The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire Read online

  Note Situations in Your Everyday Life

  It’s hard to separate our magickal lives from our everyday lives—even for seasoned witches. If something in your mundane world is troubling you and sucking up a lot of your energy, you may not feel as focused or powerful in your spellworking—and you may not achieve the results you desire. Note this in your grimoire. On the other hand, if you’re riding the crest of the wave and everything seems right at the moment, note that too. Maybe you’ve met a new person who shares your path or you started a yoga class or returned from a restful vacation. Occurrences such as these may influence your magick practice, directly or indirectly, so it’s a good idea to keep track of them.

  “Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices,

  for behold: all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

  And therefore, let there be beauty and strength,

  power and compassion, honor and humility,

  mirth and reverence within you.”

  —DOREEN VALIENTE, “THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS”

  Pay Attention to Your Dreams

  Many dream researchers and therapists believe your subconscious communicates with you through your dreams. Some metaphysicians suggest that your guides, angels, or other nonphysical entities may also send messages to you via dreams. Record any dreams that seem especially vivid, meaningful, or strange, or that recur again and again—they may provide valuable insights or even glimpses of the future. Also note dreams that have a direct correlation to things you’re focusing on in your spiritual or magickal work. In Chapter 18, we’ll talk more about dreams and how to work with them creatively.

  Record Your Readings

  Do you do tarot or rune readings? Consult the I Ching or use a pendulum to gain advice? If you work with one or more oracles, you’ll probably want to keep a record of your readings. You may designate a separate journal in which to chronicle these, but your grimoire is a good place to write them down too. Date each reading and note the reason you did it or the question you asked. Draw the spread, indicating the positions of the cards, runes, etc. Add your own interpretation—what does the reading mean to you? Later on, you can revisit what you’ve written and describe how things turned out. You might record your reading like this:

  Past, Present, Future Tarot Reading

  October 12, 2016

  Please provide insight into my relationship with A”

  Past Present Future

  2 of swords 7 of wands Temperance

  Interpretation: In the past I’ve felt helpless and confused about what to do. Now, I’m trying to hang in there and be strong; I’m determined to make this relationship work and I’m learning ways to handle problems better, without giving up or giving in. Temperance in the future position suggests things will be more peaceful, and I sense we’ll establish a more balanced and harmonious arrangement.

  Other Things to Include

  Do you have a favorite poem or song that resonates with you at a deep level? Have you just read an inspiring passage in a book? You may wish to jot these down in your book of shadows—especially if they figure into your spiritual and/or magickal path in some way. Musings about things you noticed while walking in the park, comments on what’s transpiring in the world around you, thought-provoking ideas raised by a friend—all these, and much more, may have a place in your book of shadows too.

  Many witches like to include visuals in their grimoires. Early grimoires often contained drawings of occult symbols and other illustrations as well. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you can still sketch images in the margins—you don’t have to show them to anyone else, so don’t censor yourself. Pictures from print sources or downloaded from the Internet can aid your visualization process. Do you want to take a trip to an exotic land? Why not paste a photo of that place in your book to help you focus on your goal? If you check out online images of grimoires, you’ll see that lots of books—both ancient and modern—feature artwork of all kinds. Remember the old saying, a picture’s worth a thousand words? This is definitely true in spellcasting.

  We’ve already mentioned affixing dried leaves, herbs, and flowers to your grimoire. Don’t limit yourself to these alone, however. Feathers, bits of lovely lace, a scrap of patterned silk, a remnant of an antique Japanese fan, a lock of your lover’s hair, tiny seashells, a piece of your favorite sheet music, photos of loved ones, ribbons tied into magick knots . . . the possibilities are endless. What triggers your imagination? The ability to imagine a result, after all, must precede the result you seek to manifest.

  Purists might frown on such diversions from tradition, but hey, it’s your book, right? Whatever holds meaning for you has the potential to enrich your personal growth and enhance your magickal workings. Your book of shadows is a safe place to explore those parts of yourself that you may never have felt free to unveil before, to face your inner shadow, to acknowledge what holds meaning for you, and to connect with the beautiful being you are in your heart of hearts.

  Chapter 5

  PREPARING TO USE YOUR GRIMOIRE

  You’ve acquired a book that will become your grimoire—or fabricated your own—and given thought to how you’ll organize it. Now it’s time to prepare yourself and your book for the ongoing relationship that will develop between you.

  Writing in your book of shadows is a magickal act, so you’ll want to treat it as such. This means you’ll likely do your journaling within a sacred space you’ve created for your spellwork and other ritual practices. Perhaps you’ve already established a sacred place in your home. You may also have set up an altar there, where you could display your grimoire. If you haven’t done this yet, you can use the following instructions or design your own ritual to create a sacred space for all your magickal workings.

  CREATING SACRED SPACE

  The purpose of defining and consecrating a sacred space is to give yourself a dedicated realm in which to perform magick and ritual, where you can move beyond your ordinary world when you so choose. You are, in essence, raising a temple (though not necessarily a brick-and-mortar one) for meditation, worship, divination, spellcasting, or any other aspect of magickal practice you wish to do here—including writing in your grimoire. You can create a more or less permanent sacred space or a temporary one, depending on your intentions and circumstances.

  The Power of the Circle

  In The Spiral Dance, Starhawk describes the circle as “the creation of a sacred space . . . Power, the subtle force that shapes reality, is raised through chanting or dancing and may be directed through a symbol or visualization. With the raising of the cone of power comes ecstasy, which may then lead to a trance state in which visions are seen and insights gained.”

  Cleansing Your Sacred Space

  Once you’ve determined the location of your sacred space, take a broom and sweep the area thoroughly to clear away dust, dirt, and clutter. This is the real reason witches use brooms, not to fly through the sky. After you finish physically sweeping the area, focus on cleansing the psychic space. In this way, you remove unwanted energies or influences—any “bad vibes” that might linger there. Begin in the east and work your way counterclockwise around the area, in a circular fashion. Sweep the air, from the floor up to as high as you can comfortably reach. When you have gone around your area three times, lay the broom on the floor and visualize all the negative energy breaking up and dissolving.

  Some spellworkers also like to “smudge” the area with the smoke from burning sage. Light a sage wand/bundle (available at New Age shops and online) or a stick of sage incense. Walk in a circle, starting in the east and moving counterclockwise, letting the smoke waft through the area. Then walk in an X across the space to finish cleansing your space. Now stand in the center of your space and feel the fresh, light, clean energy around you.

  Purifying Your Sacred Space

  For this next level of cleansing you’ll need two chalices or tall glasses. Fill one with spring (or bottled) water. The water should be kineti
c, not static, during this process for it is the essence of running water that generates potency. In the other chalice, place four pinches of salt, one to represent each of the four directions.

  Hold the chalice that contains the water in your left hand and the chalice with the salt crystals in your right.

  Pour the water into the chalice of salt, combining the two elements of water and earth.

  Pour the now salted water back into the chalice in your left hand, dissolving the salt crystals so that the two distinct elements mix thoroughly. Continue pouring the water back and forth from hand to hand, as you repeat this intention: “With salt I purify

  With water I cleanse

  All things in accord

  From beginning to end.”

  If you prefer, you can create your own original incantation or blessing.

  Dedicating Your Sacred Space

  The next step is to dedicate your sacred space. You can begin by anointing the area you’ve chosen with frankincense essential oil (or another oil you prefer). Just put a little dab in each corner, starting in the east and moving clockwise around the space, creating a cross within a circle. This symbol represents the balance of female and male energies, the circle of creation, the four directions, and the four elements.

  You may also opt to place a stone or crystal that has meaning for you at each of the four compass directions. (If your sacred space is outdoors, you can bury the stones in the ground.) Or you might like to design symbols that signify peace, holiness, protection, power, etc. and position them in your space. Some people display images of beloved deities in their sacred spaces. If you wish, you can create an elaborate ritual for dedicating your space—the choice is up to you.

  Protecting Your Sacred Space

  After you’ve finished setting up your sacred space, you’ll want to protect it from intrusive energies. Consider these suggestions:

  Place a stone associated with protection, such as onyx, hematite, or peridot, in the area.

  Lay dried basil leaves in your sacred space.

  Position or draw a pentagram or other protective symbol there.

  Sprinkle some sea salt in the corners.

  Set a clove of garlic in your space.

  “As a magician, you use ritual in order to create within yourself a mental state that allows you to give clear and direct instructions to your unconscious mind . . . Ritual is a means to an end, not an end in itself.”

  —NANCY B. WATSON, PRACTICAL SOLITARY MAGIC

  CONSECRATE YOUR GRIMOIRE

  The next step is to dedicate your book of shadows to its sacred purpose. Now you affirm your intention to do good works in the world and to record what you do so that it may benefit all beings.

  Light a yellow candle on your altar (or other place where you do your magick work). If you wish, call upon Sophia, goddess of wisdom, or another deity to guide you.

  Light frankincense incense in an incense burner.

  Hold your book slightly opened above the rising smoke. Turn the pages slowly and gently, allowing the fragrant smoke to drift through the pages.

  Speak the following words, or improvise your own: “Blessed be this instrument of art,

  By my hand [or human hands] you were made,

  By magick, be now changed.

  No more an ordinary book in my eyes but a grimoire dedicated to the Craft of the Wise.

  By all the power of three times three

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  Hold the book on your right hand and place your left hand on top of the book as you open yourself to the changes and lessons yet to come.

  Imagine all the witches you know of and admire, both contemporary and historical. Picture yourself in the middle of a growing circle. To your left envision those who are older than you, and the elders who have passed on. To your right see the younger ones and those who will come in the future.

  Recognize your place in the spiral of time and acknowledge this task that you have chosen. See yourself within the context of humanity and companionship. When the image is clear in your mind, speak these words aloud, or improvise your own: “Wisdom of the ages, be with me here now.

  Sacred book of changes, this promise I vow:

  To honor those who have gone before;

  To preserve the secrets, legends, and lore;

  To hold my place in the spiral of time;

  Within this sacred grimoire of mine.”

  When you’ve finished, take some time to think about the blessing ceremony you just performed. Did you experience a shift in the energy around you? Did you receive any insights, sensations, visions, or guidance? Do you sense that your book of shadows is now ready to serve as a sacred tool for furthering your purpose as a witch? If you called upon a deity to aid you, thank that deity now. Take some time to record the very first entry in your personal book of shadows—the experience of consecrating your book.

  WRITING IN YOUR GRIMOIRE

  The authors of secular books often dedicate them to people they love or to those who have assisted them in the writing process. You may choose to dedicate your grimoire to a deity to whom you are devoted, one who has played a special role in your life, or one whom you want to guide you in the magickal work you do—including the process of writing in your book of shadows. Therefore, the very first page of your book might be your dedication page.

  Protecting Your Secrets

  Consider putting a protection symbol at the beginning of your book to help safeguard it. A pentagram is a frequently used symbol of protection, but you can choose any emblem that holds meaning for you. You might even like to design a special symbol for this purpose. In Chapter 12 you’ll learn how to create magick symbols known as sigils.

  In keeping with the tradition of secrecy, you may want to use your magick name or Craft name when writing in your grimoire. If you mention anyone else within its pages, you’ll probably want to disguise that person’s identity too, referring to him or her by a pseudonym or initials. The same holds true for the names of private locations, such as the homes of fellow witches. This is a good precaution to take if you’re worried that your book might fall into the wrong hands.

  Writing in Code

  Some witches choose to exercise yet another method for ensuring that the information in their grimoires remains secret. They write in code. Then, if an inappropriate person discovers their books, that individual won’t be able to read the contents. You can explore this option if you wish. Or you could consider writing only certain parts of your book in a secret script if you want some portions to remain accessible to others.

  SECRET SCRIPTS

  Since ancient times, magickal workers and others who sought to protect their knowledge—and themselves—have written in secret scripts. Some authors wrote in languages other than those used in the culture or country where they lived, such as Sanskrit or Coptic, which worked well enough in the days when few people could read or write and even fewer knew the languages spoken in foreign lands. Today, however, with the availability of online translation sites, you’ll have to go to greater lengths if you really want to keep what you write secret.

  The Theban Alphabet

  Although we cannot say for certain what the Theban alphabet’s origins are, it is a beautiful and widely used magickal alphabet, especially among Gardnerian Wiccans. The Golden Dawn also adopted it in the nineteenth century. Sometimes referred to as the Witch’s Alphabet or the Runes of Honorius, this ceremonial text came into use during the medieval period. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa mentioned the script in Book III of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy published in the 1530s, and attributed it to Honorius of Thebes. Agrippa credited Pietro d’Abano (or Peter of Abano), an Italian writer and magician who lived during the thirteenth century, with preserving the Theban alphabet.

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  The Futhark Runes

  Known as the Older Rune Row or the Elder Futhark, these runes were used by Germanic ceremonial magicians for divination and inspirati
on, and as inscriptions in talismans and amulets. The word “rune” means a secret or mystery. Although they have phonetic correlations, the Futhark runes never evolved into a spoken language. The name “futhark” derives from the first six characters that appear in this system. According to Nordic legend, the god Odin (or Woden) first spied the runes as he hung from the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights.

  The runes can also serve as an oracle for divination; each individual rune contains a specific esoteric message. For 2,000 years, this oracle was used throughout Northern Europe and Scandinavia, until 1639 when the Christian church banned it. Viking and Saxon invaders brought the runes to the British Isles. In the United States, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings introduced many readers to the runes, and Ralph Blum’s bestseller The Book of Runes taught people how to use the oracle.

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  The Ogham Runes

  The early Celts used an alphabet known as Ogham, based on trees. Because the Celts and Druids considered trees sacred, the Ogham letters also serve as mystical symbols. Each of the twenty letters in this system corresponds to a particular tree. B (Beith), for instance, is linked with the birch; N (Nion) represents the ash tree. The letters are composed of a series of straight and angled lines, or notches, cut along a central line or stave. A word or phrase written in Ogham looks a bit like a tree limb with branches sprouting from it. Throughout Ireland and Britain you can see standing stones engraved with Ogham glyphs. Early Celtic manuscripts also feature Ogham script.