I'm talking about Grimoires, Books of Mirrors, Books of Shadows, or any other book you might use to record various parts of your spiritual path. This can go from witchcraft related information or correspondences to simply record your dreams and delving into the meaning. I'm going to talk about some of the different types of spiritual journals, talk a little about how I use my personal spiritual journals, and then give ideas, tips, and tricks on things you can incorporate into your spiritual stationery.
I am writing this to help those who have a tough time with their spiritual stationery as I did when I was first starting out. Maybe you feel like you don't know where to start? What should you call your book(s)? What should you use? What could you put into your book(s)? I understand that there may be others who want to record their path, but feel like something is preventing them from doing so. This is to help those people, but this might be helpful for anyone who is trying to establish regular documentation of your spiritual path. :)
Generally, when we talk about a Grimoire, a Book of Shadows, and a Book of Mirrors we are referring to three different types of journals. A Grimoire would normally only holds your finalized spells and recipes. A Book of Shadows if generally for information about correspondences of the things/tools you work with or anything that pertains to what you use in your craft. Finally, your Book of Mirrors is kind of like your personal journal. Inner thoughts about your spirituality, things you want to contemplate, your beliefs about magick/the universe. You would also normally work out things in your Book of Mirrors before you put them into your Grimoire once they're finalized.
That was just a little bit of information about the general 'definitions' on these three different kinds of spiritual journals. However, I would like to say that you don't have to have three separate books in order to document your path. You can even combine them all into one, or only have two books, or even have so many books that you feel like you have a library. Don't feel afraid to create your own versions of spiritual stationery, or giving them your own names. Your path is your own and you can do with it as you please, and this also means you can do whatever you want to do with how you decide to record your path. It's different for everyone.
How I use my Spiritual Stationery
I have three books that I use, but I don't have a Book of Shadows. I have a Grimorie (Which you could say is a mixture between a grimoire and a BOS), a Book of Mirrors, and my Book of Spirit. Personally, I not only put spells and recipes in my Grimoire, but I also put poetry and dedication pages to my deities and spirit companions. My Book of Mirrors not only holds my thoughts on magick, but it also holds poetry dedicated to my deities, my dreams, and all of the tarot readings I have done for myself. As for my Book of Spirit, that is actually a spiritual art journal that I am using to connect with my path/craft/spirituality through the lens of art.
What to use as Spiritual Stationery?
You can use anything. You can decide to use a physical journal that you have to write in (like I do) or you can make one that is digital. There are a lot of different apps that you can find that will let you have different notebooks in one app so you can organize things the way you want. Evernote is something I use (not for spiritual stuff) and it has the ability to create notebooks and different kinds of entries. But you can totally also use physical binders of folders if that is what you wanna do! Remember, this is for you. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.
If you are one who feels like you can't start or continue with an actual journal you have to write in (maybe you feel like you won't make it 'pretty' enough, or that you might ruin the journal), maybe think about starting a digital one.
Though you might be like me, and you might really, really want to have a physical book. A big problem with this is having a really nice book and messing it up, or making a page you don’t like. Here is some advice for that: You can always cover a page with another page. Just glue it on top. Or even tear the page out. This is your book and you can do whatever you want with it. Also, remember that's it doesn't have to start off as pretty as you would like it. You can add things as you go along to previous pages. The book never has to be finished until you say so.
Seriously, the whole idea of covering pages with pasted pages has saved my life when it comes to having a physical spiritual journal. I would start a book, hate what I put in there, and then I would rip the pages out and use the book for something else. Now I just cover up a page. Because of this, my Grimoire is nearly done, and my Book of Mirrors is halfway done. These are now my most important tools.
I'd also like to mention having a rough draft, and multiple if you feel like you need more. Think about it. Your path can change at any time. There are some things that might work for you now but won't later. This is okay! Don't worry about this! But you might not want to put alot of energy into a really big expensive book that you won't really use.
Information to put into your Spiritual Stationery
I would categorize these things into what I would put in what book, but I am just going to let you decide :) I will split them up based on 'basics' and 'personal' stuff, though, just for some organization for this post.
Please take note that you don't have to include everything or even anything at all that I've listed here! These are just ideas to help those who don't know what do to! Also, some may feel that a few of these things listed under 'basics' are actually personal things, and that's okay! Do what you want with these! Put them in any book you want!
Enchanting/Charging items
Ingredient Correspondences (Botanicals, Crystals, Colors, Misc, etc...)
Myths and lore about your area
A page for your Astral home
A page for things to use to summon you once you've passed on
And with that, I am finished. I hope this post has helped anyone in any way. I remember never being able to keep a Grimoire, like ever, and these things have helped me with motivation and inspiration. :)
Peace to you and yours! 🌹❤️
