What Is a Grimoire? How to Start Your Own

June 18, 2026

What Is a Grimoire?

A grimoire is a personal book of magical knowledge — a written record of spells, rituals, correspondences, herbal lore, moon phases, divination notes, and anything else relevant to your spiritual practice. The word comes from the Old French grammaire, meaning a book of grammar or learning, and grimoires have existed in various forms across cultures for centuries.

In modern witchcraft and pagan practice, a grimoire is one of the most personal and enduring tools a practitioner can have. Unlike a published book of spells, your grimoire is entirely your own — built from your experiences, your research, and your intuition.

Grimoire vs. Book of Shadows: What's the Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction worth knowing.

A Book of Shadows is a term popularised by Wicca, particularly through Gerald Gardner in the mid-20th century. Traditionally it referred to a coven's shared ritual text, though in modern practice it's used more broadly to mean any personal magical journal.

A grimoire tends to refer more specifically to a reference book — a structured collection of magical knowledge, correspondences, and techniques — rather than a personal diary of practice.

In reality, most practitioners blend the two. Your book can be whatever serves your practice best. The label matters far less than the intention behind it.

Shop Journals →

What Goes in a Grimoire?

There are no rules. Your grimoire is yours. That said, most practitioners include some combination of the following:

Correspondences
Tables of associations — which crystals, herbs, colours, moon phases, days of the week, and elements correspond to which intentions. These become invaluable reference material over time.

Spells and rituals
Written records of spells you've worked, including the date, moon phase, materials used, and outcome. Over time this becomes a powerful personal reference.

Moon phase tracking
Many practitioners align their work with the lunar cycle. Recording new moon intentions and full moon releases builds a meaningful pattern over time.

Tarot and oracle notes
Your personal interpretations of cards, spreads you've created, and readings that felt significant. This is far more useful than relying solely on a guidebook's definitions. If you're new to tarot, our guide to the best tarot decks for beginners is a good starting point.

Crystal and herb notes
Properties, uses, and your personal experience of working with specific stones and plants. Over time your notes will diverge from the textbook definitions in interesting ways.

Seasonal and sabbat records
Notes on how you marked the wheel of the year — what you did, what you felt, what you'd do differently.

Dreams and intuitive impressions
A grimoire can include a dream journal section, particularly if you work with dreamwork or use sleep as a time for spiritual processing.

Sigils and symbols
Any symbols you work with, their meanings, and how you created or encountered them.

How to Start Your Grimoire

Choose your book

This is the most personal decision. Some practitioners prefer a plain notebook they can decorate themselves. Others want something that already feels special — a leather-bound journal, a gothic-aesthetic notebook, or a handmade book. There's no wrong choice. What matters is that you'll actually use it.

Browse our Journals collection for gothic and alternative notebooks suited to grimoire work — from coffin-shaped designs to classic dark-cover journals.

Don't wait for perfection

The most common reason people don't start a grimoire is waiting until they feel "ready" or until they find the perfect book. Start now, with what you have. A grimoire is a living document — it grows and changes with you. Your first entry doesn't need to be beautiful.

Create a simple structure

You don't need to plan every section in advance, but a loose structure helps. Consider starting with:

An introduction or dedication page — your intention for the book
A correspondences section (crystals, herbs, colours, moon phases)
A spells and rituals section
A tarot/oracle notes section
A free journal section for reflections and impressions

Leave space to add sections as your practice evolves. Many practitioners use tabs or sticky notes to navigate between sections. If you want to build a broader journalling habit alongside your grimoire, our guide on how to start a journalling practice for spiritual growth covers the practical side.

Write in your own voice

A grimoire isn't an academic text. Write the way you think and speak. Use shorthand if it works for you. Sketch diagrams. Stick in pressed flowers or printed images. The more personal it is, the more useful it becomes.

Date every entry

This seems small but matters enormously over time. Dating entries allows you to track patterns, revisit old work, and see how your practice has evolved.

Digital vs. Physical Grimoires

Some practitioners keep digital grimoires — in Notion, Google Docs, or dedicated apps. These are searchable, easy to organise, and impossible to lose. Others find that the physical act of handwriting is part of the practice itself — slower, more intentional, and more connected to the material.

Many practitioners keep both: a digital reference grimoire for correspondences and research, and a physical journal for personal reflections and ritual records. There's no hierarchy here — use what works.

Protecting and Caring for Your Grimoire

Traditionally, a grimoire was considered a sacred object and kept private. Whether or not you share your practice publicly, it's worth treating your grimoire with intention — keeping it somewhere safe, cleansing it periodically with incense smoke or moonlight, and handling it with care.

Some practitioners place a crystal on top of their grimoire when not in use — amethyst for spiritual protection, black tourmaline for energetic shielding, or clear quartz to amplify the book's energy.

Ready to Begin?

Browse our Journals collection for notebooks suited to grimoire work, and our Crystals collection for stones to accompany your practice.