When people hear the words ancient grimoire, they often imagine a dusty, leather-bound book filled with forbidden spells, secret diagrams, and strange incantations. While there’s some truth to that image, grimoires are much more than fantasy props. For centuries, the mysteries of the occult have been preserved in these volumes. But many ancient grimoires of ceremonial magic, mystical philosophy, and ritual practice have remained out of reach, locked away in private collections or hidden in forgotten archives.
Bringing together two of the most influential grimoires in one volume, Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon is a cornerstone of occult tradition.
What is a Grimoire?
A grimoire is a book of magic, traditionally handwritten or printed, containing instructions for spells, rituals, invocations, and the crafting of talismans or charms. The word comes from the Old French grammaire, meaning ‘grammar’ or ‘book of learning’.
Who Were Grimoires Written For?
Despite the image of witches clutching them in candlelit cottages, ancient grimoires were usually written for clerics, scholars, and ritual magicians with access to Latin, Arabic, or Hebrew texts. In other words, these were books of the literate magical elite, though fragments of their knowledge filtered into folk magic traditions over time.
Why Are Ancient Grimoires Still Relevant Today?
Though centuries old, ancient grimoires continue to resonate because they connect us to the roots of magical tradition. These volumes provide symbolic richness, showcasing seals, sigils, and invocations that inspire contemporary practice. Through these texts, we can trace the evolution of magical systems that later influenced the Golden Dawn, Wicca, and even chaos magic.
How to Use an Ancient Grimoire in Modern Practice
Most practitioners today don’t follow grimoires word-for-word. Instead, they study them to learn magical symbolism and ritual structure, forming their own personal grimoires to record spells, correspondences, and reflections. Drawing inspiration from sigils, charms, prayers, and ritual frameworks preserved in the old texts, they then adapt practices into their own systems, blending ancient and modern traditions.
Think of grimoires less as strict rulebooks and more as sources and guides you can weave into your own practice.
The New Wyrd Books Grimoire Collection
Now, Wyrd Books is proud to present a new collection reviving many of the most important ancient grimoires. This carefully curated series brings elusive texts, such as the demonology findings of King Solomon and the esoteric practices of Elphias Lévi back into the hands of practitioners.
Breathing fresh life into some of the most influential works of magical history, Wyrd Books has preserved the original spirit of these ancient grimoires, while making them accessible to a modern audience.
Ancient Grimoires of Occult and Ceremonial Magic
In this illustrated study of Stonehenge, rediscover Britain’s most enigmatic monument, not as a ruin of primitive builders, but as a sacred temple constructed by the Druids in alignment with celestial forces.
Exploring the ancient and widespread veneration of the snake in religion, myth, and ritual, Ophiolatreia reveals how serpent worship has shaped spiritual life across centuries and cultures.
Also known as the Lemegeton, The Lesser Key of Solomon is a foundational grimoire of demonology, cataloguing the names, attributes, seals, and conjurations of 72 spirits said to have been summoned and commanded by King Solomon.
One of the most celebrated grimoires in occult tradition, The Key of Solomon is a powerful manual of ceremonial magic, translated and introduced by S. Liddell MacGregor Mathers, a leading figure of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
A structured doctrine, Imperial Ritual of Magic explores the magical philosophy and occult ceremonial practices of the spiritual Rosicrucianism movement.
Enter a world of ancient symbols and hidden power with William Thomas and Kate Pavitt’s book of talismans, exploring sacred objects, planetary influences, and zodiacal correspondences.
One of the most influential magical treatises ever written, The Doctrine & Ritual of Transcendental Magic is Eliphas Lévi’s landmark work and a foundational text in Western occultism.
Tracing the survival of ancient magical practices into the nineteenth century, Modern Magic reveals how arcane traditions and old enchantments endure in the contemporary world.
More than a historical study, Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored is a practical and philosophical guide to the ancient world of alchemy and the lost traditions of spiritual and material transformation.
Unlock the hidden powers of the mind with Lessons in Crystal Gazing & Practical Psychomancy, a fascinating introduction to the subtle arts of clairvoyance and astral projection.
Pow-Wows; or, The Long Lost Friend gathers centuries-old spells, blessings, and symbolic rituals intended to safeguard individuals and households from harm or misfortune.
