Summer Reading List

It seems every summer there is a list of books I dream about reading on the beach or while sitting on the porch sippping a cool drink. Do you have a list of books you would like to read this summer? Here's a guide to create an easy and inspirational summer reading list for your journal or book of shadows.

Are you a visual learner? To view the full video tutorial on YouTube, click here.

SUMMER READING GOALS

Narrowing down your selection of reading material is an important first step to create an effective Reading List. As with any endeavor, it helps to have a manageable focus in order to achieve your goals. For this summer's reading list, I focused on the theme of the Sea Witch. Here is a list of some other areas of focus for your own magickal summer reading list:

• Healing Plants & Herb Gardening

• Developing Psychic Powers

• Divination Skills

• Fantasy/Magickal Fiction (mystery, romance, etc)

Those are just a few ideas, but you get the idea.

GET INSPIRED

So, now you have gone out and compiled a stack of really inspiring books to read. But how do you make sure you'll follow through? It's easy to make a list but harder to actually read them. What if a striking and inspiring design for your reading list could make all the difference, keeping your books front and center in your daily life? Get ready – we're going to show you how!

This tutorial focuses on creating a digital collage-style reading list "sticker" that you can add to any page of your digital planner or Book of Shadows. If you don't have a tablet with an annotation app (I'm using an iPad and Goodnotes), you can still follow along and create something similar in Canva. You can also print the sticker and add it to a physical planner.

OVERVIEW OF THE STEPS

Here is a brief overview of the steps to make your inspirational reading list collage.

• BOOKS: select and procure your books as described above

• PHOTO: photograph your stack of books in an inspiring setting

• LIST: create a lined snippet of scrap paper with check boxes for your list

• DESIGN ELEMENTS: gather or create ephemera & stickers to add to your design

PHOTOGRAPH YOUR BOOKS

Imagine a snapshot of your stack of books as a visual cue to ignite your reading journey. Instead of just scribbling titles on a list, stage your books in a way that breathes life into them, conjuring up visions of the worlds within. Introduce props that evoke the theme you're craving to indulge in and set your books in an environment that's in harmony with their spirit. Craft an image aligned with your reading aspirations; such a visual spell is sure to beckon you into their pages.

Here are a few examples of inspiring book photos:

• Sea Witch themed books set on a beach, nestled amongst seaweed, netting, and a lost bottle.

• Books on Tarot stacked on a velvet draped table surrounded by tarot cards, candles, and a crystal ball.

• The Practical Magic book series atop a cupboard full of herbal remedies in vintage glass jars.

BONUS TIP: Share your photo on social media for added incentive to read those books!

MAKE YOUR CHECKLIST

Something I've come to enjoy about working in the Digital Book of Shadows is how easy it is to create your own digital stickers directly in the document using your journaling app (Goodnotes was used in this example). At the end of the YouTube video referenced above, I show a screen recording of the following steps used to create a digital reading checklist "sticker" in Goodnotes:

• Anywhere in your pdf document, add a new lined page after the current page

• Draw a rectangular shape that is several rows high; Lasso Tool > Long Press > Take Screenshot > Upload > Save Image

• Add the new "sticker" into your document; Image > click on the paper snipped you saved

• Create "torn" edges; Tap the paper snippet > Crop > Freehand > Lasso Tool (make wavy outline around the paper snippet) > Done

• Resize the torn edge paper snippet as desiret.

• Add embellishments to create a themed checklist

• Circles or Squares can be created using the Shape Tool or Inserted from saved PNG files*

• Add a title using the Text Tool or Pen (if you have great handwriting)

• Add a few graphic elements (transparent PNG) that go along with your reading list theme

• Join all the elements together into a single graphic: select all the elements together using the Lasso Tool and drag them into Keynote. Alternatively, you can add this new graphic to your Goodnotes Stickers library: Select all pieces of the graphic using the Lasso Tool < Long Press < Add Element < Select a Collection to add it to

*Download PNG files with transparent background (mine were saved fron Canva) and snip out the elements you want [Tap to select < Crop < Freehand < Lasso with pencil < Done]. If you start with a sticker sheet, remember to Copy the entire sheet first so that you can paste is back into your document after cropping out part of it.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Once you have your paper snippet checklist, layer it on top of your inspiring photo, add other graphic elements (such as a piece of washi tape, small copy of a grimoire page, etc.), and join the elements together [see the final step above] to create a new "collage" sticker with your reading list paper snippet attached.

NOTE: To create a physical collage, tear a small piece of lined paper as the basis for the reading checklist. Add stickers or stamps for the checklist boxes and theme related embellishments. Layer all the elements and join them together using double sided tape or craft glue.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Once you've crafted your bespoke reading checklist and collage stickers, tuck them into your go-to digital sticker stash. Let them play a starring role in your daily, weekly, monthly, or annual planning sessions, keeping your literary journey in the spotlight. Embrace the process I've shared and conjure up a limitless array of captivating layouts that will ensure your reading adventure stays on course.

Not the creative type? Don't worry, I've done the work for you. Nab a free dowloadable copy of my Sea Witch Digital Sticker sheet (PNG file) by clicking HERE.

RESOURCES

Sea Witch Themed Books

• A Sea Witch's Companion: Practical Magic of Moon and Tides by Levannah Morgan

Available at booksellers worldwide (I purchased mine from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic).

• The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune

Available on Amazon and Thriftbooks

• The Sea Witch: A Grimoire of Ocean Magick by Jenniger Heather

Available on Amazon and various book resellers.

• The Siren's Song: Divining the Depsths with Lenormand & Kipper Cards bundle with Book

Available on Amazon

The Organized Witch's Digital Book of Shadows

Plan for Magick with The Organized Witch's Digital Book of Shadows. How amazing would it be if you could plan & track all your magickal and mundane workings in one place? That's why I set out to design a product that would replace multiple physical journals, grimoires, and notebooks into one easy to use and portable format. I found that using a digital planner/book of shadows helped me stay organized and manifest my dreams with greater ease. Now you can too! Learn more HERE

GoodNotes

Goodnotes 6 is free to download on Apple, Android, and Windows.