Most witches and magic workers have what’s called a Grimoire or a BOS (Book of Secrets, Book of Shadows, Book of Spells…whatever YOU want to call it.) And many beginner witches are stumped as to what they should put in it, so here’s a few ideas!
Your Grimoire is personal to YOU. You make this book your own. You don’t need to put every single bit of witchy knowledge in your book, only what you believe and will be practicing.
•Witchy history: how and when magic started, how and when your specific sect of witchcraft got started, etc
•Crystals: their names and uses
•Herbs, plants, trees: their medicinal and metaphysical properties
•Spells: ingredients, prayers, incantations, etc.
•Rituals: for Sabbats, holidays, etc
•Zodiac: characteristics and dates
•Planets/celestial bodies: their relation to magic and mythology
•Gods/goddesses/deities: their powers, how you must worship them, etc
•Animals: their spiritual powers and which animals are connected to you
•Books: writings you can use as reference when needed
•Colors: definitions of each color and what they can be used for
•Altars: how and when to set them up, what you’ll need for your altar rituals
•Recipes: especially for those who will use cooking/baking in their witchcraft
•Sigils and symbols: so you can easily reference them for your spells/rituals
•Things that are specific to you and give you power: for example, my familiars are wolves and predator birds. My flowers are tulips. My seasons/Sabbats are Autumn and Samhain. My herbs are Wormwood and garlic. My celestial body is the moon. My element is fire. Etc
Of course there is SO much more than can be put in your BOS, but this should help get you started. Remember, when using books or the internet to look up definitions, uses, spells, and so on, PLEASE cross reference. It is irresponsible to believe one source. For example, if you’re using websites to learn the uses of crystals and stones, do NOT use just one site as it may be completely inaccurate. Cross reference site 1 with site 2 and 3. It is important, for you and those around you, that your Grimoire is as accurate as possible.
Witches who work with
stones and crystals, such as through crystal healing. Their Book of Shadows
will most likely have information about the stones, chakra balance, and crystal
meditation. Their home and altar will be filled with sparkling crystals of every shape and color. If they give you a crystal as a gift, take it with great appreciation and care, for they are giving you a piece of them.
If you can, when jarring stuff you’re going to use exclusively for magick, color code it. Red for non-edible, green for edible. Is that rosemary straight from the herbs and spices cabinet from the kitchen? Label it green. Oh, that’s not culinary lavender? Label it red, you gotta remember that.
And for when you’re perusing through your jars to see what things would work best for the spell you’re whipping up, it’d be very helpful if you listed the magickal and/or medicinal properties on the back of the jars beforehand. It helps save you time for those moments in life where you have to throw together a spell and you don’t have time to flip through your BoS or Google to find a spell to cast.
putting the properties on the back has also proved to be a good studying technique. It reminds me of how one studies by use of flash cards.
Let’s start at the very beginning. What does it mean to be in the broom closet? Being in the broom closet means that you’re keeping your pagan beliefs and/or practices secret from those around you. There are many reasons to do this. For some people, it is a necessity that can be frustrating and painful. For some people, it is a choice that makes life more comfortable. For the most part, this post is going to be written with the thought that those you’re hiding your pagan life from live in the same space as you. If you’re interested in advice on situations that are different from this, feel free to send me an ask.
For the sake of length and the ease of readers, I’ve decided to separate the theistic and the atheistic issues that may arise for a pagan in the broom closet. This installment will be focusing primarily on witchcraft related issues whether or not they are done with the aid of or in the name of deities. Below the cut you will find some thoughts on the following:
The Crossroads are an infinitely powerful place – where the planes collide, the worldly nexus and the paths of decision. While always related to the actual crossing of roads, the symbolic nature of the Crossroads extends far beyond – even in the physical plane. The nexus include far more than the mere crossing of paths, but present at many – both naturally and made-made – destinations. Below you will find a (non-comprehensive) list and a brief description of how they apply to the Crossroads and what work might be done most efficiently at the particular junction.
Physical Crossroads
“X” and “T”Crossroads
This grouping includes the Crossroads in its traditional sense – as the crossing of roads in an “x” or “+” formation. These, of course, are well documented and are usually what is being discussed when talk of crossroads come up. These can be specified – for instance: a crossroad at the edge of town, in the woods, etc., all of which have their own, unique connotations. Their “sister” crossroads is the T crossroad (alt. “Y”) – which is still prevelantly known. These are my personal favorite, being an adherent to Quimbanda – these Crossroads are held sacred to Pomba Gira. They offer a more concise, selective and direct crossroads energy – as they only offer 3 roads, two choices, the forward option rendered entirely void. In this capacity, there is no option but to change. You cannot continue as you are, but instead must choose a new path – change at its greatest.
Bridges
These are much like the traditional crossroads, though there is a minor planar separation. As the water and the bridge never transect. In this capacity, you have a path or tangent that is not wholly present, but guiding. From above they appear to intersect, but from the ground we see they do not and cannot – though this doesn’t make them any less useful. It is at these places that change can be made fluidly. Where as the “T” crossroad is (arguably) the most severe, change-bring crossroad, this the the least so. As such, this one is not so much about bringing in the new, but freeing yourself of the old. Symbolically, spirits were always said to be unable to cross running water – in this case, there is a part of you that you feel needs to be relinquished, one you will not permit to cross the water with you. This is the cross of letting go of that which need be so.
Railroad-Track Crossings
Again, similar to the above to entries, these represent more traditional crossroads. These can be broken down into two, separate sets of places:
Where Tracks Cross a Road: These can be used as a symbol for a path that is fixed, continuous and unstoppable. The train will continue, it is your responsibility to stop. This can be a place to work rituals for motivation, drive and success – or alternately, to learn patience. Sometimes the only, real option is to sit and wait – there is strength in patience, these places might allow for this realization.
Where Tracks Cross Tracks: A recipe for disaster. Two, headstrong, unstopping forces are doomed to collide. While the former has the potential to grant motivation, this one is the reality of too much or counterproductiveness. These places are great for working curses that breed devastation, and chaos working from all sides. Place a penny at the junction, allow it to be flattened and collect it to use in particularly nasty curses.
Property Corners
That’s right, little did you know you had a Crossroads (literally) in your own backyard! At each of the corners of your property, where four plots meet, there is a crossroads. These, naturally, are best used for things relating to the home – protection, finance, martial issues, health and well-being. Probably not the best to use these to call up Crossroads Spirits or make any Faustian Deals.
Cemeteries
The liminal space of the dead on the plane of the living – these are the sites where the dead interact (in great number) energetically with our plane, building a nexus of sorts. Naturally the larger the cemetery, the more effective this nexus becomes (here’s looking at you, New Orleans). It’s not enough that they exist spiritual in one place, but its that they exist as both physically and spiritual distinct in the location – their spirit and body exist, but no longer bound, working in a sort of intersecting movement. To no one’s surprise, these are the places most fitting work with the Dead, bridging the planes, communion with the spirits, etc. It’s also little surprise that many Cemetery Spirits have numerous correlations to their Crossroads counterparts.
Churches
That’s right, churches, too are liminal spaces – wherein the Divine (of which ever sort) ground to the earth and form a crossroads. These are obviously most fitting religious works – divine paths, orchestrating change with the help of the Divine, resolution to crises of faith, etc. As for curses go, these same qualities can also be harness to bring about crises of faith and repurpose the energies for more malignant works.
Metaphorical Intersections
Doorways
While at first thought, one might assume that doorways would be much like a “T” crossroad of not more severe – as there is but one path that may be taken. This, however, symbolically is not the case. While we know a closed door will always open to the same place here, spiritually that’s never a guarantee. In fact, doors have the capacity to connect all things. One door may lead to any other. But be warned, doors go both ways – be careful where it leads, for it will also lead back.
Hands/Feet and Mouth/Ears
Hands and feet are the intersection of the mind and the physical. It is they who move us, connect us, or create from our mind something on this plane – such as art, writing, gesture. Mouths bridge mind to mind through verbal communication – what the mouth sends, the ear receives and the mind interprets. As such, all of these things occupy a sort of liminal space.
Cosmic/Season Crossroads
Twilight
Twilight is the bridge from day to night, a time of change – a commingling of both of their characteristics. Depending on what you seek, these can be used as a way to gain insight. For illumination, enlightenment utilize dawn – allow the sun to bring light to the darkness. For understanding, self discovery or occult knowledge, use dusk – wherein the preconceived notions of day fall away to reveal the hidden truths of night.
Midnight
The minute when one day ends and the next begins – colloquially referred to as “the witching hour,” it is a time between time. This can be used for many works – though, when I utilize midnight, I use mid-night. The time at the middle of when the sun sets and rises – the darkest part of night, when it is at its strongest, after is has waxed, but before it has waned.
31st day
Like Twilight and Midnight, thisis time related – a place between months, a time for change. These can be utilized much like more regular New Years: a time to make resolutions, enact change and bring anew/cast out the old. As such, they’re good for exorcisms and rebirth.
There are countless other options, but I chose to note the ones I’ve been known to use. I’d love to hear and see what some of all know to be unconventional crossroads!
Be cautious when practicing tonight, the moons are known to overwhelm and drain, so try to stay grounded! If you feel to overwhelmed for spells, try meditation or simple prayers. Be safe and enjoy your night!
•carry old circuit boards in your pocket to help with absorbing information
•scry using creamer in your coffee
•use bottle caps as tiny candle holders
•charge crystals by setting them on a phone or laptop that also is charging
•cleanse things by playing an ocean wave audio track
•grow potted herbs and set them on your windowsill
•SHUFFLEMANCY
•use your cell phone screen for scrying
•use sage/lavender spray for smokeless cleansing of a room
•ward jewelry
•glamour your makeup and hairbrush
•use tablet/note stylus as a wand
•enchant pencils and pens
•write sigils on sticky notes and put them everywhere
•spare change makes good offerings
•wine also makes good offerings
•board games and upside down wine glass makes a good spirit board
•enchant/glamour clothing
•tattoo sigils on your body
•glamour fingernail polish
•draw sigils on your fingernails
•carry batteries in your pocket to feel energized (but don’t use old batteries, don’t let them get hot and don’t carry one for more than a few days because they’ll ooze battery acid)
•use old receipts to draw sigils on
•scry using chocolate chip cookie chips
•pizza scrying is a thing too
That’s all I’ve got for now ._.’ These are just my personal ideas
Gamerpyrope 
