What is A Book of Shadows?

What is a BOS?
Witches and The Book of ShadowsBy Gypsy BethVote Yes for this guide and receive $7.00 off any Book of Shadows from my store. Please mention you read this in the guide to receive your $7.00 off any Book of Shadows from our store.

The Book of Shadows is a Witches Bible, a place where spells, rituals, and often inspirations are written. Traditionally most Witches hand write everything into their BoS, however in the high tech age of geputers there are many modern witches who put their entire BoS on disc. There are even programs designed to format your geputer Book of Shadows. Many Books of Shadow are handed down from past generations. I would regemend that if you are just starting one, you choose a very special and large journal, hard cover, or hand crafted wood, leather, or other sturdy material, rather than a spiral notebook, or writing tablet. This book should be planned with the intent of it being around for a long time and used often.
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Book of Shadows
The BOS usually starts out with a Title Pageand may be called something as simple as, My Book of Shadows or something more creative like, My Triple Moon Book of Inspiration. You should include a Dedication page dedicating your work to whichever Goddess, and/or God you recognize, and a Blessing page where you put a simple blessing spell for your Book of Shadows and all the writings within.
It might be a good idea to include a line or two about your book being invisible to non-believers, or some type protection, that will prevent ill events from snoops.
I highly regemend a table of contents, or index section, as you will find it difficult to locate a needed piece of information later on, when your book is full. A section on your chosen path, or your personal philosophy is a good addition.
Your Book of Shadows will usually contain a list of all celebration rituals, especially the Sabats, which are the major turnings of the year. Also you will probably include all the esbats and moon phases of the year. You may want to include a section for celebrating births, deaths, handfastings (marriages), and even add rituals for blessing a new home, a business or a new job. With all these special events, there are correspondences that go with them, such as deities, gems and minerals, herbs, oils, colors, astrological symbols, and planetary influences. As with most celebrations there will be certain foods, decorations, ect.
Of course, no BoS is geplete until you add your spells. Spells are the magical workings that you use for all sorts of situations. There are spells for cleansing; consecrating your witches tools and altar; banishing negative energies; finding love, a job, or wealth; healing spells and all sorts of blessing spells. It is always nice if you have the talent to write your own rituals and spells, of course not all of us are that gifted and will resort to using the tried and true.
Now I bet you are thinking, exactly how am I going to find and gepile all this information. Much will gee from books you have read by other witches. Some you will gain from friends, and family members. Some, believe it or not, will gee from your own subconscious, as you start writing down information. Most Books of Shadow contain spells, ritual information, recipes, etc and will be copied from someone elses book, this is the traditional means of getting much of your writings.
It is acceptable to include information about gemon ailments and their treatment from grandma, or great aunt Sallyeven if they are not admitted witches, most of the folk remedies and superstitions gee from the same place, even if they dont remember how they learned it. It is also acceptable to have a little fun with your book and include pages of family quotes or witch jokes, of anything else you see fit to add. After all this is your Book of Shadows and you are the creator.