Wicca Tutorial: Starting on your Book Of Shadows.

Merry Meet!

Do you want to make your own Book of Shadows, but don't you know where or how to start?
Then this is the exact tutorial you need!
Also, you should keep a Mirror Journal next to your BoS. A Mirror Journal is some sort of Wiccan Diary. You write about your growth in Wicca, dreams, plans, your day, spells and their effects, etc.
I needed a new BoS, since my niece accidentally burned mine - Yeah, don't ask. I dunno either. -_-;;...

Question: What is a Book of Shadows?
Answer: It's a really important journal for a Wiccan. It's your personal, secret and most important book with recordings with spells, potions, recipes, rituals, chants and things like that!

Question: Do I need to handwrite it?
Answer: It's not necessary, seeing that almost every Witch in this age writes it on the computer. But I prefer doing so, so this is a tutorial especially for the handwritten BoS.

Question: Is there a special way to create it?
Answer: Not necessarily. You may decorate it however you want, but keep it personal. Some feel more comfortable by naming their BoS 'Book of Light', 'Book of Magick', 'Book of Reflections' or 'Book of Witchcraft' or anything like that. That's completely up to you, though.

Anyways, let's get started!

You will need:
- a notebook/Hardcover book/Binder/Folder etc.
- a special pen or quill, only used to write in your BoS and Mirror Journal.
- Decorations (Optional).
- Bookmark (Optional).

Step 1 - Your BoS:
Step 1a: Go find yourself a nice notebook or such!
Can't find one you like?
This one and this one are good for a BoS and a Mirror Journal!

This is mine:



Step 2 - Finding your special pen or Quill:
Your special pen/Quill will only be used to write in your BoS and your Mirror Journal.
Step 2a: Choose a pen/quill that you love writing with, is comfortable and fancy!
Step 2b: Decorate it with runes and symbols, if you'd please.
Extra: You are allowed to use a lot of pens or quills, but use them for Wicca purposes only!

Step 3 - Decorating your BoS & your bookmark:
If you don't wish to do so, skip to step 4.
You're allowed to decorate you BoS however you want! Just keep it traditional; Don't add stickers of kittens or something O_O...
A lot of Wiccans write on the cover "The Book Of Shadows of -Your Name-."

Step 4 - Finally Getting Started:
Step 4a: First think of the contents. What do you want to add in your BoS?
Some quick suggestions:
- Something about you
- An opening dedication to your Goddess/God
- Wiccan Rede
- Wiccan Law
- Three-Fold Law (etc etc)
- Dedication
- Table of Contents
- Wicca Studies
- Rules
- Beliefs
- Family Tree
- Friends
- Rituals
- Spells
- Recipes
- Potions
- Poems
- Chants
- About herbs and trees and such
- Lunar calendar
- Celtic Calendar

The About You Section should look something like this:
Name: Kristynah-Leigh Annah Maria van Leeuwen-Hollaar.
Nickname: Kristy.
Better Known As: Kristy Hollaar.
Magick Name: Luna de Mortalis.
Magick Nickname: Sanctimona.
Bloodstatus: Pure Witch - Inheritage Witch.
Covenrank: Future High Priestess (Rank 3), currently Rank 2.
Gender: Female.
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual/Bisexual.
Haircolour: Dark Blonde.
Eyecolour: Blue-Grey.
Specialty: Almost Everything.
Wiccan Since: September 30th 2005 (7th Birthday.)
Has a Book Of Shadows since: October 31.
Date Of Birth: September 30th 1998.
Place Of Birth: London.
Country Of Origin: Great Britain.
Current Residence: The Hague, The Netherlands.
Nationality: British and Dutch.
Other info: Future Heiress of the British Noble Family of van Leeuwen and the Hungarian Noble Family of Hollaar. The Hollaar Family has lived in The Netherlands ever since 1847. Family of the respected Witch Marianne 'Jantjuh' van Leeuwen, whom has learned me everything I know. Past cutter, bloodpainter, writer and artist. Has a deceased twin sister named Melany.

Step 4b: You can make a table of Contents:
- File by topic
- Alphabetize by subject
- Chronological
- Chapters
If you do it with a hardcover notebook like me, that ain't gonna work. Or you should put an additional note in it with the table of contents on it, but then it'll be shuffled, haha.

Step 4c: Think about the language you want to write it in.
Personally, I write it in English and Gaelic. Just like the Wiccan Rede. Thy, Ye, Thou, etc...
You can also do it in your own language.
I'm half-Dutch and half-British, but I hate Dutch. It's a really stupid language, haha. So that's why I write it in English.

WARNING: Do not let someone else write in your BoS! It takes away the power! Personally, Mine is private. No one is allowed to read it.
Reasons to not let others read yours?
"Its just too personal."
"The thought of sharing my Book of Shadows makes me uncomfortable."
"There are things in mine that are just between me and the Goddess."
"Not to non-witches ... they don't understand our views."
"Some traditions don't allow that unless the other person is part of that Coven."

Step 5 - The End:
Well, I think that this is enough to get you started, no?
If you have any questions left, please comment!

With Love and Poison,
~xLolitaScorned, AKA ~DemoiselleGothique.

Blessed be, and good luck!


Before:



After:

To me Wicca is a beautiful faith with freedoms and peace. I believe that there is a Creator of all life, and it is made up of female and male aspects. I also believe that worshiping certain gods and goddesses is only worshiping those certain aspects of the Creator/the Devine. I believe Wicca is a path of love and learning! Because you can be an old crone or sage and you will still be learning about all the great things in Wicca! It's all about love and light!
That is what I believe!

Blessed be

I was strollin down main street as usual with my grandma;we left the keys inside our cars and we locked it so we were waiting for AAA.  

I saw an open door; to the store
Wait.
I forgot the name of the store.
Well, it was like Pandora's or whatever.
Well this is embarrassing.

Im serious is aw a Wicca shop! I thought it was a thrift shop at first. But then i saw long sticks. Then i saw pentagram necklaces. And weird masks Then i smelled incense. And  a bunch of other stuff that i dont even know what they are.
Then i saw a little newsletter for a Wiccan meeting and wand making.
WTF
I didnt find the cashier; but there was a beaded curtain in the back that i didnt want to go in.

I felt like trolling the cashier and just ask for the toy cat.
Which i will next time.
IMA WALK IN THERE
AND ASK THAT WICCAN
FOR A TOY CAT

Wahaha!

Now those of you who've been my long time watchers already know what I do and what all of my extra folders on Wicca and such are, but I have some new watchers who don't quite understand it so I thought I'd clear some things up.

Wicca is a peaceful religion, there's no devil worship, I'm not someone who goes out and slaughters goats, in fact there's a whole HUGE Rede on how we shouldn't do anything like that.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Wiccan Rede it's fairly similar to the christian commandments, just a little less restricting. Here I'll put it down here so you can read it and get to thinking about it a little before I start getting into what it means to me. I'd like everyone to have a few moments to just kind of mull it over in their brains.

"Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust,
These eight words the Rede fulfill,
An ye harm none do what ye will.

What ye send forth comes back to the,
So ever mind the law of three,
Follow this with mind and heart,
Merry ye meet and merry ye part."

There is a much longer version of the rede but I think that's a little complex for anyone who is new to Wicca or for anyone who's never heard of it so let's keep to simplicity.

Now this way of speaking may seem a little confusing to anyone who's never been to a renaissance fair or isn't used to old time speak so let's break this down a little bit so it can be understood a little better.

The wiccan rede is a REALLY old way of saying do whatever you want, be as happy as you want, BUT it can't harm anyone. This includes yourself, your family, enemies, strangers, friends, and yes..even goats. Even if you're a million times pissed off at them you CAN'T do anything with your magick to harm them. Now you may say to yourself "Hey, but what if they really deserve it and they're being a complete douche face?!" Well then let them have their douche face-ery somewhere else because karma will get them whether you see it or not.

If you go back up to the rede it mentions a little thing called the three fold law. "What ye send forth comes back to the, So ever mind the law of three." This is basically another mention of karma. Whatever you do, good or bad, comes back to you three fold. If you comfort someone and do good for them, good will come of it, instantaneously or not. If you do something bad like steal from someone or curse them, it WILL come back.

Now you're probably asking yourself, "Hmm, self, how do I know the line between doing good and doing bad?" Well that's a hard question to answer. The line between good and bad can sometimes be really gray depending on your morals and the morals of people around you. I tend to go with asking myself, "Would I want someone doing this to/for me?" before I do anything magick related.

I also tend to take the karma a bit too literally into the non Wiccan world, just ask some of my pagan friends. This is because I'm a very literal person when it comes to rules and regulations. Though when it comes to the rede it typically just applies to Wicca so don't get your panties in a bunch about every little decision.

Now let's get into magick, this isn't pointing over at something in the most dramatic way possible screaming some mumbo jumbo and having it float in the air, it just doesn't work that way.

Magick is a way of life and a wonderful and helpful thing, it isn't just waving your wand around to uselessly make things explode or to zap someone you don't like. It's something to better your life and the lives of people around you (with their permission of course).

For example, let's say I was having a lot of drama in my life, like a lot of people around me were complaining a lot and I'd told them to leave me alone already (magick doesn't have to be your first resort) so instead of freaking the flub out on them and making them potentially lose my friendship I'd do a drama repellent spell. I might charge a rose quartz crystal with some healing and loving energy and carry it around with me to attract positive things instead of drama and I might ask the gods and goddesses for more balance.

See there's no mumbo jumbo hand waving or zapping people, it's a calm and discreet thing that can work wonders. Oh yeah and plainly notice that there was no calling to demons or goat sacrifices, it was a very natural thing.

Anyway so that's the most I can really get into, welcome to the world of flaming paganism my new watchers, and maybe some of my pagan friends on here got some insight on me a little more...I dunno.

Blessed Be )O(

Life is not fair. So I wonder what makes people think death should be any different?