The Family Grimoire
When I started bringing children into my practice I was really excited to share my grimoire with them. My grimoire was very organized, meticulously laid out, and mostly text based pages. They looked at it as though it was a school textbook. They were not impressed. There was no personal connection. So I gathered up my crafting materials and put together a new blank book that we could work on together. It has been interesting to see what parts of our practice have stood out the most to my children. My son has been more interested in the moon phases and is pretty close to knowing them all just by looking out of the window. My daughter, on the other hand, is more interested in the folklore, making tea blends and kitchen witchery.
But how do you get started?
First, some clarification…
Since the terms “grimoire” and “book of shadows” interchangeably so I have added my preferred definitions for clarity within this post. This is by no means the “right” way, just my preference.
A Grimoire is a sacred text that contains the collective knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual traditions of a family. It serves as a guide and record of spells, rituals, moon phases, elemental energies, and magickal correspondences.
A Book of Shadows is a personal journal compiled by an individual practitioner. The book acts as a record of spells and rituals, divination practices, reflections and documents their personal experiences and spiritual growth.
Now, on to the good stuff!
Select your Grimoire Medium
There are 2 main options when it comes to creating a grimoire; physical and digital. Most people probably prefer a physical book while others more modern folks may opt for a digital version. I personally use both, a physical book that any of us can see or use when we need to, as well as, a digital backup. Whichever your choice, the best format is always going to be the one that is easy to use and you are going to want to keep using.
Physical books provide a tangible connection to your spiritual practice. They can be filled with handwritten notes, pressed flowers and herbs, and personal artifacts. One big decision for a physical book is the type of binding. I love a hand sewn binding BUT I’m really bad at estimating how much space I need per section. My Virgo brain will explode if I have to put herb correspondences in the crystal correspondences because I ran out of space. For this reason alone I prefer to have an adjustable bind because they allow for easy page adjustments and additions. My personal favorite is the Happy Planner, the discs make for super easy adjustments without taking the whole book apart the only thing I dislike is the size is limited by the size of the rings. Another good option is a scrapbook with a post and screw type of bind. They come with pages with a sheet protectors which can be nice for messy hands during spell work but if you need to add new pages you may need to disassemble the whole book.
Digital grimoires, on the other hand, offer convenience, easy access, and the ability to include multimedia elements such as audio recordings, videos, and images. I love having everything in one place; spells, rituals, crafts, stories etc., right there where I can quickly have access. I don’t use a digital grimoire for our practice but I have everything backed up on Trello. Theres plenty of space, it can be added to your calendar and “pages” can be easily moved around to suit your organizational needs.
Also, consider the durability and practicality of the chosen medium, as it should withstand the test of time while being enjoyable to interact with.
Structure and Organization
Decide on a structure for your grimoire that resonates with your family. Divide your grimoire into sections or chapters based on the different aspects of your family's spiritual traditions. This could include sections for rituals, spells, divination methods, healing practices, and ancestral wisdom. It could be categorized into sections by type of magic, sun cycle, moon cycle or some other way that correlates with your practice. Arrange the content in a logical order, providing clear instructions, insights, and explanations for each entry. Consider using dividers or tabs to separate different sections, making it easy for everyone to navigate and learn.
Encourage Family Collaboration
Creating a family grimoire should be a combined effort that encourages sharing and learning from each other. Regularly have family gatherings to work on your grimoire where everyone can share their magical practices, stories, and discoveries. Embrace the Kid Friendly version of a grimoire. Including age-appropriate spells and magic inspired by their interests, simplify complex rituals or spells, add magickal crafts, or daily affirmations.
Adding Personal Touches
Infuse your book with personal touches to make it uniquely yours. Include family photographs, handwritten notes, sketches, and personal anecdotes. Encourage children to express their creativity through drawings, symbols, colorful depictions of plants, animals, and mythical creatures and even their own spells. Let your creativity flow and allow the grimoire to reflect your family's unique practice.
Final Thoughts
Creating a family grimoire is not just about the end product; don’t rush through it. Embrace the process and the journey of coming together as a family and creating something amazing.
