Last year around this time of year I happened upon one of the best concepts, at least in my opinion, and that is the Bullet Journal. I can only laugh as I reflect on it now because not only was it perfectly timed for Back-To-School season (the schools here don't go back until after Labor Day...which seems very late to me) but it's also very much Virgo-y. Now let me preface with the fact that I'm very into planning and used to have lists laying around everywhere. However, I could never find a planner that suited all of my needs, was laid out in a way that made sense to me, etc. I spend much time with my planner as EVERYTHING is logged--meals, tasks, notes, goals, etc. that it has a permanent spot on my desk. I even used to have a small planner that fit in my purse--yes, I'm aware of apps that do the same thing but I really like having a planner book.
Can I be a bit over the top with this? Yes as I literally write EVERYTHING on my lists of to-do's, including take a shower. Not because I need a reminder but that way I can see exactly what I want/need/must accomplish during the day and plan my time effectively. I find where I can fit commitments and to-do's in that will allow for more productivity. Am I going to cut back on any of it? Nope.
So, imagine my delighted surprise when I happened upon the concept of the Bullet Journal that allows me to combine everything in one book, add a heaping spoonful of creativity, and arrange the book how I want! The flexibility of it--being either completely minimal or making it an art project--really captivated me and honestly, I wouldn't return to the old planner method. Creating and using a Bullet Journal doesn't have to be time-consuming but I have found it quite fun.
What exactly is a Bullet Journal, for those who may not have heard of it before? It was created by Ryder Carroll and is quite simply an organizational tool that offers a way to track not only your daily tasks but the very fundamentals of your life. It's an indexed tracking system, a notebook, journal, planner, sketchbook, and log book that is combined in one place for easy convenience. It can be, and is, tailored to the individual, allowing one to put as much effort as is necessary into its creation and use. As stated above, it can be just a simple log or a creative venture. It encompasses so many things that I find it difficult to sum up neatly though I hope the above description helps. Honestly, if you search for Bullet Journal ideas, you will find some that are works of art and some that are simply very practical. None are better than the other as it's meant for the user. There are even people who create theirs on the computer and online!
Since I don't want this to be a 'How-To' post, per se, I'm not going any further into the details of setting one up as those resources are readily available online. Instead I want to list ways in which I tailor mine to include all my witchy needs...which isn't very hard at all! My aim is to give you ideas, in case you decide to take this tool up and inspire you to find your own way of making it work for you.
The Key
While I include the common key codes for Tasks and Weather, I also include the symbols for the Astrological Planets and Signs as well as symbols for the Moon Phases. This allows me to write short-hand throughout the book and if for some reason I can't recall a symbol's meaning, I don't have to pull out any other books. I can just flip to the front. You could even add symbols so you can write short-hand with Tarot cards, Runes, etc.
My Natal Chart
I do print out and glue my natal chart near the front of my book. This is very practical for a couple of reasons but honestly the biggest one is that I'm still learning Astrology so while reading, I can just open my BuJo instead of pulling out my Book of Shadows. My Bujo is always on my desk so this is just more practical. Also, if I should decide to take my book with me (I used to with the smaller one from last year), I have my chart on-the-go.
Monthly Spreads
I always include a portion of the next page for a Monthly Review. This includes any insights I may have had, spells cast, rituals performed, etc. This helps me reflect on the month in all of its aspects and I can really get a good overview of what worked and what didn't. This also helps with my spellcasting as I can see exactly when I performed a certain spell so I can locate it easier in my Book of Shadows since I know the exact date. I'm big on record-keeping as it not only indicates how much you've progressed but allows you to learn and continue growing. You know what works better for you, what you connect with the most, and I have actually found very clear moments of insights that I had forgotten about so without adequate note-taking, I would have forgotten stuff I needed to remember.
I also include my blog posts for the month as well as any sabbat, esbat, and astrological notes so I can always see the month fully without the need to consult a bunch of books.
Weekly Spreads
I include the normal weather, meals, and moods for each day but I also include the moon phases and signs. It takes just a sliver of time to jot down when I create the spread and keeps me from having to continually check my Witches' Companion. It's all about having everything neatly in one place. I used to include a section for my Cards of the Day but it became tedious so those are solely recorded on my Daily Pages.
Daily Spreads
This is where people track their moods, tasks, water intake, and time-tables. Alongside this, I also include a place to log information regarding my blog, any upcoming sabbats or esbats (like I have a Mabon countdown right now), whether I wrote in my Dream Journal, as well as my Card for the Day. I have the weather forecast at the top beside the moon phase. I write about any astrological occurrences as well so I can look for patterns and see how it all interplays with my day. It's one thing to solely study something but this gives me a chance to correlate what I'm learning with what's happening in my life.
Sabbat Planning Pages
Usually only one page, it's a place dedicated to the upcoming sabbat and is usually close to my monthly spread. I write some quick facts about the sabbat that I want to keep in mind when planning as well as how I want to celebrate it, a shopping list, any insights I have, and important facts to remember. So, if I know a Deity couple that I want to invoke, I'll jot it down so I don't forget. I may write the candles and herbs needed for ritual on the shopping list. It's just about helping me stay organized so the sabbat doesn't creep up on me.
Habit Tracker
I include the usual things like "wake up by X a.m." or "bed by X p.m.". To keep track of my witchy habits, I include "Card of the Day Posts", "Meditate", "Daily Devotions". Why? Because it helps me accountable. If I notice that I'm starting to feel bogged down, I can look and see well have I been skirting my meditations? It's easy for the days to blend together, leaving me incapable of remembering exactly which day I did something.
Lifting the Vibes
I have a page dedicated to stuff to do when I feel like shit, am moody, etc. I feel loads of people have this sort of list as well but it makes sense to include it here since it's ways in which to raise my vibrations and can include things like "meditate", "spend time in nature", "diffuse some lemon essential oil", or "smudge the room I'm in".
These are certainly NOT all the ways in which I include my craft and path into my Bujo but I don't want to make this an entire day's read. As you can see, the Bullet Journal allows for so much flexibility and really it's creative venture only ends with you.
I'd love to hear from you! Do you keep a Bullet Journal and how do you incorporate your spiritual path and/or craft in it? Or do you? I'm interested to see what others do.
Brightest of Blessings,
The Autumn Witch
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