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Readers Respond: Reader Ideas for a Book of Shadows
Responses: 56

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Basics of Wicca & Paganism

A Book of Shadows, or BOS, is a very personal item, and something most people like to make themselves. How to Make a Book of Shadows

If you've got a helpful hint to share with other readers making a BOS, this is your chance to tell us. What's special about your personal Book of Shadows! Tell Us About Your BOS

Book of Shadows

My first BOS is a folder type thing, but it's just for now. I'm going to put my stuff in a three ring binder, and it's got everything I need in it.
—Guest destiny

my book of shadows

I have a digital BOS that I am hand writing into a 1000 page leatherbound hand made note book. It has a flap and a purple pentacle on the front cover. I am thinking about printing out my bos and putting it into a scrap book, so that the information is protected, as I cannot put everything that is in my digital BOS into my new note book.
—saboinia

My BOS

My BOS was handmade by myself. I made it by using 2 thick pieces of cardboard for the outer covers. Then I painted them both inside and out; I painted them black for protection and then I painted red pentagrams on the outer side in red for passion. This was to give it more of magic and special feel. These took days to dry too. Then I put holes in the sides so that I could attach the pieces together. I did this by using green floristry wire. Also during putting these to pieces together, I also placed plastic sheets onto the wires so that they would sit in between the two pieces of cardboard. I then made my BOS! The plastic wallets are so that I can put my pieces of paper in between the outer covers. The information that I have inside are: beliefs and rules, sabbats and esbat rituals, herb magical meanings ect. But I will be using the layout described by about.com, so that I can get it more complete! I have been using this BOS for about 3 years on and off and now I never want to stop.
—Guest Willow Rose

Book of Shadows

My BOS is a purple 2 inch 3-ring binder with a more lavender colored Triple Moon with celtic knots inside the moons that I had designed on the computer and printed out to put in the binder's cover pocket. The spine pocket has the same design with the words "Books of Shadows" printed on it. My BOS is divided into eight tabs: "The Basics" which I put documents such as The Wiccan Rede, Thirteen Goals of a Witch, and basic symbols that I think every which should be able to recognize. Then there's Correspondence, Spells/Rituals, Sabbats (included a diagram of the Wheel of the Year and some fun Sabbat activites and rituals), Divination, Astrology, God/Goddesses (deity chants or lore), and Misc. (which as 'how to's and recipes). Everything is hand-written, just to keep it semi-traditional. :)
—Guest Terena

My Book of Shadows'

Well, my first book of shadows was a notebook that I still have that I put random spells rituals etc. in. My second one was a digital book of shadows that got deleted sadly. My newest one is a small notebook that I bought with a pentacle on it. It has recipes and rules I guess you would call them in it.
—Guest Wolfgang

Book of Shadows; Dreams and Promises

My book is thirty years old. It is a gift from my parents (I asked for a somewhat lavish journal for xmas). It's embroidered, bound in velvet, dressed in shades of red and gold.I devoted the first pages to the invocation of the Egyptian goddesses of the Elements to open the circle. The next dozen or so pages are a stream of conscience text which holds my promise to my fellow being; healing, devotion to others, I learn as I teach. A book of gentle invocations on behalf of the lost and lonely: I "bring the sailor home" - is the theme that emerged. There are the marriage vows of couples who chose me to join them... naming ceremonies (I am a midwife). Sometimes I note the cards from particularly magickal readings, there are poems set in rhythms to chase away threatening impulses. There are drawings, an occasional drop of blood, medical information, potions, diagnoses and prognoses. My heart is in every pen stroke, as is my eternal gratitude. I am a contened Crone - Sacred Duty
—Guest Bosie

BOS

My BOS is black and has a gold symbol on front and i carefully placed it in a beautiful scarf and tied with gold thick ribbon. Now ask me where i actually write everything in a notebook i bought when buying my daughters school supplies. Really funny she's going oh Mom look and i was oh yeah this one for mama. She says outloud in the section we were in, are you going to put your herbs and spells for the sick in there? The entire group looked at me. My daughter then said my mommy is special and so is her notebook. So really my BOS is filled with herbs,medicinal poultices, stains and love for all.
—Guest Spiritlace

BOS

I found my BOS like I find crystals...hold them in your hand and see if they "speak" to you. I have three so far, all black leather bound 9/12 books, with various symbols in gold on the front. In side I hand write everything and add drawings, stickers, things I've cut from magazines, art sent to me by friends, anything that is appropriate. I prefer the actual feel of a book rather than keeping it on a computer but that's just me.
—Guest Saqarra

Handmade

I made my book completely out of scratch. Thin, but strong, wood for the covers. Covered it with leather and sewed it together. I sewed the pages in as well. It took a long time but in the end it was 100% worth it. :) I'm proud of it and it serves its purpose. When it comes to adding pages, I typically use a loose sheet of paper to put whatever I want down and then glue the page to one of the sewn in pages.
—Guest Spookii

Many books, vs. One.

My ritual documents are split between multiple books. The "Black book", a post-bound 8x11 scrapbook which contains "core" material, a binder for a journal, 4-5 Composition books for recipes, notations and various correspondances and lastly a large binder for record-keeping. Combined, these have probably close to 1000 pages. Yeesh!
—SahtYinepu

My ScrapBook of Shadows

I've been trying for year to come up with a nice workable BOS, well I've finally putting my love for scrap booking and BOS together in an 8x8 post bound album, typed out with everything I need, in sheet protectors and decorated how I've envisioned it in my mind for so long. I still have quite a few files to convert from 8x11 to 8x8, but being able to weed out stuff that I don't need.
—Guest wyntormoon

BOS

My BOS Is a small leather bound noteboo my grandfather crafted. Its holds everything. Spells, potions, tinctures, colours, runes, as well as things like diary entries and sabbats. Im still learning, having just found a teacher. But I hold my BOS at high standards, it being on of my 3 favoured tools, The other two being my handcrafted wand and runes. All of my book is written in gold ink, which was actually a stupid idea, it becomes very difficult to read sometimes! Whilst it may look beautiful, it is not the most practical, I must recomend to people that; have fun with your book, but do not make it illegible or annoying to read. I would recomend going for a plain old DARK black pen, It will see more generations. Blessed be All )0(
—Guest Eryk

Digital...

My BoS is totally digital nowadays. Well, almost. I'm still getting some of it onto my computer and I still take notes and write things down longhand, and I maintain a hard copy as a backup, but I love having mine on my computer. I love Microsoft OneNote, which lends itself to BoS crafting as though it were made for it. I've used programs from the web before and OneNote out-does everything I've seen. For one thing, it's full text searchable. I'm in software love.
—nel.bri

my BOS

My BOS is pretty basic- a big 3-ring binder. To keep it organized, I have dividers for each section- herbs, ritual, crystals, journal, etc. I have had several, and this current one is what I'd call the most complete one, since I've finally combined all of the info from older ones into it. I have tried keeping one on my computer, but it never caught on with me. The hand-written ones just seem right to me. I have kept and included everything from since I began studying when I was 14, and I'm almost 30! It's amazing sometimes to look through it and see how much I have grown on so many ways. It's kinda turned out to be a time capsule, in a way. :-)
—CrowsDarkLove

BoS

My Bos is a black stetch book I bought from Borders. I decorated the front with a some interlaced ribbons going around the edge and a metal flower button that I removed the back loop from that I glued to the middle of the front. On the back inside cover is the "Witch Alone" from Cunningham and small "reminder" written in Theban the verse "All we are are dust in the winds" I try to draw a little picture for spell, chants and prayer.
—Guest Tiffa