The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire Read online

  More than a decade prior to meeting Valiente, Gardner discovered fragments of a text that he believed had been written by a group of earlier European witches. He included these findings in his book of shadows—although he didn’t call it a “book of shadows” at the time—along with other rituals and practices he’d learned about during his many years of studying esoteric traditions from both the East and the West. His book’s contents drew upon the work of Aleister Crowley (perhaps the most notorious magician of the modern era), Celtic folklore, the practices of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Tantric yoga, Enochian wisdom, and other sources of mystical and occult knowledge. Valiente revised the material—chucking much of the Crowleyisms, in particular—and added information of her own as well as her poetry. The result was a compilation of inherited rituals from the past blended with original and modern elements. It became the core ethical guide and central spiritual text of the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca (there are several other Wiccan traditions as well).

  Today, many witches use a similar method for creating their own grimoires—we draw upon traditional practices and add new ones. Some Wiccans choose to hand-copy material from a book of shadows created by the High Priestess or High Priest who initiated them into the Craft, and then put their personal insights and experiences into their magickal journals. Others prefer to create their own, original grimoires from scratch.

  Thus, the Craft continues to evolve.

  How Did the Term “Book of Shadows” Originate?

  According to Doreen Valiente, Gardner stumbled upon a 1949 edition of a magazine called The Occult Observer in a Brighton, England, bookstore, which contained an article written by an Indian palmist named Mir Bashir. The article talked about a Sanskrit manuscript, ostensibly thousands of years old, that Bashir had come across in 1941. The document revealed an ancient Hindu technique for divining a person’s future by measuring his or her shadow. Bashir titled his article “Book of Shadows” and Gardner latched onto it. Supposedly, the article appeared on the page opposite an ad for Gardner’s book High Magic’s Aid, a fantasy novel about witchcraft in Victorian-era England. Perhaps he saw this as a fortunate sign, but whatever the reason the term “book of shadows” stuck, and witches still use it today.

  SHARE IT OR KEEP IT SECRET?

  As mentioned already, some witches choose to keep their grimoires completely private, solely for their own use—after all, the spiritual journey is a very personal one and you may not feel you can be totally honest if you know someone else will read the intimate details of your experience. Other witches share their books with magickal partners or members of their covens. Still other witches decide to reveal some of their magick practices publicly—as I’ve done in The Modern Guide to Witchcraft and The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book and my other books—in hopes that by doing so we can assist other people on the path.

  A History of Secrecy

  In earlier times, occult knowledge was passed down orally to neophytes by more experienced practitioners. Most likely, small groups of witches and other magicians met in secret, and they may have possessed little knowledge of the whereabouts or practices of other groups. Few kept written records of their activities. They did this not only because in those days hardly anyone could read or write, but also because they needed to protect themselves. In many parts of the world, for many years, people suspected of practicing witchcraft were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Even today, witches who reveal their beliefs publicly may suffer ridicule, prejudice, and worse.

  Destroy the Evidence

  Consider this excerpt from Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente’s book of shadows:

  If you would Keep a book let it be in your own hand of write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the book out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another, for if it be found in their hand of write, they well may be taken and enjoined. Each should guard his own writings and destroy it whenever danger threatens. Learn as much as you may by heart, and when danger is past, rewrite your book an it be safe. For this reason, if any die, destroy their book if they have not been able to, for an it be found, ’tis clear proof against them, And our oppressors well know, “Ye may not be a witch alone” So all their kin and friends be in danger of torture. So ever destroy anything not necessary. If your book be found on you. ’tis clear proof against you alone. You may be enjoined. Keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind. Say you had bad dreams; a devil caused you to write it without your knowledge. Think to yourself, “I know nothing. I remember nothing. I have forgotten everything.” (For more, see The Gardnerian Book of Shadows, by Gerald Gardner, at www.sacred-texts.com.)

  When witches and practitioners of other magickal arts faced the threat of capture with such dire consequences, it’s no wonder they insisted on keeping their grimoires secret. During the Burning Times in Europe, which lasted from the fourteenth until the eighteenth centuries, at least tens of thousands of people were executed as witches. The majority of these were women and girls.

  Unfortunately, this fragmented approach has left us severely wanting in the area of verifiable information. It is very difficult to piece together the rites and rituals of an oral tradition when few written records exist and where fear and suspicion force people into hiding. Even today, some of us may worry about reprisals from our families, communities, or religious or political groups. Therefore, use your best judgment as to whether you wish to keep your book of shadows to yourself.

  MODERN GRIMOIRES

  The term “grimoire” is generic and may be used in place of the title of an actual book that its author chooses to keep secret. Today’s grimoires are usually handwritten by individuals for their own personal use, although you can also create an effective and wonderful book of shadows digitally. A grimoire may include information and instructions related to a particular tradition, or it may contain strictly personal records and reminiscences intended only for the use of the author. Sometimes portions of a grimoire are passed down over time, copied by initiates from a master book.

  Some Wiccans choose to keep more than a single book of shadows. One of these books contains the rituals upheld and enacted by a particular coven or circle to which the witch belongs. These rituals may have their roots in earlier times and, as such, preserve traditional practices and wisdom. The information in one coven’s “core” grimoire will probably differ from that of other covens. Members of a select group are permitted to copy material from this book into their own grimoires for their own purposes. In a separate book a witch might record information of a more personal nature—the intimate thoughts and experiences of her or his sojourn along the road less traveled.

  However, some covens share information or make certain practices and beliefs available to other “kindred spirits.” The necessary secrecy that once existed when a witch’s life depended on hiding her thoughts is loosening in modern-day witchcraft. Still, many people choose to preserve their private practices and ideas by limiting access to their grimoires.

  What Should You Include in Your Book?

  Every grimoire is essentially a book of shadows, but not every book of shadows conforms to the strict definition of a grimoire. As discussed earlier, what we call a book of shadows today includes elements of the grimoire (such as directions for spells and rituals), but it is not necessarily an exclusively instructive tome. Instead, it’s an intimate record of your spiritual journey.

  Purists insist that a grimoire should be entirely instructional, full of information, annotation, and practical application. They argue that a book of shadows more closely resembles a journal and that personal musings have no place in the grimoire. Fortunately for our purposes, no officially designated criteria for creating a book of shadows exist, nor is there a correct or incorrect way of building, blessing, and using your personal grimoire. As you read on, you’ll see that I use the terms “grimoire” and “book of shadows” interchangeably. That’s because I believe a witch’s thoughts and feelings cannot be separated
from the work she does—each stitch builds upon other stitches to create a whole cloth.

  What goes into your book, how you create it, and how you use it will be as unique as you are. The goal is to document physically the spiritual journey of an individual who follows the path of the Goddess and the Craft of the Wise—whatever that means to you.

  Online Grimoires

  We’re fortunate today to have an amazing resource that allows us to share knowledge while remaining anonymous: the Internet. A quick Google search will direct you to lots and lots of Wiccan websites and blogsites, as well as sites that provide historical information about witchcraft, Neopaganism, and various other magickal systems. You’ll even find some that interpret early esoteric texts into modern languages and that let you glimpse the thinking and workings of the ancients.

  Witchcraft’s popularity has grown exponentially in recent years, in part because witches can now disseminate their wisdom widely and safely in the form of e-grimoires. Not only does this protect us from discrimination, it also enables us to gain information from a wider range of sources than ever before.

  As you grow in your magickal practice, you may decide to start your own blog to share what you’ve learned during your spiritual journey in the Craft of the Wise. In doing so, you may meet many fellow travelers from around the world whose knowledge and experiences will enrich your own path. In turn, your wisdom will enhance theirs.

  Writing the story of your spiritual awakening and subsequent journey can be an empowering method of self-discovery. You may become passionate about recording your spiritual and psychic progress. In the process, you’ll strengthen the connections between divine power and personal power, and open yourself to greater intimacy with the Goddess.

  You’ll come to see that writing in your grimoire is a ritual in itself—you’re creating a sacred tool that contains the chronicle of the magick unfolding within you. As you write, you’ll chart your path—like an early seaman using the stars to map his course into previously unknown territory—and look back to see your growth, both as a person and as a witch. You’ll forge new perspectives on old traditions and ancient rites, adapting them to your present-day needs and the needs of the world in which you live. You’ll rediscover the seasons; you’ll honor the passing of time; you’ll celebrate life, death, and rebirth—each account recorded in your own hand.

  “Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that you can make anything happen.”

  —JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

  If you so choose, your grimoire can be more than a personal record. Inspired by those who have preceded you, it also can serve as a guide for novices just discovering the Wiccan path. It can remind us of where we came from and how far we still have to go. By writing your story, you take responsibility for the idea that the clearest pathway to the Goddess is through direct experience.

  Chapter 2

  CRAFTING YOUR GRIMOIRE

  Early grimoires were handwritten, usually on parchment (a material made from animal skin) or paper. Depending on the author’s ability to procure materials and work with them, the book’s binding might have been made of richly tooled leather, carved wood, tapestry or velvet, or engraved metal. A wealthy witch or wizard might have decorated the cover of his or her book of shadows with gemstones, ornate silver hinges, gold leaf accents, or other precious adornments. A poor witch, understandably, would have chosen much more modest materials, perhaps inscribing spells on pieces of tree bark.

  As you go about crafting your own grimoire, keep your purpose in mind. Whether elegant or plain, elaborate or simple, your book of shadows is a tool—a very special and personal tool—that you create in order to further your growth as a magick worker. Although you may draw upon the rich tradition that precedes you and let it guide the creation of your personal grimoire, remember there are no rules about what’s right or wrong. Each grimoire is as unique as the witch to whom it belongs, and the most important thing is that it serves your objectives.

  BEFORE YOU BEGIN

  In the coming years, your grimoire will become a close confidant, an intimate account of your personal and spiritual evolution, a valuable reference guide, and, if you so desire, an inspiration for others. You’ll keep this precious tool for the extent of your magickal journey on earth. Therefore, you’ll want to take some time before you begin in order to determine the design and format that will serve you best.

  Ask yourself some questions:

  Does your book need to be portable? If so, size matters. Will you carry your grimoire with you at all times, or only on special occasions?

  How often do you intend to write in your book of shadows? Daily? On new or full moons? After performing a spell? On the sabbats?

  What do you plan to include in your grimoire? Spells and rituals only? Personal musings, insights, and asides? Artwork? Experiences outside those of a magickal nature?

  What intentions do you hold for your grimoire? What role do you envision it playing in your magickal practice? In other areas of your life?

  Will you write in your book of shadows only in the privacy of your own home? In conjunction with a magickal partner or coven members?

  Do you intend to keep the contents of your grimoire completely private, or share them with certain people you trust?

  Will writing in your grimoire be part of a magick ritual, either with other people or solo?

  Where will your book reside? Displayed openly on your altar? In a secret hiding place in your home or office, or perhaps a safe-deposit box? In your backpack?

  Would you consider crafting the book yourself?

  What do you want to happen to your grimoire after you leave the physical world? Will you entrust it to someone else’s use, or do you want it destroyed?

  Considering these things can aid you in the process of crafting and maintaining your book of shadows. Although many witches have similar reasons for keeping grimoires, your actual practice and your individual objectives may differ from those of other people. My goal in writing The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire is to guide you through the process and to provide tips, information, and suggestions along the way.

  YOUR GRIMOIRE’S COVER: A REFLECTION OF YOU

  Can you judge a book of shadows by its cover? That’s up to you. Your grimoire’s binding is its outer skin. Each time you take it in hand, even before you begin to write in it, it sparks your magickal thinking and the vision you have of yourself as a witch. Running your fingers over its cover reminds you that you’re on a spiritual journey, engaging in an age-old quest for wisdom, evolving as a human being and as a magician. What you hold in your hands is intensely personal, and yet also transcendent, for it draws upon the past and invites input from the spirit realm. Your grimoire is a representation of your deepest and most profound self. What do you want it to say about you?

  Choosing Your Book’s Cover Imagery

  Wicca and witchcraft come in many “flavors”: Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Saxon, Celtic, and so on. Some witches don’t align themselves with any specific group. If you do subscribe to a particular tradition or cultural heritage, you might like to reflect that on your grimoire’s cover. For example, because I’m of Irish and Scottish descent, I have a book with a leather cover that features Celtic imagery and fastens with a pewter Celtic knot.

  Many witches choose to include magick symbols on the covers of their grimoires: pentagrams, spirals, elemental or alchemical symbols, etc. If you’re interested in astrology, you might opt for solar or lunar images, zodiac glyphs, your sun-sign “animal,” or stars. If tarot’s your thing, you could place a picture of a tarot card that speaks to you on the cover, perhaps The High Priestess or The Magician. Green witches might enjoy enriching their books’ covers with botanical imagery. Pictures and symbols that represent the Goddess—or a favorite deity—may appeal to you. Or, you can honor your spirit animal guide by depicting it there. Some people like to use mythological creatures (such as dragons, phoenixes, griffins, or unicorns) on their grimoires; othe
rs add angels. The Kabbalah’s Tree of Life, the Druids’ World Tree, the Egyptian Eye of Horus . . . the list goes on.

  Your book’s cover may be simple or elaborate, depending on your preference. An online search will turn up lots of intriguing ideas and trigger your imagination. You may also find it helpful to visit a few New Age stores, shops that sell blank journals and scrapbooking materials, or art supply stores that stock sketchbooks. Whatever pleases you, reflects who you are as a person and a witch, and enhances your magickal experience is appropriate. Whatever feels right to you is.

  Securing Your Grimoire

  In order to keep their contents secret, some early grimoires—and some modern ones as well—were kept locked. Spellcasters didn’t want the information contained within their books to fall into the wrong hands. Nor could they risk allowing people who might persecute them to gain access to potentially incriminating material. If you feel a need to protect your grimoire’s contents from other people, by all means consider placing a lock on the cover.

  If you aren’t worried about anyone else getting his or her hands on your book of shadows, you can tie it shut with a strip of leather, a silken cord, a string of beads, or whatever strikes your fancy. Additionally, some witches like to slip their grimoires into drawstring pouches or wrap them in silk to protect them from dust and unwanted ambient energies.

  INNER BEAUTY

  Although the cover of your book of shadows sets the stage for what’s inside, the contents matter most. Here’s where you will record the story of your journey, chronicle your personal growth, and write down the secrets you hold dear. In a sense, the pages on which you note your thoughts and experiences are like picture frames that display a photo or painting. What “setting” do you feel will best frame your testimony?