A thing about correspondances that's been bugging me

[SnowStar]

I don't do much ritual magic to start with, simply because I can come to most ends through meditating or more mundane means. However something that has bothered me for years has been that when I do perform a spell (or something similar) is the use of "traditional" or "accepted" colour, herb, scent, day, moon phase, etc. correspondances. Some of them make sense, so I can easily remember them (red for love, green for money, waning for banishing, etc.) however others are more obscure so I have always had to look them up. A lot of them don't make logical sense to me, and I'd have used another colour or done it at a different time. In a moment of spare time last week I decided to check my personal logic correspondances that I've started keeping in my mind against a few lists I have bookmarked online and in books to find that most of them didn't match up. Seeing as how I don't perform much ritual magic in the first place, and seeing as also I'm not particularly keen on expirimenting with it in the event that I stir up the wrong things around me (as I'm wont to do on occasion without spells), I've always been curious to know if using my own logical correspondances instead of the "traditional" ones would yield the same desired results.

One part of me wants to say yes since the use of colours and tools and correspondances is supposedly only a method of focusing the mind. However on the other hand, if the theory that various things have specific 'vibrations', so to speak, that call for certain things is correct, than using whatever feels right to me might not work. I suppose its the age-old internal conflict of legalism vs. spiritualism on a slightly less intense level, but I've always wondered...

[Tammy Sullivan]

The most important thing is sealing your intent therefore you should pick what feels best for you. I have done this for years and it has always worked for me. I have natural associations with different colors as well, and go on instinct.

[Mithrea]

If the correspondence you are using doesn't hold meaning for you, then it won't hold power either. It has to make sense to you and that is the most important thing. I find often that what is listed in books doesn't match what I would guess. I trust my instinct and have never had any problems.

Once I was making an amulet for justice for my Mom to wear to court. I was very surprised to find that the book I was reading said to use black for justice because black is associated with a judge's robes, etc. However, I assumed it should be blue because I associate blue with with police uniforms. It worked for me.

Always do what feels right for you. If you do something, you don't feel is right, at the very least, it will distract you from your intent and screw up your concentration.

[Rick]

There's rarely only one way to do something... doesn't mean any one way is right, or wrong... don't worry about it unless it doesn't work... 'cuz if it doesn't work, it's the wrong way...

[Flar's Freyja]

I've had this discussion with a friend several times and we've agreed to disagree......she'll look up every single correspondence and I just use what feels right - or what's available. I use the moon cycles and don't bother with the planetary correspondences. I've even done a few workings at the wrong time and have still gotten good results.

[Grey]

I was once told that magic was "the manipulation of energies by the mind with the use of abstract symbols" witch in english means that its all in your head how it works. so go with what feels naturally. if it dosen't work quite right then go look it up.

:ahhhh: