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Author Topic: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????  (Read 10010 times)

Leanan Sidhe

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2012, 11:21:17 pm »
Quote from: Katefox;37914
Thank you for explaining.  At first, it sounded a little like you were claiming writers who write on computers weren't real writers, or something, and, well, as ubiquitous as computers are nowadays, that would obviously be a little nonsensical. :P


 
No, definitely wasn't saying that. Sorry it seemed that way.
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yewberry

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #16 on: January 09, 2012, 01:10:25 pm »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484
To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???


I have a journal that covers everything I care to put down.  It's got recipes, gardening notes, and assorted woo-woo stuff.  It's all in one big Word doc that includes hypertext links to things inside and outside of the document.  It's got a formal table of contents (also hypertext linked) for convenience.  I like a useful format, and I find an electronic format to be the most functional.  I've toyed with the idea of printing it out and binding it, but as it's something I add to and change regularly, that didn't seem practical.

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SilverOak

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #17 on: January 09, 2012, 07:50:52 pm »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484




To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
I've kept a grimoire for thirty years now and I can easily see how my handwriting has changed over the years. I still add material to it and it's getting to the point where it's getting more and more difficult for me to read what I've written. I feel that because it's your book you should keep whatever information is important to you and that you should be able to create it anyway that you wish. I have been considering typing up new material, because it's much easier for me to type on the computer instead of writing in longhand.

My grimoire is a three-ring binder. I've always kept journals in blank books, but a three-ring binder is easier for me to add material. My interests are always changing, so one day I might be researching herbs and the next day I want to add information on cat magick.
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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #18 on: January 10, 2012, 02:33:38 am »
Quote from: Katefox;37914
(Besides which, I have awesome handwriting, that I am inordinately proud of.) ....  You could probably even get it printed and bound professionally as a proper book, and that would be pretty nifty.


LOL! You should be VERY proud of your awesome handwriting! I used to write pretty nicely, but now since I hardly write, I feel my penmanship has gone downhill! I do just about everything on the computer!  

That is a great idea to have pages printed out and professionally bound as a proper book!

And I'm definitely going to use acid-free paper so that it will last a long time, as previously mentioned. I don't think the ink matters quite as much as the paper, but I think I can get acid-free ink for the printer.

I love hearing about all you're books.. and plans for future BOSs! Thanks for sharing everyone! :)

I have my final decision/plan. I am going to end up with 3 or 4 BOSs. My first one, the main section is almost already filled up, and I'm thinking this will end up being a travel BOS, since it's pretty small, about half the size of a regular notebook, and contains the most basic information.  This is all hand-written, with pictures taped in to decorate it.  

Next, I'm going to have my big, official BOS. It will be a 3-ring binder, but I'm going to wrap the binder in leather or fabric, inside and out, and embellish it, and make fancy bookmarks, so even though it's a binder, it will look more like an old book. I'll make mostly fancy printed pages with nice fonts and pictures, but I'm going to leave some spaces where appropriate to hand write notes in it. This will end up being huge as I've already planned out most of my sections. And it will be my learning/study plan, as I complete each section.  Then, in a few years, when I find myself not adding much new information and I'm content to what is in the binder, and where everything is placed, I'm going to hand-bind a BOS, using the pages in the binder or copies of those pages. This is what I will pass down to my kids and grandkids.

Finally, I have a few single journals: one for dreams, one for meditations, and one for personal experiences, thoughts or answers exercises from books that I'm reading. But I think I'd like to get another nice, leather, handmade journal to put this stuff in. I think some call this a Book Of Mirrors. Handwritten, as it's my own personal thoughts written down. And as the years go by and the pages fill up, I will have many of these to document my life. I've always loved the thought of having a journal like from the movie "Cruel Intentions"! LOL!
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Holdasown

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #19 on: January 10, 2012, 07:40:30 am »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484
To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???


I scrapbook so I do pages by hand with pictures and item I make but the writing is computer printed.

ccardinot

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2012, 07:52:14 am »
Quote from: Ula;38303
I scrapbook so I do pages by hand with pictures and item I make but the writing is computer printed.

 
        I'm planing to start my own BoS, again. From my experience, I advise you to not rely solely on computers and digital back up copies. I've done that, and lost 2,5 years worth of research, knowledge, time and patience, so, keep a hard copy with you, in case the digital ones become corrupted, lost or your computer needs to be reformatted.

        I intend to make mine by hand this time, as handwritten data are written in a slower pace, and you have the time to put in your own energy and intention. I learned it from try and error, and found out that handwritten spells and charms work better, faster and are less prone to cause side effects.

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2012, 08:50:47 am »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484

To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
I do a combination of both.  I have what I consider my 'working' book of shadows which is a three ring binder.  I tend to prefer to hand copy things into it, but that is because I find that I invest more of myself into hand writing than I do into typing.  I definitely type faster and better, but I have to think more to hand write (especially if I want it to be legible).  I will remember information I have hand copied more readily than things I have typed up.  My hand writing isn't great unless I concentrate so I work really hard to write neatly for my book.

I really appreciate having my working book as a three ring because not only can I move things about, but I can swap pages out of the book entirely.  I have started a second binder as a sort of archives:  things I don't want to trash entirely, but things I rarely look at or things that I am only keeping as a reference of where I have been.  I also like that I can put in dividers and easily flip to a particular part by turning to a tab.

I also have a folder on my computer dedicated for magical information.  It has things I have typed up, things I have copied from websites and digital books.  What I like about the computer is it is very easy to organize things.  Some of what I have on my computer is in a 'to be copied' folder, that eventually will get put into my working book.  I try to keep a digital copy of any articles or other informative pieces I have researched and written, so that if I have to repost them, I don't have to retype them out.  I don't tend to print and store things, though I have several longer items that are not my own work that I have printed for personal reference.

I definitely think that it comes down to personal preference.  I am a very big believer in going with what works for you.  It's my book, and so I'll keep it in the way that I find most pleasing.
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Sobekemiti

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2012, 10:19:04 pm »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484
To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
I've got several, both handwritten and digital. It suits my purposes to use them both, and it lets me prioritise which information to take the time to handwrite, and what's just reference material I can keep on my thumb drive for when I need it. I also have notebooks for more practical uses, such as divination logs and journaling, and drafting out prayers, rites, and spells.

I have a proper leather-bound handwritten BoS, and several more mundane notebooks for drafting spells or rites and other assorted things before I write them into my leather-bound one. I use my leather-bound one during rites so I don't have to rely on my not-so-great memory for remembering the right words to say and what to do. So it gets used for that purpose as well. It's not very heavy, it's a soft-cover not a hard-cover, so it's not a problem using it that way.

I also have a folder on my thumb drive, where I keep ebooks and images and other assorted information, most of which I've collected from the internet. There's just so much information available out there now that it would be impractical to have hard copies of it all. So I keep those reference materials in digital form because they're not things I need to reference all the time. Correspondence lists, for example, can stay in digital form, or as part of my pagan library in other people's books. I don't consider them something I need to rewrite out in my BoS. I hate repetition and redundant information.

My digital BoS is also useful for keeping information that isn't part of my current practice, but I still want to keep for future reference. Old paths and old things I've looked into that I don't want to get rid of because sometimes that old information is good to look over long after you last studied it. It's a record of where I've been, what I've learnt, and what I've practised. It's just easier to archive that information in digital form than keep a large collection of old BoS's around when I really don't have the room for them. So it's practical in that sense too, in that it saves me space while still keeping a record of my spiritual path.

I use my handwritten journals for other personal things, such as reflections on my paths, my names, any rites, spells, or any prayers I've written. I also use my notebooks for personal reflections, divination logs, and other assorted things. They're practical workbooks, so they're just cheap exercise books. They don't need to be anything more than that.
Sobekemiti | Hekatean Witch, Kemetic Orthodox Shemsu, Sobek Devotee | My pronouns are they/she

Micheál

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #23 on: February 16, 2012, 02:37:42 am »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484


To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
It really does actually depend on you. Some traditions require that you copy it by hand, but if the choice is up to you, whatever your genuine emotions are regarding it should suffice.

It's the same with magickal anything really. The said good be said about the BoS itself. Some people prefer to actually make and bind the book themselves, and then others get a blank book from their local book store or off of Amazon, then write in them. The way it is infused with their energy depends on how they view it, and the same goes for tools and everything else.

I'm a big fan of whatever is practical. I'm a traditionalist as well, and like maintaining some of the older traditions, but they have to be within your means. I purchased most of mine, and then did my own modifications like fitting cord through the spine for tassels, and hand write them. That works for me, but different things work for different people. If you like or prefer the idea of typing it, it'll be special none the less.
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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #24 on: February 22, 2013, 08:43:30 pm »
Quote from: FierFlye;37508
I would think so, yes. I don't see why a pencil is any more magical than a keyboard and mouse.

Myself, I just keep a blog.

 
I use a notebook app on my tablet although one day I wan't a fancy binder to be passed down

yewberry

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #25 on: February 23, 2013, 12:24:42 am »
Quote from: SassyWitchin;97644
I use a notebook app on my tablet although one day I wan't a fancy binder to be passed down


Why?

Brina

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #26 on: March 13, 2013, 07:00:31 pm »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484
I'm hoping this is a good place for my question as I can't decide where else to put it! :D:

Anyway.. I'm thinking about making a more formal book of shadows. I have a small spiral bound journal that I've been using, with only 5 sections, that I'm hand writing information in that I really like and that resonates for me. And I've been printing out pictures from the internet and taping them throughout the little book, so it's kind of like a scrapbook! But, this cannot hold much, and the pages are fixed, and I don't like that I can't add pages in between ones I've already written. Fearing that when trying to space things out within a section, I'll run out of room and I run into the next topic in that section.

So, I've been watching YouTube videos on making a three-ring binder BOS so I can move pages around and add and remove them easily. I've been planning out how I want to decorate the outside and inside covers, the sections and how to make tabs for each section, and information I want to put inside, etc. I've got a detailed plan to make this beautiful BOS! (And my thoughts are years from now, when I feel my book may be mostly finished and I'm happy with where everything is placed, I'll make a bound BOS with permanent pages and then pass this book down to my children and grandchildren.. even if they don't follow Wicca, they'll have a piece of me and know about what I believed.)

But I'm torn between handwriting and typing it out. What do you think about this subject?

I really want a decorative book that has pictures, borders, colors, etc.. and fancy font. I want it beautiful and legible. I have fantastic ideas for creating pages on my computer and printing them out. This is a type of art/craft I enjoy!

But, I've heard how special it is to hand write the pages of your BOS. Infusing with your own energy... being made with direct contact of your hand and pen to paper. And this is the traditional way. But I have horrible hand writing. And I'm an even more awful drawer!

But then I think about printing the pages from the computer, and as I create each page and print it out, aren't I still infusing it with my own energy because I'm putting all my thoughts and feelings into creating a beautiful page .. pages that I envision is a piece of art?

I've pretty much made up my mind that I'll be creating the pages on the computer, printing them out, placing into page protectors, and putting them in the book.... but I thought this would be a great topic to discuss given the computer age we are in....

To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
I salute you. Seriously, and there are people who mentioned it hurt them to write by hand? Do you make it up all at the same time? The closest thing to a book of Shadows I have is that every year I buy a beautiful agenda, it gets a ridiculous amount of stuff that I press between the pages -articles leaflets, pictures, printed or otherwise. When the day's page isn't enough, I type it and print it out then stick it at the right date. I've eight of them, how enormous would a single BOS be? (I really need to index it to).

Olie

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #27 on: March 13, 2013, 07:31:13 pm »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484


But I'm torn between handwriting and typing it out. What do you think about this subject?

I really want a decorative book that has pictures, borders, colors, etc.. and fancy font. I want it beautiful and legible. I have fantastic ideas for creating pages on my computer and printing them out. This is a type of art/craft I enjoy!

But, I've heard how special it is to hand write the pages of your BOS. Infusing with your own energy... being made with direct contact of your hand and pen to paper. And this is the traditional way. But I have horrible hand writing. And I'm an even more awful drawer!

But then I think about printing the pages from the computer, and as I create each page and print it out, aren't I still infusing it with my own energy because I'm putting all my thoughts and feelings into creating a beautiful page .. pages that I envision is a piece of art?

I've pretty much made up my mind that I'll be creating the pages on the computer, printing them out, placing into page protectors, and putting them in the book.... but I thought this would be a great topic to discuss given the computer age we are in....

To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???

 
i typed mine up on the computer. and its a LOT easier. but its so much easier that i ended up making the dumbest spells and stuff just cuz it was so easy to put together. if you made your own handwritten it would probably be mostly important stuff. ALSO i think that a handwritten one is easier to be proud of if it turns out really cool lookin. so i vote for handwritten!

Shadow

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Re: Book Of Shadows / Grimoire - Handwritten or Typed????
« Reply #28 on: March 22, 2013, 07:38:06 am »
Quote from: SkylarB;37484

To hand write your BOS or use the computer, that is the question! Now, what are your thoughts???


I wrote about this as one of my B posts for the PBP, and have since started to put together my own BoS. At the moment it is all typed and saved on the computer. I am planning to invest in a printer at some point so I can print everything out and put it in a ring-binder.  

As much as I would love to have everything hand-written, with beautiful drawings included, I recognise that I am just not artistic. What ever I create by hand will not match up to the expectation I have in my head and, ultimately, it will leave me feeling disappointed with what I create. If I am going to create a BoS, I want it to be something I love and am proud of. For me, the computer was the best way to achieve this as I could use different fonts, insert pictures and create fancy borders.

That's not to say I won't add hand-written bits to it, but it will mainly consist of printed work.

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