Magic: Resources for a Book of Shadows

Originally posted on Tumblr, but still my work.

@theweepingwillowbird just posted about how frustrated she (?) is with her Book of Shadows — how often she’s started and restarted it after making small errors. I wrote a long response, and then it was eaten.  So rather than try again, I’m going to write my own list for beginners; and then it’s not crowding out her request, either, or offering things that don’t necessarily apply to her.

First, it’s helpful to consider Ira Glass’s advice. You have taste, and you don’t want to ruin your taste.  But there is a gap between taste and skill — and you have to produce work to close that gap.

First, recognize that most of the impatience involved in producing a beautiful illustrated book by hand is really a daemonic presence — the Dweller on the Threshold.  A genuinely creative and magical life is…