#grimoire vs book of shadows

[lilianasgrimoire]

Book of Shadows vs Grimoire; What's the difference?

A Book of Shadows (which will be referred to as BOS)

Book of Shadows

A BoS is a witches magick diary, so to speak. It's incredibly personal and may contain pages that consist of shadow work entries, entries on their dreams, sigils, tracking and records, tarot readings & spreads, even spells and their outcomes/progressions if they are making their own. This book is full of mistakes, progression and finalising of creations. You can decided to put anything in your BoS, which is what makes it yours. Many witches usually keep this book hidden or locked to anyone other than the owner of the book. It's quite literally a diary into their craft, so there may be pages in there that are full of vulnerabilities and struggles a witch may face throughout their journey.

Vs. Grimoire

A grimoire is something a little less personal, and more academic and used to find information. A grimoire is used more as a book of information; a guide to meanings, definitions or common information in one place. A grimoire is great when creating/making new spells, rituals, learning of gems and crystals. A grimoire can come in many forms, like a BoS, it can be done online, in a book, or on your phone. It can include key words and sayings, pre-made spells, sigils, prayers, etc. Both the BoS and grimoire can be placed on an altar

[the-neurographic-wizard]

This is actually incorrect. This is why understanding language is very important.

Rituals, by definition, are cyclical. You do them on a routine basis: daily, monthly, yearly. Skin Care, for example, is a daily ritual that I as a Hereditary Wizard perform. Sabbats are rituals that I perform every year during the proper Sabbat. Rituals can be very simple or very complex.

The word you are looking for is Ceremony, hence Ceremonial Magician. Which is not the same thing as a Ritual. Ceremonies are elaborate magickal formulas, and fit your definition of ritual.

Rituals vs. Spell work: Understanding the Difference

When delving into the mystical realms of magick, it’s essential to grasp the distinctions between rituals and spell work. Let me illuminate these concepts:

Magical Practices (Spell work):

Definition: These are simple workings—everyday magics that don’t necessarily involve elaborate rituals.

Duration: They can take seconds to a couple of hours.

Intent: They have an intention, an end goal, and a magical act.

Examples: Taking a magical bath, divination (like tarot), reciting a spell, meditating, or lighting a candle.

Ritualistic Level: Not very ritualistic; no casting of circles or complex spells.

Rituals:

Definition: More elaborate magical works with structure and specific components.

Duration: Longer than practices due to their complexity.

Purpose: Assist in walking between worlds, raising significant energy.

Components: Often involve casting a circle, calling quarters/elements, and invoking spirits or deities.

Examples: Full moon rituals, spell bottles, transformative magics, protection spells.

Spells:

Definition: Spells consist of words or phrases with a specific intention.

Components: Usually involve words (or emojis) and focus on a desired outcome.

Purpose: To signify, relate, or talk—directing energy toward a goal.

[ad-caelestia]

grimoire organization ideas 🔮

what is a grimoire?

a grimoire can be defined as a book of magical spells and invocations; sometimes used interchangeably with "book of shadows" but you can call it whatever you want.

what should i write my grimoire in / on?

a grimoire can be handwritten or typed, there is no wrong way to construct your grimoire. (for example, my grimoire is typed in a one note document but also stretched across many, many different notebooks and composition books)

what can i put in my grimoire?

about the author

favorites: color, magical tools, herbs, crystals

tarot birth card, astrology birth chart, personal beliefs, relationship with deities or other spiritual beings

basics 

intent

visualization

meditation

terminology

protection, cleansing, & banishing using various energies: shields & wards, circle casting / take down, protective amulets

enchanting items 

clockwise vs. counterclockwise 

other how-to’s, such as anointing items and dressing a candle

general correspondences

days of the week, lunar phases, colors, incense, essential oils, elements

correspondences based on intent 

protection, healing, cleansing, banishing, luck, wealth, love, emotions, mental clarity, psychic awareness, cursing, etc.

altar ideas

crystals

crystal grid designs, crystal correspondences & folklore, gem water / crystal elixir recipes, crystal care 

herbs, spices, plants, flowers, & trees

correspondences, edible vs. non-edible, botanicals with medicinal value, folklore, gardening 

divination

tarot, runes, pendulum, scrying, etc.

spreads

interpretations 

astrology

birth chart + traits, planetary correspondences, planetary hours, zodiac correspondences, moon / star / sun water

sigils & symbols

how to create, personal sigils, other symbols & talismans 

psychic abilities 

identification of personal abilities (clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairambience, etc.)

meditation techniques to strengthen abilities 

personal experiences

important dates

sabbats, wheel of the year, magical anniversaries, astronomical & astrological phenomena (meteor showers, planetary alignments, etc.)

recipes

food

potions (potions are edible and consumable liquids!!!)

beauty products: salt scrubs, sugar scrubs, lotions, lip balm

natural remedies: salves, ointments, balms, poultices 

cleaning products: floor washes, window cleaner, wood cleaner, etc.

powders

witchy crafts

glitter jars, witch ladders, wand-making, crystal jewelry, etc. 

spells & enchantments

sachets, spell jars / bottles, knot magic, candle spells, powder spells, curses, protective magic, etc.

magical goals

∘₊✧─────────────────────✧₊∘

good luck! ✨

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[coinandcandle]

ADHD Witchcraft Masterpost

Tips and tricks for those of us who are chronically forgetful or have horrible attention spans <3

Mindfulness vs Meditation - and why mindfulness exercises are easier than meditation for me.

Quick Witchy Tips Masterpost - Full of quick tips that take only a few minutes (if even) to read. Such as equinox vs solstice, grimoire vs book of shadows, and more!)

3 Ways to Ground yourself - General post but can do well for those of us with adhd who get overstimulated by our own brains.

Mundane Magic - Simple and quick ways to add magic to your day that don't take much planning, if any at all.

I'll add more as I find the posts!

[thejournallo]

Explain the basic: What is a Grimoire/book of shadows?

Desclaimer: Everything I will talk about is information that I got from books and sites online and even videos on YouTube. In my years of practice, I learned as much as I could out of curiosity and what works best for me. I suggest you do the same by learning as much as you can on your own (I will be here making posts teaching this kind of stuff) from multiple sources.

A Grimoire and a Book of Shadows are both types of books associated with magical practices, but they serve slightly different purposes and have distinct origins and uses.

Grimoire:

Definition: A grimoire is a textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform spells, summon spirits, and other magical practices. Historical Context: Grimoires have a long history, with some dating back to the medieval period or earlier. They are often associated with Western esotericism, including traditions such as Hermeticism, alchemy, and ceremonial magic. Contents: A typical grimoire may contain astrological charts, instructions for casting spells, recipes for concoctions, and the proper methods for summoning and controlling spirits or deities. Examples include "The Key of Solomon" and "The Book of Abramelin."

Book of Shadows:

Definition: A Book of Shadows is a personal journal or notebook used by practitioners of Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft. It serves as a record of magical work, rituals, spells, and personal reflections. Modern Context: The concept of the Book of Shadows was popularized by Gerald Gardner, one of the founders of modern Wicca, in the mid-20th century. It has since become a common practice in many Wiccan and neo-pagan traditions. Contents: A Book of Shadows may include ritual instructions, spell recipes, herb lore, personal reflections, dreams, and experiences with the divine or spiritual realm. It is often highly personalized and may be kept secret or shared with a coven.

Key Differences:

Purpose: Grimoires are typically more formal and instructional, often intended to be comprehensive manuals of magical theory and practice. Books of Shadows are more personal, serving as a magical diary or workbook.

Historical vs. Modern: Grimoires have ancient roots and are part of a historical tradition of magical literature. Books of Shadows are a modern development within contemporary witchcraft and Wicca.

Contents: While there can be overlap, grimoires often focus on detailed magical systems and the mechanics of magic, whereas Books of Shadows emphasize personal experience, practice, and reflections.

Both types of books are integral to their respective magical traditions and are used by practitioners to document and guide their magical work.

[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!

[bluesaura]

Witchcraft topics in my grimoire

Front of my grimoire

Pre abrahamic religions

History of witchcraft

History of paganism

The demonization of paganism

Energy and witchcraft

Metaphysical energy & spiritual energy

Magic theory

Paths

Closed practices

About my craft (your path and personal beliefs, practices you partake in and specifics about what you do)

Types of witches

Intention

Types of magic

Using/drawing energy

Spell vs a ritual

Types of spells

Affecting energy/affecting energy with intent

The laws of energy

Sympathetic magic

Energy theory

Terminology

What makes a spell a spell

Wheel of the year

Warding

Reincarnation

When to ward

Symbology

Color properties

Mythologies

Different pantheons

Important information you should know before learning baneful magic

Hexes vs curses

Harmful practices

The moon’s power

Methods of Divination

Methods of Manifesting

Meditation with ADHD

Banishing entities

Grounding

Estoricism

Rituals, and rituals in paganism

Types of rituals

Channeling

Protection

Methods of protection

When to cast protection

Banishing in general

Methods of banishing

Tarot

Clockwise & Counter clockwise

Binding, what is binding

Symbols in witchcraft and their meanings

Cleansing

Tarot spreads

The flow state

What are/why use incantations

When to/why use chanting

Other practices that go in the same book

Astrology

Candle magic

Strengthening psychic abilities

Promoting dreams

Energy work

Energy readings

Enchanting items

About spirits

Constellations

Crystal care

The elements

Amulets

Charms

Deities I’m interested in worshipping

What are familiars

Altars

Sigils

Seals

Importance of shadow work

Runes

Correspondences/properties

Incorporating the elements into spellwork

Spell oil

Moon phases/cycles

Moon water

Sun water

Moon rituals

Improvising ingredients and tools

Color properties

Properties of herbs

Properties of crystals

When is energy most powerful?

There's so many more topics and spells these are just a few.

[besomandblooms]

How to Start Your Book of Shadows or Grimoire

No matter where you are in your witchcraft journey, it’s always a good time to start recording your knowledge, rituals, and spells in your very own book of magic. Book of Shadows vs Grimoire? What’s the difference? Well, in a nut shell, a Grimoire is a magick book to be shared to the general public, while a book of shadows is to be kept to ones self or coven. If you would like a more in depth…

[flygrlalchemy]

grimoire vs. book of shadows

a grimoire is a point of reference filled with information that can be used in one’s personal craft. such information can include herbal correspondences, astrological information, numerological information, recipes, how-tos, spells used for reference, ancestral knowledge, etc. this is the kind of book that is passed down through the family tree.

a book of shadows is a personal log of your craft — this can include every spell done with notes and results recorded, recorded divination sessions, anything created by you, rituals formulated by you, etc. this is usually kept private and doesn’t necessarily need to be passed down unless you don’t mind your descendants knowing the ins and outs of your work.

i personally keep my craft sacred between me, god, my ancestors, & my spirit team, and therefore will not be passing down my book of shadows to my children. however, i do have a family grimoire that i will be passing down and hope to create many more so that they can have lots of references when developing their own personal craft.

[bramblewatchescharmed]

And even if by "different types of magic" they mean "different witchcraft practitioners / groups" . . . that's still not true.

Charmed (2018)

Season 1 of the reboot gave us the Charmed Ones vs the Elder witches vs the Sisters of Arcana coven (that their mother Marisol helped found) vs demons. Not once did any of the Innocents that the Vera-Vaughns helped out turn out to be another witch: they were all mortals. And the Elders and Sarcana were still witches, just with very different ideas on how they should use magic. (Not to mention all these groups were still working within the show's background worldbuilding, which primarily drew from Greek mythology and Celtic & Central European mythology / folklore.)

Mama Roz was a Haitian Yoruba priestess and psychic, and... that's about it. She was never classified on-screen as a witch, and she was primarily there to serve Macy's subplot.

Season 2 gave us Kat the botanica owner who also turned out to be a psychic but not a witch, and later gave us Ruby, a witch who had voluntarily given up her powers and essentially become mortal. There's also the introduction of constant annoyance demon-witch Abigael Jamieson-Caine, daughter of s1 antagonist Alistair Caine and half-sister to his sons Hunter (full demon) and Parker (half-demon).

Season 3 has the Perfecti, and... that's it? Season 4 barely introduces the magical community, and with the special/practical effects budget on this show it was very difficult to tell the magical creatures were even magical creatures. The fourth season also introduces the Charmed multiverse at the very last minute.

It's made explicitly clear in the 2018 Charmed universe that male witches do not exist, warlocks (male and female) do not exist, and while MTF trans witches can gain an active power through a specific ritual, mortal practitioners are also not established as a concept that exists.

Charmed (1998)

This one is going to be in bullet points, because it's going to be way too long otherwise.

warlocks and good witches are presented as two sides of the same coin, with warlocks killing good witches to steal their powers. Both men and women can be either witches or warlocks. Warlocks are also different from evil witches, who also exist (and, again, can be either male or female).

several Innocents the Halliwell Charmed Ones save are either magical witches themselves, or mortal witchcraft practitioners. Some of the other witches we see on-screen practice Wicca, but others do not and have their own traditions.

season five's "The Eyes Have It" introduces magical Romani as a sister / cousin species to witches, focusing on the Nicolae clan

four episodes specifically focus on Chinese mythology and essentially have the Charmed Ones along for the ride, while the Chinese characters take center stage

season 6 introduces two feuding witch families, the Montanas and the Calloways. Paige even dates Richard Montana for a while, and he has his own issues with controlling his magic + his family's traditions are very different from those of the Warren line

one of the first Innocents the Charmed Ones save is Max, a teenager new to his witch powers that he inherited from his mother, Max and his family are all Black, and since his mother died only a few months ago, we're not given any information on if her witchcraft practices involved an African Religious Tradition, Wicca, or even Latin American witchcraft. (Still, they were there, which is more than can be said for the reboot.)

Season 6 introduces the audience to the Phoenix clan of witches, witch assassins with demon-like powers such as shimmering and reconstitution. They have a grimoire instead of a Book of Shadows to further highlight their moral ambiguity

season 8 focuses on the Jenkins line of witches through Christy and Billie, the latter of whom the Charmed Ones take under their wing and train.

alchemists are antagonists for several episodes, and their magic is not at all related to witchcraft

Say again how the reboot has "more types of magic" than the original. Please. I dare reboot stans.

I was arguing with a Charmed (2018) fan the other day who tried to claim that the reboot "explored more different types of magic than the OG did".

Sorry, but that claim is untrue, even if you stick to comparing all four seasons of the 2018 reboot with the first four seasons of the original 1998 Charmed.

Just by comparing the first season of each show:

Charmed (1998)

s1e2 "I've Got You Under My Skin" has the Charmed Ones use the Hand of Fatima to vanquish Javna. The Prophet Mohammed (that Mohammed, from Islam) is explicitly referenced in the Book of Shadows, and the Hand of Fatima is used throughout North Africa and the Middle East as protection against evil.

s1e4 "Dead Man Dating" primarily takes place in San Franciso's Chinatown, and the supernatural antagonist is Yama, the Hindu god of death. The mortal antagonists are all members of a Triad gang. Three other episodes later on in the series focus on Chinese mythology.

s1e6 "The Wedding From Hell": demonic villainess Jade de Mon turns out to be Hecate, named after the Greek goddess of magic, the moon, and crossroads.

s1e7 "The Fourth Sister": Kali, the antagonist, is named after the Hindu goddess of death, doomsday, and time.

s1e11 "Feats of Clay" centers around a stolen Egyptian urn and heavily features Egyptian mythology motifs

s1e18 "When Bad Warlocks Go/Turn Good": not the first time Christianity has shown up in the series, but it is the first time the sisters have to save a half-warlock Catholic priest-in-training

Charmed (2018)

s1e1 "Pilot": the triqutra symbol representing the Veras' status as the Charmed Ones has its roots in Celtic (Irish) culture. Books of Shadows are solely used in Wicca, a British religious form of witchcraft. The Veras' BOS even has an entry on Melinda Warren. (Keep in mind that the Vera-Vaughns in this series are supposed to be Puerto Rican, and instead of going with the rich traditions and history of Latin American witchcraft, the producers and writers shoved their Latina witches into a Wiccan framework.)

s1e2 "Let This Mother Out": Spirit boards as they exist today are an American invention. (The Halliwells also had a spirit board that was passed down through their family, but that one did look like a family heirloom, not like it had been bought at Barnes & Noble a few years prior.) Marisol also created the prism world they trapped the Imposter Demon in, so no points there

s1e4 "Exorcise Your Demons": Mel finds a secret spell written by their mother in the B.O. S derived from Santeria that the sisters use to free Angela Wu.

s1e5 "Other Women": Introduces "hellflame", suspiciously similar to Greek fire. The spell Mel and her sisters cast to rewrite her history with Niko invokes the Moirai, the Greek goddesses of fate.

s1e6 "Kappa Spirit": Maggie and Mel briefly suspect that the ghost Brenda is a Banshee, a malevolent spirit from Irish folklore. Mama Roz, a recurring Haitian Yoruba priestess and psychic, is introduced (this kicks off Macy and Galvin's continuing subplot throughout the season exploring Yoruba).

s1e7 "Out of Scythe": Introduces the Scythe of Tartarus and a satyr as a guardian for one of the scythe's pieces, all of which are taken from Greek mythology.

s1e9 "Jingle Hell": episode begins with Hunter and Parker stealing a staff from a Russian Orthodox church, bringing Christianity into play. The episode ends with Harry falling down into Tartarus (again, Greek mythology).

s1e11 "Witch Perfect": music instructor at Hilltowne University (and director for the Hilltones a capella group) is taken over by a set of demonic pan's pipes while on vacation in Greece (once more, Greek mythology)

s1e13 "Maniac Pixie Nightmare": introduces pixies from Central European mythology

s1e15 "Switches and Stones": has Medusa the gorgon as the villain of the week, famously from Greek mythology

s1e18 "The Replacement": new Whitelighter Tessa makes reference to "Western magic" when fighting the Abiku (from Yoruban mythology) that is possessing Galvin

That's *checks notes* seven cultures the original series explores outside of British Traditional Wicca within its first season. The same cannot be said for the 2018 reboot's first season, where the only cultures drawn from are Central/Northern European, Greek, and Yoruba. Santeria (an Afro-Cuban religion) is mentioned once, and the denomination of Christianity shows in-series is very white European. So... yeah, that's three cultures for the reboot compared to the original's seven.

As for the rest of both series over the course of the respective shows:

Charmed (1998)

s2e6 "That Old Black Magic" features the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, which shows up in folklore across the world

s2e7 "They're Everywhere" deals with the Akashic Records, believed by Theosophists to be a compendium of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future in terms of all entities and life forms. (There is no evidence the records actually exist, and the religion of Theosophy was founded by a Russian mystic in the late 19th century, but the word akashic itself is from Sanskrit.)

s2e21 "Apocalypse Not" deals with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

s2e22 "Be Careful What You Witch For" introduces genies from Arabian mythology (Genies show up again in season 6)

s3e13 "The Good, the Bad, and the Cursed" touches on racism against Native Americans (via residual energy in a ghost town causing a time loop and Phoebe psychically connecting with Bo Lightfeather, the victim in question)

s4e5 "Size Matters" features a golem, which are from Jewish folklore

season 5 really starts in on expanding the magical community to include nymphs, unicorns, leprechauns, dwarves, mermaids, etc. Season 6 introduces a student at Magic School who's a Shaman, a different species from magical witches (s6e14 "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell").

s5e6 "The Eyes Have It" introduces and heavily features Romani with magical abilities as a sister species to witches. Specifically, it focuses on a young Roma woman who becomes the matriarch of her family line, has snippets of the Romani language (or one of its many dialects) spoken on-screen, and has Ava grappling with rejecting vs returning to her heritage.

s5e10 "Y Tu Mummy También" again centers on Egyptian mythology

s5e13 "House Call" features a witch doctor who uses voodoo. Witch Doctors are explicitly stated to be on the side of good and good magic, and the one in the episode uses his magic to teach the Charmed Ones a much-needed lesson.

s6e1-2 "Valhalley of the Dolls" transforms the sisters into Valkyries from Norse mythology to rescue Leo from Valhalla (which for some reason is presided over by Freyja, when she's actually in charge of a different area of the Norse afterlife).

s7e1 "A Call to Arms" has Piper and Leo accidentally taken over by Hindu deities Shakti and Shiva (they were attending a Hindu wedding as guests when the deities were invoked to bless the marriage).

The Avatars, the antagonists of season 7's first half, have part of their backstory rooted in ancient Egypt: they were defeated by Anubis, the Egyptian god of death and rebirth.

Charmed (2018)

season 2 draws heavily from the Salem and European Witch Trials for its worldbuilding and backstory for characters: recurring character Jordan's ancestor was a Witchfinder General whose bloodline was cursed by a witch he killed; Whitelighters (and their Darklighter counterparts) are discovered to have first been created as a result of the Salem Witch Trials. The castle where the rite to create new White/Darklighters is held is located in Scotland.

season 3 made shit up whole cloth for its antagonists without drawing on one particular culture, but it finally introduces Puerto Rican witchcraft in the form of the Veras' second cousin Josefina (which is promptly forgotten about the second she's finished her plotline)

season 4 reveals that this universe's "original" Charmed Ones were unrelated brown women granted their magic by the nine clans of magical beings (trolls, leprechauns, hobgoblins, lamias, pixies, etc.) -- all of whom are, again, originally from European folklore.

"The reboot explored more types of magic than the original series did."

Bullshit. It very much the fuck did not. The writers kept cycling through Greek, Irish & British, Yoruba and Central European folklore for their worldbuilding and only gave Puerto Rican culture an afterthought. Which is not a good look when the protagonists being Latina (specifically, Puerto Rican) was the fucking selling point for this reboot in the first place.

[wisehoagiekidwobbler]

Grimoire VS Book of shadows.

In passing conversation the other day, I was asked what the difference between a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows (BOS) is. Most witches keep a BOS, but not a Grimoire. A BOS is a witch's personal book of magic; a diary of magic if you will. It includes records of all magical workings, dreams and their meanings, rituals, etc. If the witch does not also keep a Grimoire, it can also include spells and other magical information needed to perform magic. It's always a good idea to keep records of your magical workings. This will not only help you progress as a witch by seeing your power grow, but will also allow you to see what works and what does not work for you.

A Grimoire is like a BOS, but not as personal. It holds information about rituals, spells, potions, and how to prepare magical tools. It also contains lists of correspondences and magical properties of herbs, gemstones, food, colors, etc. Basically, it contains all your magical research. It does not contain personal information or records of magical workings.

Most witches keep just a BOS. I am personally in the process of transferring to two separate books. I'd much rather keep all my research in one book and my thoughts and feelings in another book. In doing so I can keep my personal information from others while still sharing my research.

If you wish to start a Grimoire, I suggest using something with removable pages. This way you can add and remove pages as you need them instead of taking your entire book into a ritual where it may be damaged. This also allows you to easily move pages around if you decide to reorganize it. Some people keep their BOS and Grimoires on their computer. I find this cumbersome when I wish to perform magic, but it may work for you.

Remember, your BOS contains very personal information. It is a sacred object and should be treated as such. Honor it by giving it its own special hiding place where others will not be tempted to mess with it. Bless it and protect it. It is only for you and whoever you authorize to see it. You need to be sure that whoever does see it won't disclose its contents to others or harm you or the book. If someone makes you uncomfortable, do not show it to them. This is just another reason I suggest keeping two books. Others like to see your research, not so much your personal thoughts. Keeping a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows is the best way to do this.

I hope this clears up any confusion you may have. Do you keep just a BOS or a BOS and Grimoire?

[your-future-author-in-law]

Friday the 13th!!

Hey witches! Tomorrow is Friday the 13th!! Such a powerful day, and during a full moon!

Tomorrow is definitely the right time for casting a spell, especially dealing with successful ventures, or self care!

I'm doing my own research and planning right now!

[diana-thyme]

The Ultimate Grimoire Guide

So! I have been seeing a ton of grimoire ideas and thought I’d stuff them all together. A lot of ideas are from @manifestationsofasort, @banebite, and @pigeonflavouredcake. Check them out! They have a ton of cool stuff there.

What Do I Use For My Grimoire?

You can use anything for a grimoire! For a physical one, journals, binders, and notebooks are good. For digital ones, Notion, Tumblr, Docs, and even just your file folder are great.

Introduction

A Book Blessing

Table of Contents

About Me

Your Current Path

Your Personal Beliefs

Your Spiritual Journey

Superstitions

Past lives

Favorite Herbs/Crystals/Animals/Etc.

Natal Chart

Craft Name

How You Entered The Craft

Astrology Signs

Birthday Correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc.)

Goals

Safety

Fire Safety

What Not to Burn

Toxic Plants & Oils (to humans, plants, animals)

Crystals That Shouldn’t Be Put… (in sun, in water, etc.)

Things That Shouldn’t Be In Nature (glass, salt, etc.)

Potion Safety

How to Incorporate Blood in Spells

Smoke Safety

Wound Care

Biohazards

Core Concepts

Intention & How It Works

Directing Energy

Protection

Banishing

Cleansing

Binding

Charging

Shielding

Grounding

Centering

Visualization

Consecration/Blessing

Warding

Enchanting

Manifestation

Meditation

What Makes A Spell Work

Basic Spell Structure

What Not To Do In Spells

Disposing Spell Ingredients

Revitalizing Long Term Spells

How To Cast Spells

What To Put In Spells

Spell Mediums (jars, spoken, candle, sigils)

Spell Timing

Potion Bases

Differentiating Between Magick and Mundane

Common Terms

Common Symbols

Intuition

Elements

Basic Alchemy and Symbols

Ways To Break Spells

Laws and Philosophies

Correspondences

Herbs & Spices

Crystals & Rocks

Colors

Liquids & Drinks

Metals

Numbers

Tarot Cards

Elements

Trees & Woods

Flowers

Days

Months

Seasons

Moon Phases

Zodiacs

Planets

Incense

Teas

Essential Oils

Directions

Animals

Symbology

Bone Correspondences

Different Types of Water

Common Plants

Entities

Deities You Worship

Pantheons

Pantheons & Deities Closed to You

Common Offerings

Epithets

Mythos

Family

Worship vs Work

Prayers & Prayer Template

Altars

Deity Comms

Devotional Acts

Angels

Demons

Ancestors

Spirit Guides

Fae

Familiars

House, Animal, Plant, Etc. Spirits

Folklore Entities

Spirit Etiquette

Graveyard Etiquette

Boundaries

Communication Guide & Etiquette

Spirit Work Safety Guide

How Entities Appear To You

Circle Casting

Common Offerings

Altars

Servitors

Mythological Creatures (dragons, gorgons, etc.)

Utility Pages

Gazing Pages

Sigil Charging Station

Altar Pages

Intent Pages

Getaway Pages

Vision Boards

Dream Pages

Binding Page

Pendulum Board

Crystal Grid

Throwing Bones Page

Divination Pages

Mirror Gazing Page

Invocation Pages

Affirmation/Manifestation Pages

Spirit Board Page

Other Practices

Practices That Are Closed to You (Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, Brujeria, Shamanism, Native Practices)

Wicca and Wiccan Paths

Satanism, Both Theistic and Non-Theistic

Deity Work

Religious Paths (Hellenism, Christianity, Kemeticism, etc.)

Animism

Types of Magic/Spells

Pop Culture Paganism/Magic

Tech Magic

Chaos Magic

Green Magic

Lunar Magic

Solar Magic

Sea Magic

Kitchen Magic

Ceremonial Magic

Hedge Magic

Death Magic

Gray Magic

Eclectic Magic

Elemental Magic

Fae Magic

Spirit Magic

Candle Magic

Crystal Magic

Herbalism

Glamours

Hexes

Jinxes

Curses

Weather Magic

Astral Magic

Shadow Work

Energy Work

Sigils

Art Magic

Knot Magic

Music Magic

Blood Magic

Bath Magic

Affirmations

Divination

Tarot Cards

Oracle Cards

Playing Cards

Card Spreads

Pendulum

Numerology

Scrying

Palmistry

Tasseography

Runes

Shufflemancy

Dice

Bibliomancy

Carromancy

Pyromancy

Psychic Abilities

Astrology

Auras

Lenormand

Sacred Geometry

Angel Numbers

Ornithomancy

Aeromancy

Aleuromancy

Axinomancy

Belomancy

Hydromancy

Lecanomancy

Necromancy

Oneiromancy

Onomancy

Oomancy

Phyllomancy

Psephomancy

Rhabdomancy

Xylomancy

Tools

Crystal grid

Candle grid

Charms

Talismans

Amulets

Taglocks

Wand

Broom

Athame

Boline

Cingulum

Stang

Bells

Drums

Staffs

Chalices

Cauldrons

Witches Ladder

Poppets

Holidays

Yule

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

Esbats

Deity Specific Holidays

Religious Holidays (Christmas, Easter, Dionysia, etc.)

Celestial Events

Altars

Basics of Altars

Travel Altars

Deity Altars

Spirit Altars

Familiar Altars

Ancestor Altars

Self Altars

Working Altars

Self-Care

Burnout Prevention

Aromatherapy

Stress Management

Coping Mechanisms

Theories & History

Witchcraft history

Paganism

New Age Spirituality

Cultural Appropriation

Thelema

Conspiracy Theories

Cults

Satanic Panic

KJV

Witches in History

Cats in History

Transphobia in Witchcraft Circles

Queerness in Witchcraft Circles

Other

Recipes

How to Get Herbs

Foraging

Drying Herbs and Flowers

Chakras

Reiki

Witches Alphabet

Runic Alphabet

Guide to Gardening

Your Witch Tips

Resources

Other Tips

List of Spells

Cryptids and Their Lore

What is a Liminal Space?

[fungus-and-bone]

I do. The grimoire is more of a handbook or textbook, used for organized information that's easy to find. The book of shadows is more like a journal documenting the witch's personal path.

Do you guys have both a grimoire and a book of shadows?

[manifestationsofasort]

Things to put in your book of shadows

Of course, only put in your book of shadows/grimoire what you want. If you don't want to put certain subjects in your book then that's fine. It's your book, utilize it how you want. This is just a masterlist of ideas that I've put together. Feel free to add anything else to the list that I may have missed, because there's absolutely no way I included everything.

And for the love of all the gods, if you come across a closed entity or practice, don't try to work with the entity or practice if you're not already part of that group or tradition. You can research it but don't practice it.

+ A blessing and/or protection

+ A table of contents

+ About you:

Your current path

Your personal beliefs

Your spiritual journey

Favorite crystals/herbs/animals

Natal chart

Craft name

How you got into the craft

Astrology signs

Birthday correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc)

Goals (if you have any)

Anything other relating to your personal practice

+ Safety

Fire safety

What NOT to burn

Plants and oils that can be toxic to your pets

What crystals shouldn't be in water, sunlight, etc

Things that shouldn't be put out in nature (salt, glass, etc)

Potion safety

How to incorporate blood safely

+ Core concepts:

Intention and how it works

Directing energy

Protection

Banishing

Cleansing

Charging

Shielding

Grounding and centering

Visualization

Consencration/Blessing

Warding

Enchanting

Manifestation

+ Correspondence

Personal correspondence

Crystals and rocks

Herbs and spices

Food and drink

Colors

Metals

Number

Tarot card

Elemental (fire, water, air, earth)

Trees and woods

Flowers

Days

Months

Moon phases

Zodiac

Planets

Incense

Teas

Essential oils

Directions (north, south, east, west)

Animals

Local plants, animals, etc

Dream symbology

+ Different practices

Practices that are closed to you (some examples below)

Voodoo and Hoodoo **Closed**

Santeria and Brujeria **Closed**

Shamanism and native american practices **Closed**

Wicca and wiccan paths

Satanism, both theistic and non-theistic paths

+ Different types/practices of magick

Pop culture magick

Technology magick

Chaos magick

Green witchcraft

Lunar magick

Sea witchcraft

Kitchen magick

Ceremonial magick

Hedge witchcraft

Death witchcraft

Grey witchcraft

Eclectic witchcraft

Norse witchcraft

Hellenic witchcraft

Animism

+ Deities

The deity/deities you worship

Different pantheons (the main five are Celtic, Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Norse, all open)

Deities and pantheons that are closed to you

Common offerings

Their epithets

Their mythology

Their family

Deity worship vs deity work

Prayers and how to make your own

Deity communication guide

Devotional acts

Ways to get closer to them

+ Other spiritual entities

Angels

Ancestor work

Spirit guides

The fae

Demons

Familiars

House spirits, animal spirits and plant spirits

Other various folklore entities

Spirit etiquette

Cemetery etiquette

Setting boundaries with the spirits

Communication guide and etiquette

Grounding, banishing, protection and cleansing, aka: "Spirit work safety guide"

How they appear to you

Common offerings

Circle casting

+ Divination

Tarot cards

Oracle cards

Tarot and oracle spreads

Pendulum

Numerology

Scrying

Palmistry/palm reading

Tasseography (Tea leaf reading)

Rune stones

Shufflemancy (Shuffling of a playlist)

Dice divination

Bibliomancy (Randomly picking a phrase from a book)

Carromancy (Melted wax)

Pyromancy (Reading flames)

Psychic abilities

Astrology

Aura reading

Divination via playing cards

Lenormand 

Sacred geometry

Angel numbers

+ Other types of magick

Candle magick

Crystal magick

Herbalism/herbal magick

Glamour magick

Hexing

Jinxing

Cursing

Weather magick

Astral work

Shadow work

Energy work

Sigils

Art magick

Knot magick

Crystal grids

Color grids

Music magick

Charms, talismans and amulets

+ Spellwork

What makes a spell work

Basic spell structure

What NOT to do

Disposing of spell ingredients

Revitalizing long term spells

How to cast spells

What to put in spells (See correspondence)

Spell mediums- Jar spells, spoken spells, candle spells, sigils, etc

Spell timing

Setting up a ritual

Taglocks: What they are and how to use them

+ Holidays and Esbats

Yule

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lughnasadh/Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

The 12 full moons (Esbats)

How to celebrate

Deity specific holidays

+ Altars and tools

What they are

The different types and their uses (travel altar, working altar, deity altar, ancestor altar, etc)

What you can put on your altar

What you use your altars for

Common tools in witchcraft

How to use the tools

Food and drink

Common herbs in recipes

Sabbat recipes

Moon water: What it is and how to use it

Potion bases

Tea magick

How to get your herbs

Foraging

+ Mental health and self care

Bath magick

Affirmations

Burnout prevention

Aromatherapy

Stress management

Mental health coping mechanisms

+ History of witchcraft

+ Dream records

+ How to differentiate between the magickal and the mundane

+ Calendar of celestial events (Esbats, retrogrades, etc)

+ How to dry herbs and flowers

+ What chakras actually are and how they work within Hinduism

+ History and traditional uses of reiki

+ The witches' alphabet

+ The runic alphabet

+ Common witchcraft terms

+ Common symbols in witchcraft

+ Your own witch tips

+ Good witchcraft books and authors to avoid

+ Any online resources you utilize often

[pigeonflavouredcake]

How to organise a grimoire

This is how I've decided to organise my grimoire now that I'm digitising it. I thought this may be of some benefit to other autistic/dyslexic practioners by sharing how my brain likes to formulate things. The trick is to categorise.

I have one large category I'm calling the chapter and every chapter has a number of categories within it and smaller sub categories underneath each one.

So my brain basically works like a russian nesting doll or like a very messy spider diagram. Organising it this way helps me to stay on track and stops me from getting overwhelmed. (I used this method in all my university essays and it helped push my grade up a lot).

I'm not writing it in any specific order but here's a list of what I've completed so far. Please feel free to take any of these. I hope this helps you with your own grimoire writing.

Theory 📚

Terminology

Paganism: historical context. Modern context. Core values.

New Age Spirituality: Development. Capitalism. Modern Example.

Cultural Appropriation: What it is. How it happens. How to avoid it. List of closed practices and red flags.

Wicca: What it is. How it's practiced. Gerald Gardner. Criticisms.

Thelema: Aleister Crowley. Development (egyptomania). Criticisms.

Conspiracy Theories: Development (root cause). Dangers. Examples. List of spiritual conspiracies. List of antisemitic stereotypes and propaganda.

Cults: What are they. How are they dangerous. How to recognise one (B.I.T.E model). List of religious/spiritual cults.

Satanic Panic: Historical development to our current satanic panic. The 1980's moral panic. Christian persecution complex.

KJV: Who was King James. The creation of the KJV. The KJO movement (evangelical and Christian fundamentalism. American Folk magic)

Witches in context: The modern witch. The post-modern witch. Historical context (England. Ancient Greece. Ireland).

Cats in context: Modern context. Familiars. Historical context (Egypt. Greece. China. England).

Transphobia: the idea behind terfism. How to recognise a terf. Examples of Terfism in spirituality (Lister). Dispelling myths and Misinformation.

Queerness: Erasure and queerphobia. Why queer people gravitate to witchcraft/paganism/Wicca. Examples (intersex. Gay relationships. Lesbian relationships. Asexuality).

Practical Basics 🔮

Terminology

Health and Safety: Fire. Smoke. Essential Oils. Toxicity. Wound Care. Biohazards.

How to make a magical space: What they are. Different types. Tools and their uses.

Grimoire/Book of Shadows: What they are. The differences. Different Formats. The Front cover.

Cleansing: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Grounding: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Protection: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Intuition: What it is. What its used for. Developing it. Examples.

Discernment: What it is. What its used for. Steps of discernment (from a Christian perspective. From a secular perspective). Psychosis.

The Year and the holidays: Samhain. Yule. Wassailing. Imbolc. Spring Equinox. Beltaine. Summer Solstice. Lughnasadh. Autumn Equinox. (Historical development. How they're celebrated).

Deity Worship: Scientific Context (Neuroscience of Religiosity). Spiritual Context. Worship Vs working with. Finding a deity. Your religious rights. Critiquing your religious path. For example ↓

Hellenism: Historical context (Wars. Colonisation. Slavery. Citizenship. Pederasty). Modern Context (White washing. Transphobia).

Your Deities (if you choose to have any): Iconography. Mythology. Associations. Offerings.

Spirits: Ghosts. Shadow people. Demons (what they are. fear and labelling. History Vs pop culture). The Warrens (history. Criticisms). Other folklore.

Practical Magic ✨

I have a lot more planned for this section.

Terminology

Divination: What it is. What its used for. List of types and tools. For example ↓

Tarot: Structure of the tarot deck. Historical context. Modern Context. The fool and you.

Basic Astrology: What it is. Historical Context. Signs. Planets. Houses. Reading a natal chart.

Colour Magic: Basic colour theory. Symbolism. Practical application.

Correspondence 🌿

When there's a long list of items and spiritual meanings/applications I keep it in this section at the back of my grimoire.

Colours

Symbols

The Classic Elements

Astrology

Stones

Herbs and Spices (kitchen cupboard specific)

Common plants in your area (invasive and non invasive)

Seasonal fruit and vegetables

Miscellaneous laws and philosophies