My dedicants start their book with the following for each Sabbat:
- A ritual to be performed solitary
- A ritual to be performed in coven
- One page of chants/lore/incense/other correspondences appropriate to sabbat
- One “craft” or other holiday working
- A “fun fact” page.
They must also prepare (and include):
- A full moon ritual for one and for a group
- A new moon ritual (or other working) for one and a group
- An all-purpose healing ritual
- A devotional ritual for working with a God and Goddess of their choice (patrons)
- A ritual for working with a totem.
By the time the dedication year is up, they have a good skeleton start to a solid BOS. Then they start getting the Traditional stuff.
You will also want to include any information you come upon that seems useful and your thoughts on it, any workings that you do and notes, etc.
ummm how does this help anyone? where do we get the information for our shadow books?
It gives a basic structure. The Craft does not come spoon fed, my dear! The rituals my dedicants put in their books are written themselves, but there are certainly reams of information of this type available in books and on the internet. A few Google searches should get you on your way.
I would recommend researching each Sabbat (Mike Nichols’ _The Witch’s Sabbats_ is a wonderful place to start.), and making a list of things that stand out. This will help with most of the Wheel of the Year portion.
Googling “ritual outline” will give you several ritual formats to work from. Fill in the blanks with bits of poetry and symbolic action as suits your needs.
An eclectic book should be just that: eclectic. Collected and edited information from whatever strikes you as useful. Be prepared to change things often! (This is why many people prefer to work with a 3-ring binder.)
i don’t mean to be rude, but i need a lot of help with my shadow book and I’m lost.