B is for Book of Shadows

A Book of Shadows (aka BOS) is place to keep all the information about your personal spiritual path and practices. Since everyone is different every BOS will be slightly different. Some believe it should be handwritten while others are more modern and use databases on the computer. Some use pre-made scripted ones bought at the bookstore or their local occult store. I've even heard of someone using an index card/recipe box method. Some use a mix. And you are not limited to one book if you so wish! Have one for each topic if you want. Regardless, a BOS is very personal in my opinion.
So what goes in a Book of Shadows? Anything you want, according to your spiritual path! Some use it only to document and journal rituals and tarot readings. Some use it to keep track of herbs and lore. For others it is just a magical journal. Put in it what is personal to you to help keep those things that are sacred to your spiritual path in one place.

I have had several versions and am not done yet. I want to ultimately create something I can pass on to my own witchlet.  I have included a description of the basic core of my belief. I paste into it words of inspiration and empowerment. Being a rather green or kitchen witche (who would have thought THAT of me) I have a chapter for the sun cycles, each turn of the Wheel of the Year, with traditions, associations, prayers, and personal practices and memories that go with each. I have explanations of the moon cycles and what each phase represents and is good for. I include the rare spells I have done, why, and what the outcomes were. I include pictures that connect me with my spirit and whatever topic the page covers. Some are hand drawn and some are clippings from magazines. Regardless it is decisively me.

Here are some pictures.

It is a leather cover from a journal I got at Barnes and Nobel many years ago.
I can remove the journal book and add whatever I want into it.
The Tree of Life is special to me, hence the decision to use this as a cover.

Inside I have a computer printed copy of a mediation and a picture of a skeleton
on the section for what I now consider the Start of Winter
 (soon to be changed to a new title), also known as Samhain.

A is for Attitude

One thing that has popped up has been Attitude. My attitude, my child's, my companion's attitude have been brought up several times this past week. I have a blended family of a preteen girl, a mid-twenty housemate, and myself of late 30s. Attitudes are varied and EVERYWHERE!

So, what is the definition of attitude? Dictionary.com lists it as: manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind. I feel it is how you approach people, places, things, and events in your life.

Attitude affects all aspects of our Life. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual areas are all affected by how we approach a person or thing. Negativity in one area WILL affect all the others. It may take lots of focus and attention to keep balance. Sometimes it is not internal or personal attitude that affects an area but your reaction to others' attitudes about something.

What does that have to do with being Pagan though? In my opinion and experience, quite a bit.  If you approach Paganism with suspicion and fear then you will more than likely miss all the amazing positive and empowering aspects of the spiritualism part of what it means to follow a Pagan Path. If you come with open heart and open mind then you may become more in tune with Divine and with yourself than you thought was possible. 

It isn't an easy path though. It takes an approach of dedication and hard work.  Nothing is accomplished without it. Nothing is just handed freely. Internal work and external work are needed. Part of internal work may be....Attitude!! (tada!) I feel you loose some of your power and connection with the world and the Divine without the right attitude of open mind and open heart.

What is your attitude towards the unknown? Towards church? Towards Spirituality? Towards those that follow different beliefs and paths than yours? What is your attitude towards others? 

Most importantly what is your attitude towards yourself?

Beginnings

My friend Galena posted on her facebook that she was starting something new and challenging for her, still being in the broom closet so to speak. So to support her I decided spontaneously to join her in the Pagan Blog Project. The more I thought of it though I decided it was a very serendipitous move. I am starting a Pagan 101 class at my Fellowship and have decided to spend this year focusing on my spirituality. This will go hand in hand with that.

So every Friday I will post something according to the rules (we are following the alphabet). This shall prove to be interesting. Maybe I should combine it with a pic a week to go with the topic as well as of myself (my other goal is to improve my health). Hmmmm.... possibly.

So Friday is A. What should I write about that starts with A?