Witch's Book of Shadows: The Craft, Lore and Magick of the Witch's Grimoire

The information is fairly basic, but covers a bit of everything from an overview of historical grimoires to creating your own ink & feather quill. The lore was interesting & I read it cover to cover in a couple of hours. The author has an eye for the practicalities of starting a book of shadows - what is the intent of various tomes, what is the best type of book or digital medium to use, etc. Helpful tips for those beginning their journey.

I bought the series of these little books and started by reading this one. Loved it! At first, it started by describing the challenges that had already gone through my mind in planning my own BOS. It lists ways to design a BOS, pros/cons to 3-ringed styles vs bound, how to dress your BOS so that it is stunning, or plain. It's all about you! That was just the beginning. This book went into a detailed and very interesting description of how information, such as that found in a BOS, has been written since the beginning of recorded history. There were drawings in caves and various ways of writing styles throughout history. This text is thorough and well written for anyone. This adds depth of knowledge to a witch's journey and puts so much of our history into a practical context. I truly appreciate my Craft much more because of this book. It talks about occult history, legendary authors (Moses, King Solomon, Hermes, Agrippa, Faust...), various alphabets through history, how to bless/ dedicate/ consecrate (and what these terms mean) and how to handle a BOS during ritual in a professional manner. My little copy now purrs like a cat as I flip through to find the notes I wrote in the margins and the multiple passages I underlined while reading. Could not put this book down for long. It is a great find and well worth the money. Oh, and it fit easily in my purse, making it easy to carry and make efficient use of my time by reading while waiting during daily errands. Can't wait to start reading the others in this series of "The Witch's .... (tools)"

So loved reading this book. It has provided me with help in getting my own BoS going. I alway thought everything had to be exact and have learned that it does not so was hesitating to follow though, i now have the courage to go for it!!

I may start handing out copies of Jason's "The Witch's Book of Shadows" to pre-initiate students. One of the biggest mental hurdles I see with new students involves their own craft record keeping. My branch of the Wiccan tree has students copy out a non-oathbound Book, which can be the start of their own personal BoS, and they inevitably fret about doing it "just right." Every student seems to have this idea in their head that a Book of Shadows is this sacrosanct document that must be exactly copied with calligraphy into leather-bound tomes. They must contain all this information and not one bit more, and woe be it to ye who misprints one of the sacred words!I think one of the best strengths of Jason's book for new witches is that he revels in the adaptability of these books. His voice might just be the first a new witch hears that says it is okay to have a book of shadows for you, one for your coven, and one for your tradition. It is okay to have books for different purposes. It is okay to have books organized in different ways. It is okay for your book to be leather bound or in generic binders or anywhere in between. I think that it can help new witches get over paralyzing perfectionism and get on to their Real Work.Similarly, I see new initiates begin to work with more established Books and frequently feel let down, as though the book limits what they will be able to do in ritual. I think that a reminder that these established Books augment, rather than limit, what a Witch can personally do is a very necessary reminder. My own favorite part was his discussion of various established grimoires and other BoS-like texts. I found it to be not only comprehensive, but also highly approachable. It was like the Cliff's Notes version of a lot of gnarly history, and as such is dead useful to be able to untangle the "what's what" in your head.

Jason Mankey has done it again! Like his earlier work on Athames, Mr. Mankey has crafted a work that is both comprehensive and thoroughly readable. His research is exhaustive but it is really his personal voice that shines through here. Too many beginner Witchcraft books are full of "One, Right, True and Only Way" condescension as some holier than thou Author hands down his way of connecting with the Gods. Jason's works, happily, are nothing like that. Mankey has his opinions to be sure, but at all times he is open to pagans "doing as they wilt". This is a friendly book, full of options, anecdotes, and rock-solid research. (Also, Mickie Mueller's illustrations complement the tone of the text perfectly.) Beginners to the Craft as well as seasoned Witches like myself will find much inspiration here, just as they will with Mankey's "The Witch's Athame". These books are twin flames of excellence!