Black Embossed Leather Journal, 5 x 7 Inch

Soft black leather, hand-embossed with flowers and leaves. The botanical embossing gives the cover a quiet, living texture that suits a grimoire, a dream journal, or a garden witch's planting notes.

Wrapping cord with a decorative key. Wind the cord around the book and slip the key into place to close it; a small, satisfying act of sealing the work each time you finish writing.

A 5 by 7 inch book that travels. Big enough for a full spell on one spread, small enough to carry daily, which is the difference between a journal you keep and one you admire on a shelf.

• Size: 5 x 7 inches
• Cover: soft black leather, handcrafted, embossed floral and leaf design
• Closure: long wrapping cord with a decorative key that rests in its own slot
• Weight: about 1 lb

A blank leather journal is used as a book of shadows in Wicca and modern witchcraft, the personal record of spells, correspondences, rituals, and results that a practitioner builds over years. The term comes from Gerald Gardner, who used it for the handwritten book copied by each initiate in the 1950s; today the book is whatever you make it, and many witches keep several: one for spells, one for dreams, one for the garden and the moon.

Writing by hand is its own small ritual. The physical act of committing a working to paper fixes it in memory and makes the book itself a magical object over time. You can use this journal as a grimoire, a dream or tarot journal, a place for gratitude and petitions, or a commonplace book for the herb lore and folk charms you gather. Black is the traditional color for a private, protective book, and the cord and key make closing it part of the practice.

1. Before the first entry, cleanse the closed journal with incense smoke and hold it while you say what the book is for. Some practitioners write a dedication or a protective sigil on the first page.
2. Give each entry a date and moon phase, then record the working: what you used, the words you spoke, and what you noticed after. Leave room to come back and note results.
3. Keep a running index in the back so spells and correspondences are easy to find once the book fills.
4. When you finish writing, wrap the cord and set the key. Closing the book is the end of the ritual.

Some witches write only in ink; others paste in pressed leaves and tarot cards. This is your book, and there is no wrong way to fill it.

• Steampunk Pen with Black & Amaranth Ink Calligraphy Set: A dip pen and ink set for writing spells the slow, deliberate way.
• Magic Sealing Wax Kit: Sealing wax to close a petition or mark a finished page in the book.
• Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows (Green Witchcraft Series, 5) by Ann Moura: A complete book of shadows to draw from as you build your own.
• Frankincense Incense Cones by Escential Essences, 16 Cones: Frankincense to cleanse and consecrate the journal before its first entry.
• Moon Magic Wand Pen, 9.5 Inches: A wand-shaped pen that makes the writing feel like part of the working.

Is this journal lined or blank?

The listing describes the cover and closure and does not specify the page style or page count, so please confirm with Plentiful Earth if lined pages matter to you. Leather journals of this type are most often unlined, which suits sigils, sketches, and pressed herbs alongside written spells.

Can I use this as a book of shadows?

Yes, this journal makes a natural book of shadows. The black embossed leather cover, the cord and key closure, and the 5 by 7 inch size all suit a private, portable spell book. Cleanse it with incense smoke before the first entry, and consider a dedication or protective sigil on the first page.

How does the cord and key closure work?

The cord wraps around the closed book and the decorative key slips into place to hold it shut. It is a simple, secure closure with no metal latch to snag on a bag lining, and many practitioners make wrapping the cord the closing gesture of a writing session.

Is the leather real?

Yes, this embossed leather journal has a cover of soft black leather, handcrafted and pressed with a floral and leaf design. Expect slight variation in grain, embossing depth, and color from book to book, which is part of the character of a handmade cover. Keep it away from prolonged damp and it will age beautifully.

How do I consecrate a new journal?

Consecrate a new journal by cleansing it with incense smoke or a pass over a candle flame, then holding it and stating its purpose out loud. Many witches write a dedication, the date, and a protective sigil on the first page, and some sleep with the book under the pillow for one night before writing in it.

Is 5 by 7 inches big enough for spells?

Yes, 5 by 7 inches gives a full spell a comfortable single page or spread, including ingredients, timing, and words, while staying small enough to carry daily. If you draw large sigils or paste in printed pages, a 6 by 8 inch or larger journal would give you more room.