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by Wyld Wytch

Before I get into this essay I wrote, I thought I should clear up this Book of Shadows vs. Grimoire issue that I absentmindedly left out! The Grimoire is a more 'traditional' type of record keeping, its name comes from farther back. That's the easiest way to explain it. In today's society the Grimoire and Book of Shadows are both basically the same thing, they both are record keepers for your magickal enlightenment! Now to get on with it! Just What is a Grimoire Anyway? Well that's simple! Or at least that's what people say sometimes in their descriptions of one, then they'll follow it up with something like "A log of all your Craft information." That's it, short and to-the-point! BUT! That's not what mine turned out to be. From being involved in the Craft I have taken a interest in so many different things, that they have all worked there way into being a part of my Grimoire. There is nothing short and to-the-point about it anymore! I keep everything in my combined Grimoire. Journal Entries, Magickal Workings, Correspondences, Rites, Lore, etc... I could probably have entitled this whole website Wyld Wytch's Grimoire, because its all part of it! Everything here is here as a result of my involvement in the Craft. That's just mine though, How would you start your own Grimoire?

Starting Your Own Grimoire

To start a Grimoire of your own can be a very tough thing to do, or it can be as easy as you make it! It all depends on YOU! For the Carefree person I would suggest a journal or binder where you can put miscellaneous information into all together. This will eventually turn into having some sort of system, which will be fit to you. And it will be all in one place, so you don't have to worry about loosing your Ritual Binder, or your Lore Binder...Just one thing to remember. For the Crafty/Artist/Traditionalist I would suggest a hand bound book, a nice leather cover would go great! Learning how to bind a book is VERY easy, before you know it you'll probably have to make a few for your friends! Anyhow you could decorate the pages making attractive boarders, for example Celtic Knotwork around the pages makes a very nice-looking Grimoire Page, Egyptian Hieroglyphics are another option too... There are many.

You might also want to pick up a fountain pen, or one that you favor writing with, and make it your 'Shadows Pen.' Which really just means a pen that you would use ONLY to write in your Grimoire, or Book of Shadows. And wouldn't you know, no printing off copies of things for this person! Hand-written everything is a must! For the Techie what else other then a "Disk" Grimoire with all your files online and easily printable? There's no organizational worries here, because with a 'drag-n-drop' 'cut & copy' and a little 'point & click' and you're all reorganized!

There are many other types of people out there, I just wanted to suggest a few more popular methods going on today. I myself use a combination of online/offline record keeping. I enjoy this, you can even print off bordered pages and use them in your Grimoire. Some of the suggestions were for the extremist, and I tried to keep some humor...I hope I did not offend. Choose whatever feels right for you, and if you change your mind you can always switch it on over to a new method!

Now you've found out what it is...And How to start one...What about the Setup?

Grimoire Setup

When starting out on making your own Grimoire PLEASE do not overwhelm yourself. This can get you right back where you started fast, and with nothing to show for it. Many authors show you a list of outrageously long Grimoire contents pages in beginner books, that have taken them years even decades to compile. You can also surf the web now and find many online Net Grimoires and Net BOS' that are very intimidating to thee novice. So please just beware, no ones going to put there Grimoire next to yours to see how big it is.

Starting out, don't run out and buy the deluxe binder with folders, dividers, and such. You could change your mind. Instead take a note book, one subject or whatever and begin writing in it (Be sure to have this 3 ring binder capable though, it saves time if you change your mind later on). Begin a journal on what you're learning, new experiences you are having, the knowledge you are picking up from people, books, and especially nature. Maybe you felt an extra special ray of light from the sun today, write about it. Include the weather, your emotional state, was it a great or crazy day? Take a look outside, begin to notice what's out there. The birds chirping, the crickets at night keeping you awake, the cold bleakness of a dark alley. Can you find the 'magick' the 'beauty' in all of these things? Can you see anything other than the dark alley or the sound of the birds chirping...?

I know this seems odd, but you will be enlightened by it day after day. After a while you'll notice you have a common thing in your Grimoire notebook, maybe its all the pages with the word "LORE" on top. Well then rip them out, put them all together in a bunch, and section them away. Look you've got a whole section that you created, without even realizing it!

What about Content?

I don't want to repeat myself from the earlier section. No one has the mystical table of contents for a 'real' Grimoire. No one's Grimoire is more valid than your own. You hold the only contents page that would ever fit into your life, created by YOU. You may never include non-craft oriented Journal writings in your Grimoire, I do. To me going for a walk and just being around nature for the hour or so is a magickal endeavor, to you maybe not. No one can tell me what I should have in my Grimoire, or what is unacceptable to be in it. The choice is yours...

I don't mean to contradict myself, but rather just to get you started. Here are a few things that are in 'many' Grimoires, they don't 'have' to be in yours. Ethics of Magick and Spell Casting, Basic Rites/Rituals, and Color Correspondences. Again that's just a few, the choice is entirely in your hands!

OK OK All done with this essay, I hope you enjoyed it. Comments and Suggestions are always welcome.

Best Wishes on the Beginning of Your Grimoire