A Book of Shadows is essentially different from a grimoire. The Book of Shadows is like a personal journal that tracks your progress in the craft (As well as having bits of information, such as what a full moon means to you, what different colors and stones mean to you, ect)...
A Book of Shadows is like a witches journal. We write our spells/rituals/potions in it, we write effects of a spell/ritual/potion, and we write what we experienced on our path. It is basically a "diary," where you put in your thoughts and feelings, and the date you wrote it.
The Book of Shadows is not supposed to be shown to others, it is secret. Like i said, it is like a diary. Your Book of Shadows should be personalized--after all, it is yours. You can use anything as a Book of Shadows; a composition book, a hard cover book, a journal, the computer, etc., as long as its kept as a secret and it's personalized, unless you like it plain.
I use a composition book, then I have personalized it with a book cover (or Book Sox). You can decorate it however you want, it is up to you.
If you run out of space in your Book of Shadows, you can get another one and "bind" them together, with a book cover as I have did. What you do is that you put your first book on top, and your second one on the bottom. You take the first cover of Book 1 and the back cover of Book 2 and put the Book Sox on that.
But basically, your Book of Shadows is a secret diary/journal, whatever you like to call it.
You can't summon a Book of Shadows but you can create your own. Remember, this is YOUR Book of Shadows, for your thoughts, chants, spells, whatever you deem important to put in there. Do not let anyone else influence you. Blessed Be.
Your Book of Shadows is a place to write all your information that you have learned. It can be anything from spells to food for the holidays.
I personaly use both a binder (so I can keep adding without problems) and on my computer as a back up in case something happens to one I have a back up. If it happens to my binder one then I can print of the pages to replace. and I keep a copy on a zip so if my system crashes I can download it again.
But I like the hands on of my binder the most, since I am an artist I can decorate and personalize it for myself.
Book of Shadows is the same thing as a grimoire. Add working spells, personal experiences, etc. I wouldn't add spells you haven't done yet. Or make a section to put future spell work in. Also you can include rituals and celebrations. Just some thoughts. Blessed Be...
