I have read many explanations of why we call it our Book of Shadows and the best by far is that, in the Burning Times, the book had to be kept hidden away; literally hidden in the shadows - to quote Gerald Gardner: "Keep a book in your own hand write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will but never let this book out of your hand, and never keep the writings of another, for if it be found in their hand of write they will be taken and tortured...If your book be found on you, it is clear proof against you; you may be tortured."

The basic plan for your book should be one that you can add or remove pages from as needed. My personal book is four notebooks with a handmade and painted cover all tied together with ribbon. Your book will become a place of safekeeping for your magical knowledge and its power will grow as your power grows. You can put what ever feels right to you in your book. There are no set rules, but there are a few things you really need and a few things you will want to add.

First, begin your book with a blessing. You can write it yourself or use something written by another that you find inspirational and that will work well as a charm or blessing. It is a good idea to add codes of honor and the Wiccan Rede, if you follow that path- in some cases you might want a copy of the Rede even if you do not follow that path, it is a good guide. Spells, of course, and rituals and invocations, prayers and chants should be kept in the book; also information on circle casting and any initiation rituals you use. It is a good idea to write out correspondences and charts too.

I have a section just for Sabbats and Esbats. I like to add information about the old ways of celebrating as well as the modern. Any rituals, poetry and stories you write yourself should go into your book. If you make your own tools or ritual clothing or other crafts, then it would be well to have a section for crafts. Recipes are excellent and cooking has a magic all its own, so food recipes and herbal remedies and cosmetics are good things to include. If you are inclined you can put instructions for massage and the proper oils to use.

I have a section I call my inspiration pages, this is where I put poetry, spells and stories written by others. If you had a teacher in the past and you would like to keep their information separate, then set aside a section dedicated to and honoring them. I no longer keep a herbal in my book, it just outgrew the section I had set aside, so it is a separate book now; as is my diary of spells worked and their outcomes. I also have separate sections for the various paths I have studied and a rather large section on Native American Wisdom and a smaller section, that I have just begun, on Druidism, which I suspect will out grow my book soon.

Once you have begun your Book of Shadows, treat it with respect and do not allow others to handle it. Now this said, if you become a teacher the best way to share info from your book is to copy out any thing to be passed on and give the copy to your student; as my teacher always copied out information and I hand copied from that. She also advised me to have two books, one that I keep on my altar and one that is small enough to carry for jotting down quick notes and information, she called this a working Book of Shadows. Hand writing your book is not absolutely necessary, but it is a good idea as it will add your personal power and energy to the book.

If you do artwork, then designing the cover for you book will prove an interesting and challenging project. These is no specific way to design the cover, so you can let your imagination run wild or it can be plain and in any color you choose. I created a design on my book and added dimensional paints and small stones and a few bits of jewelry findings. I also made page markers with colored ribbons and jewelry finding tied to the ends, they work wonderfully to mark pages I am studying.

Finally, to finish your book (although it will never truly be finished), add a charm of protection at the back to help assure your book will be shielded. You can use something you have found written by another or write it yourself; though your own writing will be the more powerful charm.

With a little imagination and forethought you can have a Book of Shadows that will truly be your book, unique and personal.