I know that you know what I am talking about. You have seen them in every modern day t.v. series that features a witch. In every Hollywood horror film that has a witch in it.
Yes, that's correct. It is that big leather bound embossed book, that looks like it is written in a language not used on this planet for several thousand years. And of course it's always on parchment paper. I think I may have even seen flames and lightening shotting out of it once.
As we all know though Hollywood and televisionland tend to over dramatize things. I mean look at the Wizard of Oz, they have a green faced witch that flies on a broom. I have yet to meet a green faced witch or a witch that flies on anything by a commercial airline.
As for the parchment paper, of course, some of your spells require it. I don't, however, think that your everyday spells have any great need to be written on parchment. If your spell is very old, very important or very special then by all means use the parchment. However at $2.00 to $7.00 a sheet depending on the quality, if you were to use it all the time the next thing you know you are going to be mortgaging your house and getting a second job to pay for it.
I happen to know that the local dollar store sells some very lovely blank paper books at the reasonable price of a dollar.
So now we are left with a bunch of witches looking at the hollywood writings and fearing they won't know the lingo. Well, guess what, you don't have to write your Book of Shadows in Latin or any other foreign language; unless of course that happens to be your first language and then by all means do so.
Your Book of Shadows is simply this: a collection of spells, information, dreams, quaint sayings, herbal recipes, hints and any other thing that grabs your fancy. It's information that you have collected over the years, it's a reference guide and very often can be thought of as your "bible". Treat it with respect, but don't fear it.
I know that you can buy a Book of Shadows at occult stores or over the internet if that is what you want. But it is certainly not required by any obscure wiccan law that no one is aware of.
It doesn't have to be fancy and it certainly doesn't have to be expensive, but it does have to be yours. Mine at this point is in a three ring binder that is seriously overflowing and in need of some organization. But I swear to you I know where everything is......... well almost. And I have to tell you folks most of my spells are written on paper from WalMart.
I have always believed that is the intent that is important and not the expense of your supplies. I am a witch on a tight budget and most the witches I know are in the same position. I really don't think that our blessed Mother and Father are not going to listen to our intentions for the simple reason that our supplies didn't throw us into bankrupcy. I mean can't you just see it........."We don't have to grant her/his cast because she/he buys from Ebay or WalMart" or what have you. Come on now give yourself a break, unless you are casting for some serious prosperity forget the leather-bound embossed book and start small.
Always, however, write down everything you think is important since you don't know when you will need it. Your Book of Shadows is sacred to you, keep it as secret as you want. Keep it as yours.
Often times Coven's will have their own Book of Shadows, but yours is yours alone. Now get yourself to the dollar store or WalMart. What are you waiting for you can do this.
Happy writing!
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