#grimoire info

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

January Week 1

Welcome welcome to the 2024 Grimoire Challenge! Time to really get started everyone! This week will have a lot of stuff all jammed in. So buckle up, grab your grimoire and your supplies, and let’s get to work!

Monday

Name your book - this may seem silly and you definitely don’t need to name your book. Not properly at least. Other than “my grimoire” or “book of shadows” or what have you, which is totally fine. But some of us might feel the need to give it a proper title. “The Basil Grimoire” or “Hazel’s Handwritten Workings” something, anything, that ties the book to you and your craft. Make a title page! If you feel so inclined. If not, that’s fine too.

Definitions (New Page) - ritual and spell. Let’s define a few things. Make a page specifically for definitions, that we’ll add to through the challenge. Let’s start with a couple simple definitions. Define spell. And define ritual. Within the confines of magic, witchcraft and your practice. What is a spell? What is a ritual? What are the differences?

Study (herb) - Pick another herb from that list we made, and dig into the details. Make a page for it on its own, or add its info to another page! Whatever works for your craft. The questions to ask for these study prompts are going to continue to remain the same. Where did it come from, where does it grow, how does it grow, what are its mundane and practical uses. What are the myths and legends and stories surrounding the herb? What are its magical properties and why/ how do you think the other information you've learned about it have influenced its magical associations?

Tuesday

Outline/ index (New Page!) - it helped me a great deal to have an index or outline to my grimoire. I started this as a file on my computer as my grimoire grew and changed I could more easily manage it and rearrange it as I saw fit. Then eventually I could make it into a handwritten copy.

Study (gem) - Like our herb prompt, the gem prompts are going to always use the same outline and questions. Where does the gem come from? What is it used for in a practical and mundane sense? What are its physical properties? What are any myths, legends or stories? Where and how does it form? How does all of that relate to its magical correspondences and what does the herb mean to and for you in your craft?

Spellwriting 101 (New Page!) - make a new page dedicated to spellwriting. This is going to be one of those prompts that is focused on you and your craft. How do you write spells? How do you set them up? What components do you use? What is the format? How is it done? What does it require? From materials to timing and circumstances? Write it all out in your lab notebook. Make it a work in progress. Not all spells are going to work out the same or function the same as you perform them, but having a general layout and method helps to focus your practice.

Wednesday

Common tools - What are the common tools in your craft? That is, you don't need to have a list of every single tool ever used in witchcraft, just the tools that you use in yours. Both regularly and less regularly. What are they used for specifically? What purposes do they serve in the magical and practical sense? Are they ceremonial and symbolic or do they serve an actual physical purpose? (i.e. a wand used to direct energy serves many purposes, while an incense burner could literally just be that, an incense burner)

Year outline/ calendar - not everyone celebrates the same days, holidays or even the same holidays the same way. What are the special occasions and days in your calendar? Mark them and when the proper season/ holiday comes around, we can make pages dedicated to those days. This week this will simply be a list of these days, while later we will actually make pages for them individually. Think of it like the Wheel of the Year, Yule to Midsummer and so on. What days are important to you and your practice? Are they actual holidays? Or simply days of power like the full moon? Or is it simply days that are significant for other reasons, like the anniversary of the day you began practicing witchcraft?

Practical - tool usage - practice using your tools. For example if you use a wand. Practice using it to direct energies or whatever it is you utilize it for.

Thursday

Altar design/ work space (New Page!) - make a page dedicated to your altar and its setup. Why are things where they are? The reasoning can be simple as “that’s where it fits” or you can give it a more meaningful reason. Candles in front of or behind something to represent some purpose. Do you have items that represent the elements? Deities? Different sources of power or directionality? Different colors for different meanings? Why is your altar the way it is?

Practical - cleansing space - practice cleansing your space and tools. This is of course a physical and 'energetic' cleansing. Tidy it up, redecorate your space, clean the tools if they have dust or ash or anything on them. Sometimes it is good to have a clean start.

Friday

Personal practices - this is just a thought provoking prompt tied in with the Journal prompt below. What are some of your personal practices that you've brought into your witchcraft? Anything from little habits from your every day life to things brought from religion or family traditions. No matter how hard we try, we carry within us echoes of things not related to our practices into it. And that is totally okay. Recognizing them, acknowledging them, and truly incorporating them can be a huge step toward understanding ourselves, our beliefs and our practices all around.

Journal/ introspective/ meditations - Think about the above and write any of it down that you come to terms with. Self understanding is important in and outside of witchcraft.

Thank you all and I hope this week's prompts aren't too overwhelming! Stay tuned next week for the next set of prompts!

-Mod Hazel

[manifestmoons]

Welcome to manifestmoons :)

I'm sharing some basic symbols and meanings associated with the practice of witchcraft. There are 12 of them. One step at a time, baby witches!

More info on manifestmoons

[witchyintention]

Deity Studies: Hekate

The Liminal Queen, Keeper of Keys, and Torchbearer in the Dark

Imagine standing at a crossroads beneath a moonless sky. The world is hushed, wrapped in a velvet veil of shadow, and the only sound is the whisper of wind through the trees. Then—light. A torch flares to life, illuminating a figure who stands where the paths converge. She does not choose for you, but she watches as you decide. This is Hekate: goddess of transitions, thresholds, and mysteries too deep for daylight.

To call Hekate merely a goddess of witches is to undersell her drastically. She is the liminal embodied, a theon of sovereignty, magic, and protection. She guards the crossroads of not just roads, but life itself: birth and death, ignorance and knowledge, isolation and communion. And yes—she walks with the witches.

Let’s step into the shadows and light a candle for Hekate, one of the most ancient and enigmatic figures of the Western spiritual imagination.

Origins & Mythic Roots

Hekate’s roots stretch deep into the ancient world, and like many powerful goddesses, her origins are a bit cloudy—perhaps deliberately so. The earliest written record we have of her is in Hesiod’s Theogony (c. 700 BCE), where she is described as a Titaness, daughter of Asteria (a star-goddess) and Perses (a figure associated with destruction or ravaging fire). Hesiod paints her as beloved by Zeus, honored above all, and given dominion over sky, sea, and land.

Yes, you read that right: a Titaness who survived the Olympian overthrow not through defeat, but favor.

While later Greek and Roman writers narrowed her domain to the underworld and witchcraft, Hesiod’s portrayal makes her a solar and celestial power as much as a chthonic one. There are whispers she may have pre-Greek Anatolian roots, possibly connected to Carian or Thracian deities, given her widespread veneration in Asia Minor.

Even in the ancient world, Hekate was a complex composite. She wasn’t reduced to tidy categories like “love goddess” or “war goddess.” Instead, she hovered between roles, belonging to none and all.

Evolution Over Time

In classical Athens, Hekate began to be seen as a liminal guardian. She was invoked at doorways and crossroads, often in her triple form—three bodies or faces looking in different directions. These depictions likely developed from earlier singular statues but quickly became iconic.

Shrines to Hekate, known as Hekataia, were placed at thresholds—particularly at the entrances to homes and cities. She was called upon for protection, warding, and purification, especially in times of illness, political unrest, or spiritual impurity.

Over time, particularly in the Hellenistic period, Hekate’s chthonic associations deepened. She became a psychopomp, a guide of souls, and a mistress of necromancy and ghosts. Her epithets tell the story of her roles:

Kleidoukhos (Key-holder)

Phosphoros (Light-bringer)

Propylaia (Before the gate)

Chthonia (of the earth)

During the Roman period, she was increasingly associated with magical texts and rituals. In the Chaldean Oracles (2nd century CE), Hekate appears not just as a goddess, but as the Cosmic Soul—a metaphysical principle bridging the divine and material realms. This esoteric, Neoplatonic vision of her would later influence Renaissance occultism.

Like all goddesses of power, Hekate was reshaped through patriarchal lenses, alternately feared and revered, demonized and deified. But she never vanished.

Symbolism & Associations

Hekate’s symbols are rich and layered, often evoking mystery, power, and transformation. Some of her most enduring associations include:

Torches: Her most iconic symbol. As a torchbearer, she brings light to the darkness—both literal and metaphorical. She guides souls and seekers alike.

Keys: Representing her access to hidden realms and the power to open or close pathways—spiritual and mundane.

Dogs: Her sacred animal. Often described as black or spectral, her hounds are said to precede her arrival. In ancient rites, dogs were sacrificed to her at night. In modern practice, they are often seen as protective familiars or guides.

Crossroads: Both physical and symbolic. She governs places where decisions must be made or multiple realities converge.

Snakes: Tied to regeneration, earth wisdom, and the underworld.

The Moon: Especially the dark moon phase. While she isn’t solely a moon goddess, lunar imagery clings to her in modern depictions.

Herbs and Plants: Hekate is tied to powerful botanicals such as aconite, yew, garlic, and mandrake—plants with protective, poisonous, or liminal properties.

Her colors are often black, red, and deep purple—shades that echo her chthonic nature and her fierce autonomy.

Modern Pagan & Occult Views

Modern devotees often find Hekate at spiritual turning points. She is a patroness of witches, especially those walking eclectic, solitary, or non-traditional paths.

She has become a key figure in Hellenic polytheism, traditional witchcraft, Wicca, and devotional witchcraft alike. Contemporary Hekatean magic includes:

Deipnon rituals at the dark moon, where offerings are left at crossroads or outside the home to honor her and cleanse spiritual debris.

Key magic, using actual keys in spells to open or close situations.

Spirit work and necromancy, often in carefully constructed rituals with strict boundaries.

Shadow work and initiation, as Hekate is often invoked to aid personal transformation.

The Covenant of Hekate (CoH), founded by Sorita d’Este, has helped create a scholarly yet devotional network of Hekatean practitioners across traditions. Their work highlights how she can be both deeply personal and cosmically archetypal.

Importantly, modern Hekate isn’t just the spooky goddess of witch memes. She’s fierce, yes—but she’s also a guardian of the vulnerable, an advocate for liminal people, and a torchbearer for those finding their way in the dark. She asks for respect, not fear.

Pop Culture Presence

Hekate has made scattered appearances in pop culture, though she’s rarely portrayed with the nuance she deserves.

In the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, she’s invoked as a triple goddess of witchcraft, a welcome nod to her modern resurgence. In Percy Jackson & the Olympians, she’s a minor character with magical influence.

She’s also mentioned in various video games, such as Hades (by Supergiant Games), where her themes of guidance and transformation echo through aesthetics more than direct involvement.

Unfortunately, she’s also been lumped in with the generic “evil witch goddess” trope in some horror films and low-tier fantasy. These caricatures lack her depth and complexity—but perhaps that’s the cost of cultural persistence.

Reflection/Conclusion

Hekate is not a goddess you can put in a box—unless it's a locked one, buried at a crossroads, wrapped in nightshade and bound by oaths.

She is as much a guide as a mystery, and she rarely gives easy answers. Yet for those willing to sit with the unknown, to walk the winding path, and to light their own torch, she offers a powerful ally.

In her, we see the beauty of thresholds: places where things begin, end, and become. We find a goddess who honors the outsider, the seeker, the strange and sovereign self. Hekate reminds us that we do not walk alone, even in the darkest night.

So leave an offering, sweep your threshold, and listen closely the next time you find yourself at a literal or metaphorical crossroads. You may not see her—but you will feel her watching.

Further Reading

Sorita d’Este, Circle for Hekate (Vol. I & II)

Stephen Ronan, The Goddess Hekate

Sarah Iles Johnston, Restless Dead: Encounters Between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece

Cyndi Brannen, Keeping Her Keys: An Introduction to Hekate’s Modern Witchcraft

Theoi Project: Hekate Entry

Covenant of Hekate: hekatecovenant.com

May your keys rattle true, and your torch burn bright.

[witchwitchyway]

[wildflowercryptid]

made some visdev doodles for my fancase & have gotten way too invested in characters that aren't even alive during the story, oops.

also, since some of the text in the last drawing is hard to read, here's the plain text version of the letter under the cut! ⤵

Dearest Ramona, Disregarding the ache in my heart whenever my thoughts linger on your absence, I have received your letter in good health. My recent expedition to the lake has borne quite the bountiful fruit, as I stumbled upon one of the mystids from the book you had shown me. It appears that a flock of Inkdips roost amongst the lake's spires and they are truly magnificent. When I gaze upon their elegant and beauteous visage, I am reminded of you. Enclosed is an Inkdip feather to serve as a memento. May it also be a promise that, one day, I shall share their splendor with you. I await your reply with bated breath. Yours forevermore, Reimund Remington

[wizardships]

vargon does not have gender based on "male/female." instead, "gender" is more based on one's dynamic within a group, as well as what "type" they are. the main types are hunter, ambusher, healer, and seducer*. these become apparent around puberty, when physical differences start to appear. on top of that, a person will have a kind of "role" within any social situation, falling into alpha, beta, and omega (there are more but this is just broad strokes).

so, for example, someone might be a hunter who is a beta within their pack but an alpha in their work environment. their gender would change based on the situation, and others would address them as such, using different sets of words to refer to them as the context changes.

*note: while the term "seducer" is most commonly used in the modern day to refer to this type, it's a result of many years of prejudice against them. in the past, they were referred to with a word more like "mediator." "breeder" is also common in the present, but is extremely derogatory.

EDIT I FORGOT TO MENTION vargonians are the aliens made my my lovely wonderful amazing bf @ask-the-vargonians !!! i'm hoping if i post hard enough, they'll revive that blog and start posting about vargonians themself >:-) GO CHECK IT OUT and maybe if you have questions you can ask them! (provided they have the energy to respond, they do get busy)

[flowerakatsuka]

i think it'd be funny if all of the side characters got new outfit designs in s4 while the sextuplets get nothing, they just get to stay in their crusty ass hoodies.

[noweyesee]

 Let’s talk about ●●●

●●● Glamoury III

— How to use Glamor

● Affirmations: In this way, you will be affirming to yourself whatever your illusion about yourself is. Do you want to look kind? Affirm that you are being kind, that you are kind. Act like you're someone nice. You will emanate energies of kindness as you think and affirm yourself this way, and that is how other people will see you.

    Although it is a little simpler, it needs a lot of dedication and training, as it will not be done overnight, and it will also start in a simpler way. It may not seem to work at first - and it probably still won't - but over time and with practice, you will really be laying this illusion on yourself.

    ● Visualization in the aura: It usually needs silence and a lot of concentration, but with time and with training it can be improved and you will be able to perform it in everyday situations. It basically consists of you visualizing what you want directly in your aura. Want to put energies of attraction? Visualize your aura glowing, glowing in shades of red. Do you want protective energies instead? Visualize yourself being protected around your aura in a shield shape. Is your intention to go unnoticed? Then visualize your aura as protecting you, as if making you invisible.

● Enchantment: By combining the Glamor technique with the incantations, you can develop a simple rhyme or poem that, when recited, activates the desired illusory effect on you. And, in the same way that one will be created to activate the illusion, it is recommended that you create rhyme or some other way to deactivate it as well.

    When you create the rhyme, you will need to consecrate it so that it is connected to the specific illusion. This can be done by activating, even if momentarily, Glamory on you.

   For example, I will create an illusion of being protected from eyes, camouflaged, so that I can get home safely during the night. So, during a moment when I'm calm and peaceful, I choose the rhyme "To the magic that is due to me, I wish to go unnoticed!". When I say it aloud (or mentally), I visualize myself with a protective shield that makes me invisible, as if I weren't there. I envision this taking effect on me, and I affirm to myself that every time I repeat the rhyme, the illusion of invisibility will be activated, as it is activated at the moment.

    Now I will define the way I will disable Glamoury, and decide that when I snap the fingers of my right hand, the illusion will be disabled. That way, I snap my fingers and visualize that I'm being noticed again normally, in my normal state.

    ● Use of runes or symbols. It is similar to aura visualization, but with the addition of specific symbols or runes. In this case, you will choose a symbol that has to do with what you want to create illusory about yourself.

    For example, I go to a job interview and I want to convey confidence, to make the impression that I am someone who is successful in life. I can choose the Sigel rune, shown in the image to the side, so that it is providing its characteristics to my energies. Then I will visualize her above me, as if bathing in her radiance and her energies, and bringing this as an illusion.

The choice of the Sigel rune in the example is given because it is a rune of success, victory, shine - it is the rune of the Sun. In other words, it carries these energies of joy and motivation, which is exactly what I crave. But of course you can use any rune or symbol that has to do with your wish.

   In this case, to create Glamoury with symbols, runes and other representations, you will follow the way mentioned in the aura visualization, but instead of visualizing a color or a characteristic in your aura, you will visualize the symbol and its properties. Regardless of the symbol, sigil or rune you choose, you need to get into the rhythm of the symbol, understand its properties, and feel its energies to shape them in order to achieve the illusion about you. That is, you will have to be able to vibrate in the same energies as the symbol. And this you get through the energy training mentioned above, with practice and time.

   ● Magic shield: If you have a shield of protection, instead of visualizing in your aura, you can visualize directly in your magic shield the Glamoury you want. In this case, you can envision your magic shield taking a different shape according to the desired illusion, or coloring it with other shades, having specific details related to the illusion.

    This case is usually more experimental, with each practitioner having to see how they adapt to the energies, and how other people react to it. It is also a more practical way of using Glamory for everyday life, which can be changed according to the day, mood or need.

● Ritual: Of course you can develop numerous rituals for this purpose, however, I will mention one that is quite common and is often adopted for the development of Glamoury. I will quote the basics of the basics; if you want to use more elements like incense and other candles, feel free to increase it as much as you want. This ritual is often used to create illusions about features, such as the size of the nose - but it won't change anything physically! It will only create the impression that there has been a change.

    You will need a mirror and a candle (which can be any color). First, get silence and tranquility. Yes, this is essential, and it is not recommended to use music - at most ambient sounds, such as rain or forest. Turn off the lights and light the candle next to the mirror.

    Notice what you want to change about your face. Focus on it, see it in every way possible. Feel the energy emanating from all your cells that are in this place. Do you feel them alive, working every moment?

    Envision what you want to change. Increase, decrease, attenuate, disguise; no matter what it is, simply envision it happening. Incorporate this visualization into your image, as if it were already a part of you. Stay like this until you feel like you've had enough for the day, or until you can't concentrate anymore.

    Repeat the ritual on a specific routine - for example, daily, three times a week, etc. The more you practice, the more Glamor will work. The more training there is, the better the results. And remember that the illusion is not permanent, so it will only stay for as long as you are nurturing it and putting it on yourself. 

★ Glamour I | Glamour II ★

☆ Get Witchy |  Tip your witch ☆

[imp-thing]

Random ass fact about Colin that I thought was kinda silly Colin doesn't know how to react to certain emotions he feels. He was a ghost for a good while, some emotions were most likely repressed or he simply just barely felt them at all, so he sort of forgot how to react to certain strong negative emotions. When in moments of vulnerability, he goes a bit quiet, but he continues to be formal anyway while continuing to smile. I think the ideas of frowning and crying are kinda foreign to him.

[tarot-tea-cafe]

can you whisper spells/Incantations??? sometimes especially in a crowded or quiet space I don't wanna say it out loud 😭

yes! you actually dont even need to speak it verbally writing it down or having it in your head is just as affective, hence why a lot of spellwork mentions visualization and intention.

whisper it, trace it on a surface or in the air, whatever you choose. as long as you know what you want the spell to do and put your intent behind it, it'll work just fine.

im semi-speaking autisctic so im really happy to discuss nonverbal magicks!

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

January week 4

Deeper into the Elements

Monday - Fire

Study prompt/ New Page - look into aspects of fire. What is fire? What does the archetype of fire mean to you and in your practice? How do you utilize this element? How do you utilize its energy? What are some associations, plants, gems, metals etc.

Practical/ Hands on - connect with fire. Light a candle or sit by a fire (safely!) and stare into it. Feel its heat. Connect yourself to the element. What does it feel like? What do you feel like? What does it mean? Journal about the experience.

Study prompt - pick another of those herbs from your list and study it! Everything from practical uses, mundane uses, cooking uses, medicinal uses. How do those things play into its magical associations? How do you grow or propagate it? As much info as possible.

Tuesday - Earth

Study prompt/ new page - look into aspects of the element of earth. What does earth mean to you and in your practice? What associations does it have? What does the archetype of earth feel like and mean to you? How do you utilize and use energy from this element or this element itself in your practice?

Practical/ hands on- connect to earth. Sit in the grass or on the bare ground (if you can, it is winter where I’m at after all) and connect to the earth. How does it feel? How do you feel? Journal about the experience.

Study prompt - pick a gemstone off your list and study it! From its properties to how it is formed and where it is from!

Wednesday - Water

Study/ new page - look into the element of water. Like the above, look into as many aspects of water as possible. What does the archetype of water mean to you? How do you utilize its energy? What are some associations of water? How does this element fit into your practice?

Practical - connect to water. Take a bath or shower, drink a healthy amount of water, go swimming, sit in a hot tub. How do you connect yourself to water? How do you feel and how does it feel? Journal the experience.

Thursday - Air

Study/ new page - look into the element of air. What does the archetype of air mean to you? How do you utilize air in your practice? What are some associations of air? Think about the four winds, what are those archetypes and where do they stem from?

Practical - connect with air. Sit in front of a fan or outside in the breeze. Breathe deep. Connect yourself to air and feel it, think about it, what does it mean to you? Journal the experience.

Practical - write a spell or ritual! Any kind is fine, but if keeping with the above prompts, one pertaining to one or all of the elements! A ritual to connect to and call on them all or a spell that utilizes one specifically. A water cleansing or a fire banishment or releasing spell. Whatever works! Put it in your lab notebook to use and rework later if necessary.

Friday - Secondary

Study - secondary elements what are they? Think of abstract concepts. Light, shadow, time, order, chaos. Do those things have elemental value? I know @stormwaterwitch has a series on some of these concepts.

Journal/ introspective - your connection to the elements. Now that you’ve connected to all of them, really look inward and see how these elements affect and influence you. How do they relate to your life and how do you relate to them?

Again, if you’re not into herbs and gems, feel free to study literally any topic on the days that those prompts pop up!

Thank you all again and happy crafting!

-Mod Hazel

[theblehthatbloos]

Wiz biz, just the forecaster 5, the Abbott alchemist, enigmatic enchanters, messy mancers, saucy summoners, if you will.

Old wizardpost of me and my friends asdjkdsajk I'm the green one :)

[witchyintention]

Grimoire vs. Book of Shadows: What’s the Difference, and Do You Need Both?

If you’ve ever dived into the world of witchcraft, you’ve likely encountered the terms “Grimoire” and “Book of Shadows” (BOS) thrown around like confetti at a Samhain celebration. For the uninitiated (or even the seasoned witch who’s been winging it for a while), these terms can be as confusing as trying to follow a spell in Latin when your second language is Pig Latin. So, let’s clear the fog and get to the root of it: What’s the difference between a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows, and why should you care?

Grab your quill (or keyboard) and settle in. It’s time to break down the mystical and magical differences between these two essential tools of the craft — and why you might just want to have both.

The Grimoire: Your Encyclopedia of Magic

Let’s start with the Grimoire, because who doesn’t love a book that sounds like it should come with a lock and key, hidden in a dusty old library? The word “Grimoire” itself has a certain gravitas, doesn’t it? It hails from the French word grammaire, which originally referred to any book written in Latin. But over time, it evolved to mean a manual of magic.

A Grimoire is like your personal magic encyclopedia. It’s where you jot down everything you learn about the magical arts — rituals, spell correspondences, herb lore, planetary influences, the works. It’s your go-to reference guide, full of theory and practical knowledge that you can use and revisit.

Think of it as the Hogwarts Library in miniature, but without Madame Pince breathing down your neck every time you touch a book. Your Grimoire is meant to be a comprehensive guide to magic as you understand it, with facts and practices that stand the test of time.

Key Features of a Grimoire:

Purpose: Reference guide for magical theory and practice.

Content: Rituals, spells, correspondences, symbols, sigils, and theoretical information.

Style: Often formal, structured, and organized. Can be handwritten or digital.

Lifespan: Intended to be a long-term, enduring record of magical knowledge.

Grimoires can be passed down through generations, which is why they’re often filled with timeless wisdom. It’s less about what’s happening in the moment (like a journal) and more about what’s universally true in the world of magic.

The Book of Shadows: Your Magical Diary

Now, let’s turn the spotlight on the Book of Shadows, or BOS for short. This one sounds a bit more mysterious, doesn’t it? The name alone makes you want to light a candle, burn some incense, and get scribbling under the light of the moon. But what exactly is a Book of Shadows?

A BOS is more of a personal journal for your magical journey. It’s where you document your experiences, emotions, dreams, and day-to-day spells and rituals. Think of it as the magical equivalent of a personal diary — except instead of writing about your crush, you’re writing about that spell you cast to attract love (and hopefully it worked better than asking your crush out in high school).

Key Features of a Book of Shadows:

Purpose: Personal journal for recording magical experiences, rituals, and spells.

Content: Daily practices, spell results, dreams, meditations, personal reflections, and experiences.

Style: Informal, flexible, and personal. Can be as neat or chaotic as you like.

Lifespan: Evolving document that grows with you as you progress in your practice.

A BOS is a living document, meant to capture your growth as a witch or magical practitioner. It’s a space for experimentation, reflection, and recording the ebb and flow of your magical life.

Grimoire vs. Book of Shadows: The Breakdown

So, what’s the real difference? Let’s break it down:

Formality vs. Flexibility: A Grimoire is formal and structured, a record of tried-and-true magical knowledge. A BOS is flexible, personal, and evolves with your practice.

Content: Your Grimoire holds the theory and rules of magic, like a textbook. Your BOS is the workbook, full of your personal experiences, experiments, and notes.

Purpose: The Grimoire is your reference guide, something you consult regularly. The BOS is more like a journal, where you record your day-to-day magical life.

Lifespan: Grimoires are meant to last generations. They’re the stuff of legend, passed down from one witch to another. A BOS is more personal and might only be used for a season or phase of your life.

In essence, while a Grimoire is about knowledge that you believe to be universal and enduring, a Book of Shadows is about capturing the personal, the fleeting, and the experimental.

Do You Need Both?

Here’s the million-dollar question: Do you need both a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows? The short answer is — it depends on you. If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep your magical practice structured and organized, you might find that a Grimoire helps you keep track of the rules and guidelines you follow. On the other hand, if you’re more of a free spirit who loves to document your magical journey as it happens, a Book of Shadows might be all you need.

But why choose? Many practitioners find that having both a Grimoire and a BOS allows them to balance structure with creativity. The Grimoire serves as the backbone of your practice, the sturdy reference point that you can always return to. Meanwhile, your BOS is your place to explore, experiment, and reflect without the pressure of getting it “right” the first time.

How to Start Your Own Grimoire

Feeling inspired to start your own Grimoire? Here’s how to get started:

Choose Your Format: Decide whether you want a physical book, a digital document, or a combination of both. Leather-bound tomes are classic, but a digital Grimoire can be more portable and easier to edit.

Organize Your Content: Start with a table of contents or sections for different topics — spells, rituals, correspondences, and so on. This will help keep your Grimoire organized and easy to navigate.

Start Collecting Knowledge: Add information that you consider fundamental to your practice. This could be correspondences, deities you work with, astrological charts, or anything else that forms the foundation of your magical practice.

Keep It Neat: A Grimoire is meant to be a long-term resource, so try to keep it tidy. Use headings, bullet points, and neat handwriting (or formatting) to ensure it’s easy to read.

Make It Your Own: While a Grimoire is formal, it’s still yours. Add personal touches like illustrations, annotations, or even pressed herbs that resonate with you.

How to Start Your Own Book of Shadows

If a Book of Shadows sounds more your speed, here’s how to get started:

Pick Your Book: Whether it’s a leather journal, a simple notebook, or a digital document, choose something that feels personal and inviting.

Dive In: Unlike a Grimoire, a BOS doesn’t need a structure — just start writing. Document your rituals, spells, meditations, and experiences. Don’t worry about making it perfect; this is your space to explore.

Add Reflections: A BOS is personal, so include your thoughts and feelings about your magical experiences. Did a spell work out as you hoped? Did a ritual bring up unexpected emotions? Write it all down.

Be Creative: Feel free to get creative with your BOS. Add drawings, collages, poetry, or anything else that helps you capture your magical journey.

Evolve With It: Your BOS is a living document, so don’t be afraid to go back and add notes, change things, or start new sections as your practice evolves.

In Conclusion: Your Magical Journey, Your Rules

At the end of the day, whether you choose to keep a Grimoire, a Book of Shadows, or both, remember that these tools are meant to serve you. They’re your companions on your magical journey, not strict rulebooks. Whether you’re meticulously recording ancient rituals in your Grimoire or scribbling down your latest moonlit inspiration in your BOS, what matters most is that these books resonate with you.

And who knows? Maybe one day, your Grimoire or Book of Shadows will be the stuff of legend, passed down to future generations of witches, filled with the knowledge and experiences you’ve gathered along your magical path. So, grab that pen (or keyboard), and let the magic flow!

[bumblebeehug]

This is what I meant to write when I posted this:

ultear's timeline is so jam-packed it stresses me out. she's a side character technically, but her lore is insane.

Like, Ultear as a child is tested on for at least a year before escaping, finding her mom, vowing vengeance on her mother for replacing her. Then she goes back, gets experimented for a little bit longer, and destroys the place, all before age 10. Then hades finds her, she joins grimoire heart, and she masters time magic. But around that time, she also possesses a 7-year-old jellal under the guise of being Zeref at like 13.

Then from 14-25 she "slows down" a bit, just doing some mass destruction to find seals for Zeref and taking in a child. oh and don't forget how she joins the magic council with like 17-year-old jellal as siegrain who again, she is manipulating, and begins aiding lyon in freeing deliora from the ice that is her mother.

im pretty certain that all happens before natsu and lucy meet in hargeon.

this behavior absolutely continues in the 7 year timeskip. she rebuilds her relationship with her adopted daughter while continuing to raise her, breaks jellal out of the highest security prison in the nation, presumably helps him get his memory back(? unclear on when that happened). then with that merry trio, she founded a pseudo-dark guild, destroyed several "legitimate" dark guilds, perfects the spell to unlock the second origin or something, and keeps an eye out for Zeref-likr magic throughout an entire damn country. All while on the run from the Magic Council, and several other dark guilds.

like what the hell are you on?

[breelandwalker]

2024 Witches' Calendar

For all my witches out there, here's a handy list of the 2024 dates for the solstices, quarter days, full and new moons, and special events. I've listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, and Quarter Days

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas

March 19 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 25 - Wolf Moon ♌

February 24 - Snow Moon ♍

March 25 - Worm Moon ♎

April 23 - Pink Moon ♏

May 23 - Flower Moon ♐

June 21 - Strawberry Moon ♑

July 21 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 19 - Sturgeon Moon* ♒

September 17 - Harvest Moon* ♓

October 17 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon)* ♈

November 15 - Frost Moon (or Beaver Moon)* ♉

December 15 - Cold Moon ♊

*- Supermoon

Fun Fact: The title of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October full moon, whichever falls closest to the autumn equinox. Once again this year, that month will be September.

New Moons

January 11 ♑

February 9 ♒

March 10 ♓

April 8 ♈

May 7 ♉

June 6 ♊

July 5 ♋

August 4 ♌

September 2 ♍

October 2 ♎

November 1 ♏

December 1 ♐

December 30 (black moon) ♑

Special Celestial Events

January 3-4 - Quadrantids meteor shower peak

March 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

April 8 - Total solar eclipse

April 22-23 - Lyrids meteor shower peak

May 6-7 - Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak

August 11-13 - Perseids meteor shower peak

August 19 - Sturgeon Supermoon / Seasonal Blue Moon

September 17 - Harvest Supermoon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

October 2 - "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse

October 17 - Hunter's Supermoon

October 21-22 - Orionids meteor shower peak

November 15 - Frost Supermoon

November 16-17 - Leonids meteor shower peak

December 13-14 - Geminids meteor shower peak

December 30 - Black Moon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

April 1 - April 24

August 4 - August 27

November 25 - December 15

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree's Lunar Calendar Series

Bree's Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2024

Calendar-12 - 2024 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2024 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2024 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2024

Old Farmer's Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2023-2024

Lonely Planet - Best Star-gazing Events of 2024

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Pagan Grimoire - Wheel of the Year: The 8 Festivals in the Wiccan Calendar (2024 Edition)

=

If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

EDIT: Mercury is stationed direct on Jan 1st, 2024. The source I used which stated it was in retrograde until the 18th had a typo.

EDIT: Fixed the zodiac signs for the full moons using a new source.

[suburban-refuge]

Giving myself permission to make my grimoire ugly has been life changing tbh.