Making a book of shadows from scratch

[naomij]

Hi all, I hope this is in the right place. I am making my own book of shadows and wondered if anyone else had done this, or has suggestions for things to include.

I am new to Wicca, but I did start an interest in it a few years back. I even bought a lovely little book to make into a book of shadows, but somehow it never felt quite right. Maybe I wasn't in the right place/frame of mind. A strong connection to nature and its energies has always been a thing for me, and various things have brought me back to wonder about Wicca again. I like a ritual, but I want to go slowly and read lots. Perhaps, I will give it a year and a day

Anyway, I decided to try again with the BoS to collect notes about things which resonate with me. Because I like making things, and to avoid rushing, I am binding my own. I had a look online, but I would like something discreet, so I am take it about with me without worrying about people noticing and being curious. I would like it to be quite small, too - but thick, with lots of pages I have cut some pages which are plain, some lined, and some coloured. I will probably use them as different sections. I also plan to make some envelopes in the same size, which can be bound in with the pages.

I don't know what the cover will be like yet, but it will be hard and probably covered with fabric. I saw a suggestion somewhere of putting herbs or similar into the book as its made, which seems like a lovely idea. I may hide some pressed flowers and herbs in it when I get to glueing the cover.

Has anyone else tried this? If you were going to make your own BoS, what would you do or include?

[Jenny Crow]

Your book sounds lovely, although a lot of work.

What works best for me is a three-ring binder with the largest rings you can get. That way I can add pages to it easily and take the pages out that I will need when going into circle. I have it divided into sections - Seasonal Rites; Rituals, including my Full Moon Ritual; Spells; Initiations; Oils and Herbs; Correspondences and a section for notes on Magic. Most of it is written by hand. I started it thirty years ago. The outside of the binder is covered.

[naomij]

A binder sounds much more sensible and well organised
It's turning out OK. Sewing together pages sounds like a faff, but it was really quite quick. The envelopes didn't work out, but nevermind. There's something quite pleasing about the little wodge of paper in my hand. I hope it still seems lovely when it has a cover!

I think it will be very useful to have sections for things as I learn more about them. Especially correspondences and rituals, and the seasons. I think I will draw in it too, to help remember things.

[Jenny Crow]

Hope you enjoy your BoS

[blue_moon]

Sounds really really nice! I've thaught about binding my own bos as well - I have a ring binder for all my notes and just started a bos to hold spells and the things I really need - the elements, herbs, moonphases, gems, colours, months and symbols - spells for abundance healing protection banishing and wishes.
Its almost full already - you'll need a lot of pages

[Vesca]

I had toyed around with the idea of creating my own journal at some point. Stitching in the pages, finding a nice bit of fabric or leather to customize for the cover, gilding the edges, etc...

I still may do it one day if I get enough spare funding and get bored enough. It's a fantastic idea, but it does take a fair bit of effort to make it exactly what you want it to be.

All my journals so far are either blank-paged (no lines), or graph-paper style. Because I write asymmetrically and I draw a fair bit. I had never thought about using different colored paper though...

I have seen once in a book where the pages were white, but along all four edges there was what looked like water-color "smudging." It gave it a more surreal look, less conventional, and if I could replicate that without ending up with water-damaged pages, that's probably what I would strive for.

If you ever get around to finishing this project, consider showing us some photos!