Let me begin this by saying that there is a definite difference between what the
Wiccans call a "Book of Shadows" and what I call a "Grimoire."
A Book of Shadows is a book, created by the dedicant (like a pledge) in the Wiccan
Traditions which documents his/her progress through the Wiccan Heirarchy. It
traditionally contains notes, rites of passage and initiation, basic altar set-up styles/techniques
and the like. And finally, at the end, there may be a few spells.
A Grimoire is a book created by an Adept (or "Maven" in the DragonsBain™ Tradition).
In it you will find charts and tables relating to when and where magick should be performed, a visual Herbal
containing plants in the area of the author of the Grimoire, and the entire rest of the Tome itself is replete
with spells, charms, enchantments and so on.
That having been said, let Me continue to expound a bit. I have always considered a Book of Shadows to
be a misnomer. It is a Wiccan creation and therefore is a Book of Light, rather than a Book of Darkness/Shadow.
I realize that because of persecution and prosecutions, the secrets were taken to the shadows where they did stay for
a very long time. But I just do not like the associations it generates.
To Me, it's like the term "witch." Witch was first shunned by Wiccans because of the negative connotations.
Then, when the Neo-Wiccans began changing the remnants of what was left of the Ancient Traditions, creating
their own paths and traditions, instead of furthering the Old Ways, Traditional Wiccans embraced the term "Witch"
to separate themselves from the newer factions. Personally, I'm neither Wiccan, nor a Witch. Ok, ok, I'm a Witch, but I
really hate the associations that carries. I prefer Magick User. I prefer it highly, in fact. However, if Witch is how someone
labels Me, I do not defend the term, nor attempt to reconcile it. I let it stand without fuss. Defending it merely lends credence
to the social ineptitude of Tthose who need to place a label on everything in the first place.
BUT, I am off topic. *soft laugh*
In the list of supplies below, feel free to improvise and substitute one thing for another wherever
necessary. This is not a "Dyed in the Wool" formula. A plan is useless if it is not flexible.
To Make a Grimoire, you will need the following...
2 wooden cover boards, each in the dimensions of the book Yyou wish to have when Yyou are done, and about 1/4" thick.
a piece of leather, or other organic material with which to cover each board independently of the other.
leather working tools with which to emboss lettering and/or seals on the front/back cover materials prior to use.
heavy art paper. choose art paper which will really take the ink, glue and use. at least 40#.
hole punch and a drill
leather straps for binding.
Design your front cover the way you want it to look using the leather working tools. If those are not
available to you, then find a medallion, a design, runes or leave it blank. It is YOUR Grimoire. You can paint the design onto
the front cover, emboss it, affix objects to the front in any way you find aesthetically pleasing.
Stretch and glue the leather or other material over the cover boards using a material glue.
Let that set for 3 days in a warm dry place. Covers and pages should be as ornate as you find
aesthetically pleasing. Put as much into this endeavor as you would your spells or any other Magickal
craft you would create.
Punch 5 holes down the outside left edge of your art paper and drill the same holes into the front and back cover boards,
through the material with which you have covered your boards.
Tie them all together with the leather straps, or affix them to the cover, through the art paper and affix the opposite end to the back cover board.
Either way, Yyou have a book in which Yyou may take out pages and add others whenever necessary.
Another Way
You can go through all that, and have a true work of art when you are done. OR...you can do this...
Buy a SCRAPBOOK, the kind with a good heavy cover and black pages inside. Decorate the cover in such a way
as to make it your own and use the pages inside to affix your words. Write them down on other paper, cut them out
and glue them into your Grimoire. Take herb samples from the local supply and label them with their names and
for what they are used, along with for which herbs they may be proper substitutes.
Buy a good silver or gold gel pen with which your words may be written upon the black pages themselves, and get some
ribbon, material or whatever else you like, to frame in the sections of paper you glue into your book.
There are literally thousands
of stores out there with "scrapbooking" supplies. Scrapbooking has made it easier for us as Magick Users
to put together our own books, journals and keepsakes. I have one such book of nothing but photos of our celebrations, rites and
the like. Digital cameras also help in this area. You can print any quality on any grade of paper you wish, and then insert Yyour photo
into the book any way you see fit. My Grimoire has small, tri-fold pop-ups which house the herb(s) used in each spell.
You can easily find scrapbooks which allow additional pages to be added, or ruined pages to be removed; which are covered in
actual leather...please Please don't get one which is covered in "pleather" or vinyl. Spend the extra money and find one which is real leather
if Yyou go that way.
Also do remember to CHARGE and ENCHANT everything you use. Everything, right down to the ink in the pens, the glues and ribbons...
the pages themselves are to be consecrated and dedicated and charged within an inch of its life. This is a MAJOR bifurcation of your
Magick and your abilities. It should be a project which inspires your experimentation with spellwork. Of course, after having said that, I feel
the need to express that only experienced Magick Users should "experiment" with spellwork. If you are not very VERY careful, you could
inadvertently cause disaster to befall you and your loved ones. BE CAREFUL and exercise caution when experimenting.
Lastly, there are literally thousands of companies, both large and small, which carry blank "grimoires" and "books of shadows." I utterly denounce these types
of books. If you purchase a blank book for magickal use, at least make SURE it is BLANK on the covers as well. Decorate it yourself and make it as much YOURS
as is humanly possible. Do NOT purchase one of those which is already decorated with a pentagram or pentacle, or has "Book of Shadows" already tooled
on the outside. You have NO IDEA who did that work, if they were even Pagan, if they were angry or sad when they did the work, and cleansing doesn't always
remove strong emotional energies, easily. This is to be the culmination of your Magickal abilities. So whenever possible, make it yourself!
Clarification...Blank books are fine. Just do not purchase ready-made Grimoire blanks with decorations already put on the cover.
These decorations should be conceived and added by you and you alone!
Disks of Shadows?
In this, the era of computers, CD's and DVDs, we have become very reliant and familiar with computers and their media.
I have always spoken against Disks of Shadow, or Grimoire on CD; however, I have recently come to appreciate the reliability and
convenience of having everything backed up on disk. So I will endorse this practice, if only as a form of back up, in case something
unpropitious happens to your REAL Grimoire.
Also, if you are still taking books into ritual or fighting with them during spellwork, it may be advantageous to you
to have a readily-printable version. Flat sheets are more viable and less cumbersome and distracting to handle during spellwork.
I do not advocate taking any form of printed materials into ritual or to your altar for spellwork, but for those of you who
have not yet broken away from this practice, printed sheets cause less interference. But do let Me say, that there is nothing more
empowering and/or romantic in spellwork than taking your own hand-written Grimoire in hand, and reading from that instead of a published,
public work.
Design your front cover the way you want it to look using the leather working tools. If those are not
available to you, then find a medallion, a design, runes or leave it blank. It is YOUR Grimoire. You can paint the design onto
the front cover, emboss it, affix objects to the front in any way you find aesthetically pleasing.
There are literally thousands
of stores out there with "scrapbooking" supplies. Scrapbooking has made it easier for us as Magick Users
to put together our own books, journals and keepsakes. I have one such book of nothing but photos of our celebrations, rites and
the like. Digital cameras also help in this area. You can print any quality on any grade of paper you wish, and then insert Yyour photo
into the book any way you see fit. My Grimoire has small, tri-fold pop-ups which house the herb(s) used in each spell.
Lastly, there are literally thousands of companies, both large and small, which carry blank "grimoires" and "books of shadows." I utterly denounce these types
of books. If you purchase a blank book for magickal use, at least make SURE it is BLANK on the covers as well. Decorate it yourself and make it as much YOURS
as is humanly possible. Do NOT purchase one of those which is already decorated with a pentagram or pentacle, or has "Book of Shadows" already tooled
on the outside. You have NO IDEA who did that work, if they were even Pagan, if they were angry or sad when they did the work, and cleansing doesn't always
remove strong emotional energies, easily. This is to be the culmination of your Magickal abilities. So whenever possible, make it yourself!
Also, if you are still taking books into ritual or fighting with them during spellwork, it may be advantageous to you
to have a readily-printable version. Flat sheets are more viable and less cumbersome and distracting to handle during spellwork.
I do not advocate taking any form of printed materials into ritual or to your altar for spellwork, but for those of you who
have not yet broken away from this practice, printed sheets cause less interference. But do let Me say, that there is nothing more
empowering and/or romantic in spellwork than taking your own hand-written Grimoire in hand, and reading from that instead of a published,
public work.
