Building a Child’s
Book of Shadows
Natalie Zaman
One November afternoon longer ago than I’d like to admit, I was strolling down Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, with my daughter, enjoying the post-Halloween emptiness. Running ahead, she paused in front of a shop window and then beckoned to me to catch up. When I did, I found her admiring the display: a single, magnificent, leather-bound book.
It was a Book of Shadows. No, it was the ultimate Book of Shadows: two hundred sheets of gilt-edged paper, hand-bound in a volume that looked as if it had been sitting on one of Merlin’s library shelves for the last thousand years. The book was blank save for the first page, where a spell had been elaborately inked. “A real spell by a real Witch,” the enthusiastic shopkeeper told me. It was, of course, expensive—but I confess, even with the real spell by a real Witch, I wanted it. My daughter wanted one, too.
“It’s the most beautiful book in the world,” she said.
I guessed that she was comparing it to the only other magical journal she knew: mine. Even then, in its umpteenth volume, it was written in different inks from when my pen ran out, and was filled with cross-outs, and bits and pieces stapled in. Still, time and experience had given my humble book its own beauty—and with this thought, the beginnings of a lesson emerged.
“That’s something to save up for,” I said, and thanking the real Witch, we left the store and headed for Staples.
Practical Magic
The book in the Salem shop definitely has its place (a gift for a rite of passage comes to mind), but it would be an extravagant starter journal for an eleven-year-old. My original intention was to purchase a plain blank book for my daughter and then explain how she should be inspired by what she’d seen to decorate and fill it herself. But as we picked through the array of faux leather and printed covers, I realized that she would need some guidance.
Our family’s practices are informal. Making a Book of Shadows—and experiencing the inevitable tweaks, trials, and mistakes that are a part of the process—would bring some order to my children’s magical training. The English teacher in me begged that I start this project with some proven study habits: discipline and organization.
Ditching the blank books, we headed for the school supplies. The Book of Shadows we would create would be more high school than Hogwarts, but hopefully we would turn a collection of mundane objects into something special—true alchemy.
Shopping List for a Child’s Book of Shadows
- A ringed binder. It might not have the old-world charm of a leather-bound book, but it’s far more practical in that pages are easy to add and rearrange.
- Paper. Keeping the pages in a binder allows for the incorporation of colors and textures—including the occasional slice of handmade parchment.
- Plastic sleeves. These provide not only protection, but also a means to store small objects related to the work you’re doing (stones, cards, feathers, etc.). We keep things organized by using different-colored sleeves, and when only clear ones are available, we line the outside edges with patterned or colored masking tape (also good for repairs!).
- Pens, pencils, markers, crayons, stickers, and other writing and art supplies. Eventually we incorporated photocopies, computer print-outs, and writings and artwork by other people. (It is a marvelous thing to have a beloved relative or friend write or draw in your Book of Shadows.) However, putting pen to paper connects person to idea, whether you’re writing in your own book or you’re making notes on someone else’s work. This is also an effective method for remembering information.
Dividing and Conquering
We had the raw materials. The next question was, where to begin? I let my children’s interests be our guide. Just as in their school notebooks, we made dividers for each subject. As we worked, some subjects were shelved for lack of interest, time, or resources. Interestingly, the ones that stuck also had a practical bent, an aspect of the spiritual that could somehow be connected to a necessary awareness in day-to-day life. While each child’s approach to these topics has changed over time, we began with a set structure. Our “Binder of Shadows” continues to do its work; it has set a foundation of good habits that, even when left for a time, can easily be picked up again.
Dreamwork
Dreams were an easy subject to start with, because everyone experiences them. I’d learned that interpreting the meaning of a dream is more complex than simply looking up remembered imagery for its symbolic value. My dream experience was richer when I approached interpretation in a methodical manner: be observant and be detached.
I’ve tried to teach my children that there are very few instances in life where one needs to react to make a decision. Why not hit that principle home in the spiritual quarter, too? When my daughter has a dream, I encourage her to record it in the section of her Book of Shadows devoted exclusively to dreamwork using this method, which is explored in great detail in The Jungian-Senoi Dreamwork Manual by Strephon Kaplan-Williams:
Write down the dream verbatim as if you’re writing out the details of a movie you’ve seen. There’s only so much time the human brain has to recall the details of REM activity, so be in the habit of keeping paper and pencils next to your bed so you can record everything as soon as possible after waking. After the “facts” are down—written or drawn—then record any emotional and physical reactions.
Put a bit of time-distance between yourself and the dream before interpreting it. Use dream and symbol dictionaries to discover traditional and alternative meanings behind objects, colors, animals, etc., but also try to connect the dream to situations in your waking life. Explore all possibilities. Here is where keeping a Book of Shadows in a binder comes in handy; look for connections made to material in other sections of your book. Could the dream have something to do with spellwork that you’ve done? Your astrology? If so, make copies or write notes to cross-reference so that the information can be kept together.
Keeping interpretation, reaction, and straight recording prioritized and separate makes for keener observation (a good life skill), and the dreams themselves take on a new significance. I’ve seen frightening night visions become less so after they’ve been broken down. Examining prophetic dreams grounds them and strengthens intuition.
When it comes to dreams, time is relative. Track and trace synchronicities, patterns, and repetition and keep that information organized. You may discover connections days, weeks, months, or even years later.
Sabbats
Figuring out why we do what we do has been a bit of an obsession of mine, and one I’ve passed on to my youngest son. One of the things we love about exploring the past is the touchstone it provides to the now. Ancient traditions are fascinating, but when you can relate them directly to your own life, a deeper appreciation and understanding emerges.
I tried to get my son to connect the spirit of the seasons to things going on in his life. Many times this would start as a conversation that would sometimes lead to a field trip, project, or writing prompt (I had to use the latter sparingly; kids can smell a homework assignment from a mile away). For example, here is a prompt we did at Yule where we talked about fear of the dark:
People have always feared the darkness. When it is difficult to see, and your other senses (including your super-senses) take over, the spirit world feels strong and so close that you can almost touch it. This can be uncomfortable. No wonder people did rituals at the winter solstice (the longest night of the year) to make sure the sun’s strength would return! What are you afraid of, and why? Shine light on your fears by brainstorming strategies for overcoming them.
This prompt tied my son’s fears—the darkness and the unknown—to the time of year (Yule) and the impending change that comes with the changing season (Imbolc). As with any issue, it took time and trial and error to resolve. We kept a copy of this journal entry with the eventual meditation we concocted (in the section for spellwork), and saw it as a positive step toward overcoming the fear.
We’ve discovered that cross-referencing (and the resulting ability to recollect information quickly, not to mention the self-assurance that comes when you’re sure of what you’re saying and doing) doesn’t always come as second nature to everyone. Exercises like this one help to develop and hone skills like these that are useful not only in magic, but in everyday life.
Spellwork
Magic is a power that comes from within and must be used wisely. I’ve tried to teach my children that casting a spell is a multistep process that can and should be documented. Admittedly, the process is slow, but worth the time—especially when it works.
Write out what you want or are trying to accomplish. The simple act of writing something out makes it more real. One starts with an intention, a “thing” that can be neither touched nor seen. But when an intention is written down, it is given a physical form. Next—and just as important—write down WHY you want this, and keep asking “Why?” as much as you can. This act encourages the spellcaster—adult or child—to think about their intentions and what’s motivating them, and to dig to the heart of the matter: What is it you really want? My oldest son wanted to do some magical work to ensure success in a school subject he was struggling with, but in examining the why, he came to the conclusion that what he really wanted was to be confident in the material he was studying. He ended up doing a meditation for focus, discipline, and guidance—not a quick fix, but a lasting solution. (This eventually came in the form of a few dedicated teachers and a tutoring program.)
Once the goal is established, make a touchstone—and record the steps of its creation. Looking at a touchstone stimulates the mind (THE most important magical tool) to remember the purpose of the spell and send instant energy to it. Write out all the details: How did you come up with the idea? What materials did you use to make it, and why? Did you do your crafting at a specific time (season, moon phase, etc.)? What was your process? These steps provide an opportunity to practice creating a sacred space in which to work, and to expand knowledge about magical tools, timing, and other topics as they apply.
Add some action—and again, record what you did. Adding physical action to a spell keeps the energy around it alive. Action includes actual physical activity and speaking intentions aloud. Again, it’s important to record what was done and what was said—including any feelings, premonitions, and sensations that occurred when the action was executed.
Finally, keep track of your progress. Was your work efficacious? Did you see signs of it right away, or did it take time to manifest? Or maybe the spell didn’t work at all—it happens. Keeping a record of what was done helps in spotting mistakes, finding where improvements can be made, and making connections to other work. Write down any changes, dreams, and synchronicities that could be connected to your spell for as long as it takes—you might see effects years later. If you have corresponding sections in your Book of Shadows, make copies or notes and keep the information together in all sections to cross-reference and make connections. Working magic is like dropping a stone in a pond: the ripples reverberate for a long time before the water stills again. Be aware of how your actions—and magic—affect other people, and other areas of your life.
Writing for Life
Since my children each started their own Book of Shadows, we’ve added sections on moon phases, divination, healing modalities, and personal reflection.
I wish I could say that this method is perfect. It isn’t. Life gets in the way, and practices are neglected. Skills rust, facts and formulas are forgotten, and things get lost. Many times we’ve had to reorganize, review, fix mistakes, and even start over. As my children get older, privacy comes into question. Sometimes as a teacher, I’ve had to let go of control and allow change to happen. Structure has its place, but spirituality, like nature, is spontaneous and ever evolving—and meant to bring comfort and pleasure, not stress.
Like the authors, these Books of Shadows are always growing and changing. It is a marvelous thing to witness, and it all begins with a blank page.
Resources
It’s never too late or too early to begin building a Book of Shadows with your child. There are a growing number of resources for Pagan families, both in print and online, that offer homeschooling materials (worksheets, stories, activities, crafts, and coloring pages that embrace various traditions) that will provide guidance and inspiration, including these:
Broomstix, http://broomstix.blogspot.com
Friends of Rupert, http://www.friends-of-rupert.webs.com
Little Pagan Acorns, http://www.littlepaganacorns.com
Magical Child Books, http://www.magicalchildbooks.com
Pooka Pages, http://www.pookapages.com
Sources
Campanelli, Pauline and Dan. Wheel of the Year. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1993.
Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 1990.
Kaplan-Williams, Strephon. The Jungian-Senoi Dreamwork Manual. Berkeley, CA: Journey Press, 1985.
Murdock, Maureen. Spinning Inward. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, 1987.
When she’s not on the road or chasing free-range hens, Natalie Zaman is trying to figure out the universe. She is the co-author of the Graven Images Oracle deck (Galde Press) and the YA novels Sirenz and Sirenz Back in Fashion (Flux) and Blonde Ops (St. Martin’s Press). Her work has appeared in Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac, FATE, SageWoman, and newWitch magazines, and she currently writes the recurring feature “Wandering Witch” for Witches & Pagans magazine. Find Natalie online at http://nataliezaman.com, or at http://broomstix.blogspot.com, a collection of crafts, stories, ritual, and art she curates for Pagan families.
Illustrator: Jennifer Hewitson
