Correspondences
Correspondences are the conscious and unconscious connections that we continually make with the world around us.
Everything is connected. Nothing exists in isolation.
Everything is associated with something else.
If I ask you to think of a particular symbol or item, such as a Cross or the colour Red, you’ll have a meaning attached to it.
Perhaps it’s a cultural meaning, a religious meaning or one born of your own experience. But it will bring to mind a feeling, an energy, a story or a memory.
Correspondences weave together the physical, symbolic and energetic patterns, bringing together our seen and unseen worlds.
Every day we draw upon our ideas, beliefs and energy to create deeper meaning in our lives.
Correspondences help to create deeper meaning in our magick and our lives
Using correspondences allows us to draw on this and create deeper meaning in our spellwork and everyday magick. It helps us to focus our intentions and direct our energy.
Correspondences also give us the opportunity to link to the people who’ve weaved magic before us, using the same correspondences, and adding to the correspondence’s collective power.
Drawing on and adding to the collective power
Using the same correspondences allows us to tap into this rich history of power. It also gives us the opportunity to add additional deposits of energy for those who come after us.
Using correspondences allows us to create deeper meaning with our individual practices, whilst tapping into the web of the wider collective.
We can unlock and activate certain energies that we want to include in our spellwork and our lives as a whole.
Using multiple correspondences amplifies their power
When you use multiple correspondences, you layer the energies of each so that they work together. This weaves you a web for your intentions, and amplifies the energy available for your magick.
Correspondences focus your energy and help you get clear on your intentions. Whether you’re using them in your everyday choices – the clothes and jewellery that you wear or the colours you bring into your home – or if you’re creating magic with spell work.
Examples of Correspondences
Examples of correspondences
When working your magick, things that you could consider the correspondences of include:
- Colours
- Crystals
- Days of the week
- Herbs and plants
- Oils
- Moon phases
But… You Don’t Need Everything
As you begin to look at correspondences, it can feel overwhelming. You may feel you need to have ALL the things…
Every colour candle, every herb, every crystal…
But you don’t!
We’re Modern-Day Witches, and we’re practical, so there’s always a way.
When you’re looking at the ingredients needed for your spell or magical workings, there will be times when you don’t have everything you need.
When this is the case, feel into what would be a suitable substitution for you.
Get clear on the intention of your magical working, and then choose something that aligns with your intent.
If you still don’t have what you need, you can use fairly easy-to-find, accessible ingredients. Here are some suggestions for a few key things you could use as substitutes if you don’t have what a particular spell or magical working is asking for.
(Obviously… please take ultimate care for yourself. If you have an allergy or negative reaction to any of the following, don’t use them!)
Colour – White
As you work with colour, know that if you don’t have the ‘right’ colour candle or paper etc, you can use something white.
White candles will substitute for any colour candle you need.
Crystals – Clear Quartz
When working with crystals, a Clear Quartz crystal will substitute for any crystals that you don’t have in your collection.
Quartz can often be found along the shoreline, or whilst hiking in the hills. It doesn’t have to be a polished crystal for it to be a powerful ally.
In fact, often things that you’ve collected yourself are more potent. This is because they’ve shown themselves to you and hold the energy of the land you’ve visited / live in.
Essential Oils – Frankincense
When adding essential oils to objects for consecration, Frankincense can be used for all occasions.
Flowers – Rose
If you’re struggling to find the flower you need, use rose. Dried rose petals can be picked up in craft stores and your grocery store. Also, you may find them in teabags.
Herbs – Rosemary
When working with herbs, if you don’t have the herb you need, you can replace it with rosemary.
It’s quite easy to pick up dried rosemary from the herb and spice section of your local grocery store.
Moon Phases – The Full Moon
The Full Moon can be used to cast spells, to release unwanted energies and habits and to create and manifest.
Oils – Olive Oil
If your magickal working calls for a carrier oil that you don’t have, olive oil is the perfect substitute for you.