A blank journal can feel surprisingly difficult to begin. What belongs on the first page? How much space should you leave for each subject? And what happens if your interests change halfway through?
To start a grimoire, choose one notebook, number the pages and give it a simple index. Add a few notes about what you want to learn, then make one dated entry. You can use the plan below for a grimoire, Book of Shadows or everyday witchcraft journal, adapting the headings to your own practice.
Choose a notebook you will enjoy using
You can begin with a notebook you already own. Blank pages give you room for drawings and layouts; lined pages can be handy for longer written entries. Before buying, check the page count, cover material, dimensions and any closure in the individual listing. A decorative book-shaped object is not necessarily a writing journal.
If you would like a dedicated notebook, two options in our grimoires and journals collection show the differences worth comparing:
- Wizard’s Grimoire Journal has 92 blank pages and is made from polyresin and paper, with a sculpted wizard-and-staff cover.
- Leather Greenman Notebook has 200 pages, a leather cover and a buckle closure. Check the listing or ask about any paper detail that matters to you before choosing it.
Test your usual pen on a small area at the back before writing your opening page, especially if you plan to use markers or a fountain pen. Let the ink dry and check the reverse for show-through or bleeding.
A simple plan for your first ten pages
Here, a page means one side of a sheet. Treat these as starter headings: you can set them up now and fill them gradually. There is no need to complete ten pages before making your first entry.
Pages 1–2: an index
Leave these pages for a growing list of topics and page numbers. Number the rest as you use them. An entry might read “Seasonal observations: 6, 18, 27”. This lets a topic continue wherever there is space, without setting aside large sections that may stay empty.
Page 3: what this book is for
Write three short prompts and answer them in your own words:
- What am I curious about?
- What would I like to record?
- What can I realistically make time for?
“A few notes each Sunday” is a useful starting commitment if daily writing would feel like a chore. Leave room to revisit your answers.
Page 4: a source log
Record the books, articles or classes you learn from. Include the author or teacher, title, page number or web address, and the date you made the note. When you summarise an idea elsewhere, add a short source reference so you can find it again.
Keep quoted wording clearly marked and separate from your own summary. If two sources disagree, note both rather than forcing them into a single rule.
Page 5: symbols and personal associations
Choose a small number of colours, images or objects that interest you. For each, write what it means to you and where that association came from. Label personal interpretations as your own, and identify the source of any tradition-specific meaning you record.
A sketch and two sentences are enough. You can expand this page as your understanding develops.
Page 6: seasonal observations
Record the date and a few things you actually notice where you live: changing daylight, weather, a tree outside your window or birds visiting a garden. Keep observations separate from the meaning you give them. For example, “The leaves have started turning” is an observation; “This reminds me to finish a project” is a reflection.
Page 7: tarot or oracle notes
If you use cards, write down your question, the deck and card, one detail in the artwork, and your first interpretation. Add a later note about what felt useful and what did not fit. Our one-card daily tarot spread is a simple place to begin. If cards are not part of your practice, use this page for a drawing or a question you want to explore.
Page 8: a practice plan
Choose something small, such as five minutes of quiet reflection or sketching a meaningful object. Record your intention, what you need and the steps you plan to take. Finish with “What will I write down afterwards?” so you have a clear way to review the experience.
Page 9: a reflection
After trying your plan, note what you did, what held your attention and what you would change. A brief, honest record is more useful than a polished account that leaves out the awkward bits. You can write “I was distracted” or “I am not sure what I think yet”.
Page 10: questions to return to
Make a short list of unfinished questions, unfamiliar words or ideas you would like to research. Choose one next step. This gives you somewhere to put your curiosity without interrupting every entry to look something up.
A reusable grimoire entry template
Copy these headings whenever you want a little structure:
- Date and topic: when you wrote this and what it covers.
- Question or intention: what you wanted to explore.
- Source: a book, article or class, or a note that this is your own idea.
- What I did or noticed: the practical details.
- My interpretation: what it meant to you at the time.
- Next step: one thing to revisit, check or try differently.
- Later note: space for a dated update.
For a seasonal entry, for example, you might record a sketch of a tree, the date and weather, a short personal reflection and a plan to sketch the same tree next month. That is already a complete entry.
Keep the book easy to continue
Use the next available page when you run out of room, then add its number to the index. If your views change, add a dated note beside the original entry. There is no need to rewrite the whole book or remove every earlier uncertainty.
Keep your journal dry and away from candle flames, wax, oils and incense ash. A clear writing surface makes it easier to use and protects the pages. If you photograph entries as a backup, keep personal reflections private and avoid including other people’s details without their permission.
For your first session, just number a few pages, write your purpose and make one short entry. The next page can wait until you have something you want to put on it.
