| The Book of Shadows (or Grimoire) is a magical | | | | neglected. |
| reference book and will be highly individual to you. It | | | | You might wish to include the following: |
| can take many forms and what is included can vary | | | | * Your Dedications |
| greatly. You decide what goes into yours. You should | | | | * Your Goals |
| make sure that what goes into it is useful to you. | | | | * Your Spiritual Journal |
| Many witches use a Book of Shadows, but you don't | | | | * Spells and Outcomes |
| have to be witch to have one. Yours could be as | | | | * Calendar of Moon Phases |
| simple as a diary or record of your journey to | | | | * References |
| achievement. It is nice to attach to it a mystical | | | | * Spiritual and Magical Research and Resources |
| special quality. You could do this by creating it from a | | | | * A Record of Dreams |
| special notebook with an elaborately decorated | | | | Often the following are kept in a Book of Shadows |
| cover. However, you can choose to use a simple | | | | * A protection spell |
| notebook. | | | | * A blessing |
| For many, a Book of Shadows becomes a record of | | | | * Table of Contents |
| their journey to achieving goals in their life. It begins | | | | * Glossary of terms |
| with the goals themselves, and then charts the | | | | * Pagan or Personal Traditions and Ethics (eg Witches |
| journey to achievement, listing and recording the | | | | Creed) |
| information and resources needed to help them | | | | * Information on Herb Lore |
| achieve their desires. | | | | * Recipes for Cake, Ale, Oils and Incense |
| It becomes a source of reference and the | | | | * Research in Astrology, Magical Symbolism and |
| knowledge you accumulate along the path you have | | | | Alphabets |
| chosen. It is important that your Book of Shadows is | | | | * Dream interpretation |
| also a measure and gauge of your success. As you | | | | * Lists of Books and Sacred Texts |
| begin to create your Book of Shadows, you will see | | | | * Divination studies (Runes, Scrying, Tarot etc) |
| almost immediate progress on your quest for your | | | | * Index |
| goals, and you must be able to recognise this straight | | | | You will find many resources to help you create and |
| away. | | | | maintain your Book of Shadows, in books and articles |
| It is best hand written, but will also include some | | | | especially. Most important though is your individuality. |
| printed documents, typed documents, and pictures. | | | | You decide what you need to enter into your Book |
| From the outset it is important to number each page | | | | of Shadows, and you need pay no attention to |
| and create an index, otherwise as your Book grows, | | | | others in this respect. |
| important information may become hidden and | | | | |