A Beginner's Guide to Witchcraft

How To: Make a Book of Shadows

A Book of Shadows, or BoS, is where a witch documents their whole journey. It is highly personalized, so there is no wrong or right way to make one. Although there is no right way, here are three ways that I personally suggest:
Binder
One of the more common ways to a Book of Shadows is to use a three-ring binder. This is so that you can easily reorganize it to make things alphabetical, categorize, and easily personalize. It is also fairly neutral unless you design it, so closeted witches can get away with claiming that it's for school.

Series of Leather Notebooks
I greatly enjoy this one. You can still categorize things to an extent, but it also has a witch/traditional aesthetic to it. A series is better because there should be one for each category. A single notebook would get far too jumbled and mixed up.

Digital
For closeted witches, this seems to be the safest option. It is also easy to organize and manage. Even to open witches, it declutters their lives quite a bit. Only problem, you better have it backed up and hope your phone is charged.

Table of Contents
While everyone will have different BoS chapters tailored to their personal paths, here are some things that should be involved.
Page One: Protect
The first page should have something to protect your Book. If you go with multiple notebooks, this should be on the front page or cover of them all. This will ensure that it is safe from the eyes of others and safe from harm.
TOC
Leave a page or two for the table of contents. Write this (if written) in pencil so that you can make changes later. This will make it easy when it's filled to the brim and you just need to find that one spell. Obviously, be sure to number your pages!
Your Journey
The first book/section should be a diary, of sorts. It should note the magick in your day to day life. Document outcomes of spells and plans for spells. Make holiday plans. Write anything significant from that day. Remember to date each entry.
Your Religion
If you aren't religious, skip this section.
If you are religious, though, you should make a book/section dedicated to your deity. They are the one guiding you, and they deserve acknowledgement and thanks. Write poetry, draw pictures, and make prayers to honor them. Write your favorite stories about them and fill it with facts about them.
Also, if you work with fae, dragons, a familiar, or any other creatures, they should be included in this.
Your Craft
This might start with a small section about your most important beliefs and why you chose the path you did to encourage you, then descend into spells and rituals. You can make a separate section for brews, recepies, and/or holidays or just include them in here.
Herbs and Other Plants
Write all plant life significant to you and all information that you may need on it. This could just be properties, or it could include how to grow it, what it is used in, drawings, and any warnings.
Crystals
Write all crystals significant to your craft as well as its magickal properties. You can also include facts and drawings as well as when to use it.
Other Tools
List and describe all other tools, such as your alter (date it and make updated versions as you change it), wand, and minor supplies (moon water and the like, how to make basic things needed for non basic things). Include other basics such as cleansing methods and how to make a circle.

Again, do what you wish, these are just suggestions and examples.
Good luck!