The Grimoire of Lady Sheba

Three months ago my better half took a short walk to the postbox in the street next to our house to post a letter, as he often does. When he returned only a few minutes later he told me that a strange book had been left on top of the postbox called 'The Grimoire of Lady Sheba'. We looked up the title and found out the book was an American guide to witchcraft, so out of curiosity we went back, collected the book and brought it home. At the time we assumed it had been dropped by accident, I even suggested that it might have been posted by mistake and left by the postman for the owner to find. We had no way of knowing that the book would turn out to be the first of many, that some neighbour of ours was seemingly disseminating their book collection to strangers and perhaps in the process sending us a message about the knowledge they considered important.

This is how postboox started, with the Grimoire of Lady Sheba, a hardback book, well worn and smelling sweetly of damp. The wear and tear on the cover reveals that it has been read by candlelight, there are several drops of clear wax on the front, and that it has been used as a hard surface for writing on, indentations left by writing are scored quite deeply on both sides. The surface is also marked by scratches, which suggest to me that the book has been carried around in a bag with sharp objects like keys. In summary it is clearly a much-loved book, actively used, repeatedly read and taken from place to place.

The book

Lady Sheba, whose real name is Jessie Bell, has an interesting writing style which swings wildly between an almost Biblical high-register and the jarringly casual. On page 1 for example:

"Remember always that thou art witches born and the old Gods keep watch over us. They laugh with us and at us (especially when we goof-up a ritual)."

In this half-grandiose half-casual language she instructs the reader on the rights and practices of witchcraft including tools, language, festivals and philosophy. There are numerous specific instructions on performing spells, most of which involve using earth, fire, air and water in sucession. There are also descriptions of songs to sing and dances to perform, dances which are prefaced with the bizzare claim:

"After the time of persecution by the Catholic Church and the Salem burnings, the witches' rounds were called square dancing, square being the exact opposite of round in the mind of the Church."

This section of the book is followed by a 120 page transcription of 'The Book of Shadows', the holy book of the witches which has supposedly been passed down by witches throughout history by word of mouth. The Book of Shadows is suspiciously similar in tone and writing style to the rest of the Grimoire of Lady Sheba, and repeats some of the same information.

Finally there are appendixes which include photographs of Lady Sheba performing the rituals.

The Best Bits

The following image appears on the facing page of chapter 1, seemingly to help establish Sheba's right to the position of 'Witch Queen'.


The text below this image explains that Lady Sheba's 'Witch Queen Necklace' is a legendary item which can only be worn by "the true and legal heir to the title of "Queen of Camelot Coven - since the days of King Arthur."" and that if worn by an unlawful queen it would choke the wearer to death. Fantastic stuff.

In the recipes section is a recipe for 'Witches' Flying Ointment' which includes such ingredients as opium, belladonna, hemlock and cannabis. The comment beneath the recipe is as follows:

"Most of these ingredients are psychedelic and produce hallucinations. They are poisonous and illegal. I have not used these so beware"

So why reproduce a recipe you have never tested?

The Owner

There are various exciting clues in the book that hint at the identity of the owner. Firstly there is a long blond hair caught between the pages in The Book of Shadows section of the book, so the owner is likely to have long blond hair. Secondly there are two pages in the book which contain hand-written notes, one at the front of the book and one at the back.



Invocation to Diana
As the light of the Sun is extinguished in the Ocean, so your light may rise into the sky. So do I extinguish this taper in water so your power may rise and grant me the favour I implore.
Dedication
I cal upon Hecate the threeformed Priestess of the earth goddess to favour this work, and light the thoughts. Let those who have remember and those who are opposed, be made tolerant.



ON NEXT DOOR. MY WALL
I am that I am
Eternal I am
I am an everlasting sourse (sic.)
of strength & power.
Nothing can harm me.
I am supreme over all things.
Dark moan in salt & water.
Banishing Fire Pentagram.

Should I assume that the dedication is in some way directed towards me, the recipient? It seems possible.

We can't know for sure that this was the first book ever left on the postbox, we may only have stumbled upon something which has been going on for months, but if this is the first book in the series then it certainly is a bold opening gambit. A very personal, much loved book on witchcraft with handwritten spells inside. The owner appears to be trying to spread her love of witchcraft with his/her neighbours. I'm sorry to say I think we weren't the ideal recipients of this book, I spent a good deal chuckling to myself while reading it. But at least we are 'tolerant' of witchcraft, as the dedication implores us to be.