My journey into the Grimoirum Verum
*reposted with additional material*
My journey into the Grimoirum Verum is not exactly a new thing. I have long studied the book using Jake Stratton-Kent’s rendition in the Trve Grimoire. Most of you already know that JSK’s work is widely considered the gold standard in the field. My recent endeavor to work the GV system came in a roundabout way.
In recent years, most of my practice has been focused on communicating with lesser-known or unknown spirits. Specifically, those from Ancient Egypt and related to my patron Thoth. My reasoning being that it would be best to work with spirits who were already predisposed to see me as an ally. You can find more on that work here:
https://emergentanimism.tumblr.com/post/188406957484/egyptian-goetia
https://emergentanimism.tumblr.com/post/189192580799/egyptian-goetia-are-you-the-gatekeeper
In the course of developing that system, I had already created several tools, some of which I believe still useful when working within the GV. It is my intention to create the tools as described in the GV, but I’m a big believer in getting started and progressing as I go. Those tools will come later, and I think that starting the initial contact would be helpful in their creation.
So, why the Verum? I’m at a place in my current work where I believe making contact with different, perhaps more accessible and known spirits, would be helpful for comparison. And if I’m totally honest, it seemed to me that the spirits I was working with were open to relationships, but not pacts. I don’t know if it’s simply not something they do, or if they have limited ability to effect change on a material level. I am far from a “get laid, get paid” type of magus. I’m much more interested in learning about the nature of spirits and the universe. But hey, inflation is a bitch. I’m sure a lot of us are having difficulties making ends meet. Not to mention some material prosperity could be helpful in my work. I’m planning a trip to Egypt this year, which I’m certain will expand my knowledge, but that’s not a cheap endeavor.
I picked the Verum specifically as it seemed to me one of more accessible grimoires. It certainly has its challenges, but not as involved as say the Ars Goetia. Plus, the Verum seems to have a less adversarial approach when it comes to dealing with the spirits themselves.
I think it’s undeniable that making sigils on parchment is a major part of the Verum’s system, so that’s where I started. I’ve no moral issues with killing a goat to make parchment, as long as the rest of the animal is used. However, I can’t afford a goat. Don’t have the facilities to keep one. Don’t have the facilities to slaughter one. Don’t have the facilities to make parchment and lack pretty much the entire skill set necessary. Right from the get-go, I knew compromises had to be made.
I have long believed that calling upon YHVH, the God of the Israelites, the Christian God, as part of the incantations in all the Medieval and later grimoires, where a way for the magus to develop agency. It’s a statement of alliances, that give the magus authority to deal with the spirits. I know plenty of people use it with success, and many shift their perception of these beings to a more universal aspect. My own antinomian tendencies make me shy from this method. In fact, I thought it best to gain agency through beings that I actually did have relationships and alliances with. In my own case, Djhuety, AKA Thoth. With that in mind I replaced the parchment with some high-quality Egyptian papyrus and prepared the parchment using symbolic ritual.
I started by blessing and consecrating the tools I would be using with my own standard consecration ritual. Every magus should have one. It’s a good tool to have. I also have my own recipe for holy water, which is also a good thing to have around. The tools included, a knife, my own standard ritual knife I have been using for years. A collection of river stones. A jar of salt. A red pen (being a devotee of Thoth I can’t even begin to describe my special relationship with pens). An envelope, which would replace the clay jar called for in the Verum. A goat statue. And a lancet, which being a diabetic is something I always have on hand.
It began with symbolically slaying the goat statue. I did so in the name of Astaroth, since Astaroth would be the first spirit I wanted to contact. In the GV, Astaroth rules over the Americas. In essence I was asking their permission to work with the legion of spirits under them. I used a slightly modified incantation for symbolically skinning the goat.
“All you Netjeru, come and be here and deign to infuse into this skin the power that it may be correctly preserved so all that is written upon it may become perfected.”
I performed the benediction of the salt and covered the papyrus.
Here’s where my impatience brought on innovation. I didn’t want to leave the papyrus out in the sun all day subject to the weather, and frankly, didn’t want to wait that long. In my practice, I give water to my ancestors every night. The changing of the water on the ancestor altar is the symbolic end of my day. So, I placed the papyrus under a grow light I have for the plants in my temple, meditated, and then changed out the water. Symbolically leaving the papyrus in the sun for a day. Then inscribed on the envelope the sigils that go on the jar in the GV instructions and tucked that into my over-sized copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead for the night.
In the morning, I performed the blessing of the knife.
“O holiest Djhuety put into this knife the power to cleanse this skin. through thy holy name Thoth. Amen”
Scraped the papyrus with the knife and placed on it the river stones.
“O Djhuety, most puissant and most powerful Lord, allow that these stones may stretch this skin and remove from them all wickedness, so they may possess the required power. Amen.”
Then the blessing for protection.
“Nu, Nuit, Hehu, Hehut, Kek, Kekuit, Amun, Amunet – Stand guard over this parchment, in order that no specter may take charge of it.”
This second day was a Tuesday, the day of Mars. Of course, my head was swimming all day and my impatience once again prompted me. I would perform the inscribing of the sigils in the hour of Mars at night. Also, why not go ahead and try to start a pact now?
Preparation began shortly before the hour of Mars. I set up all my goetic equipment – circle, black obsidian mirror, stone pyramids, and a REM pod. All the temple candles were lit. I performed an ablution with my holy water and anointed myself with Abramelin Oil. Performed a condensed version of the Headless Rite and Invocation of Thoth. Then the lighting of the incense.
“I burn this Astaroth, in the name and honor of Astaroth.”
Then the evocation of Scirlin.
“HELOY + TAU + VARAF + PANTHON + HOMINORCUM + ELEMIATH + SERUGEATH + AGLA + ON + MA’AT + CASILY.”
I sat down to inscribe the sigil, and then meditated.
Here’s where I need to mention that I have two principal deities that I work with. The aforementioned Thoth, and the goddess Babalon. I was already on board with the concept that Astaroth is, etymologically, the goddess Astarte. A goddess somewhat similar to Babalon. As I mediated, I felt as if Babalon had taken a great interest in the proceedings. She communicated in thoughts Her take on the nature of Scirlin. That it is an office. That these beings can “crawl between worlds.” Through this ability they have made relationships with many spirits. Because of this ability know many secrets. Scirlin will not directly tell you these secrets but may be coaxed to leading one in the direction of discovering them.
I’ve never had much luck with the black mirror. This time was different. While meditating on Scirlin, I did see a pair of red, glowing eyes flash across the mirror. The mirror also seemed to change colors and fog up.
Then the evocation of Astaroth.
“Astaroth, Ador, Cameso, Valuerituf, Mareso, Lodir, Cadomir, Aluiel, Calniso, Tely, Plorim, Viordy, Cureviorbas, Cameron, Vesturiel, Vulnavij, Benez meus Calmiron, Noard, Nisa Chenibranbo Calevodium, Brazo Tabrasol, Come, Astaroth, Amen.”
Once again, I sat down to inscribe the sigil and then meditate. The communications were less clear this time. The mirror fogged up and changed colors, mostly a pulsing red. Babalon once again communicated, though this time with less clarity, implying that She and Astaroth were a part of some triple goddess alliance. Though that seemed less certain to me, and perhaps a way of describing something much more complex.
I then inscribed my personal sigil as instructed in the GV with my initials. After, I spoke the pact and also inscribed it under the sigil of Astaroth.
“I am the Magus Threskiornis – Scribe of Thoth. Let us enter into treaty. Queen Astaroth, I shall praise thy name. I shall devote my saint’s blood to you once per week. Call upon me for favor. I ask that you provide for me great prosperity in worldly goods. To protect me from spirits that would harm me and those I love. And to prevent illness and injury in my home.”
Then I wrapped my finger in the “virgin spun” thread. Another work-around for this one. Before the ritual began, I took a piece of thread and wrapped it around a statue of a Spring maiden that I have. Then pricked my finger and blooded all three sigils.
I took a coin that I have, bearing the sigil of Astaroth from the Ars Goetia, and wrapped it in the parchment and placed it in my right breast pocket. Slept with it on my nightstand and will be carrying it with me as much as possible. When not in my pocket, it will be placed on my altar. I had pretty restless sleep after that, but no coherent dreams or messages.
The goal now is to create the rest of the tools as described in the Verum. During that time, continue trying to communicate with Astaroth in ritual, and fulfill my part of the pact.
Praise Astaroth!
Addendum










