I'm creating a Voodoo/Hoodoo grimoire, need opinions.

[Zhr Morgana]

Personally I am not sure whether or not a grimoire created with Hoodoo and/or Voodoo influence would have too much similarities with the more common "Book of Shadows", but I am going for it anyway. My faith is more or less a blend of various paths, the top three being Hoodoo, New Orleans Voodoo and Witchcraft. For the most part I focus more on the magical practices such as Hoodoo and Witchcraft more than the religious faiths.

I was wondering how others of similar faiths and practices have created their own grimoires...most especially what information was included aside from personal/original spells, rituals and rootwork. I have an idea of how the layout will be and the method of design (I plan to use an old fashioned dipping pen), but it's deciding what reference points to include in the book which is difficult, giving the wide range of subjects I could write about and the limited amount of space in the blank book itself, which is just under 200 pages.

I have numerous books which can tell me anything I want to know, but I want to make something which I can use as my sole source for magic and gris-gris, without having to cross-reference between various other books, and that I can eventually pass on to someone else as my spiritual legacy.

I know, I got my work cut out for me.

Any suggestions and help that you are willing to give, I will gladly accept.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Whoooooooo-boy! You have set yourself a task:hahugh:....but its doable. It is going to be work though. I don't have time this morning to get into a bunch..but I have a few ideas for you....so I'll be back later (this evening or over the weekend) to jot them down.

[Zhr Morgana]

Thanks very much :D can't wait to see them!

[Kaliel]

Mmmm Samantha Webster on Ebay creates the most beautiful books.

They have a bunch of different designs in their store, this is the one I got from them.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=360103641766&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=023

[Teresa]

I have a collection of Binders in which I can place information that I come across. Currently there are 7 different books because I have attempted to retrieve information that I lost during a flood that came from my grandparents.

I find that the binders are great because they allow the freedom to change things around and also back and forth between them. You can take and cover them or decorate them as you wish.


Something similar that you may want to think about would be a scrapbook type of book to hold your things in. Some thing that you can take the papers out and rearrange is what I think is best because when you get older you will see things in a different light perhaps than when you added something. You may even wish to make your own cover and back and use ribbons to string thru your pages. This can be done with some stiff cardboard and some kind of covering of your choice bonded to it. Make holes with a hole puncher. Find some small pretty ribbon and cut long lengths so your book can expand as you grow.

Decide how you wish to section things off. Perhaps Herbal section, Medicinal remedies, Deities, Magical workings, Recipes, just to give you some ideas. :thumbsup:

I hope this helps you a bit.

[Zhr Morgana]

Kaliel: Yes those are very beautiful, but way out of my price range :bigredgri



I have a collection of Binders in which I can place information that I come across. Currently there are 7 different books because I have attempted to retrieve information that I lost during a flood that came from my grandparents.

I find that the binders are great because they allow the freedom to change things around and also back and forth between them. You can take and cover them or decorate them as you wish.


Something similar that you may want to think about would be a scrapbook type of book to hold your things in. Some thing that you can take the papers out and rearrange is what I think is best because when you get older you will see things in a different light perhaps than when you added something. You may even wish to make your own cover and back and use ribbons to string thru your pages. This can be done with some stiff cardboard and some kind of covering of your choice bonded to it. Make holes with a hole puncher. Find some small pretty ribbon and cut long lengths so your book can expand as you grow.

Decide how you wish to section things off. Perhaps Herbal section, Medicinal remedies, Deities, Magical workings, Recipes, just to give you some ideas. :thumbsup:

I hope this helps you a bit.


It does Teresa, thanks for the ideas on different sections.

For the last several years I have also been using a three-ring binder for what was my Book of Shadows. I have one for the things I've written myself and another for all the pages I've printed off the Internet, as there's no way I can have it all in one. I agree with you that is a wonderful way to keep all the information together plus it's easy to add in more pages and such, but right now I'm looking to create something more formal, that can last through the years because I have been known to be hard on some books. I'd tear through anything handmade within a few years, believe me!

What I am using is an unlined hardbound book, click here to see what I mean (http://www.amazon.com/Blank-Black-Book-Shadows-Pentagram/dp/1932548157/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232166957&sr=8-7), and I will be writing it out with an old fashioned dipping pen and ink. I already know what to use for the book and what to write it with, but I am asking for opinions on content, especially from those who draw their influences from Voodoo and/or Hoodoo. I'd like to see how their suggestions vary from what is considered the typical Book of Shadows.

[Teresa]

Well, each practitioner will be different.


I have things like when to plant different herbs through out the year, also when is the best time to wildcraft things in my area. When is the best time to perform certain types of spells, different gems and their uses, what colors mean to me for use in spell work, moon phases, a section on ritual baths, How to spiritually clean my home, a list of different forms of divination and notes about each such as Tea leaf reading notes, scrying, I ching, cowrie shells, palm reading notes, pendulum notes, reading regular playing card notes, reading tarot notes, a collection of correspondences for different specific situations so its together at my finger tips in one spot, my own magical substitution list.

Notes on sacred space, different things about the home, like things to do before moving into a new home, wards, different types of protection, spirit traps, charms against sickness etc.

Dealing with work and employment, dealing with hateful or obnoxious people, different kinds of waters and their uses, different kinds of earth and their uses, what flowers are good for what things.

There are also notes on candle magic and how I set up the altar for different spells, poppet magic notes, talismans, etc. I have a list of deities that I have experience with and details about them such as favorite foods for offerings, a section on Psalms and what each one is good for, Section on the changing of the seasons and things that I like to do in celebration, favorite offerings during those times etc.

I do have lists of Saints and what they will help with and specific prayers to each one. Also Prayers to open services with, Different veves, Chants, notes on drum beats, notes on clothing for different ceremonies etc.

These are just some things off the top of my head in no specific order along with those previously mentioned and then some I didn't recall to even list. I have 7 binders currently and I have been building these throughout my life, to me they are a work in progress.



As far as a book, you could take a sheet of wood and cut it to make a back and a front drill holes in it and wood is pretty sturdy. you could use a wood burning kit to make your own personal design and still use ribbons to hold the book together as it expanded.

When I do decide to combine all of my binders, I will be using something similar to what I am suggesting to you. I know the exact tree stump my wood will come from for my book too.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Teresa has pretty well covered most of my suggestions. I also have pictures or very specific drawings of plants and herbs...from seed or root all the way through to the flower if they have one and/or a preserved specimen of the plants. I have pictures of any stones I may use, pictures of any bones I may use, specific directions on the proper ways to make and offer sacrifice (not all sacrifice is blood..I rarely use blood), directions on how to make and use deconcoctions, tinctures, poultices, and plasters; spells for various things, directions on how to gather the components of workings. Some of my pages are quite decorative, others quite plain depending upon who created them. My "grimoire" is quite literally my grandmother's old "cookbook". It is an handmade book that you can add and remove pages by unlacing the "binding" (which is currently a long piece of leather thong). Among many other things it has: spells, workings, herblore, stone lore, wood lore, cleansings and, yes, recipes for foods and homemade cosmetics. Everyone in the family (we are a family tradition, born and raised in our path even though some choose to not practice as adults) has a copy and anytime anyone adds something to their own book they tell the other family members about what they've created (yes even food stuff) and ask if we would like to add it to our books. If someone says yes, the creator makes copies to pass along to all the family members who have said yes. When someone in the family has a child...everyone gets together and we start that child's copy of "Granny's Cookbook". We are currently working on 4 copies! Its not too bad though...we kind of divide the workload out so no one person has too much to do and having computers is AWESOME for the work...we can just "Scan and Print" or print out what we already have stored on the computers. Special things are written out by hand though...most of what is just printed out is recipes for food and "basics".

[Zhr Morgana]

Thanks guys, there were some wonderful ideas there!

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I welcome all that you are willing to give.