a year, four times a year, or even at each Sabbat.

Invocation of the Goddess

This can be an invocation of your Matron Goddess or the Goddess in general. You can have more than one Goddess (or not even have one yet). You can start by including the famous Charge of the Goddess from Leland’s Aradia or you can make up your own. Feel free to add additional invocations of the Goddess to various Goddesses as you discover them or make up your own.

Invocation of the God

This can be an invocation of your Patron God or the God in general. You can have more than one God (or not even have one yet). Feel free to add additional invocations of the God to various Gods as you discover them or make up your own.

Altar Diagrams

You may include diagrams, drawings, even photographs, of altars that you plan or make. Include any notes that you feel are important.

Creating Sacred Space

Write down how you cast your Circle or Sacred Space. Include any chants or poems you recite or make up. Include any notes about anything special you do.

Rituals

Keep notes on all the rituals you try. Write down what you did and how it turned out. You can also include rituals you are saving for later (so they are handy when it is time).

Moon Magick

Keep notes on your Esbats (Full Moon and New Moon), as well as any other lunar rituals (dark moon, waxing moon, waning moon, quarter moons, etc.).

Drawing Down the Moon

If you do a Drawing Down the Moon ritual on Full Moon, keep notes on what you did, any visions or inspirations, and how things turned out.

Sabbats

Keep records of what you do for each of the eight Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. You may also want to save ideas for upcoming Sabbats (rituals, recipes, crafts, decorations, incenses, potions, spells, etc.).

Holy Days

If you celebrate any holy days other than the Esbats and Sabbats, you will probably want to keep records of those. And you may want to save information on holy days you learn about in case you ever want to celebrate them in the future.

Magickal Calendar

If the sections on Esbats, Sabbats, Holy Days, lunar cycles and other special days becomes large enough, you may want to consider keeping a seperate Magickal Calendar book.

Invocations, Prayers and Poems

These can be your own poems, those you find inspiring, those from your circle or mentors or any combination.

Songs and Chants

These can be your own songs, traditional songs and chants, songs you find inspiring, or any combination.

Dances

These can be your own dances, dances you find inspiring, or any combination.

Wisdom and Inspiration

You may include wisdom you receive from visions, from power animals, from spirit guides, from dreams, from friends, from rituals, from books, even from school or your parents.

Astrology

Keep the astrological charts of yourself, your lovers, your friends, your family, and anyone else important to you. You can use Western astrology, Chinese astrology, Hindu astrology, or any other kind of astrology, or any combination that you prefer.

Tools

Keep records on your magick tools, their purposes, connections to the elements, markings, etc.

Magickal Information


Spells
tables of correspondences,
potions,
oils,
brews,
incense,
ointments,
inks,
tinctures,
herbs,
bath salts,
ritual soaps,
sachets,
powders,
gems,
crystals,
candles,
talismans,
sigils,
charms,
magickal alphabets,
runes,
elements,
knot,

Divination

Tarot
Scrying
Runes
I-Ching


Recipes

Some Witches keep their recipes in their magickal information section. Others have a separate section for recipes. It’s really a matter of personal preference.

Magickal Diary

Some Witches keep their Magickal diary at the back of their Book of Shadows. Some Witches keep their Magickal Diary in a separate book. It is a matter of personal preference. Some Witches even keep a sepearte detailed Magickal Diary, but include duplicates or summaries of the most important notes in the appropriate pages of their Book of Shadows.

Your Magickal Diary records all the divination you do (astrology, Tarot, I Ching, Drawing Down the Moon, etc.), all the spells you perform (with the results), all of the rituals you perform, and anything else you do in your magickal life.  And you will want to keep notes on how you feel, how your life is going, what your plans and hopes and dreams are, and anything else that you feel is important about your life or your magick.

DREAM JOURNAL

It is a good idea to keep a separate dream journal, and to keep it beside your bed.  Write in your dream journal immediately upon awakening to capture the essence of your dreams.