A grimoire is a personal book of magickal practice, and the best way to keep one is to record four things for every working. We'll go over each part (Baseline, Procedure, Immediate Effect, and Reflection) in this post. This method turns a collection of rituals into a record you can learn from. But first, what is a grimoire?
What Is a Grimoire?
Historically, grimoires were manuals of spells, names and sigils, and instructions. One of the most recognizable grimoires is the medieval Key of Solomon. Today, the word usually describes a practitioner's own notebook. Some people call their grimoire a Book of Shadows, a magick journal, or working diary. The names vary, but the purpose stays the same, which is to keep a faithful record of your practice.
At the Temple of Night, every practitioner keeps a grimoire, and we define Magick as the Art and Science of causing Change to occur in accordance with Will. You may hear Crowley's words, and you would be correct, however, we do not believe in what he terms, a True Will. We believe Will is chosen, and may be chosen again. The purpose of our grimoire is to check whether that change is happening.
Why Keep a Grimoire?
Memory is fallible. A ritual that felt powerful on a Tuesday can feel like a blur by the next. A habit that improved your month leaves no trace if nobody wrote it down. The details matter, and only a few savants have perfect recall. Thus, a grimoire gives you an infallible witness, who allows you to be both the participant and the observer of your own practice. Essential for every practitioner, invaluable for tracking and enacting change in accordance with Will. Keeping one has several practical benefits we shall name:
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You can see patterns over time
Across a few months of entries, you learn which symbols, times of day, and methods work for you and which do do not -
You can adjust
A record of what you did allows you to change one variable at a time giving you deeper insights into which mechanisms are truly beneficial -
You can stay honest
Written notes protect us from remembering only the successes allowing for true insights that can spark real changes -
You can notice drift
This is one to keep close. A rite can harden into compulsion and a story can harden into delusion. Regular reflection gives you an early warning
What to Put in a Grimoire
Each working gets an entry with four elements. The first three take a few minutes each, and the fourth is a short revisit, and it carries the most longitudinal value.
Baseline
Before working, record where you stand in feeling, seeing, and doing. How is your mood? What story are you telling yourself about the situation? What have you been doing or avoiding? A few sentences are enough. Note: Most people skip this step, but without it, you have nothing concrete to compare against later.
Procedure
Record exactly what you did in your rite. Record the sigil, the words, the gesture, the materials, the image you held in your mind, and how long it took, and when you performed it. Some practitioners use lunar calendars or solar calendars to track rituals — which we believe is a fine idea as it gives you a natural timetable and natural rhythm to return to for planning and tracking. But do not feel you need it. Life is unpredictable, so perform your rite, when you feel called to.
Immediate Effect
Record what followed within the hour or the day. What shifts in mood did you experience? What occurred in the body? Attention, action, breathing, sensing, all count. An honest, 'nothing noticeable changed' is useful data too, it keeps the record trustworthy.
Longitudinal Reflection
Return after days and weeks and record what endures. Did the change stick? Did the story you tell yourself change, how so? Did the feeling fade, deepen, or turn into something new? What is your mood like now? A working shows its value in what remains afterward and long after. This step is where a grimoire becomes an invaluable tool for learning. It is bound memory.
Sample Grimoire Entry
Note: What follows in only a suggestion. It is an optional template for all to use, if they so choose.
Time: 7:10pm MT — New Moon
Intention: Speak up once in every team meeting this week
Baseline: I feel anxious before meetings. I rehearse conversations and comments in my head, but then stay quiet. The story I tell myself is that my ideas arrive too late to matter.
Procedure: Five minutes before each meeting, I traced a small symbol on my palm and took three slow breaths, and pictured myself speaking calmly within the first ten minutes. In my vision, I am the center of attention and my ideas matter. People nod and smile and the conversation flows. I feel calm and confident that I am a valuable asset.
Immediate Effect: On Monday, I spoke only once. My voice shook slightly due to nerves. On Tuesday, it felt easier and I didn't rehearse as much beforehand.
Reflection (three and a half weeks later, waning crescent moon): Joy. Speaking up has become a normal part of my work life now. The palm symbol no longer feels required, but I continue to do so as a reminder that I am here and now. I may retire the symbol once the full moon arrives and release it during the next moon as it has served its purpose. But for now, I will keep it as a symbol of appreciation for its work.
Grimoire Formats
Any format that you will use consistently is the right one. Some of the most popular formats are:
- A paper notebook
- A digital document or notes app
- A spreadsheet
- A voice memo
Many practitioners combine formats for various reasons, including accessibility or preservability.
Grimoire vs. Book of Shadows vs. Journal
A Book of Shadows is the term most often associated with Wiccan and Gardnerian traditions, where it can hold shared rituals handed down within a coven. A magickal journal usually focuses on personal reflection. A grimoire can, and does, include both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special book to start a grimoire?
No. Any notebook or digital file works. The consistency of practice matters more than the beauty of the book. Many Temple of Night practitioners use two formats. For instance, digital first. They then transfer over into a physical grimoire they can cherish forever.
How long should a grimoire entry be?
A few lines for each of the four elements is plenty. Most entries take five to ten minutes to record.
Can a grimoire be digital?
Yes. Many practitioners keep theirs in an app, a document, or a spreadsheet. It is recommended by the Temple to backup any digital files for posterity and in case of data loss.
Do I have to believe in the supernatural to keep a grimoire?
No. The method works for anyone who wants to practice Magick. Each member of the Temple holds their own metaphysics.
How often should I review my grimoire?
A monthly review works well, with a quick look at the end of each week for active workings.
Start Your Grimoire Tonight
Open a blank notebook or file, write today's date, and record your baselines in three sentences. That is a complete first entry and gives you a starting point for everything that follows.
If you would like a fuller framework, the Five Steps (Intention, Symbolization, Ritualization, and Reflection) are laid out in the Temple's Book of the Rite, and the principles behind them appear in Liber Noctis. You are also welcome to join us for Monday gatherings on the Night Stage, where we share our practices and what we are learning.
In Tenebris, Lux