sleepingasimdead

[sleepingasimdead]

This post covers two topics. First, the common types of "magic books" and second my personal advice for when making your own. The "read more" includes a link to a tutorial and the amino post I am quoting myself from.

Books of Shadows, Grimoires, & Books of Mirrors

Modernly these terms are often used interchangeably for personal spellbooks/witchcraft based journals; however, originally they had three distinct meanings.

I originally read about the differences in my moms older books circa late 80s - late 90s.

Books of Shadows:

First, the term you are likely to encounter most often. A Book of Shadows (BoS) was originally specifically a Wiccan term in reference to a shared book containing spells, rituals, basic theory, and associations. It was meant to be used as a reference and teaching tool between a Coven as well as a place to record Coven specific practices. Usually, the High Priest(ess) would look after, control what is added to, and control who has access to this book. It was not shared with people outside of the Coven and was considered a sacred object. With the rise of solitary practice valued over Coven based practice, the term has lost its Coven, and often Wiccan, associations.

Grimoires:

Next, Grimoire was originally in reference to a personal book of spells, theory, and associations that had a textbook or cookbook tone of writing. This term is older and doesn’t have religious connotations and is usually used as a reference or teaching tool. This was basically a Witches recipe book. However, it was still usually in a more neutral to formal format.

Books of Mirrors:

Lastly, a Book of Mirrors. This term is not as popular as the other two despite, modernly, being what many people have and are actually referencing when they say BoS. The term is in reference to a journal outlining or recording a person’s experiences and path in relation to witchcraft. This book was highly personal but was not required to be kept secret. 

As mentioned before, these terms are modernly used interchangeably due to people just having one book that is more of a mix of all three. They range from a fancy homemade leatherbound book to a cheap planner, there are no specific rules on their construction or what a Practitioner puts in them and not everyone calls their Witchcraft book by any of these terms.

It is usually a very personal item, and so each person has their own rules for it. There are many theories behind the item ranging from it being sacred and having magic of its own to its significance being rooted more in a personal nature.

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Dead's Advice for When You are Making Your Grimoire, Book of Shadows, Book of Mirrors, and/or Magical Tome(s)

The Materials

As tempting as buying a really pretty stylized notebook is, they simply rarely work well if what you want is equally stylized pages. They are too easy to mess up, misplace, run out of space, and tend to be expensive.

Instead try binders + laminate pockets. Binders allow you to remove and reorganize pages. This eliminates the pressure of making the page perfect the first time and lets you remove out of date info with ease. Stylizing is made so much easier when you can safely remove pages.

Not to mention the pockets allow for you to include things like pressed plants with 0 risk of destroying your whole book thanks to rot, protect your pages from water damage, and make making "secret pages" much easier, allows you to make pages digitally first. You can personalize binders with fabric, paper machete, cardboard, hot glue, wood, clay, etc.

Personally, I made 3 "book sleeve bags" out of scrap leather and fabric that allow me to switch up the style and determine how many pockets are necessary that day. On top of just making an embroidered cover and gluing it to the cover of the binder.

The Writing

• Always write full notes before you even open your book and then condense the info like you would if you were rewriting notes for test/exam purposes to act as your Rough Draft.

• Don't use hard to read/made up script unless you are fluent in it. Elsewise the book becomes 20× harder to actually use.

• Make a laminate sheet for base "step by step" sheets for things like sigils or spellmaking and pair with dry erase to make it easier on the environment when you make new ones. Then if they work give them their own page.

• Try to keep one topic / subtopic to a couple of pages and succinct.

The Art

• Do any motifs or small artwork first and then use a tracing method to add to your book so that it can be consistent.

• Section out space on the page for large artwork/diagrams before writing, but don't do them until after you have written your text.

• Try using tracing paper / see-through sticky notes for any 3d diagrams. Diagrams as watermarks are also a good idea. Or if you don't intend to make a Symbarium section you can make them into watermarks as well.

• Don't be afraid to "hide" diagrams behind things like stickinotes + flaps to mixinmize possible text.

OG Amino Post:

http://aminoapps.com/p/dltsku

Below is a quick tutorial video on making fabric covers with handles that I actually used myself (although I adjusted my measurements to fit a large binder). However, tbh you can find quite a few on youtube, as well as tutorials on making your own binder.

[sleepingasimdead]

To every person that has downplayed or accused me of "faking" my chronic illness;

I am not faking being ill, I am faking being okay. Every time you see me and think I am acting normal you are falling for the lie. I am constantly being betrayed by both my body and mind. I can't rest. Think about that, truly take time to digest the implications. A normal person can look forward to rest when they have had an exhausting day. Their exhaustion is a product of accomplishment, if not from progress in something then from showing restraint. I don't get that luxury. 'Exhausted' is not a state I can push myself to, it is my default. My bones are always heavy, it is always hard to concentrate, and there is no such thing as restraint when the smallest emotion can and often will cause my body to fail. I often hurt myself when cataplexy overcomes me. Mostly small things like clacking teeth, whiplash, and maybe a bumped head when my neck gives way. Often pulled limbs and flesh left tender from suddenly slamming against surfaces. Nothing long-term and no need to worry, usually more like a flickering than a total loss of control. Sometimes, more than I like to admit, I am left prone and useless. With bruised ribs, strained joints, and limbs positioned a little wrong. I know I will likely damage my body when I try to catch myself, but I do it anyway. Better that than risk not protecting my brain and face. Since as a "smart young woman", they are the only two things of value many believe I have. Either way, I am left with my cheek against the floor, eyes welling, and heart screaming. Seconds can feel like hours that way. I am constantly awaiting being foracbly rendered incapable. Whether it is being understood in conversation or left fighting just to stay upright, the question of, "is it about to happen?" occupies my mind more than any other. My functionality is drug-induced or non-existent. Every waking task feels Herculean only to be followed by the Sisyphean concept that is rest. I so rarely have anything to show for it beyond disappointment. Shame is an ever-present echo behind most aspects of my waking life. Not that my sleeping one is any better. When sleep offers no rest and you dream only in lucidity it wrends your concept of reality. My dreams are not colourless, sensationless, disjointed things. They don't always truly end when I wake either. I will wake with lingering sensations and their narratives often pick back up when next I try to sleep. I have experienced more through dreams and hallucinations at this point in my life than while waking and those experiences are most often violations. Can you be traumatized by things that aren't really happening? Why am I letting experiences I know were not real get to me? Two more questions I also find myself plagued by. But even without knowing the true depths of these things, I am a tragic burden to those around me. A walking embodiment of wasted academic and physical potential with the added addition of always having been a little odd socially. I am perpetually tired and desperate not to be tiresome. I know I am a burden so I try to minimize how much of one as best I can. I fake being in better health than I am, so I can't help but feel like your doubt is in part my fault. But I do it for your comfort, not mine, so when you dare disrespect me by implying I am a liar I can't help the resentment. Because we all know you can't handle being faced with what my illness is doing to me, as I am every day.