Written by ManifestMoons. Last updated 20 September 2026.
A Book of Shadows is a witch’s private working journal: the dated record of rituals, spells, moon work, tarot pulls and results, kept alongside the reference material of a grimoire. The name was used by Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca, for his coven’s manuscript in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Today the term is used by witches of every tradition, Wiccan or not.
Book of Shadows at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A personal, dated record of a witch’s practice, plus the rituals and rules of their tradition. |
| Where does the name come from? | Gerald Gardner’s Wiccan manuscript, late 1940s to early 1950s. Doreen Valiente rewrote parts of it in the 1950s. Source: Wikipedia, “Book of Shadows”. |
| Do you have to be Wiccan? | No. The name is Wiccan in origin; the practice of keeping one is now universal. |
| Is it secret? | Traditionally yes. Coven copies were hand-written and never lent. Solitary witches decide for themselves. |
| How is it different from a grimoire? | A grimoire stores knowledge. A Book of Shadows records practice. Most people keep both in one binder. Full comparison: What is a grimoire? |
| Physical or digital? | Either. Binder with printable pages, bound blank book, or a PDF in GoodNotes or Notability. |
What to write in a Book of Shadows, page by page
The order below is the one that keeps a beginner writing past the third week. Reference pages first, so you have something to look up. Record pages at the back, so the book fills from both ends.
- Page 1: dedication. Your name or craft name, today’s date, one sentence of intent. Sign it.
- Page 2: protection for the book. A short charm written in your own words, or a sigil drawn over the page. Trace it once with your finger each time you open the book for a month.
- Page 3: your rules. Three to five lines. What you will and will not do with magic. Beginners who skip this page rewrite it later after a spell they regret.
- Pages 4 to 5: moon phases. New, waxing, full, waning, dark. One line each on what the phase is for. Then this year’s new and full moon dates with their signs. Free source: the ManifestMoons lunar calendar.
- Pages 6 to 9: the Wheel of the Year. The eight sabbats with dates for your hemisphere. Half a page each: colours, foods, one small ritual.
- Pages 10 to 12: correspondences. Colours, days of the week, elements and directions. These three tables cover most beginner spellwork.
- Pages 13 to 20: herbs and crystals. Ten herbs you can buy at a supermarket. Five stones you own. One line each. Add pages as the collection grows.
- Pages 21 to 24: candle magic. Colour meanings, how to dress a candle, how to read the flame and the leftover wax.
- Pages 25 to 30: divination. Tarot card keywords, a pendulum chart, your dream symbols.
- Pages 31 onward: spells and rituals. One per page, written as a recipe: purpose, moon phase, ingredients, steps, words, closing.
- Back of the book: the record. Spell log, tarot log, moon journal. Date, phase, what you did, what happened, what you would change.
Your first week with a Book of Shadows
- Day 1. Dedication and protection page. Fifteen minutes.
- Day 2. Your rules page. Write the three lines, then leave it.
- Day 3. Moon phase page and this month’s dates.
- Day 4. Colour and day-of-the-week tables.
- Day 5. Five herbs from your kitchen. Rosemary, bay, cinnamon, salt, black pepper are enough to start.
- Day 6. Do one small piece of work: a cleansing with salt water, a candle for a clear week. Record it at the back with the date and the moon phase.
- Day 7. Reread the week. Cross out anything that already feels wrong. A Book of Shadows with crossings-out is a real one.
Physical vs digital Book of Shadows
| Binder with printable pages | Bound blank book | Digital (GoodNotes, Notion, Xodo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reorder pages | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fix a mistake | Reprint the page | Cross it out | Undo |
| Feels like a ritual object | Yes, once it has weight | Yes, immediately | Less so |
| Cost to start | Binder plus printing | Price of the book | App plus PDF pages |
| Best for | Most beginners | A second, “fair copy” book after a year | Travel, small flats, iPad users |
Printable Book of Shadows pages
Printable pages solve the blank-page problem. The correspondence tables, moon pages and sabbat guides are already researched and laid out, and you write your own practice around them. ManifestMoons has made printable grimoire and Book of Shadows pages since 2020, with more than 14,000 sales since 2020 (checked 20 September 2026). Every page is tested in the designer’s own book before release, and ships as PDF in A4 and US Letter.
- Book of Shadows and grimoire pages on manifestmoons.com
- What is a grimoire? Definition, history and how to start one
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Book of Shadows and a grimoire?
A grimoire is a reference book of magical knowledge: correspondences, herbs, crystals, spell formulas. A Book of Shadows is a dated record of your own practice. Most witches keep both in one binder.
Can anyone keep a Book of Shadows, or only Wiccans?
Anyone. The name comes from Gardnerian Wicca, but eclectic witches, folk practitioners and pagans of every kind keep one today.
What should the first page of a Book of Shadows say?
Your name or craft name, the date, and one sentence of intent. Sign it. The second page is usually a protection charm for the book itself.
Does a Book of Shadows have to be handwritten?
No. Printed pages, typed pages and digital notes all count. Handwriting matters most on the record pages, where the act of writing slows you down and helps you notice results.
Should I keep my Book of Shadows secret?
That is your choice. Traditional covens kept theirs private. Solitary witches often share reference pages and keep the record pages to themselves.
How do I start a Book of Shadows with no experience?
Buy a ring binder, write a dated dedication page, add this month’s moon dates, and record one small piece of work by the end of the first week. Printable starter pages cover the reference material while you build the habit.
