Getting Started...

A Book of Shadows is more than a journal. Though is often not kept by those who do not keep Journals. If you have the discipline to stick with it, a Book of Shadows is often the most usefull Tool in a Witches arsenal.

In this book you will include information about your Wiccan experiences. Consider it your personal path reference book. Since it is such a personal thing, many Wiccans rarely lend it out (if ever) and only share with those who are very close to them, perhaps eventually even passing the book on to a special person.

I do not stand by the tradition that this book should be hand written, I am of the school that if our predecesors had, had the tools that we have today, they would have used them. I do not feel at all guilty to admit that my hand writing is atrocious, or that I like being organized, or even that I don't always think in a straight line. I am a very non-linear person, and I beleive most of the world is just like me except they are in denial.

However, any way you wish to keep your Book of Shadows is fine, there is no benefit to handwriting it, some say it puts more of your personal energy into the pages, I find I dedicate more time and energy to mine when its on my computer than otherwise. Just make sure you are comfortable with whatever utensil you use, whether it be your keyboard, a pencil, or even a sharpie.

The are many beautifully bound books, but instead of keeping it in the form of an actual book, you can also keep the information in a 3-ring binder (my choice) Because you can insert pages in specific sections and keep it all organized, or on a disk where you can add, change or remove information. Simply make sure that it feels right to you.

In this Blog, we will assume that you are like me and create it on the computer and if it survives for three months without editing or removal, print it out (always keep a digital copy and back up) to be slid into your 3-ring binder.

What You Need

• A 2" 3-ring binder in a color that attracts you or your find magickal, this will probably not be large enough, but I beleive in creating vollumes. This should have the thin transparent plastic sleeve on the outside so you can design a cover.
• Sheet Protectors. These are plastice sleeves that are drilled for binders and designed to have your paper slid inside of them. This will keep them from needing to be re-printed every year or so. Save a Tree.
• Non-Drilled Printer Paper. This can be as simple as 500 sheet for two dollars of white Printer-Copier paper, or you can invest a few extra dollars and get Stationary you can usually find Resume Stationary in a Parchment pattern easily enough of course it may be dear, at 10 sheets for three dollars or you can go to a paper and stationary store and buy your Hemp paper, Parchment or Vellum cut to 10 1/2 by 11 or printer sized in bulk (My preference.) After all something that will become your most usefull tool should have a little bit of a cost to it.