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Prologue:

In April of 1978, my dad bought me what he thought I would like for my 13th birthday (To be clear, I did NOT ask for this). A Radioshack Solar Power Electronic Lab Kit for $13.95 plus tax. ($13.95 in 1978 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $68.67 today). It came complete with photo resistors, solar batteries, a meter, and several other components to build my own circuits with. Armed with small strands of wires, a book of circuit diagrams and instructions, I successfully completed every circuit it had in only a few days. Thus, I tucked it away to the dark recesses of my room to perhaps never be seen from again. Until…

A few weeks later, I was playing “Fort” or “War” or something involving risk and adventure, when it occurred to me that I could create a device using my Radioshack Lab that could detect the “enemy” or strange “Radiation form another planet”. So, grabbing my dull construction scissors I proceeded to dismember the kit with deliberate savagery unknowingly risking life and limb. (Later, for obvious reasons, this would infuriate my dad. Proving once again his unconditional love and support by allowing me to live.) After an hour or so of my summer day, I created a simple light meter. Running outside with boxed device in hand, I showed off to my friends at its magical ability to perform… something. Naturally I had to lie about how it worked. I was hardly impressed with its ability to be much more than a prop for our games and didn’t want to embarrass myself further.

This incident has navigated me to make very realistic “Art”, that still is just a fabrication of the real thing (e.g.: T-Virus Tracker). This particular project is no different. After watching the Youtube Channel; NerdForge create several leather-bound Spell Books or Grimoires, I found myself wanting to try my hand at it. The only thing is that every book she created had blank pages. There were no spells or anything else. Just blank pages.

I want a real spellbook. With real spells that actually work.

So, in my desire to have such a book, I’ve resigned myself to create it. This is my quest, and you’re welcome to come along.

   I believe the best way I can approach this project of “Grimoire of Spells” is understanding where the beliefs are based. Who were the people that relied on those beliefs when they were so prominent. Why has the belief lived so long through the centuries (despite the thousands burned at the stake). I also don’t want to have it poisoned by the propaganda produced by the population that would have you believe it’s the work of evil.

   This should provide a good foundation. So, I’ve begun my education on a course provided by UCLA. The history of witchcraft, religion, and science. It’s been a real eye opener. Although much of the information I’m getting from this will never make it into the Grimoire, it has a definite impact on the shape of it.

   I’ll be saying the word “Pagan” quite a bit, due to its importance on the craft. Over two thousand years ago, at the birth of the Christian religion, every religion, myth or belief that was not of the Christian faith was considered to be pagan. And although two thousand years ago may seem like a very long time. Pagan beliefs go back over ten thousand years. To the time of early man, while we were drawing pictures on our cave walls. We were drawing pictures of the first hunt. The most sacred of beliefs. Every hunt after that was representative of the first hunt. Fully ritualized, fully symbolic.

   It’s these ritualizations, these beliefs that are the very foundation, pointing to the profound influence of rituals and beliefs in shaping the practice of witchcraft. Thousands of years older than Christianity or science.

   Unfortunately, very little is known more than four thousand years ago. There are ancient scrolls and papyri of Incantations and spells. And believe it or not, “Abracadabra” is a real spell casting word. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Aramaic and possibly Hebrew. It means “I will create what I speak”. Much of the surviving information are deeply rooted in the ancient mythologies of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Anglo-Saxon, German and Nordic cultures. And many of the Pagan Gods are shared or have duplicate representation between them.

   So, what was life like two thousand years ago? Well, I can tell you there were no dentists! So, everyone had bad teeth. Also, there is no electricity, cars, cell phones, etc. The technology they did have was focused on pottery, lanterns and candles, textiles (cloth and blankets), and metallurgy (Smithing and Smelting). Agriculture was the heart of the economy, and most people lived in rural areas. They farmed and raised livestock, working from dusk till dawn. It was a life tied intimately to the seasons and the whims of nature. The moon, sun and seasons were tremendous influences on the lives of everyone. Rich and poor alike. So, you can just imagine after a hard day, everyone is sitting around the dinner table eating quietly (wishing for the day TV would be invented), when suddenly there's a knock on the door. There's Grandpa and his new wife (Grandma got run over by a water buffalo). He bursts in and everyone settles around him as he tells yet another story of Odin, the god of war (and many other things as it turns out. Wisdom, knowledge, magic, poetry, death, healing, and the runic alphabet).

The following week is the Spring Equinox (to take place on the first full moon). So the family gets ready for the festival to honor Ēostre, the goddess of spring (and dawn, and fertility). On that day, there will be a new game "maypole" and gifts of colored eggs and dandelion bread. The story of Ēostre and the hare will be told.

   Legend has it that Ēostre was feeling guilty that spring was arriving so late. When she arrived on the scene to warm things up for Spring, she saw a bird frozen in the snow, dying. She cradled the shivering creature, nourishing it with life.

   The bird became her lover. He could no longer fly (as his wings were icicles), so the goddess transformed him into a snow hare with the name of Lepus.

   She gave Lepus the power of swift speed so he could evade hunters like Orion. However, to honor his former stature as an avian, Lepus was able to lay eggs. Lepus, being a quick one, started hanging out with some other girls. Ēostre, jealous, threw the hare up into the stars to lay at the feet of Orion the hunter where he remains to this day as a constellation.

   After many years later, Ēostre took pity on her former lover, allowing him to return to Earth once a year during the Spring Equinox, and he would lay colored eggs for the children in her honor.

   Any good writer starts with an outline. And like any decent subject matter, you must start with a foundation. Ancient pagan myths and beliefs will naturally be the foundation. A list of core fields of study is needed next. Perhaps in a table of contents like I have listed below. This will help me focus on my objectives during my education.