Blog, Tools of the Trade
Witchcraft Tools: How to organise your Book of Shadows
Nov
In this video I really break it down between our own Black Witch Coven book of shadows, my grimoires, and my personal journal, telling you the differences between them all.
A Book of Shadows is a book containing religious text and instructions for magical ritual.
The name Book of Shadows was created by the pioneering Wiccan Gerald Gardner sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, and which he utilised first in his Bricket Wood coven and then in other covens which he founded in following decades. The Book of Shadows is also used by other Wiccan traditions, such as Alexandrianism and Mohsianism, and with the rise of books teaching people how to begin following Wicca in the 1970s onward, the idea of the Book of Shadows was then further propagated amongst solitary practitioners unconnected to earlier traditions.
Obviously the history of the world’s magic is too broad to talk about in this post. However it is fair to say, for many cultures of the past, there was a very fine line between magic, superstition, religion, and science. The ancient magicians were seen as symbols of wisdom, keepers of secrets, and masters of the arts, mathematics and science, particularly chemistry. Because magicians were believed to be individuals with access to supernatural powers, they were both feared and respected.
Spells and incantations had been used by the Egyptians for thousands of years and the Greeks carried this tradition forward, as evidenced by surviving Greek papyri containing magic records that date back to the 4th and 3rd century BC. The magical traditions of ancient Greece encompassed spells, curse tablets, drugs, potions, poisons, amulets, and talismans.
In the video I keep the title “book of shadows” for the sake of simplicity. In truth, the modern witch or occultist is really creating his or her own grimoire.
A grimoire (also known as a “book of spells”) is a textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, charms and divination, and how to summon or invoke supernatural entities such as angels, spirits, deities and demons.
In many cases, the books themselves are believed to be imbued with magical powers. The only contents found in a grimoire would be information on spells, rituals, the preparation of magical tools, and lists of ingredients and their magical correspondence. In this manner, while all books on magic could be thought of as grimoires, not all magical books should be thought of as grimoires.
BOS in the Black Witch Coven Store
Leather Book of Shadows with Lock and Key
Black Pentagram leather book of shadows w/ latch
7 Stone leather BOS with 3 latches
and the HUGE WTF Journal
Now everyone can keep a book of shadows in any type of format or concept that they desire. I totally recommend not being too pedantic and make it a messy book where you can update a page without fear of making it look untidy. It’s not meant to be a show and tell style of Journal.
There is an Internet book of shadows free for everyone to use, and it’s called sacred texts. Sacred texts covers nearly every tradition around the world and I’m sure you will enjoy getting lost on this website for hours and hours on end. You’ll probably pick up a few extra traditions and passions by the end of your journey. I bet it will be a bookmark for many years to come.
TIPS:
- When you die: Traditionally you would have another trusted soul to burn the book upon your death!
- Some journals are meant to be for home use only, and some are meant to travel. One always has to be mindful when taking any type of book a shadow on a journey into a foreign land, as witchcraft is not always accepted around the world. In some countries, it could mean death to be holding such information on one’s person.
- Spell workings: Some people prefer to keep their spells in a separate book called a grimoire, but you can also keep them in your Book of Shadows. It’s easier to keep spells organized if you divide them up by purpose: prosperity, protection, healing, etc. With each spell you include, make sure you also leave room to include information on when the working was performed and what the outcome was.
- The biggest dilemma with any Book of Shadows is how to keep it organized. You can use tabbed dividers, create an index at the back, or if you’re really super-organized, a table of contents in the front. As you study and learn more, you’ll have more information to include – this is why the three-ring binder is such a practical idea. Some people choose instead to use a simple bound notebook, and just add to the back of it as they discover new items.
- You may want to use one notebook for information copied from books or downloaded off the Internet, and another for original creations. Regardless, find the method that works best for you, and take good care of your Book of Shadows. After all, it’s a sacred object and should be treated accordingly!
HELPFUL LINKS & FREEBIES
Internet Book of Shadows – PDF
This is a large (+9Mb) collection of articles related to Neo-Paganism
Current Range of Journals on Black Magic Witch Online Store click here
Free Inserts or BOS Template – FREE pdf Download – click here
Essentially this is your witch’s books of secrets. A Book of Shadows is a book containing text and instructions for magical rituals! It can be an experimental practice, everyday ritual works, or a record of magic.
LINKS:
Dementor Leather Journal Book
Sigil of Baphomet Book of Shadows
Great books on witchcraft correspondences to begin your journal
The complete book of correspondences –
Holland’s Grimoire of Magickal Correspondence: A Ritual Handbook –
Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows
Best for ceremonial magic
The Complete Magician’s Tables –
Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic –
Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Ceremonial Magick:
The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation: Including the Demotic Spells: Texts:
The Complete Book of Demonolatry (Not truly only correspondences but a great start)
In our Black Magic Witch Store
7 Stone Leather Blank Book – 13 x 18″
References:
The ancient practice of magic in China
List of Book of the Dead spells From Wikipedia
https://blackmagicwitch.com/your-book-of-shadows-or-journal/
