Grimoire's Learning Center ~ "What's in a Name: Grimoire Magick"

Featured Artist Š1996-1997 Joanna Powell Colbert.

"Lady in Green"

Used with Permission

What's in a Name: Grimoire Magick

Submitted by Grimoire Magic member SkyWolf

Every Witch makes a Grimoire, or Book of Shadows. This usually starts out as a blank book in which you write down any and all information you think is interesting or useful to you as a Witch. You should begin yours as soon as a possible. It can be any sort of book you wish, but remember that it will grow very fast with the passing of time. In the past 7 years I have about 12 volumes in my BOS/Grimoire.These books are becoming more readily available from Magick supply stores and even Bookstores are carrying them.

Book of Shadows is a very new term, and I prefere Grimoire,which in it's true meaning, means Book of Illumination or Power.In History Witches kept a tiny flame of enlightenment burning during the Dark ages, storing ancient knowledge in their books.During the Burning Times anyone caught with these books were tortured and put to Death.

A Book of Shadows is a very powerful thing, the repository of Power and Magick. Your Grimoire will grow and become more powerful with the passing of time.

Ideas for what to keep in your Grimoire: Spells, Rituals, Correspondences, Info on Magick, Prayers, Incantations, Picture and sketches, Charts (Lunar and Tidal), Symbols, Goddess and God Pages,and you can also put pages about you as a Solitary or if you belong to a Coven, include these things also.

Some Witches prefere to keep their Grimoire hidden away from the sight of others, I keep mine on my Altar that way I have quick access to it. Many Elders of Witchcraft believe that all Grimoire's had to be handwritten, I believe it is up to the individual. Also many New Age Witches are putting their Grimoire on their computer.

Because your Grimoire will in time become a very powerful tool in your practice you might want to invoke some guardians to watch over your Grimoire. I have chosen Thoth, who is the Egyptian God of Writing, Magick, and Wisdom, and also Tao-Chun, Lord of Tao, who guards Magickal Writtings. Remember that this is your Grimoire and you can do it as you see fit, as I said in the beginning these are my interpretations and are being offered as a starting point/Guide for those of you new to the craft. There are so many other things you can do with your Grimoire, if you would like some more in depth ideas, just email me and I will send them out to you.

SkyWolf

Comments from our members:

Mine is a small red notebook-like thing, and very practical and useful. I keep it out of site, but have to admit to only having about half of it filled, since most of everythingI learn is commited to memory (what can I say, my life revolves around Wicca!) by the time I write it down anyway. I put the bigger, more important things in it though, and I have two dragons, whom I named Draco, since they are one spirit, to guard my Grimoire. ~ Andrew (9901.23)

I wish I had kept a notebook at least when I first started out, but I didn't so I can only remember a bit of how I felt when I first started learning. Now I have notebooks, scraps of paper, e-mails, articles, books, pictures I've drawn as well as my Grimoire (or Book of Shadows). It is an essential part of learning, record keeping and also a way of going back and discovering where you have erred, where you have grown spritually and how your opinions and ideas have changed. It can be fun re-reading old entries. ~ Rhian (9901.23)

My husband and I went out and bought the biggest 3-ring binders we could find. We then went to the fabric store and bought fabric and ribbon that we liked. This is how we decorated our B.O.S. We actually have several of these notebooks now since we are constantly adding to them. My husband is starting his 4th book, and I'm on my second book. He's been working on his longer than me. I must say though, that I think these books are just as nice as any I've seen for sale. I like to sew charms onto the front
of my book. I think it adds a personal touch. We don't hand write our books. I don't have much time for that, even though I think it would be better. We type our pages out, then place them into the category that they belong in. Some of the categories I have in my book are: Reference, Glossary, Q&A, Rituals, Spells, Divination, Sabbats, Herbs, Home remedies, Poetry (that I've collected. Can't write poetry to save my life!), Art, and crafts that I've made. ~ Lynxspirit (9901.23)

I am going to try something new with my latest Grimoire, I have gone out into the woods to look for a grove of Cedar tree's, I am going to look
for some downed tree's and strip away some bark from these tree's. I will eventually press this bark into the sizes I want and make Book bindings out of them, I tried this once before with Birch Bark and it worked well. It gives your Grimoire's a look of Nature and if done right it will last for ever. ~ SkyWolf (9901.23)

The tree bark idea is great! I've been holding onto some large pieces of bark since fall trying to figure out what I wanted to do with them. My husband originally picked them up in the woods to paint on the back of them, but we
decided they were too pretty to paint on. I would love to have the directions to bind a book. Sounds like the perfect way to use them. ~ Lynxspirit (9901.23)

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