Magickal Record Keeping
This may come as a disappointment for some people, but working magick can involve paperwork! Welcome to the fine art of magickal record keeping. This paperwork is a valuable record of your magickal workings both for you and those who come after you. It also allows you to see your skills developing over time. There are a variety of activities that can be recorded, from spell and ritual preparation, to dream journals, to a personal journal, to the ultimate Witch record, the Book of Shadows (BOS). Spell and Ritual Sheet When you are about to work a spell, it is important to have several elements straight in your head. The easiest way to do this is to write them down. You can rough the spell out on a scrap piece of paper and as you get it to the finished product, why not write it out neatly and put it in your BOS? Here are some things you might want to include in your spell sheet: Type of spell/ritual Date and time spell/ritual Moon and Astrological Correspondence Specific Purpose List of tools and/or ingredients and/or supplies needed Location Deities invoked Step By Step Instructions for preparation and use. Results (if the spell worked, how long did it take, any specific results)
A Personal Journal
A personal journal is a great thing to keep, whether you are Pagan or not. These can be kept daily or weekly and can include a variety of things. What happened to you and your family, what was happening in the world, and how did you react or feel about those events. At the end of each year, you can make a list of goals for the coming year and revisit this list at the same time next year to see how you have done. Personal journals can also become a valuable recollection of family history.
A Dream Journal
It is usually very hard to recall dreams, even only a few days later, so this is where a dream journal comes in handy. You can buy lovely dream journals from bookstores, but another way to consider organising it is in a loose-leaf binder. This allows you to arrange your dream journal by a particular subject or symbol, if you desire. Record the date, moon phase, the general story line of your dream and anything else (symbol, person, event) in your dream that stands out. You may like to jot down notes of what particular symbols mean to you. Try reading your journal every few months to see if recent events throw light on your dreams.
The Book of Shadows
You could have research and working information on the following things: Divination - Tarot, Runes, I Ching, Dowsing etc Correspondences - astrological, herbal, colours, crystals, elements, Magick - spells, rituals, definitions, candle magick, crystal, colour, moon magick Ethics Mythology/Pantheons - Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic, Indian, Native American Songs/Prayers/Blessings/Prayers Magickal Records - of spells, rituals, readings etc There are no set physical requirements for the BOS. Some people love to acquire or make large, leather bound, parchment filled tomes. Others prefer a loose-leaf binder, with dividers. The aim of all this paperwork is to help you progress in your magickal and spiritual practice by being able to assess what worked and what didn't. It enables you to see how your views and tastes have changed and it also allows you to see how much progress you have made and any areas that may still need work. Now, go and do some paperwork!