Book of Shadows: Solitary Suburban Pagan Guide, #2

By Ashlyn Hawthorne

For those taking their first steps on a pagan path or experienced practitioners looking for a simpler approach, Book of Shadows delivers a straightforward guide to creating a personal record for your spiritual practice.

Offering a clear, uncomplicated overview of a basic Wiccan grimoire, this book will walk you through everything you need to know to create a personal Book of Shadows that fits your life, experience, and tradition.

Book of Shadows is filled with easy suggestions and creative ways to:

    - Choose the form of your Book of Shadows
    - Create and decorate your Book
    - Organize your rituals, spells and traditions
    - Outline your personal spiritual path
    - Record personal experience and practice as you explore your faith
    - Design a quick reference guide to magical and ritual correspondence

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashlyn Hawthorne
• Release date: Dec 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781393519508

Book preview

Introduction

When I first started this book, I thought I understood what a Book of Shadows was. It didn't take me long to realize, however, like a lot of aspects of Wicca, there were as many definitions as there were practitioners.

For some, it is a spell book. For some, it is a doctrine encompassing all aspects of their practice. Some use it as a reference. Some as a personal journal. It can be all of these things. Or something else entirely, if that's what you need it to be. 

For me, my Book of Shadows is a place where I keep important information about my faith. It is both a reference and a sacred text. Most of it tends to be a somewhat static record, added to or changed only occasionally. Some sections, though get added to more often than others. I only change or add to it with information I've tried myself and am fairly confident in.

I keep a journal of experiences and outcomes in a separate book (at this point, multiple books) that I call my Book of Journeys. 

However you choose to create, use, and organize your Book of Shadows, this book is intended as a guide to help you create something that suits you and your practice.

Bright Blessings,

Ashlyn

How This Book Is Organized

Part One—Creating Your Book of Shadows is all about choosing and/or creating the actual book itself. We'll touch on a variety of things to think about and consider before starting your Book. Then we'll dive into various forms the book itself can take as well as discuss ways to personalize your Book.

Part Two-Filling Your Book of Shadows gives an overview of the various types of information you may want to include in your Book. I include a few brief examples, but this section is meant more as a guide. It is a starting point to help you decide what you want in your personal, unique Book of Shadows.

While this Solitary Suburban Pagan Guide focuses on starting out from scratch, it may also be useful for more advanced practitioners, looking to simplify and organize an older Book. No matter where you are in your journey, a Book of Shadows that fits your practice and your life will be an invaluable tool.

***One final important note.*** 

Please make yourself aware of all safety precautions as well as local laws and ordinances. For example, always have a fire extinguisher handy when using fire and keep flammables well away from flames. Be aware that when and where you are permitted to have outdoor fires is often strictly regulated. In some jurisdictions, double-sided blades are illegal, so you may need to consider other options for your athame. 

Part One:

Creating Your

Book

Of

Shadows

CHAPTER ONE

Choosing Your Book's Form

I MENTIONED IN MY INTRODUCTION that there is no clear-cut, unilateral definition for a Book of Shadows. My Book of Shadows is a reference book for my faith. It contains information on deities, elements, tools, rituals, magical and elemental correspondences as well as everything else I might need in the practice of my faith or in the creation of magic. I also keep a separate journal I call my Book of Journeys that tracks various exercises, meditations, and types of pathworking I attempt. It also is a place I record experiences, coincidences that may have meaning in my life and outcomes from various rituals, spells, and activities I take part in. 

My Book of Shadows is organized (and cross-referenced, I am a little obsessive about being able to find things when I need them) in neat chapters and topics.