What is a Book of Shadows? |
A book of shadows is a Wiccan's personal book. It is made by the Wiccan to document any research, keep track of ceremonies, record personal occurences of interest and anything else that they want to keep a permanent reminder of. Each book of shadows is as individual as the writer. Some Wiccan's don't mind sharing the contents with others, some keep the contents as secret as a diary; it's completely up to the individual. Get a blank page book, either ruled or unruled (mine is unruled because I have illuminated it like a medieval manuscript). These are commonly available in stationery and bookstores. Then start writing things down in it ( I try to write something every day, but that doesn't always happen). What to write? I write down my dreams, tarot readings I have made or others have made for me, ceremonies that I use (A Book of Shadows looks much nicer on the altar than a dog-eared paper back), meditation and scrying exercises and results, notes on astral projection, tables of ingredients for potions, ointments and spells, color charts for candle rituals and talisman construction, astrological correspondences, pentagrams and hexagrams, angelic sigils, and the personal sigils of Wiccan's who I have practiced the Art with. I also put drawings and diagrams of altar, temple and ritual items in it (especially if I see something better than I currently own). And yes the book gets full after a while; I am currently working on the seventh volume of my Book of Shadows. I have found it very good to read through them after a while to check on my personal progress, and everytime I do I am amazed at the amount of information that I have gathered one piece at a time, one day at a time. The final use I make of the book of shadows, is that as each of my apprentices has "graduated" so to speak, I make them a condensed version of my book with all my best stuff to get them started, along with giving them the ritual gear that we used during their apprenticeship (dagger, chalice, wand, and pentacle). I then make or buy new ritual gear for myself. I hope sometime soon to put this condensed version on this page for all to see, but as there are a lot of graphics in it, it might take a little while before it is complete. To see what I have so far click here |
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This page last modified 7/9/98
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