BoS Putting Specimens (Flowers, Herbs etc..) in your books!! WARNING! ⚠

I saw a blog where the lovely was taping flowers into her journal to journal about..  I wrote a blog about it and a reply to her blog and I also thought this would make sense to share with BoS users as we're probably very likely to put herbs and flowers and such in our books..  So..

Thankfully I did this quite early on with my wreck this journal and not much later on with my Bullet Journal (or Book of Shadows)..

I put flowers from my valentines flowers (2016) into my WTJ I taped them in and tapes over the pages..  Sort or a poormans lamination lol.

After a week there was this aweful smell coming from my bookcase..  Eh?  I took my WTJ to do more of the wrecking and realised the pages had gone super manky!!  They STINK!!  Wrecked.. And not in the fun way the journal encourages or that I was hoping!

The prompt says 'press' leaves and other found objects.  The key word is press, like using a flower press to dry out these things..  I have a spooky box club flower press but they're not too expensive on ebay, obviously reuseable and there's loads of tutorials online as to how to dry flowers or press flowers inc diy your own flower press.. But I digress.

So.  I ended up taping the backs of the pages and hoping for the best and putting more tape over the front of the pages..  It didn't look too bad and the smell was contained but it's kinda put me off wanting to do this WTJ and over the last year or two it's decomposed more and more and more.  Maybe I should remove these pages.......?  Maybe I didn't or this happened to me simply so I could share this knowledge and experience with you all now........?

So here it is.  Ew!  

Oh and the manky brown bleeds through onto 7 or more pages!!!  Yeh!!

...

Im not being a killjoy and saying don't put specimens in your book... But perhaps do it in one of these ways..

⬜ Option 1. Use a flower press and thurrely dry out the flowers so they're well preserved and not wet at all..  before putting them in.. Not only will they be thinner in your book but shouldn't decompose or cause as much damage.  - I don't know how this would hold up over time.

⬜ Option 2. (what I do) Take photos and print them out... And stick them in and do it that way or if you're talented enough draw them.

There may be some other options but point is don't be sticking decompostable wet things in your books.  This includes insects too btw..

And while I have your attention..  People who are sticking magazine pages in note they're not all acid free and this will tarnish your books over time if you plan to keep them.  Same with some cheaper stamping inks and printer inks that are not acid free or archival quality.  - this for me doesn't so much matter as I take photos of the pages so I'll always have a digital copy if anything should happen to the book..

🖤 Imogen

Ps. Sorry for the icky-ness just trying to help! x

BoS Prompts 6: The Moon!

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

Prompt 6. Sunday 31st December 2017 - The 6th prompt will be...  The Moon!

I hope you all had a wonderful Seasonal time..  And all the best for the New Year.

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

So where do we start?  

The Moon..  More than just the big white rock in the sky..  There is so much to cover here but as with my other posts I don’t want to do all the work for you.  As said there’s so much I can tell you about The Moon but I’m not going too!?

The Moon has so many different aspects that you can be studied from an Astronomy study, Astrology side, as a physical manifestation or symbol of The Goddess, Gardening by The Moon, Cleansing and purification by The Moon, Moon spells, rituals and other workings, Esbats (Celebrating The Full Moon each month), Moon phases and cycles including New Moon, Waxing and Waning Moons and well the list does indeed go on..

The Moon itself has a great effect on the earth but more specifically on water and the tides among other things.  Thus The Moon has a great effect on us, not just as Witches, Pagans or other Spiritual Practitioners, Astrologists, Sky gazers and Moon lovers etc.. but also physically as the adult human body is said to be made up of around 60% water.

Did you know not everyone in the world experiences The Full Moon on the same night?  Depending on if you live in North, South, East or West Hemisphere and such.  For example: (Me) here in England usually experiences The Full Moon the night after my friends in America.  Not always, but most of the time!  It is there for good for you to know what The Moon is doing in YOUR location..  I found a good website for this to be https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/ simply enter your own location timezone also if you're buying diaries which are Moon based make sure they work for your timezone.  For example: (Me) here in England it is pointless getting a Llewellyn's Witches Datebook, calendar or almanac but I found a good alternative to be Astro Moon Diary by Astrocal https://www.astrocal.co.uk/ A5 but available in different bindings..  Also available on amazon and ebay - very friendly and lovely people..  I did a video on my YouTube about it..  I got the new style binding which they're no longer doing (thankfully) and I did a blog on how to alter the binding.

None magical Moon book recommendation:

'The Book of The Moon' by Rick Stroud. 

Art and Poster by Cammerel Dixon on Redbubble

Goddess:

The Moon is said to be the physical representation or symbol of The Goddess, like the Sun is of the God, sometimes A Triple Moon (Waning, Full and Waxing) is used as a symbol of The Triple Goddess; which as mentioned in my last blog post Wheel of The Year & The Sabbats  is the three aspects of The Goddess known as Maiden, Mother and Crone.  

Esbats: 
If you read my last blog post on the Wheel of The Year & The Sabbats you’ll know I mentioned Esbats, this is something which frequently comes up but surprisingly a lot of people get confused with what Esbats are..  So once again I’ll tell you!  Esbats are the celebration of the monthly Full Moon.  They are celebrated in different ways and traditions according to each practitioner, coven, religion, faith, practice etc.  Typically there’s 12 of these a year (one every 28 days) however on rare occasions a year can hold 13 New Moons (for example 2018!).  - This is not to be confused with a supermoon as a supermoon is when a Full Moon coincides approximately within the closest distance to Earth with in its elliptic orbit, resulting in a much larger appearing moon in the sky. 

Moon Names:

Did you know that The Full Moons have names? And sometimes when there is a second moon in the same month this is known as a Blue Moon!!  These don't happen every year..  (Which I believe is where the phrase "once in a blue moon" comes from!) -   Maybe this is something else you might wish to look into..  It might also be something you wish to include in your Books - for me I'm adding photo corners so I can change out a card that has The Moon dates and names for each year!!  I MIGHT add a pocket on the opposite page to contain the previous year’s cards..

Waxing and Waning: 
Again something else I have covered before, but something you may wish to make a note of in your books.  You know the statement ‘Wax on Wax off’ well I found an easy to remember ‘Wax on Wane off’.  

• New Moons are good for new beginnings.. 
• The Moon phases from New Moon to Full are Waxing – This is a great time to do ritual and spell work to attract, bring, amplify, grow, build, gain etc.. 
• Full Moons (aside from celebrations, charging and all that good stuff) are generally good all-round for almost any spell, ritual or other working especially powerful ones such as protection.
• The Moon phases from Full Moon to New are Waning – This is a great time to do ritual and spell work to banish, get rid, remove, repel, push away etc..  

Cleansing / purification and charging by The Moon: 
Most practitioners who work with The Moon will use The Full Moon (and sometime new or other Moon phases) as a time to cleanse and purify those energies from items such as crystals and magickal working tools.  And/or charging those items to give them or restore the powerful energies of The Moon, The Goddess and other energies.  – I briefly covered this in my blog about Cleanse, Consecrate and Charge (The Three C’s).  This again can be done in different ways however typically items are placed outside on a tray or inside on a windowsill and left under The Full Moons glow (even when The Moon is hidden behind clouds).  Water collected and/or charged on Full Moons can be used as powerful water in later workings.  – As previously mentioned be careful how items react to elements eg. Some crystals will fade under sunlight while others may get damaged when wet ie rain water.

Garden: 
Another use for The Moon, and Moon phases, is Gardening by The Moon.  This is so uncommon these days yet such a simple and crazy powerful tool to literally everyone's arsenal no matter whom you are!!  Not just farmers purchase almanacs!  Now you might of heard of Gardening by The Moon or even Perpetual Moon Calendars but regardless / or if you haven’t then I am going to tell you and show you here.  So Gardening by The Moon and Moon Gardens are not the same thing.

First a Moon Garden can be an indoor or an outdoor garden which is specifically designed and created to only house white flowering plants, these plants are said to reflect the whiteness of The Moon and thus be a Moon Garden.  Moon Gardens are used for many different uses from dedications, honouring, memorial, peace and meditation, spell work and much more or simply as a decorative garden.

Gardening by The Moon is literally that..

Line up The Full Moon with the correct date of which The Full Moon lands upon that month.

2 days before, New Moon day and 2 days after:  New Moon are Rising Vitality - this is a good time to Dig and Cultivate.  - This is a time to prepare for very fertile time and you should delay sowing anything other than grass seed.  This is a good time to do odd jobs.

The next 9 days: This is the most prolific for sowing and planting all that produces above ground (Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, and Flowers/Plants etc).  - Don't prune as this will cause dieback.  - Take cuttings.  - Good for grafting. - Do not plant root crops as these will go to seed.

The next 2 days: They are good for liquid manures.

The next 4 days: They are cultivating only days for quick germination and weak spindly growth.

The next 2 days: They are good for root crops especially onions & potatoes.  Grass can also be sewn.

The next 5 days: This is a barren period *low sap run *harvest all.  - Low vitality avoid planting and sowing.  Remove weeds and do pruning.

Next 2 days: Plant all root crops especially swedes, carrots, flowers and grass seed.  Continue pruning during this time.

and repeat..

I believe you can buy a Perpetual Moon Calendar from - https://www.garden-objects.com/collections/new/products/Moon-calender however at $12 plus shipping, plus import fees to the UK I decided to spend several hours and make my own.  - I printed one out in full size and used a tiny washer and a brad to make the two parts rotate.  When I get round to it I will be doing a smaller version of this to stick into my Book of Shadows / Grimoire as an interactive page.  This is something you might want to do and then journal on the opposite page the information I posted above.  Here is what I designed (you may print and use if it is of use to you).  If designing your own remember there's only 28 days in a Moon cycle.  - How to use:  Simply move The Full Moon picture to the corresponding day of the month and then follow the 28 days gardening by The Moon. 

(cut inside the numbers on the image to the right and outside the numbers for the image to the left)

A better Perpetual Moon calendar explanation - Q&A: All About Moon Gardening. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGZaP8HrCaQ&t=216s video by Paper Tams

Another interesting take - Planting by the Moon  explained. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYtnZPuP4zk&t=1s video by Full House Homesteaders W/ Homestead Mama

Activity:
It should go without saying that the prompt this week is to read this information, go study more about the different things mentioned here and indeed The Moon.  - If you like you can also leave comments below this blog or on Facebook comments with other ideas / notes for Moon studies and prompts for other users!!  - Research.

Book Activity:
Then create in your book...   This could be anything from using aliexpress.com Moon stickers, other Moon stickers, or drawing them free hand or painting, or using the aliexpress.com Moon stamps, or Moon sticky notes, printing out royalty free images, purchasing Moon artwork..  List goes on.  Using those elements to create a layout or two or three.  As said how I am going to use photo corners for replaceable images and/or pockets. You could use no imagery and just journal..  Use Moon washi tape..  it could be monochrome or colourful.  It could include a Triple Moon and information on the triple goddess (though that is next weeks prompt).  You might want to print out and create a Perpetual Moon Calendar interactive page or write out the information about how to garden by The Moon.  You may wish to create a Moon garden and include a photo of it in your book or journal about the types of flowers and plants you might / have included.

-----------------------------------------

Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.7 - Enlightenment & Deity.

🌜UK - Altered Cover of Astro Moon Diary 2018 - Northern Hemisphere.🌛 MM/PP

First of all a quick note, I did purchase Llewellyns Witches' Datebook which is fantastic with the exception of one problem..  It's US time zone not UK.  So I went in search of a UK book that I like and finally decided upon the 'Astro Moon Diary'.  - I did do an "unboxing / review" type thing on my YouTube >> Click To Watch The Video <<

Where to buy?

🌝Their site £15.99 + £2.50 P&P (Also available in punched ring binder and other bindings) https://www.astrocal.co.uk/product/moon-diary/astro-moon-diary-2018/

🌝 Their Ebay £15.99 + £2.50 P&P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/142512227388 (I GOT IT ON EBAY)

🌝Their Amazon £17.50 + Amazon Shipping https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIARY-Datebook-Calendar-Personal-Organiser/dp/B0716SDWVF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508596926&sr=8-1&keywords=astro+moon+diary+2018

However I didn't like the binding of the Moon Diary.. I did read on their website the reason for the binding change this year (from the regular spiral binding) is based upon lots of people complaining that the binding got damaged in their purses/bags (strange I carry spiral bound books a lot over the last 15 years with no issues ever!)  I did like the contents though and I felt I could possibly alter the binding myself to be how I wanted it...  That said I did mention, on my Instagram, my disliking for how their binding is and to my surprise since I had tagged them (their instagram is https://www.instagram.com/astrocalmooncalendars/) in the post they actually commented back and informing me that they will be changing the binding back to the regular spiral bound next year.  - While I'm here it might be worth mentioning they also sell this in a variety of bindings including pre punched for A5 Filofax!! Since then I've pondered about altering the binding and today I did it - Super Easy!!  But I thought I'd throw a blog together for anyone curious!

I took the original book and as you can see the binding inside is a regular spiral bound book..  So all we have to do is move all the pages to the left and once we gain access to the back of the book carefully pull the spiral binding apart. (Feel free to use pliers, my fingers hurt a bit after..) Then carefully remove the cover from the binding!

Follow the guideline of the inside back cover to cut the outside back cover down to size.  Flip this over and then cut the front cover down to size; please be sure to cut the spine off and not the front edge as cutting the front edge will destroy the pocket inside and also the writing on the front.  (we're just removing the spine of the cover.).  

I then decided to use a double sided tape mouse (glue runner) and stick the two parts of the back cover together where the holes are.  - This is optional but I think it looks better.

Using a hole punch (I have a single 7mm hole punch but you could use almost any kind of holepunch you have as long as it allows for the thickness of the cover.  Also please please please be careful to not punch holes where you don't want them!!) take the tray/catcher off and turn the punch upside down so you can see exactly where you're punching.  - I then punched over the top of the holes that were there so I punch through the back piece too.

Here's a picture from later, but I wanted to show you what I meant by
being able to see where the whole you're wanting to punch is.

I then lined up the back cover with our new front cover, making sure it's all lined up nicely.  Then holding the two covers together firmly (or clip them) I drew inside the circles as a guide for where I needed to punch my front cover..  If you have a hole punch that will allow you to insert the front and the back cover thickness and punch then you can do that.  Once I had drawn my guide I then punched over the top of those circles to create the holes in my front cover..

As you can see we now have holes all the way through the front and back covers.  So now it's time to reassemble our book.  Now this is the tricky part; it's not all that tricky but the number of times I've put them on backwards, the wrong way round, upside down...  I'm shocked I did it right the first time.  So you want to have both the outside faces of the cover placed together.  You then want to hook it onto the binding making sure the front cover is touching the first page.  Check to make sure you assembled it correctly.  Then you want to squeeze the spiral binding back together as tight as you can without damaging, distorting or breaking anything.  Then flip the back cover to the back and we're done.

Now as you can see the book acts like any other spiral bound notebook which can fold back on itself..  This is something I enjoy from these kinds of books.  - Optional to continue using that bit or elastic they provided as a book closure!

Finished.

Imogen xo
Magickal Makes / Pagan Planner

PP: Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook 2018

Bringing back Pagan Planner!

Hey lovelies so I thought I would write a blog post about what happened to the Pagan Planner part of my blog!!  And honestly it just never happened..  I did (as seen in vid 1 & 2) cut the damaged book down and used washi to reinforce / cover the spiral binding holds which I then punched and inserted into an A5 Planner (Filofax Metropol in Black).  But I just didn't like how big and bulky a few rolls of tape made it!!  I just didn't use it at all.  I ended up using Evernote, various notebooks, work books, book of shadows and even my personal and pocket sized planners.  But 2018 I want to get ontop of that and be more practical and have my practice more or less in one place..  So I picked up a Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook 2018.  Decided to do an overview & haul plus planner stickers and recommend some other books!!

Link to YouTube version: https://youtu.be/mCdqNlY9kn4

• EBay seller for witches' datebook: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Llewellyns-Witches-Datebook-2018-by-Llewellyn-Spiral-bound-2017-/352150412874
• Etsy for PuppersAndFloofs (code IMO20 gets you 20% off!): https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/PuppersAndFloofs
• Etsy persephoniesplanner: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PersephonesPlanner
• YouTube Edie's haul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX_9fAwgDpA
• My Instagram: www.instagram.com/missimoinsane 
• My YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/imogenakamissimoinsane
• My first pagan planner part 1 (concept): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lw_iLEjkts
• My first pagan planner part 2 (actual DIY): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsxW7nzAWr8

Book recommendations:

1. Scott Cunningham - Encyclopedia Of Magical Herbs.  Published 1985.

2. Selene Silverwood - The Witch's Journal. Published 2009.

3. Lexa Rosean - The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients. Published 2006.

4. Brenda Knight - Goth Magick. Published 2006.

Facebook Groups:
The Witches Resources - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewitchesintent/
Pagan Planners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/paganplannergroup/
Goth Planners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1067878423256124/
Gothic Bullet Journals - https://www.facebook.com/groups/319108798423026/  
BUJO Witches - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623535544567904/
YouTube Pagans - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ytpagans/
Rhomany's Other Realm - https://www.facebook.com/groups/witchywednesdays/

PP. Intuition notebooks? Dream & Spirit Guide Journal's

Bit of a strange time.  Ages ago (possibly this time last year) I stumbled upon 2 very very pretty notebooks (on sale at the works here in the UK).  

I was drawn to them but had no clue why - maybe it's cos they're shiny? 

Last week I decided to get (repurpose) some dice into spirit letter dice - blog on that when I've studied more.  Then today I decided I am going to try and keep a dream journal.  I vaguely remembered one of the books was something like "follow your dreams" but I couldn't remember what the other book said.  I dug them out and how perfectly fitting are these two notebooks for the two subjects I just mentioned!!

BB Imogen xo

PP: Witches Composition Notebook UK Review

Hey lovelies I just filmed and edited this.. New witches composition notebook (UK Review)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3X6hsztTRY&feature=youtu.be

Yes this is not strictly Pagan Planner but it could easily be used as a planner.. 

As I said in the video I had intended to use as a workbook while in a coven which after 4 days I'm no longer in, but that's fine I'm sure I'll find one that is a good fit for me and then I'll have this book sat waiting to go..

Please click on the video go to my youtube video, like.. comment.. subscribe.. also see video description for information on ColouringBookOfShadows. 

BB Imogen Xx