Starting a Book of Shadows


Now that we know what a Book of Shadows (BoS) is, how do we start one? Well, it's quite simple really …

First of all, we need to decide what kind of BoS we wish to start. Do we want something fancy or something plain? Something formal or something laid-back? You need to first figure out what would make you comfortable.

I chose a simple three-ring binder with notebook paper … but you might want a fancy binder with pretty parchment paper to use. After you decide what you want, the next step is to purchase the materials.

After the materials have been purchased … what next? You want to organize your BoS to how you feel is right. There is no right or wrong way to organize your information. Maybe you want to use folders, tabs, or whatnot to divide your BoS into specific sections. Maybe you just want to keep it all jumbled together.

It is always a good idea to start your BoS off with a Blessing. I will send more information on that at a later time.


Attraction Spell
(c) 1998-1999 Spirit Online

Light an orange candle, then take a small seashell and pass it three times through the flame. As you do this, say:

"By the power of three, 
So make it be."

...each time you go through the flame. Take a handful of cinnamon and using a spoon and bowl, mix it with dried and crushed red rose petals. Sprinkle the shell with some of the mixture and imagine yourself attracting many different people. Take the rest of the mixture and toss it into the wind to carry your request to the God and Goddess. Then carry the shell with you in a pocket or purse at all times. 


Ritual to Banish Depression

You will need:

  • Goddess candle---White, once at center of the altar, or two at the back.

  • Banishing Candle---Black, placed at the left front of the altar. 

  • Invoking Candle---Pink or red, placed at the right of the altar.

  • Incense---Sage, cedar, rosemary or pine at the beginning of the ritual, changed later to rose or amber. Burn loose herbs on charcoal blocks to do this.

  • Oils---Use Goddess or Altar oil on the Goddess candle; sage, pine or other banishing oil on the banishing candle; and rose oil on the invoking candle and for self-blessing.

  • Symbol Objects---Use a black gemstone for banishing, and a piece of rose quartz or a rose quartz pendant for invoking. Place the pendant on the altar and put it on before doing the self-blessing.

  • Matches to light candles and incense, charcoal blocks for loose incense, ritual wand (if used) to cast the circle. 


Ritual Outline

Light candles---"Dress" the candles with the oils, working base to tip, (away from you) for the banishing candle and tip to base (towards you) for the invoking candle and the Goddess candles. Visualize the intent, banishing depression when handling the banishing candle, and invoking joy and self-love while "dressing" the Goddess and invoking candles. Light only the Goddess candles at this time. 

Purify---Start the charcoal block and give it time to heat up. Sprinkle loose herbs of sage, cedar, rosemary or pine on the hot coal and use the smoke for purifying. Visualize the intent of the ritual, at this point visualize banishing depression and emotional pain, while smudging with the smoke. Then light the black candle from the Goddess candle. 

Cast circle/invoke a Crone Goddess or Goddesses to help in banishing, and a Goddess of gentleness and peace for the invoking part of the ritual. Try Kali the Destroyer or Hecate for banishing, and Kwan Yin for gentleness and invoking. Use Goddesses for the five elements or these two aspects only, or whatever feels right. do a full casting and invoking to make the circle, or as informal invitation to the aspects and elements. 

Invocation---Dear mothers of wisdom and grace, I invite you here to ask your help. I refuse my depression and choose to banish it, and ask instead for joy and peace of mind. Help me in my work tonight, Kali and Kwan Yin. 

Body of ritual----Focus on the flame of the black candle, thinking of all the things that need changing. Remember fully all the reasons for depression and pain, acknowledge all your anger, all your rage, and all your fear. Dwell on every hurt, every feeling, every negativity. When you have focused them all onto the candle, shout "NO!" and blow the candle out in a decisive, quick motion. Watch the smoke rise from the extinguished candle, and feel all the negativity dissolving in the rising air. Breathe the banishing incense for awhile. 

Now lighting the invoking candle. Do it from the Goddess candle, and sprinkle rose incense on the charcoal block. Let the light of the pink candle and the fragrance of the rose incense fill you as you watch and breathe them. Breathe the energies in deeply, remembering the qualities of Kwan Yin, or other Goddess's of mercy invoked in the ritual. Ask Kwan Yin for her presence and help. 

Focus on the candle flame and think of all the good things in your life. Refill each banished item and negativity with some positive attribute; where there was pain before, replace it with love. For every wrong remember something to give thanks for; for every pain remember something joyful. Remember your accomplishments in life, how good a woman you really are. Do a series of affirmations, "I am" or "I have", to list your good qualities and the qualities you choose to become or gain. Continue stating the positives and affirmations until you feel filled with pink light and the scent of roses. 

Self-blessing---Put on the rose quartz pendant or hold the rose quartz stone. Do the self-blessing ritual slowly and lovingly, anointing your charkas with the rose oil. Breathe the scent deeply and draw it into your body, emotions, mind and spirit. 

Thank Kwan Yin for your joy and Kali for her energy of change. 

Open circle/ground. 

Allow the pink candle to burn out itself, or extinguish and relight it nightly until at least the next Full Moon. Do affirmations nightly with the flame. Continue burning pink candles for as long as needed to remind you of new joy and positively. Repeat the ritual on the next waning moon if needed; it will be needed less each time you do it. Each time, bury the remains of the black candle in the earth, along with the ashes from the incense; visualize your pain being buried and recycled with them. Repeat the self-blessing at any time, and do it often, at least every New and Full Moon. Continue wearing the rose quartz pendant, or carry a piece of the stone with you at all times. Remember you are Goddess. 

Do banishing rituals on the waning or dark moons. The day of Saturn (Saturday) is a good day to enter the labyrinth/unknown to change habits. 


Charm

A charm can be one of two things. First, it can be an empowered word or symbol that evokes a magical response, often in matters of love. Frequently this form of charm is uttered, like an incantation, taking its meaning from the Latin Carmen, meaning song or poem.

Giving traditional charms a face-lift is not difficult. Most people already understand the power of words. We just have to learn to give specific magical potency to our speech. Consider the effect angry words have on a listener. That's because there's real energy propelling them. In working on verbal charms, think of that kind of power, but without the negativity.

A charm can also be very similar to an amulet. This object is worn on a person in the hope of improving fortune and averting evil. Ever wonder what all those trinkets in a charm bracelet were for? Well, now you know! Some examples are a tiny heart for love, an anchor for security or safety at sea, baby shoes for fertility, and a clover for luck.

To my mind, the best way to make a charm is to combine the two definitions: begin with an object symbolic of your desire, then fortify that object with magical energy, using words and phrases, such as chants and incantations.

Fetish

Unlike the obsessions or fixations we usually think of as fetishes, magical fetishes have nothing to do with kinky sex, unless contrived for that purpose. In magic, fetishes are closely related to charms, getting their name from the Latin word facere, "to make." A fetish can be any natural or created object that arouses a strong emotional response, specifically a feeling that the object represents or holds a higher power.

For example, when you get pulled over by the police and they flash a badge, the natural reaction is to wonder what we have done wrong. The badge represents an authority or power that evokes an immediate emotional response. In a magical setting this might be a carving of the Goddess, or some other meaningful object, that is used in rituals or as a focus in spell casting to invoke divine energy.

Incantation

Taking its meaning from the Latin word incantare, which means "to chant a magical formula," an incantation is a verbal or mental magical formula that specifies your desire to the Goddess. Incantations focus the energy of a spell or ritual, and they sometimes invoke spirits or the Goddess for aid.

Verbalized incantations carry the energy of our intentions through tones and vibrations. When propriety won't allow for this, there is nothing wrong with mentally reciting the words of a spell. Let's face it - most of us can't just start chanting at the office or around our grandmothers!

In historical texts, many incantations rhyme. Rhyming helped the illiterate people of that time to memorize a spell (through oral tradition), but it is not necessary for a spell to work. So when you create your own incantations, don't worry if you can't come up with Shakespearean-styled verses, or ones that rhyme! What's most important about an incantation is that it helps you concentrate on the magic, that it's specific, and that it guides the energy toward its goal.

Internalization

Internalizing the energy of a spell means to accept it as part of your everyday life and actions. When you work magic for love, start expecting it and begin loving yourself; when you work magic for joy, do things that can encourage the lighthearted spirit, like watching funny movies.

My personal favorite way to internalize any magic is by creating edible components. This way you truly "are what you eat!" Then again, as a militant "kitchen witch," I advocate any good excuse to make tantalizing magical meals. It's fun, flavorful, and filling!

Invocation

To invoke means to call for assistance, specifically the assistance of the Goddess through prayer. Don't let the idea of praying put you off. It's nothing more than a heartfelt request that you put before the divine. So, stop thinking about the King James Bible or phrases with the word forsooth, and just talk to the Goddess. She cares far less about what you say than why you say it. Use slang, rap, or whatever form of communication works best for you.

Meditation, Visualization

Meditation and visualization usually work together in magical settings. Meditation is a way of thinking deeply about something, and mulling it over completely in your mind from as many different angles as possible. Visualization adds a second dimension to this process. In visualization a person imagines all the circumstances of a particular subject, making a mental movie out of it. From this perspective, many people find they gain emotional distance and, therefore, a much better understanding of what's going on.

For our purposes, meditation and visualization direct the energy of a spell more specifically. Think of this as readying a spiritual bow and taking aim with thoughts. Magic works through willpower; meditation in combination with visualization hones that will, focuses it intently, then helps release the power to hit your mark.

Spell

In Anglo-Saxon the word for spell is spieling, meaning to turn or change. Magically speaking, you will be using spells to turn or change the life-energy that exists all around us and then activate it to achieve a specific goal. Most spells include some type of written or verbal charm (or prayer) that empowers and directs the magic. When writing or chanting aren't possible, simply concentrate in detail on the spell's purpose.

Unlike in Mac Beth, you won't be using any tongue of frog or eye of newt as spell components. You can use ingredients that are fairly available around your living space, the supermarket, or dollar store, or those that fill the shelves at New Age outlets. Why? Because using unfamiliar ingredients in spell casting hinders the flow of magic. The more meaning each component has for you, the better it works!

Talisman

Like charms and amulets, a talisman preserves the bearer from misfortune. A talisman is a figure created under auspicious astrological conditions to energize it for a specific purpose. Frequently this figure is carved on sympathetic metals and stones to amplify its power. Since this could prove very difficult unless you know an engraver or lapidary, many talismans consist of symbols written or painted on paper or cloth.

I encourage you to use your personal vision and creativity as a guide in fashioning your own magic. You will find that you intuitively know a lot more about the Goddess's magic than you might have thought.

 

To Rid Yourself of Negatives

Set an empty cauldron or goblet on your altar between two lit white candles. Burn a good protection or blessings incense. Robe yourself, preferably in white, and stand or sit before the altar. Breathe slowly and evenly until you are calm and centered. Take the cauldron or goblet in both hands; hold high over the altar in salute to the gods. Lower to chest level and slowly breathe into the cauldron, silently naming each habit, person or experience you wish removed from your life.

When finished, turn the cauldron or goblet upside down on the altar, saying:

The contents of this vessel I give to thee, Great Ones.
Exchange these experiences for better.

Place an offering of herbs and milk outside, or at least burn the herbs in your censer. This is best done during the waning Moon.

To Bind a Trouble-Maker

Perform this spell during the waning Moon. Situate the cauldron between two black candles, with a third black candle opposite you on the far side of the altar. Burn a protection or binding incense. Have the names of your enemies written on a small piece of paper. If the names are unknown, merely write "all my enemies." Sprinkle basil and/or elder flowers into the cauldron.

Say:

Bubble, bubble, cauldron bubble.
Rid me of evil, destroy my trouble.

Ignite the paper from the central candle and drop into the cauldron. Take up the wand and stir the air above the cauldron while chanting:

Darkness ended, control is done.
Light has come, my battle's won.

Take the ashes and herbs outside. Throw them up to the winds and the Moon.

To Strengthen Your Psychic Shield

The night before the Full Moon, find a place where your altar will not be disturbed for 24 hours. Put the cauldron in the center with a red candle on the right side, black candle on the left, and white candle in the back; but do not light them yet. Sprinkle a mixture of equal parts of elder blossoms, marjoram, mint and rue in an unbroken circle around the cauldron. Into a tiny vial, measure equal drops of oils of clove, frankincense, jasmine and lavender. Set the sealed bottle in the cauldron and leave until the night of the Full Moon.

On Full Moon night, take a cleansing bath and robe yourself in white. Carry a good protective and/or purification incense through every room in the house. Make certain that the smoke drifts into closets. Return to the altar and light the candles. Take up the dagger or sword. Face the East and raise the sword in salute. To salute in this manner, simply hold the sword point upward in front of you. 

Say:

By the power of the rising Sun, all evil in my life is done.

Turn to the South, salute, say:

By the power of the noonday blast, all control is mine at last.

Turn to the West, salute, say:

By the power of darkening night, my shield is strong, my armor tight.

Turn to the North, salute, say:

By Full Moon in blackened sky, I am not alone; my help is nigh.
The Goddess' hands around me stay to keep me safe by night and day.
Be gone, foul spirits, unbidden here! I send you back; I do not fear
For I have won, I am set free. You have no power over me!

Face the altar and take up the vial of oil. Put a drop of oil on your finger and anoint your forehead, heart, solar plexus, wrists and ankles. As you do this, visualize a shining blue suit of armor slowly descending over your body until you are entirely protected. Cap the bottle and store in a safe place. Thank the Powers for their help and extinguish the candles. Apply the oil and repeat the chants whenever you feel the armor is slipping.



To Rid Yourself of a Threat



Ingredients:

4 tbs frankincense or myrrh
4 tbs black powdered iron
4 tbs sea salt
4 tablespoons orris root powder
1 white candle
1 bottle with cork or lid
1 mortar and pestle
parchment paper
black pen
black thread

Mix sea salt, orris root and iron in a bowl. Then cut a piece of parchment to fit inside the bottle. Write on it:

"I neutralize the power of (name) to do me any harm. So mote it be."

Roll up the parchment, tie it with black thread and place in the bottle. Fill the bottle with dry ingredients. Take the white candle, turning the bottle counterclockwise, and drip wax over the cork to seal. Secretly bury the bottle where no person or animal will dig it up.

   

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