Merry meet everyone! Fun and chaos to all (in a good way).
After weeks, I’ve been focusing on myself and my shadow work. I find myself questioning if my book of shadows also passes as a grimoire? Personally I call it my ‘book of everything’, but Ive read alot that grimoire and book of shadows while both are important and needed, I may have mixed the two together into one.
I have also struggled to dissect tarot card meanings these days even with helping words or the general idea of some of the cards within a deck. Ive also found out there is a etiquette to tarot reading. Though I know of the basic rules, I wonder if there is anymore? Or is it unique to each person? Also! Is there any books out there or sources out there that can help with tarot meanings and the likes?
Your BOS/Grimoire can be what you want. I understand it as the BOS is your workbook/notebook whereas the Grimoire is your knowledge that you wish to pass on. As for your tarot, I suggest starting with the basic deck that is depicted in most books, the Rider-Waite. I also suggest, “Unlocking the Tarot: Create Your Own Keys” by Lisa Papez. She makes the tarot extremely easy to understand and use. She shows you how to make your own “key” words for each card; therefore, freeing you from having to memorize someone else’s interpretation. Remember, all magick is unique, as each individual is unique. There is no ONE, or RIGHT way to do any of it. Have extreme intent, and the universe will work with you and in some cases will lead/show you.
I just wanted to chime in and say I love Lady-Gene’s response. I have different books for different things. One book is for spells and rituals I will never share with anyone else and will take to the grave with me since I am the end of my line. That’s the one I most often refer to as my BoS. Another book is for spells, rituals, chants and such that I guard but will share with certain properly prepared people. Another book is filled with correspondences. The last book is a collection of odds and ends like poetry and reference notes. Do you! Try different things and see what works best for you. The only thing you can do that is wrong, is doing something you don’t feel right about doing. Brightest Blessings!
Thank-you for the kind words. So far, I have 4 spirals that contain my notes and such. I have started now, to have a BOS that has my spells, chants, potions, etc. in it, and stuff I definitely want to remember and have at hand. I also have a separate book that I use for my daily tarot . I like how you have your different ones also. That makes me not feel so “scattered” to have different books since someone else is doing it too. I’m glad to be in your club.
Thank you both so much for such kind words and help. I appreciate your advices and that Im glad to know that its fine to have more than one book for the witchy stuff! Im glad to be here and learn lol.
Also! I love how it all comes down to being what you feel like rather than with actual traditions. Speaking of spells, would either of you have one for attracting work/business to a company/organisation?
I love poetry and writing, therefore, I write all my own spells. I do not write them down, as each one has it’s own unique circumstances. It seems as if you need to attract numbers, more business. Be precise in what you say…..just quick example…elements (god/dess) of the earth, I ask you to help in attracting clients my way…..show me what they need, help me find the correct words to say…. Just a sample, I write my own, and I love rhyme. I look for the need, and which crystal, corner (element) and diety would help me in the endeavor and then write my own. This way you have ALL the intent, your energy is also crafted with you thinking and making your own spell. That is all I can say. I have modified some spells to better fit my need, to basically use them as a jumping off point. I hope this can help you. Lady Gene
For your tarot question, I have three books I’ve been pulling from that I really like and are all very different. The first one goes with any 78-card tarot deck that follows the Rider-Waite Format (I guess I just mean, certain oracle decks would be hard to apply to it), but the 2nd and 3rd are Rider-Waite Deck Specific
1. A little bit of Tarot: An Introduction to Reading Tarot by Cassandra Eason - I’ve had this book for YEARS, but never flipped through it until recently as it just got lost on the shelf, but I absolutely LOVE how this breaks down the Suit cards. It goes into the numerology and the symbolism of the Suits themselves to pull out the meaning from the card. This can be helpful when your learning since it’s like a “code” of sorts. It also has lots of helpful tips and practice on begining readings and I personally think it helps bust a lot of tarot-related myths/beginner anxiety. This author does not believe in reverse cards, as she believes the cards hold the possibility of both interpretations no matter how it’s pulled, suggesting rather, to look at the surrounding cards/context to interpret them.
2. The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot by Johannes Fiebig and Evelyn Bürger - I got this one recently but I really like the style of it. This one breaks down the cards individually based on the small symbols within them like what the background or a piece of it suggests, or what the clothing a character is wearing can mean about their status. It gets very specific and I often find things I’ve never noticed before in the cards. It also has interpretations for card of the day vs love vs career vs general meaning.
3. Tarot: Cards for Divination Wisdom and Self Discovery by Nikkie Jay - I think this one is the least useful for deeper learning, but it is still a lovely book to flip through, some of the word choices are very different and can make you think about new interpretations. If you used a non-traditional deck this could be fun to look for certain themes. This does have reverse definitions for the cards if you use those.
Also advice you didn’t ask for, I have a general rule of thumb that unless something is a closed practice for ethnic/environmental reasons, however you feel called to practice your spirituality is correct. If you feel happy and fulfilled and you’re getting the results you want them who cares!
BOS that has my spells, chants, potions, etc. in it, and stuff I definitely want to remember and have at hand. I also have a separate book that I use for my daily tarot 
. I like how you have your different ones also. That makes me not feel so “scattered” to have different books since someone else is doing it too. I’m glad to be in your club.
