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What Is a Grimoire? A grimoire (from the Old French word for "grammar") is a book of magickal knowledge.   Since the Middle Ages, the term, "grammar" has been used to refer to a book of basic instruction, stemming from the Latin grammars that were the foundation of school instruction.  Even today, elementary school, in which the basics of education are imparted, is sometimes referred to as "grammar school." The grimoires or "Black Books" of the Middle Ages and Renaissance were handbooks/cookbooks of the magickal arts and sciences, originally hand copied, and later among the first books to be printed on presses.  They contained tables of

astrological correspondences, lists of magickal beings, ritual procedures, and directions for such activities as making magickal tools and regalia, casting spells, mixing medicines, potions, oils and incenses, making talismans, amulets, and sigils, and summoning unearthly entities.  A large proportion of the material in these grimoires can be traced back to Hebrew and Latin texts of Hermetic  (meaning magickal, after Hermes, the Greek god of magick) lore from the period of 100 - 400 CE.   Some famous historical grimoires include:  The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage , The Sworn Book of Honorius, The Black Pullet, The Greater Key of Solomon, and The Lesser Key of Solomon.  In the late 19th century, several of these texts were reclaimed by neo-Masonic magical organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Ordo Templi Orientis.  In the mid twentieth century, Gerald Gardner included material from these organizations in compiling the original Wiccan "Book of Shadows."    What's the Difference Between a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows? Some magickal folk use these terms interchangeably.  For others, a Grimoire is a magickal textbook and a Book of Shadows is a magickal journal/notebook. In traditional Wicca, a Book of Shadows is a text containing the rituals, practices, and wisdom of a particular Wiccan tradition.  It is copied by hand from that of one's initiator (high priestess or priest), who copied it from his or her initiator. The traditional material it contains may not be changed, although additions may be made.  Some of the Wicca keep a personal Book of Shadows in addition to that of their tradition.  This is typically for individual use and is not always passed on to one's initiates.  Today, many Wiccans keep an electronic document (disk or website) instead of a hand-written one. What Is COGA's On-line Grimoire? COGA's On-Line Grimoire is a collection of articles dealing with some of the subjects included in our tradition's Five-Path Training Program based on the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.  Each article has its own page, which can be accessed by clicking on the links in the alphabetized index below.  The color of the writing indicates the elemental correspondence of each entry:  green for earth, yellow for air, red for fire, blue for water, and purple for spirit.

Administration Alchemy Alphabets Amulets Astral Projection Astronomy Augury: Omens and Portents Botany/Wortcunning Camping & Survival Skills Chakras Channeling Color Comparative Religion Conjury Cooking Correspondences Counseling Dance Divination Dreams Elements Esbats Foundations Garb Geography Geology Glossary Healing History Law Leadership Library Lore Meditation Moon Phases Math Music Mythology Names Nature Nutrition Old Ways People Polarity Psychic Development Reincarnation Ritual Construction Ritual Practice Sabbats Self Knowledge Sewing Sigils and Seals Signs and Symbols Spellcraft Talismans Tantra Teaching Tools Wheel of the Year Yoga