Grimoire..Book of Shadows

I've been reading the forums lately and i've been reading a lot of things about the difference between a grimoire and a book of shadows, and the exact definition of a grimoire and stuff. so i found some sites online about a grimoire. Thought id share with you guys and then u guys can make ur own decision on what a grimoire is.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-grimoire.htm

http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=grimoire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire

http://www.shadowsofoz.net/extras/glossary.html

so if anyone wants to read these things and then come up with a really good definition to describe a grimoire, be my guest :)

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I just remember reading somewhere back in the day wiccans would call their book of shadows "grimoire", and the names for the book has changed over the years. I personally like the name grimoire so I'm not to worried about the difference.

I guess the way I look at it is, a grimoire is a book of spells. Just spells. Maybeee rituals but mostly spells. And spells can be dark or good.which may be where people get the idea a grimoire houses dark magic instructions. And to me a book of shadows is more then a book of spells, a bos is experiences, rituals, information, a journal, a book to be passed down from generation to generation.

Grimoires are books used by magickal practicianers and created by well-learned magickal practicianers. The Book of Shadows is a personalized book you create yourself. It's comparible to a magickal journal.

do you know why people will call their book of shadows grimoire cause i do because religious prayers are anti witch craft and will it is said god will curse every book of shadows so that is why witches will call their book of shadows grimoires.

I'd always thought of it like the difference between a textbook and a notebook. The Textbook has tried and true information on the topic, and has detailed explanations and guides. The Notebook is a blank book that you fill with your own information and your own discoveries.
The Grimoire is a textbook of magical rituals, whilst the Book of Shadows is more of a magical journal of your own experiences and spells.
I personally refer to my Book of Shadows as a Grimoire, because I tend to use it more for storing information about magical traditions, and write my spells on loose paper.

In my opinion, there is a difference between a Book of Shadows and a grimoire. A Book of Shadows is like a magickal diary-personal and tailored individually to the practitioner. A grimoire is more like a magickal textbook, meant to be followed to the word. They are typically older books. I think DrAkachi explained it well!