Collection: Book of Shadows & Leather Journals

What Is a Book of Shadows?

A Book of Shadows is the handwritten book where a witch keeps rituals, spells, correspondences, and the record of their practice. The name comes from Wicca: Gerald Gardner introduced his Book of Shadows to his coven in the early 1950s, and his high priestess Doreen Valiente helped shape it, rewriting parts in the poetic language many covens still use. At first a coven kept a single secret copy, and initiates copied it out by hand. Today most witches keep their own, whether they follow a tradition or practice on their own, and every Book of Shadows grows into something no one else's is.

What Is the Difference Between a Book of Shadows and a Grimoire?

A grimoire is a book of magical instruction, and a Book of Shadows is a witch's personal working book. The word grimoire belongs to the old manuscripts of European ceremonial magic, such as the Key of Solomon, which taught spells, seals, and conjurations. The Book of Shadows is younger and more personal, closer to a diary of practice. Most witches today use the two words interchangeably, and many call their own book whichever name feels right.

What Goes in a Book of Shadows?

A Book of Shadows holds whatever your practice needs to remember. Most people begin with the rituals and spells they perform and a note on how each one turned out. Over time you might add herb, crystal, and color correspondences, sabbat celebrations, moon phases and full moon notes, tarot spreads and readings, dreams, recipes for oils and incense, sigils you have drawn, and pressed leaves or flowers from a working. There is no required order or content, and a book that is used honestly becomes a better teacher than a perfect one.

How Do I Start a Book of Shadows?

To start a Book of Shadows, choose a book that feels good in your hands, then dedicate it before your first entry. Many witches pass the new book through incense smoke, write their name or craft name and the date on the first page, and say a few words about what the book is for. Leave the first few pages blank for a table of contents, and number the pages as you go so you can find things later. Write your first entry the same day, even if it is only a short note, because a book that has been started is much easier to keep. Our Wiccan glossary is a good first reference to copy into the back.

What You'll Find Here

Embossed leather journals. Most of our books have embossed leather covers carrying a symbol: the pentacle, the triple moon, the Tree of Life, the triquetra, runes, the seven chakras, dragons, fairies, owls, the moon phases, and more. Many close with a latch, and some wrap closed with a leather cord.

Aged-paper grimoires. These journals pair an aged-look leather cover with unlined, rough-edged, antique-style paper, the look of a book that has already been handed down. Several are set with a stone on the cover.

Large-format books. Our 10 by 13 inch books are made to stay open on an altar or desk, including a Tree of Life journal in hand-tooled goat leather with 360 lined pages, the one lined book in this collection.

Plain leather journals. For a book whose meaning comes entirely from what you write in it, our plain soft-leather journal has a double latch and a pocket on the cover for your pen.

Most pages are unlined handmade paper or tree-free recycled paper, which leaves room for script, sigils, sketches, and pressed herbs on the same page. Sizes run from a pocket-friendly 4.5 by 6.5 inches to the 10 by 13 inch altar books.

How Do I Care for a Leather Journal?

To care for a leather journal, keep it dry and away from candle flames and incense burners on your altar, and wipe the cover with a soft, dry cloth when it gets dusty. A little leather conditioner once or twice a year keeps the cover supple. Handmade paper absorbs ink more than ordinary paper, so test a fountain pen or marker on the last page before writing a whole ritual in it; a fine ballpoint or gel pen is the safest choice. Press herbs and flowers completely flat and dry before adding them, or they can mold and stain the pages.

Explore Related Collections

For all of our journals, including lined and dream journals, see journals. Fill your pages with help from our witchcraft books, herbalism and plant magic books, and tarot books, and write out petitions and sigils on spell paper. For the altar your book will sit on, browse altar cloths and pentacle items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Book of Shadows Have to Be Handwritten?
No, a Book of Shadows does not have to be handwritten, but most witches prefer it, because writing by hand slows you down and helps you remember. Some keep a digital book for research and a handwritten one for their own rituals and results.

Does a Book of Shadows Have to Be Kept Secret?
A Book of Shadows is traditionally private, and in initiatory Wicca its contents are shared only with other initiates. For a solitary witch, privacy is a personal choice; a latch or cord closure is a simple way to keep the book to yourself.

Should I Choose a Lined or Unlined Book of Shadows?
Choose an unlined Book of Shadows if you plan to draw sigils, sketch, or press herbs, and a lined one if you mostly write long entries. Most of our books are unlined, and our large Tree of Life journal is lined.

Can I Have More Than One Book of Shadows?
Yes, many witches keep more than one book, such as a main Book of Shadows for rituals, a separate dream or tarot journal, and a small book that travels with them. Some start a new volume each year and keep the old ones on a shelf.

Is This Like the Book of Shadows on Charmed?
The Book of Shadows on the television show Charmed made the name famous, and it was inspired by the real Wiccan practice. A real Book of Shadows won't move on its own, but it will hold years of your own spells, rituals, and discoveries.