I am very proud to announce that last night I typed up the last of my handwritten Book of Shadows pages.  I literally wanted to dance around but it was 11:30 and kids were fast asleep. No need in waking them up with my thunder thighs jiggling! Now for the sad news. My new Book of Shadows is full and I have about 15 pages to add (and more as I need to work up some God/dess info). I was digging through the old college books I have and I found a gigantic binder I had for one class. I am thinking about emptying it and moving all my pages to that. The downside is, I wanted to keep all of what is inside as reference. I checked our office and we don’t have anything bigger than what I already got from there. So I either shell out the cash for a new binder or use the big one I got and figure out how to keep the paperwork in it. Me being the frugal cheapskate that I am, I will probably end up using the one I got.

This leads me to the issue of journalizing. Obviously I can’t do it in the current binder that’s full. And the more I thought about it, I decided I wanted a separate journal. Who really wants to lug out a 10lb binder to journalize? Ok maybe someone, but not me. So I found a small binder in the home school stuff. Kids won’t use it, there’s are bigger and already pretty full so this one was just sitting in the drawer of supplies. So I got that put together last night. One of the things I love to do is really personalize my books. Have you all seen what I did with Book of Shadows?

Just some fabric I had laying around and glue. I like it, it’s very simple. Actually it’s fantastically easy to do. Can’t say the inside is all that wonderful but eh, it works. As I had done this I focused on spiritual growth in my practice and really put my energy into the book. And since I used a binder to move my journal into a binder, it seemed natural to decorate that as well. I didn’t have enough of this same fabric to cover another binder so I used another that I had.

The spider (as much as I dislike them) have wonderful symbolic meaning so I felt like it was perfect to use on the journal. I did this last night around midnight. I have to say, when I get an idea in my head I cannot rest until I actually do it. I am only slightly crazy, I promise.

So what will this journal hold? It will track divination (tarot readings, scrying, etc), spell work, reactions to rites, and personal thoughts. If I am struggling with something spiritually this is where I will go to hash it out (and the blog lol). I will keep the pages at least a year and a day in this binder before moving it. Unless it becomes to small of a journal and I need a bigger binder. And I am going to spend time re-reading pages at Samhain so I can see if I am growing, being stagnant, or even worse……falling backwards.

Oh and I meant to tell you about the OTHER crafty thing I did. I created a scrying mirror. I have a crystal ball but it’s uber small and I find it difficult to focus on such a small thing. So I made a mirror.

This was another easy project. I bought an 8×10 picture frame at the dollar store. Took it apart and painted the glass black on one side. I used black acrylic paint, it would be tons easier with black spray paint but I didn’t have any available. While it was drying I painted the wood frame part with glitter glue (the picture doesn’t show just how glittery it is). After that I checked the glass and made sure to cover up any spots that I missed. Once everything was dry I put it back together with the non-painted side of the glass facing out. I have a birthday ritual I am going to do at the hour of my birth and I plan on incorporating the scrying mirror to see what the next year may hold for me.

This is one of the things that I love about my spiritual path. I don’t consider myself to be the most crafty person but I get a chance to try and create my own tools that are meant solely for me. It is always easier to buy our tools but honestly, they aren’t the same. And I mean no disrespect to the many crafters I know who create tools for others. I have to admit I cannot create every tool I use and that’s where my crafty business folk come in handy (plus I got the blackest thumb in the southeast so i at least need your herbs!). Anywho, for a not-so-crafty person, I am really proud of how great these things turned out.

So it’s Saturday and I have to work. I am hoping to get by the Farmer’s Market so I can grab some items to can. I haven’t canned at all yet and I am itching to fill the pantry with goodies for the winter. What are you going to do today?

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