Make Your Own Book of Shadows For Hecate

I'm a sucker for a DIY project. I'm the person who always wants to put my own spin on whatever project I'm doing. And creating magical journals/Book of Shadows/Grimoires is no different. Creating magical journals has been my new fun DIY project.

Since becoming a devotee, I'm journaling - a lot. I've got a grimoire for spell work, a journal for dreams, one for astrology, tarot, and divination. I do these practices in different places so I have more than one. I like to record my findings, thoughts and I also like to draw. Ok, maybe I have a journaling problem but for me this works. That being said, having so many journals can get overwhelming - on the wallet and the planet.

In these journals I like to make things that fit me; my style, the project I'm working on, or the time of year. And I don't like the blandness of a store-bought journal. I think junk journals have so much character. They're interesting to look at and inspire me to pick them up and write in them! If this sounds like you too, you're in the right place.

What is the difference between a Book of Shadows, a Grimoire, and a Journal?

If you are unclear as to what is the difference between these types of books, Let's try to define them.

A Grimoire is a textbook or guide for magical practice, study and ritual. It is a little more formal than the the others. It shows the technical ways of practicing. It has only spells and rituals.

A Book of Shadows is a more informal magical journal where you add your own collection of spells, recipes, rituals and correspondences for herbs, rocks, etc and how they might be used. It also serves as a journal in your daily practice, what you did, and the outcome.

For some, these books are interchangeable and some keep them separate. It's totally up to you.

Journaling

Some use journaling as a way to connect with their voice, to sort through the chaos that at times streams through the mind, It's the place to rage, to gush, to lament, be grateful! There's so much you can do with journals.

Journaling itself is a little liminal. It is bringing a thought into form. Dreaming into reality. Writing a journal is taking the unseen or unknown and bringing it into conscious thought. Sometimes those thoughts are very clear and loud and others are on the edge of your mind, and they are like grasping clouds. Journaling feels a little like liminal magic.

The experience of journaling is a very personal. In this journal you'll be hanging with your besties-you and Hecate! So, your journal should be made to be a reflection of how you want that practice to look. There are so many ways to journal. But in this post I'd like to talk about creating a sacred space for your thoughts, magical findings and information about Hecate so that you can known her better.

Creating Sections In Your Journal

Of course you can certainly start with a blank slate and just go for it. But if you get blank page syndrome, let me offer some suggestions for how to put your journal together and what sections you might have in your book of shadows for Hecate.

Page 1: Start the first page with a invocation. Do a dedication ritual to dedicate the book to her: Here is one option of what to say/write down:

Invocation to Hecate:

"Hail Hecate, Torchbearer and guide. Light my path as. I seek guidance and wisdom in knowing you.

I dedicate this book to you and seek your wisdom and presence in my life.

As I write here, I ask that you that you illuminate the path before me, to reveal ______( whatever you are asking to know.)

Protect this space from unwanted energy and only allow clarity and balance.

I ask this with gratitude. May theses pages be filled with knowledge for the highest and best good.

So I will it, so mote it be.

Prayers and Poems: This is a great place to come up with poems , prayers in your own words, prayers of others that you like and want to remember,

Drawings, images, and symbols: You might add a section for images. These might be your own drawings and sketches, symbols and whatever images that remind you of her.

Historical Findings and lore: This is a place to jot down dates, information on who, how, where, etc. people worshiped Hecate in the past, stories from her myths, references from historical books and more. Whatever it is that helps you understand her more.

Writing: This is a great place to journal. To write down thoughts, questions, callings, things your want to research. This could be to just journal or it could be more divination where you ask a questions, let your mind be quiet, and answer with what is your intuition saying to you, Write it all down!

Calendar/wheel of the year/Traditions: You can add a calendar here to record the wheel of the year, your traditions and more.

Pocket: When I think of magical spaces, they always have a secret. In all of my journals I create myself I add a pocket for special things. You might want to add a keepsake which might be a ward, an offering, or a special item like a dried flower or a key. You might feel called to add something specific or you might want to ask for inspiration, or add that something that has unexpectedly showed up in your life.

And more: I've only added 5 books or sections to this journal (read on for instructions) but you can feel free to change that up. There is no limit what to add to your journal or sections. You might add a section on the elements, or the seasons, whatever feels good to you in the moment.

The best thing is, you don't have to feel like this needs to be perfect. This is the best part of junk journals. This is just one iteration. I can add on to the next one if I want or I can revise! I think that is really what makes these special.

Instructions To Make Your Junk Journal Book of Shadows

For those of you who are new to junk journaling this is simply taking scrap paper, bits of string, junk mail, magazines, boxes and your own drawings, or whatever you have around and creating something (a journal) with it. There are many tutorials on YouTube on how to create a junk journal but this is the way I went about it.

Supplies:

Journal Paper: 25 pages, 8.5 x 11 of journal paper.) This is the paper for the journal pages. (This can be whatever paper you have around.) You can dye paper, (I made a tea and dyed my pages with that and I loved the antique look it produced. You can use regular white printer paper or scraps of misprinted paper. or whatever you have You will want some of it to be the same size.

Cardstock paper: 5 Cardstock pages, 8.5 x 11. The same size as the inside pages. This paper lines the journal pages and is glued together to make the book cohesive. So it needs to be a little stronger.

Cardboard: 2 pieces 8.5 x 11 (for the cover) This can be anything from a cardboard box or a cereal box that you glue together to make it a little studier. Y

String: 1 bunch of embroidery floss (usually these come in 8.7 yards but you won't need that much. You can also make each book a different color if you like. Make sure this string will be pretty strong and hold paper together well.

Fabric: 1 small remnant about 8.5 x 11. This is for the binding. You will glue this to the outside of the cardstock for the spine.

Tape: About 3 pieces per binding (15 pieces). You can use Scotch tape or whatever you have around.

Glue: Use a tacky glue that will work on cardboard, material, and paper.

Junk: This can be anything that you'd like to add to your journal. If it appeals to you visually, then keep it aside to add. You can also add stickers, stencils, drawings or really anything that fits the style you're looking for. I like to add these as I go and the book evolves with the year but you can add this at any time.

Instructions:

1. Make small books with folded paper: make 5 smaller books of 5 pages each folded down the middle. Take your 8.5 x 11 paper and fold it in half so it looks like a brochure. Do that with all five pages, nesting them one inside the other to make a small book. Do this 5 times. (Or 3 times if you would like to have a smaller book and honor Hecate that way.)

2. Add cardstock: Add cardstock to outside of each small book.

3. You can add smaller pages with different paper throughout to make your journal fun and interesting.

4. Bind the pages together: Bind the pages together with the string by just winding the string around the center of all the pages, holding them together. Tie in a knot and cut excess string. This includes the cardstock. The cardstock should be on the very outside. (There are other methods but I like this one because I can add things later.)

5. Tape the binding: Use the tape to hold down the string on each side of the outside of the cardstock book and add a piece of tape along the binding edge right on the knot.

6. Stack: Put your smaller books in a stack (your journal is taking form!) If they have a direction, make sure they are going the right way before you glue together.

7. Glue: Glue cardstock pages to the cardstock page. (The top and bottom cardstock pages will get the cover so leave them. Glue the smaller books together. Make sure you don't glue all the pages together. Sometimes the glue can be unruly. Stack a heavyish object on the book to keep them in place. It doesn't need to be totally squished down, just held together. Let it dry.

8. Spine: While the book is drying cut out your material for the spine. It should be as long as the book but the width will go under the cardboard pieces on the covers you'll make next, so it does not need to go all the way to the edge of the book pages.

9. Create covers: Cut out some pieces of cardboard that fit your journal height. Let it be a little shorter so the pretty material you choose for the spine will show and there is movement there. Cut out a piece of paper for your journal cover. Make sure they are the same size and width. Fold and glue it carefully over the cardboard pieces. Let this dry.

10. Add anything you want to the front or back to the covers. and glue that one to them.

11. Add Covers: Once things have dried a little you can glue the covers on.

12. Pocket: Create a pocket by using the card stock. There are many ways to create pockets. (You can find many on YouTube.)

13. Personalize: Add stickers, drawings, fun things for your future self to find later or quotes.

Witchy Tip:You can make the ink, the paper and everything about this book if you want to infuse more magic into it. Make it what you want!

This is how I create a book of shadows (junk style) for all my projects and my devotions. I hope that this inspires you to create a personalized journal for your practice and devotion to Hecate. I think the best part is that each one gets a little better the more I work on them. Sounds a little like a metaphor for life.