What Is a Grimoire? History, Myths & How to Make Your Own

What even is a grimoire? Does it have to be leather-bound, handwritten, and passed down through generations? (Spoiler: absolutely not.) This week, we're diving into the history of grimoires, Book of Shadows, and magical journals, exploring where they came from, how they've evolved over time, and why there's so much confusion around what they're "supposed" to be.

We're also sharing what our own grimoires actually look like, from digital notebooks and Notion pages to chaotic journals, collages, and junk journaling. Along the way, we bust some of the biggest grimoire myths, chat about the surprisingly fascinating history behind them, and share plenty of ideas to help you create a magical record that actually works for you. 

Whether you're starting your very first grimoire or looking for fresh inspiration, this episode is your reminder that there are no grimoire police, and your practice gets to look however you want it to.

🎴Enrollment to Tarot 101 with Madison & Anthony is open and starts August 12th 2026 https://shopspellcrafter.com/products/tarot-101-the-virtual-cohort

📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done

Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, magical downloads, and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic

🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait

🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch

🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki

🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 

🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/

🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3 

Let us know your thoughts:

✨ Demystify Magic Instagram: @demystifymagic

✨ Molly’s instagram: @m0dizzl3

✨ Madison’s instagrams: @madisonlillian.jpeg and @healinghedgewitch  and @shopspellcrafter