The Book of Shadows.

Talk about a dramatic title for a recipe book. This crazy ominous title has been the source of some fantastic television and book plot points. It is something to obtain, or steal, or find and occasionally a great source of ancestral power. In reality, it is just a log book of all the spells, recipes and thoughts you have. A list of crystals you use, herbs that work best and words you have spent time writing. There are a few common things found in books of shadows (yes, it is the correct spelling) and they are listed below in no real order, because what fun is that?:

Title page/Dedication page:  Yes, this is something many people have in their book. Your craft name (more on this later), a poem dedicated to yourself or deities of whatever form. Something that says what this book is to you.

Table of Contents: This is very helpful when you are trying to find information you wrote down at a previous time. I always number my pages and write a table of contents. It helps when you write in whatever order you think it in, which doesn't always have a traditional order.

Deity/Spirit: This is a good time to place spirit or deity information. Things you dedicate to them, offerings, certain messages you think are from your guide. Things you may want at your finger tips.

Plant Life: A list of plants you use commonly or feel a connection too could be extremely helpful. If you enjoy incense and cooking, this might be something to keep in mind. Each plant has its own associations that you may want fast at hand.
 
Crystals/Rocks/Metals: Another fantastic thing to keep a list of! Once again, things of the crystal/rock/metal nature you feel connected to or use often. It's also nice to keep a list of jewelry pieces you have and their associations for future reference.

Rituals; If you ever wonder why a spell didn't work, or if you want to repeat a spell, it is always best to have it written down to use later. The best way to repeat something, is by having it written down word for word in the first place.

Notes: Dreams, questions, ideas, and feelings. A note section is the best place for this stuff. It also makes it easier to look up certain things at a later time.

Reference List: It is never a bad idea to keep a list of where you get your information. You never want to be writing something that you want to have published without knowing where you get your information from. (like in my current situation of writing a blog)

Here is my short list of things I suggest keeping in your Book of Shadows. What do you keep in yours? 

Thanks for reading!