Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

GRAND GRIMOIRE

Some pages from 'The Grand Grimoire'
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Subtitled The Powerful Clavicle of Solomon and of Black Magic, an occult 'pocket manuscript' of Italian origin which claims to have been edited by one Antonio Venitiana del Rabina suggesting an Italian origin, but which is written in French. In reality del Rabina is probably an invented name and it is of unknown authorship, probably dating from the 17th or 18th century.

Based on the Hebrew Solomonic writings, the Grand Grimoire is regarded as the most significant of the four known handbooks specifically devoted to the practice of Black Magic. The others are the Grimorium Verum, the Grimoire of Honorius and the Grimoire of True Black Magic, which is no more than an adapted version of the Key of Solomon.

The Grand Grimoire offers the means of invoking Lucifer and other spirits by the use of a Blasting Rod and by making a subsequent diabolic pact. It includes details of Necromancy, ritual poisoning and the disruption of Christian services.

The author Arthur Edward Waite comments that such works not only openly announce their evil intent but teach evil under the pretence of exceIlence.

The Grimoires of Ceremonial and Ritual magicians should not be confused with the Books of Shadows of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft and Wicca.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc