#agreenwitch

I'll be honest - I haven't checked this blog in who knows how long. I got the notification of the anniversary, and figured I'd see how it was doing. Imagine my shock when I saw that not only is there still activity, but I'm up to 20k subscribers! The support I've received from the Witchblr community over the years has been monumental, and I think that it's time for me to come back!

Hello, @not-in-the-library,

Over the years, I've answered a few questions like that, here and here and here. You are definitely not alone! While some of Witchcraft is intuitive, there is a never-ending fount of knowledge to tap into, and you will never stop learning.

If you have any specific questions, or if you'd like to chat through your process of establishing your Craft, or if you just want a friend to help you along, don't hesitate to DM me. They're always open.

I hope this has helped, and best of luck on your journey!

Hey there, @loveexistentielle,

Welcome to the community, Existentielle, and I’m so glad to hear that you like my blog!

As far as grimoires go, I know it can seem daunting, especially as a beginner. I know that I definitely felt some pressure to make one when I was first starting out, but there doesn’t have to be any stress surrounding it.

There are predominantly 2 theories of thought surrounding grimoires/Books of Shadows - 1. that they are interchangeable, just two names for the same thing, and are a tool that a witch can use to record and aid in their practice, and 2. that a grimoire is more of a casual magical journal, while a BOS is more of what you see in movies: a witch’s lifetime of work, to be passed down.

Personally, I like to think of a grimoire as a journal, something that is casual and doesn’t need to be perfect. That makes starting it less daunting, because like a journal, you can have more than one.

As far as what to put in it, that’s on you. Are you wanting to record your spells as you cast them, and then put the results in so that you can learn from your spells and improve? Are you wanting it to function like a guide, with lists of properties so that you can reference the one grimoire rather than multitudes of books and websites? Are you wanting it to be like a witchy bullet journal, like the gorgeous pictures you see here on Tumblr and on Pinterest? Are you wanting it to be a green witch field guide, so you can readily identify plants, animals, and stones in the wild? Do you want all of the above?

I get asks like this fairly often, and there’s never a clearcut answer, because each witch’s path is so incredibly different. If you want to talk more in depth about what you want from a grimoire, feel free to DM me, but otherwise all I can really offer is to do research and define what you want from it, or if you even want one at all. I’ve been a practicing witch and Pagan for years, and I’m only just now considering starting an actual grimoire.

Sorry for the long post, and honestly not being super helpful haha. I do hope you find some semblance of usefulness from this rant.

@lil-honey-bun

The biggest source of information that is freely available to you is the internet! I know that's a cliché and seemingly unhelpful answer, but that's where pretty much everyone starts!

The biggest ticket is to read as much as you can and find the middle ground. There are a lot of wildly varied beliefs, and also some that aren't so great, like culturally appropriating practices or downright racist/sexist/bigoted beliefs about what type of person should do what (pro tip - ignore anyone who implies that only white women can be witches!!!)

Beyond that, if you are wanting to do some hardback research, I always highly recommend Skye Alexander. Also, the encyclopedia collection by Judika Illes, and Scott Cunningham. Also, I know the new print pretty books are very attractive, but a lot of books I find helpful are not quite so pretty, like my old copy of Earth Magic and The Pagan Book of Days.

I would also suggest, since you're on Tumblr where the witchcraft community is so strong and thriving, to use those of us willing to share our experiences as a resource! We've all been there, and we've all experienced the confusion and curiosity that comes with being a fledgling witch!

If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.