#2019 grimoire challenge

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

January Week 2

Keep in mind, this challenge is going to more or less piggy back off of my 2019 challenge and go deeper into the subjects presented there, with some alterations and additions of course.

Some grimoires focus on one entire topic for a whole page. Say, an entire page dedicated to a single herb. Some dedicate it to a broader topic and fill in the page with info pertaining to the topic. Say, protection magic and everything that, in that witch's practice, has to do with protection magic.

And you know what? Both are fine. It is a matter of how you want your grimoire to look, work and feel, for you and your practice. So as the challenge goes on and my prompts say "make a page" that doesn't necessarily mean a whole new page just for that topic. It could mean to fill in more of a page you've already started. It is your grimoire. Make it your way.

Monday - Magic

Journal/ Research/ Introspection (New Page) - What is magic? How does it work? Historically, theologically, spiritually, so on and so forth. What is magic and how does one utilize it? What methodology do you perscribe to? Where does magic come from? How do you sense it? Can you sense it? Look deep, not surface level. Look into the hows and the whys. Make a page dedicated to this information, so that you can refer back to it if need be in the future.

Practical (New Page) - Let's perform a protection spell on our book, on our supplies and on our work space. You can find a spell online in a book or make one up yourself to use! Any of these options is fine. I recommend utilizing your lab notebook for this task. Write out the spell, all of its aspects, steps, ingredients, tools and so on. Record the information in your lab notebook, that way you can change and rework the spell as need be in the future. Plus, this will allow you to create a page specifically for this spell!

Tuesday - Witch

Journal/ Research - This is a personal subject for all of us, though the community has a large sway in our opinions on this. Ask five witches what a witch is, and you'll get five different answers. But we're not worried about four of those answers right now. We're worried about one. Our own. What is a witch? What makes one a witch? What does a witch do and not do? Define all of this for yourself, answer those questions.

Divination - Lets perform a divination for ourselves. What does the year ahead hold? No matter what method you use, tarot, runes, etc, perform a small divination for yourself or even for someone else, looking at the year ahead of us.

Wednesday - Personal Practice

Research/ Introspection/ Journal -Again, we're going to do a deep look into ourselves and our beliefs for this prompt. How do you perceive the world? Life, death? The energies in the world around you? How do you connect to and experience these things? What are the elements of life and the world?

Study (New Page) - Pick one of those herbs from the list we made and look into its properties. Where does it come from> How does it grow? Historically, what were its uses? Practical and mundane uses and properties, what are they? Is it used medicinally or are there culinary uses? What are the myths, legends and stories about the herb? Now, once you've looked into all of that, how does that information play into its magical uses and properties? All of this is about they WHY behind the info we find in generalized searches.

Thursday - Personal Information

Journal/ Introspection - Why are you a witch? What drew you to this path and walk of life? What are the aspects fo your practice? Is it the elements? Deities? Other powers? Flesh out your beliefs.

Astrology - Not every witch holds stock in astrology, so if you don't you don't have to add this bit to the challenge. But if you're interested, look up your natal chart. There are plenty of free websites to do so, and it is always interesting to find out. If you feel so inclined, add a page to your Grimoire about your natal chart, as the info can be helpful in later introspection and journaling.

Study (New Page) - Pick a gem from that list and look up its properties. Where does it come from? How is it formed? What are its chemical properties? What are its mundane and practical uses? What are the myths and legends, stories surrounding it? What has it been used for historically? How does all of that information play into its magical properties and uses? Make a page specifically dedicated to that gem!

Friday - Making it yours

Journal/ Introspection - How is your practice your practice? What do YOU bring to your witchcraft? What traditions and beliefs from outside your practice have influenced bits and pieces of your practice? As much as we hate to admit it, syncretism is a thing.

(Side note- if you’re not into crystals and herbs, feel free to replace those study days with whatever subject you feel like! No matter what it is, as long as it’s something going in your grimoire. Some examples would be tarot spreads, runes, languages, a specific “type” of magic!)

I know this is going to be a big project and if it would help everyone, creatively, I'll be more than happy to share a video showing some of my grimoire page design process.

Thank you all

Good luck and happy crafting witches!

-Mod Hazel

[tea-rabbits]

@2019grimoirecchallenge​

[thepatchworkcrow]

My Method for Grounding & Centering

Jumping back into the @2019grimoirecchallenge posts! This in answer to both Monday AND Tuesday’s prompt since I usually ground AND center my energy before and after ritual. This particular exercise isn’t particularly new: I think it’s been posted pretty much everywhere as like “The Tree Meditation” or “The World Tree Visualization” and such, but here goes my version of it!

First, you’re going to want to sit, or stand in a comfortable position. I typically plant my feet shoulder-width apart, and if I can help it, like to stand barefoot on the floor or grass.

The first step will be the grounding part of the exercise. How I usually do this, is I start first by relaxing myself by focusing on my breathing. 

Once I’ve gotten in that headspace, I will visualize all the stress, anxiety, and generally disruptive energy flowing down through my body to my feet and down into the ground. Literally, sending that energy into the ground to be neutralized and released.

Next, while I’m still sort of focused on my feet and the earth beneath them, I’ll visualize that my feet have grown roots that push through the soil. I’ll then focus on pulling cool, calming, steadying energy up from the earth, just like a plant would draw up water or nutrients from the soil. I imagine this energy filling me, and making me feel steady, strong, and secure.

Next, I’ll bring my arms up to stretch over my head, and I’ll visualize them growing up further and further into leafy branches.

Like I visualized drawing in energy from the earth, I also visualize drawing in energy from the sun/moon/sky. First through the leaves, then down my branch-like arms and all through out my being. This energy is light, inspiration, clarity, purpose...

Where the two energies meet in the center of my being I focus a moment to allow them to merge and find balance. I feel myself sustained by both the earth below and the warm light of the sun above. I am calm, and focused, and inspired to begin work on my ritual.

I then take a deep breath, visualizing myself returning from tree back into my human shape, and open my eyes to continue my work.

I do this before ritual to put myself into the proper mindset to do the work before me. It helps to release the energy of my day to day that can be disruptive to my intentions.

I also do this after ritual, so that I can release the residual energy raised during the ritual, and re-center myself before returning to the more mundane parts of my life.

[losgunna]

It's only SIX MONTHS LATE (teacher life & mom life keeps me super busy) but here's my page for the 3rd week of January for the #2019grimoirechallenge.

I love how doing these pages really helps me slow down and think and question and research and examine why I do what I do. This challenge is helping me embrace and grow more intimate with my spiritual practices, so thank you @2019grimoirecchallenge for making such thoughtful prompts and encouraging such a supportive community.

P.S. If anyone ever wants to ask questions about my grimoire, my practice, or me, my inbox is always open. ☺️ You can also check out my non-witchy blog @sheisquiteacommonfairy - asks are open there too!

[crystaldruid]

Today’s grimoire pages, inspired by witchblr!

[extramidwestwitch]

Today's grimoire progress! Having my layout and my rough draft to work from makes me so happy and productive. This is gonna be a book I can reference soon! ♡

[ques-book]

#2019grimoirechallenge April wk 1

Happy Sunday! I’m sorry I missed last week but I wasn’t in a great place. It was the 5th anniversary of my mom’s passing and it just brings up a bunch of weird feelings. Couple that with the end of semester stress. Yeah, I’m a mess right now lol. Hopefully the upcoming @2019grimoirecchallenge weeks for this week and next will be just as good as this week, nice and simple.

This week focused on the elements so I wrote them up in my grimoire!

God my writing is bad. Anyway, until next week lovelies!

[aquatixwitch]

Was working on the 2019 @2019grimoirecchallenge first week-I'm a little behind-and in the first week you pick and herb to investigate. Since I love banefuls but felt aconite would be too easy, I chose Mandrake and illustrated a page for it! I'll probably glue this in after I've finished my herbal section. Wutwut.

[circus-witch]

How not to read auras

As part of @2019grimoirecchallenge one of the prompts was auras and it left me a little stumped. I don’t work with auras at all and (as it stands) I don’t believe in them. It’s seemed stupid to write a page or post about something I didn’t believe in so instead of writing tips on how to see auras correctly I thought I’d write out some top tips on methods to avoid. Because you don’t need to know how to juggle to know you can’t juggle elephants.

Be aware that auras are a spiritual phenomenon, not a scientific one. There are a lot of sources out there which claim auras are a physical thing which can be measured. The term ‘biomagnetic sheath’ is sometimes used instead of the term aura or in conjunction with it. If the source you are using claims that there is a real scientific backing to auras then please read that source very, very critically.

Aura cameras don’t take photos of your aura. Linked to point one, the cameras that claim to take photos of your aura at psychic fairs and similar are unfortunately bogus. If actual photos could be taken then this would be due to some sort of energy hitting the camera and so scientists would be able to detect this energy too. The difference in aura colours shown by these cameras can be heat related (like a mood ring) or simply set on a particular colour.

Colours - when is an aura not an aura? Colours produce auras of their opposites if you stare at them long enough. An easy way to see what I mean by this is to take a small piece of card in a block of one colour and rest it on a sheet of white paper. Look at it for a minute or so and then yank away the card whilst keeping your gaze where it is and you will see the opposite colour appear on it. A similar thing can happen whilst trying to see auras so be aware of which colours contrast against each other (red/green, yellow/purple, blue/orange) and if the auras you see follow these pairings then see if it is at all possible to double check (a hat to hide the hair that’s dyed bright red perhaps, removing a blue jacket or popping a jacket on over a purple jumper).

Take care of yourselves and don’t look for auras when ill! This is of course a good tip in general but sleep deprivation, lack of food or water and many other things can make it difficult to see what’s really there and perfectly possible to see what isn’t. I’ve seen a lecturer throw imaginary sparkles in the air due to sleep deprivation so this is fairly important if you want to be working on any physical or psychic senses.

Relax and have fun. Not so much a warning on this one as a handful of general tips. Chose a white background to see the aura against. Remind yourself that there is no pressure to see anything right away and allow yourself to relax. If there is a tea or incense blend that helps you to relax or that you use in other psychic endeavours, now would be a great time for it. Go through some basic exercises with your own energy before trying to sense auras of others. A bathroom mirror is a great place to practice seeing your own aura (and bathrooms are generally white and so a great background for this). When you start trying this out on others then begin on friends who don’t mind standing about and won’t judge anything you do or don’t see.

I hope this helps someone, enjoy!

[parkyrisawitch]

For the Wolf Moon I also splurged and got myself this journal for making a more formal grimoire. I'm kind of using @2019grimoirecchallenge to get myself started.

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

Hello hello!

As I’m working on the grimoire prompts over this weekend I’ve decided that this challenge is going to be an extension and expansion of my previous challenge from 2019.

@2019grimoirecchallenge for those interested in that years prompts.

What I’ll be working toward with this years challenge is to take those prompts and push deeper into them. Deeper into our personal practices and into the why’s and how’s rather than just the surface level witchcraft most common on this site.

There will still be plenty of fun prompts. But this challenge will be more thought provoking and introspective.

I can’t wait till it officially begins on January first and am so excited to be running it again!

M.G.

Mod Hazel

[tea-rabbits]

@2019grimoirecchallenge

Another piece from last week’s prompts

[thepatchworkcrow]

My Reference Guide for the Elements

I’ve made another post about how I don’t really use the elemental system for invoking the quarters, but wanted to take a little time to explore each individual element for this week’s @2019grimoirecchallenge prompts, so without further ado...

Fire:

What does it represent? Fire represents the passionate and volatile emotions: anger, lust, excitement, etc. It is energy, and motivation: the heat of the sun that warms the earth, the promise of summer and the freedom it gives us. It is change, metamorphosis, chemistry: the way a phoenix is reborn, the way one transmutes lead into gold. It’s the craftsman’s forge that makes raw material into something refined and useful. Fire is inspiration: a spark of life, or insight. It is the fire of the hearth: a warmth and a comfort, a gathering place for friends and family, the heat that cooks out food.

Deities or myths associated with it in my practice? I have a couple of deities I work with who are associated with Fire; they feel closest to Brighid and Gofannon the Smith, but I’m still feeling out my relationship with them.

How do I connect with this element? I connect to this element by lighting candles and watching their flames, by sitting beside a campfire with friends, by tracing the patterns of constellations in the night sky, by soaking up the warmth of the sun.

How do I use this element in my practice? I use a lot of candles in my practice. For me, candle magic is the easiest method of spells, because I just carve sigils into colored candles and light them to carry my intent. I keep fire lit on my altar: in a hearth-like piece and in the lantern devoted to my patron goddess.

What kinds of magic can be done with this element? Almost any kind of spellwork can use candles. I also give offerings to the fire to transform them from physical form to energy that is given to my gods. I light fire as guiding light. I offer myself into the metaphorical fires to be reforged and renewed (this would be like visualization work).

Air:

What does it represent? Air represents the realms of the mind: thought, communication, logic. It is clarity, truth, justice. It is the realm of the abstract and our capacity to think in the abstract. It deals with dreams, memories, prophecy.

Deities or myths associated with it in my practice? I can’t think outright of any deities I personally work with whom I associate with this element, though my lantern goddess and The Hunt both make themselves known with birds, clouds, and wind.

How do I connect with this element? My favorite method of connecting with this element is being up somewhere sort of high on a gusty day and letting the wind whip around me. Cloud gazing/scrying, and observing the night sky are also ways that I connect with this element.

How do I use this element in my practice? The element of air seems to be used mostly for omens and messages. I hear birds on the wind, see the riders in the storm clouds rolling in, feel the rush of the Hunt in a blustering. It lets me know that magic is afoot and that something is happening.

What kinds of magic can be done with this element? I like cloud scrying a lot: making note of what I see in the clouds and trying to interpret the images. I sometimes shout my worries to the wind to let them be carried far away from me.

Water:

What does it represent? Water is the realm of emotions, wisdom, peace, healing, depth. Water connects us to the ways between our own world and the other realms. It is the life blood of our planet, and so echoed in our own blood. It is the womb of the universe that gave forth all life. It connects us to the unseen, the mysterious, the realms of those gone before. It activates our intuition. It is ever-changing, ever ebbing and flowing. Where it brings peace, it may also smother the unprepared in its crushing depth and gravity. Water cleanses and heals.

Deities or myths associated with it in my practice? I associate my patron goddess with the water. I also associate water with The Oran Mor, and the primordial seas from which all life began. I also work with now and again with Manannan MacLir, whom is associated with the sea.

How do I connect with this element? My entire life has been spent around water: I grew up in freshwater marshes on the banks of a river, and alongside one of the largest lakes in the world. I’ve held a deep fascination with boats, sailing, and all things associated therewith forever. I connect to this element by standing barefoot in the rain, or wading through the cool muddy puddles that collect in my parents’ yard. I sit beside the river or marsh and write, draw, read tarot.

How do I use this element in my practice? Water for me has most been used for cleansing in my practice. I often stand out in a storm if I’m feeling overwhelmed or will use water to cleanse myself if a storm is not coming anytime soon. I sometimes float in a pool or a lake and let myself release all the tensions, worries, and negativity that I’ve been carrying around- this is also easy enough to do in a shower.

What kinds of magic can be done with this element? Healing, cleansing/purifying rituals can be done with water. I also like to scry with water, and will use water in my visualizations of moving between our own world and the realms where my spirit guides/gods dwell.

Earth:

What does it represent? Earth represents groundedness, stability, prosperity. It’s the realm of all the things we need on a physical and mundane level to survive: money, health, our food, shelter, etc. etc. It’s the foundation block we need to keep us steady and able to reach towards other things.

Deities or myths associated with it in my practice? I heavily associate my patron god/leader of the Hunt with the element of earth.

How do I connect with this element? I like to walk barefoot in the grass, sit beneath and talk to trees, work with clay, and meditate with crystals when it comes to connecting with earth.

How do I use this element in my practice? How don’t I use this element in my practice? I think at this point, my connection with the natural world has become so intuitive and so integral to my practice, that I don’t necessarily think about it often. But: I speak to and make friends with tree spirits, try to clean up local wild spaces, and go somewhere natural and green when I need to ground and find my center again.

What kinds of magic can be done with this element? You can use earth for things like: health, money, the home, care for your pets. Bury things in the dirt. Sculpt poppets or figures for offerings out of clay. Use crystals to focus your intent towards a certain energy. The possibilities are endless.

Spirit:

Truth be told, I don’t really use this element now that I’ve moved away from Wicca. For a long time I understood it as the culmination of the other four elements: where they merged and blended they created life energy. Spirit wove connections between the elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth.

In my current vocabulary, “Spirit” would be replaced by Nwyfre. It is vital force that flows through all things. It is the energy latent in every aspect of our universe. It is the humming melody of the Oran Mor, if you’re able to hear it. It’s not something that is outright used and accessed as the other four elements because it is inherent in literally everything. For me, it is more an element that is understood, in the sense that I acknowledge its presence in the world around me, and know that its intricate webs of song and energy weave between myself and all things.

[losgunna]

My page on full moons for the @2019grimoirecchallenge . The tabs to the right help me keep track of what I want to focus on with my magical studies each month. 🌕

[ovaettrgrimoire]

Correspondence Activity: Research and list your local flora.

Flora of Northern Texas, Part 1

---- Trees ----

Cedar Elm

The most common tree to be found in Northern Texas is the Cedar Elm tree. It is a deciduous tree native to Southern North America and is seen in countless areas of Texas. This is the only tree that flowers and seeds in Fall in the area as well. Folk names include the “Elven Tree” and simply Elm too. The name “Elven Tree” comes from it having been noted to be a tree that was used for coffins commonly, but most importantly it is in folklore seen in the Underworld or at crossroads leading to the land of faerie.  It’s correspondences include Mercury and Saturn, the colour turquoise, the element of Water, and communication and relationships.  Medicinally, Elm is known to aid in menstrual pains if drinken in tea or added to external wounds. It also aids cold, cough, diahreha and internal bleeding if an infusion from the inner bark is used.  Metaphysically, it aids in balancing of the heart and attracting love, protection, and aids in sharpening psychic abilities. Carrying it can attract love, but also protect from lightning strikes supposedly.  ----

 Live Oak

One of the largest types of trees, an evergreen, the Live Oak is common in North Texas. To the point we often even have streets named ‘Elm’ and ‘Oak’ in many cities in Texas. (Both Denton and Dallas feature “Live Oak St.” and “Oak” and “Elm” streets.) They commonly stand up to 50 feet tall and have stout trunks of 4 feet in diameter. They love well-drained soil and appreciate dryer areas. Formally used in shipbuilding for how sturdy their wood is as well as wagon wheel hubs. Nowadays you primarily see it used as a landscaping tree for its great amount of shade that it provides. The Texas specific species, Live Oak, is actually smaller than most Oak trees and also are multi-trunked typically. They have prized naturally curved limbs of great beauty. It’s roots mimic it’s upper part as however large and long the top is, is how deep and vast the roots are below. It’s correspondences include Jupiter, Mars, the element of Water, the symbolism of sovereignty, rulership, power, strength and endurance, generosity, protection, justice, nobility, honesty and bravery. Associated with the colour Gold as well as the metal Gold. This is the tree most associated with The Green Man mythos. It’s Sabbat is the Summer Solstice. Folk names include “Jove’s Nuts” and “Juglans.” Medicinally, in its bark carries strong astringent properties. Internally it helps diarrhea and dysentery. It can externally be used to treat hemmorhoids, inflamed gums, and wounds or eczema. Magically/metaphysically, they say to dream of resting under an oak tree means you will have a long life and wealth. Climbing one means your dreams means one’s relative will have a hard time in the near future. Fallen oak in dreams corresponds to loss in love. - Carrying and acorn from an Oak tree will aid in fighting off illnesses, pains, and is symbolic for immortality. Carrying any piece of oak draws in good luck as long as one asks for permission and shows gratitude to the Oak. It also is a tree associated with the boosting of energy levels and the ability to manifest our goals. Oak was also the traditional wood burnt at Litha. Oak trees are considered metropolises for fae folk. Some say the oak is one of the most powerful and sacred of trees.   ---

Eldarica Pine

An evergreen tree that keeps its foliage year round as well, the Eldarica is fond of dry and hot areas like North Texas. They also tolerate cold climates too, so fit right in to Texas’ oddball weather patterns where we sometimes get incredibly bitter cold winters that shift back to insanely hot at Spring and Summer. They grow between 30 feet and 60 feet tall with a spread of 25 to 40 feet at maturity. They give off a delicate mild fragrance and are commonly planted as wind breaking plants, though they are the most open and airy tree to be native to North Texas.  It is known as the Afghan, Mondel, Elder or Calabrian pine as well in history. Correspondences include the planet Mars, the elements of air and fire, the stone of Emerald and symbolism of birth, abundance, health, fertility, fortune, and love. Its colour is black. It also is associated with the rune “K” or Kenaz. Other folk names for it include the “Windmill Palm” or the “Blume (dragon’s blood)” Medicinally, it is an antiseptic, expectorant and tonic. Infusion of the needles makes for an inhalent to relieve congestion. Needle tea can also aid with healing the bladdar and urinary tract, as well as kidney problems. The needles and shoots are rich in vitamin C. Cones and needles in the bath helps with breathing disorders, skin issues and rheumatic pain. It’s essential oil is used in aromatherapy for antiviral, antiseptic and bactericidal. It also doubles as a deodorant. Metaphysically medically, it is good to help with suffering of guilt or having a hard time being satisfied with one’s achievements. A renewal of energy can be gained from sitting under a pine tree and spending time meditating with it. Magically, it attracts prosperity and purifies ritual areas and new homes. It helps one “Stay the course” during difficult times. A pine wand or pine cone kept on an altar will ward off evil influences. Carrying the pine cones will increase the fertility of one’s life (either in mind, creativity, or physical fertility.) It also aids against the pains of old age. Floor washes in pine oil cleanse a space of negativity and ward off illness. Throw pine needles into a winter’s fire for protection, or burn pine incense for purification and divination. Pine branches also help on the bed or under the bed to ward off sickness. Hanging a pine branch over the main door of your house also is known to ensure continuous joy within. The tree encourages taking the overview, encouraging objectivity and farsightedness as well as the importance of cleansing negativity. In part 2, I will go over shrubbery and grasses. 

[joyousofthematrix]

2019 Grimoire Challenge

@2019grimoirecchallenge

Monday: NAME YOUR BOOK!!!

This is the tentative cover for the book. I titled mine “Liber Umbrarum” which is Latin translated as literally Book of Shadows. 

Tuesday: DEDICATION/STATEMENT OF INTENT/BOOK BLESSING

This is a dedication, intent, blessing, and binding sigil all in one. It also serves as a form of protection as well. 

Wednesday: OUTLINE/INDEX

This is the Table of Contents. The sections are staying as they are but the contents under them are all tentative until they are fully in the book. 

Thursday: ORGANIZE YOUR RECOURSES

Over course this isn’t a full list, but I have a section planned out for my physical library and my online library/resource list and text copies of the online resources in case they go offline or if the internet goes down, whichever happens first.

Friday: NEW PAGE!!!!!

The New page I decided to start with was the Wheel of the Year.