A lot of people mix up the terms Grimoire and Book of Shadows, and honestly, it’s understandable. They’re both important in a witch’s practice, and they both hold magical information. But they serve completely different purposes, and once you understand that, the difference becomes very clear.

What a Grimoire really is

A Grimoire is basically your reference book. It’s where you keep information that doesn’t change. Think of it as your magical textbook or guide. It holds things like spells, correspondences, symbols, recipes, astrology notes, instructions, and any knowledge you want to keep organized and easy to look back on.

It’s not personal. It’s not emotional. It’s not about your experiences.

It’s simply a collection of magical knowledge.

Historically, grimoires go back centuries. Many old magicians, herbalists, folk practitioners, and ceremonial magicians worked from grimoires that were passed down or copied. Some famous ones include The Key of Solomon, The Picatrix, and The Book of Abramelin. Those books weren’t diaries. They were manuals.

What a Book of Shadows is

A Book of Shadows is your personal journal. It’s where your magic becomes yours. You write your experiences, what happened during a ritual, dreams you want to record, spells you tried and how they manifested, your intuition, reflections, and anything that feels meaningful to your spiritual development.

It’s private and personal. It’s emotional, and it evolves with you and your craft.

The easiest way to understand the difference

If it’s factual or instructional, it belongs in your Grimoire.If it’s personal or reflective, it belongs in your Book of Shadows.

Can you have both? Absolutely. Most witches do.

Having both gives you balance in your practice.

Your Grimoire might include:

• Herbs and their uses

• Spell instructions

• Correspondence lists

• Moon phase information

• Symbols and meanings

• Ritual outlines

Your Book of Shadows might include:

• What you felt during a ritual

• Spells you cast and the results

• Dreams, visions, or intuitive hits

• Lessons you’ve learned

• Personal breakthroughs

• Your evolving beliefs

How to start your own

There’s no pressure or rules here. Start with whatever feels natural.

If you’re creating a Grimoire:

• Pick a format (binder, notebook, digital, anything)

• Keep it organized so you can find things later

• Use it as your go-to reference

If you’re creating a Book of Shadows:

• Choose something that feels personal to you

• Write freely without worrying about perfection

• Add to it whenever you feel a shift, insight, or experience worth documenting

Both books grow with time. Neither needs to be perfect.

A Grimoire is your foundation. A Book of Shadows is your journey.

And together, they create a practice that is both grounded and personal.

Blessings,

Avanjia

(This content is exclusive to The Hour of Witchery Inner Circle. It may not be copied, shared, or resold. For personal use only.)