grinning grimoire

A little witchy calendar to look forward to next year, since this one was a little bit.. cursed.

Beginner witches, listen up.

When I started practising, one of the first things I did was put correspondence lists into my grimoire. Or, I tried to. You see, correspondences are individual. To some extent, they’re based on history, folklore, mythology and medicine - but they’re also highly personal. You can look at ten different correspondence tables for the same herb, and depending on the herb, you’ll get similar answers - but you can also get highly divergent ones. The result? I ended up writing 5-20 different correspondences for a bunch of herbs and crystals that I had never even heard of. Do I remember them now, 7 years on? Hell no. 

There’s a few problems with this:

You don’t know which source to trust.

Sources may totally conflict.

You don’t know why those correspondences are listed.

You won’t know what you can and can’t swap out of a spell.

Correspondence tables often don’t provide sources or reasoning.

You may not have those associations, so they may not actually help you.

Correspondences are tools. They help you to focus your intent in your craft. What’s the point in getting the “right” colour, herb, crystal, element, and moon phase for every spell when you don’t understand why you’re using them, or they don’t help you focus your intent? 

So, what’s the solution? Figure out your own correspondences. 

This doesn’t have to be difficult! Let’s say I’m doing a spell because I have a cold. For me, being sick is associated with soup, lemon, orange, honey and ginger - because my Nan used to make me a hot drink with the last few ingredients in it. So maybe I’ll make that drink, or maybe I’ll make soup with fresh ginger in it. I’ll stir the pot widdershins first, to “banish” the sickness (because I associate counter clockwise with banishment or getting rid of something), then deosil to “bring” or “grow” my health (because those are my associations for clockwise). See? Easy! 

Okay, so how exactly do you come up with correspondences?

Well, some of them are pretty immediate. Think associating mistletoe with Christmas, or plants in your area that only bloom at certain points of the year. You can also consider:

history, mythology and folklore: throughout history, there have been associations with certain plants, colours etc. that you can read up on. Some examples include associating purple with wealth or success because the dye for purple clothing was highly expensive (Roman emperors wore it) and associating rosemary with remembrance, as mentioned in Hamlet. 

medicinal properties: even if you aren’t interested in herbalism, you could include plants with medicinal properties in healing spells. 

local associations: this is pretty likely to cross over with history and folklore, but considering local associations is important, too - especially since associations in world history and mythology may not apply to you and your path. You might also have certain associations with “local” in a general sense (see my post about food correspondences below).

cultural associations: think “pumpkin” for October, even in countries where aren’t particularly common. Are there any cultural associations that you have with particular things? (These may be some of your “stronger” associations.)

personal associations: what’s your personal experience? Did you fall into a rosebush as a kid, so you’d rather associate roses with pain than with love? Did your first crush give you a green handbag, so green is a colour of love for you? What do you find comforting?

These aren’t the only aspects to consider, but it’s a starting point. Depending on the type of correspondence you’re looking for, you could consider other aspects, too (like farming calendars for month associations and seasonal foods).

This isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with using or posting correspondence lists - I’ve posted some myself. They can be really useful - but be aware that those are someone else’s correspondences, not yours, and they may not work the same way for you as they do for someone else - and that’s okay! You have your own resources and your own experiences, and it’s your craft. 

I hope this helps! Check out my other posts about coming up with your own correspondences:

How to correspondence: food & herbs

It’s important to look at the meanings of tarot cards, but it’s very possible to pull even more out of a reading that individual card meanings. Here’s some other stuff you might consider bringing into your interpretation when it feels right:

🍄The position of the cards. This is why spread design can be so important! I’ve had instances where all the cards, in their positions, had the subjects looking or pointing towards one specific card. It was wild. What did it mean? Maybe nothing, but maybe something very significant, depending on the question!

🍄The visual element of the cards. Sometimes what’s depicted on the card can give more specific insight than the actual book meanings. The pictures were done that way for a reason, so don’t be afraid to give them their own weight! Also, sometimes the spread as a whole will have a flow of design (like when one half is much brighter than the other) or a specific card is WAY more colorful than the other cards on the table. Any of these could potentially carry meaning.

🍄Jumper cards. This is when a card pops out while you’re shuffling! I usually just put them back… UNLESS the question has already been presented, and I’m shuffling with that question in mind. Then, I keep them as extra advice, bonus cards.

🍄Reoccurring numbers. Maybe you do a four card spread for a friend, and you get the four of cups, four of swords, four of wands, and the Emperor! (IV.) What does that mean? What does the number four symbolize? Well, a lot of things, potentially, depending on what you study. Some tarot designs incorporate the Kabbalah’s numbered paths in the tree of life, others go with numerology. Maybe, the number four just means something special to you or the querent in particular.

🍄A bunch of cards in order. I’m not talking about when you forget to shuffle. I’m talking about when you give it a really good shuffle and you still get the ace, two, and three of Pentacles all in a row. This can be seen as a sign of progression, or that the events are all much more closely connected than anticipated. It can also mean it happens over a shorter period of time than normal. It’s up to you, your cards, and the contexts.

🍄Proportions of different features. Maybe you’re doing an obstacle spread, and your obstacle is something like the nine of swords. That’s pretty nasty, but if all the other cards in the spread are Major Arcana, then it’s probably not going to be that difficult to surmount. The reverse can also be true. Additionally, a high number of reversed cards in a spread typically signifies a lot of confusion, conflict, and turmoil.

🍄Reoccurring symbols. Beyond just the four suits, because that’s a given! But maybe your spread shows a lot of cards with images of fire, people dancing, or birds. Do these mean anything to you or the querent? What do they typically symbolize?

🍄Any hiccups or unusual events during the reading. Once I had a querent pick up a card to examine it, drop it, then pick it up and put it back reversed. Since it was the overall outcome card, I interpreted that as a heightened ability to change her own fate in this given situation, since she had turned the card from quite a bad omen to a good one. Sometimes little accidents like dropping cards, accidentally shifting them, or laying out the spread wrong are meant to be there and add to the meaning!

I hope this gives you some ideas! Feel free to add more. What do you interpret alongside the cards in a reading?

One thing many people struggle with when learning to read tarot is keeping track of card meanings. While I don’t recommend learning tarot like flashcards, you certainly can. But don’t think there’s anything wrong with using a guide book or your notes while you read your cards until you start to commit things to memory and develop your intuitive abilities and a relationship with your deck. It’s all part of the process. 

Remember! While each card does have keywords associated with it, cards work together in a spread like words in a sentence. It is incredibly difficult to get the full picture if you read each card only with a handful of keywords. Also, keep in mind that this is a short list of keywords for each card. Each keyword has its negatives, and there are many more that apply to each card. 

Numerical Keywords:

Ace (1): Beginnings, potential

Twos: Balance, harmony, dichotomy

Threes: Communication, interaction (think “three’s a party”), outside influence

Fours: Rest, Contemplation

Fives: Conflict, Loss

Sixes: Growth, challenges overcome, understanding

Sevens: Fate, confidence, truth

Eights: Work, change, perseverance

Nines: Consequences and rewards

Tens: Endings (end of a cycle)

Pages: Messages, youth, information

Knights: Movement, adventure, experience

Queens: Power, potential, advice (think motherly advice)

Kings: Authority, power, structure

The Suits

Cups: Emotions (love, feelings, relationships), Connections, Water, Intuition

Wands: Spirituality, Personality, Illusions, Impulses, Fire, Energy

Swords: Action, Power, Conflict, Judgement, Air, Thoughts

Pentacles: Material (money, property, etc.), Manifestation, Indulgence, Earth

The Major Arcana

The Fool: Beginnings, naivety, innocence, risks/reckless behavior

The Magician: Manifestation, inspiration, manipulation, talent

The High Priestess: Intuition, divinity, secrets, withdrawal

The Empress: Beauty, motherly nurturing, abundance, dependence 

The Emperor: Authority (fatherly), structure, rules, lack of control

The Hierophant: Wisdom, tradition, culture, religion, freedom

The Lovers: Love, balance, relationships, choices

The Chariot: Control, determination, action, discipline

Strength: Strength, influence, untethered emotions

The Hermit: Isolation, guidance, introspection

The Wheel of Fortune: Cycles, fate/destiny, luck, change

Justice: Justice, law, cause and effect, accountability

The Hanged Man: Martyrdom, surrender, change of perspective, delay

Death: Change, death, endings, transitions

Temperance: Balance, patience, healing, alignment

The Devil: Obsession, shadows, addiction, restrictions/limitations

The Tower: Chaos, dramatic change, awakenings, transformation, fear

The Star: Hope, spirituality, despair, disconnects

The Moon: Illusions, dreams, anxiety, intuition, emotions

The Sun: Positivity, warmth, success, optimism, lively spirit

Judgment: Judgement, rebirth, doubt, criticisms

The World: Completed cycles, accomplishments, movement (travel)

PROTECTION FOR OTHERS

Family/Loved Ones Protection Jar

Quick Protection Spell

Full Moon Protection Spell

“I Send You Safety” Spell

Knitting Spell (For Protection)

Ayano’s Theory of Happiness Spell

Ritual To Protect Loved Ones

“This Person Is Under My Protection” Sigil

“This Person Is Safe & Happy” Sigil

“My Significant Other Is Happy & Safe From Harm” Sigil

“My Child Is Safe From All Harm” Sigil

PROTECTION FOR PETS

Pet Protection Spell Jar

Pet Protection Spell Bottle

Pet Protection Spell

Pet Protection Spell

Protective Chant For Dogs

Protective Chant For Cats

Cat Protection Bag

Cat Blessing/Protection Spell

Animal Blessing Spells

Animal Protection Spell

Animal Candle Protection Spell

“Watch Over Me” Pet Protection Guardian

“Always Come Back To Me” Spell

“My Dogs Will Be Safe and Happy” Sigil

Pet Protection Powder

MISCELLANEOUS PROTECTION SPELLS

Protection Against Nightmares

Protection During Sleep

Nightmare Warding Stuffed Animal Spell

Ghost Nebula Protection In Sleep Spell

Protection While Travelling

Jar Spell for Safe Travels

Protection For Travellers Spell

Roadtrip Protection Charm

Empath/Emotional Protection

Calcified Heart Spell

Empath Protection Jar

Other

New Job Protection Pouch

Corvid Safety Spell

Emoji Spell for Protection Against Extreme Weather

Cleansing & Protection from Mind-Altering Spells

POWDERS, SALTS, OILS & WATERS

Dragon’s Bite Powder

Sweeping Powder for Protection & Energy

Dark As Night Protection Powder

Anti-Curse Powder

Archer’s Protection Powder

Protection Powder Recipes

Fire Salts

Black Salt

Empath Protection Oil

Demonwitch’s Hellcat Oil

Flying Devil Oil

Moon-Infused Protection Water

Storm Witch’s Ward Water

War Water

INFORMATION

Circles, Shields & Wards

Casting a Circle for Beginners

Methods of Casting Circles

Personal Shielding

Basic Protection

Keeping Yourself Protected

The Basics of Wards & Warding

A Crash Course In Warding

Top Ward Mistakes I

Top Ward Mistakes II

Threshold Magic 101

Charms

Charms, Amulets & Talismans

The Rowan Cross

Grass Charm

Hag Stones

Moon Snails

Protection Wreaths

Protection Chimes

Elemental Protection Charms

Folklore Charms for Home Protection

Tech Magic

Turning Your Wifi Into Wards

How to Anti-Taglock Pictures of Yourself

Simple Email Protection Spell

Technomagic Ward

Cyber/Tech Protection Ideas

Servitors

A Basic Guide to Servitors

An Introduction to Servitors

How to Create a Protective Servitor

Meditations

Spell and Meditation for Calming, Serenity and Peace Within Self

“Warrior of Light” Guided Meditation (YouTube)

Correspondences

Protection Correspondences

Protection Correspondences

Quick Protection Magic Reference Guide

The moon with Venus, Eder Ivan

me: craft.

mom: what kind of craft needs rosemary and salt??

submitted by @materiamystica​

½ cup Greek yoghurt ½ cup plain flour 1tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 tbsp dried lavender 1 tbsp honey 1 egg, beaten

The intent is to increase mental clarity and connection. To clear your spiritual and mental brain fog so that you can think and see more clearly again. To improve clarity of vision and connection to your heart’s desire. Lavender is employed to stimulate clarity and connection, cleansing, memory, passion, peace of mind, healing, love, passion and retention. With the honey for added sweetness and stickiness to make visions all the more sweet, and memories stick more permanently. Harvesting your own lavender can also be intended to honour Lammas, too!

sleeping on soft grass warmed by the sun

watching milk swirl in your coffee

watching the clouds

making a wholesome meal

quiet afternoon walks

eating hot cross buns

This is a tea that my mum used to make for me that I’ve converted into a happiness spell! It’s a very basic recipe, then you can make it your own by changing around the ingredients. I’ve listed some optional suggestions that you could use with different correspondents for different intentions.

As you can see, I added clear quartz crystals and a citrine crystal to charge it further with positivity. Then I stirred a sigil for positivity into the drink with my spoon (I am happy and radiate positivity). I’ll link a post on how to make sigils once I’ve uploaded one!

What you need: 

2 tsp honey

½ tsp cinnamon

½ cup boiling water

½ cup milk

What to do:

Mix the honey, cinnamon and water together in a mug until combined.

Froth the milk with a milk frothing tool or by whisking/shaking very violently (Optional)

Add the milk

Garnish with cinnamon

Optional:

The ratio of boiling water to milk should bring the drink down to the perfect temperature!

With milk, you can add peppermint to soothe the stomach, chamomile to soothe the throat and encourage sleep, ginger to soothe the throat, or cayenne pepper to clear the sinuses.

Without milk, you can add a bit of lemon to boost the immune system.

You can replace the water with a herbal tea of your choices such as lavender or chamomile.

You can replace the milk with almond milk or any milk of choice.

–––––––––––––

Here’s the explanation for this spell for fellow baby witches

Spells come in many forms, including drinkable ones! You can call them potions if you like. They involve using herbs/flavours/scents etc with specific correspondents to fulfil a specific intention.

Honey signifies happiness and positivity and expels negativity, depression and anxiety.

Cinnamon signifies spirituality, success, healing, protection, power, love, luck, strength and prosperity

Milk has correspondents too! Full cream milk signifies prosperity, nurturing, protection, success. Warm milk eases anxiety and anger. Here’s a list of correspondents for non-dairy milk types by @heximari​

Citrine is a crystal that boosts joy and optimism, and clear quartz is used for protection and as an amplifier for other crystals.

Magical Bath

Day 1 of my 3-day spell:

Banish negativity

Purify/cleanse

Manifest happiness

Day 1 features:

Black candle

Sigil for “All energies that do not serve me are banished and removed from my life”

Bloodstone, black tourmaline, green jasper