A correspondence is a likeness between things on different levels: a planet, a metal, a color and a quality of character that share one nature. These tables set out the attributions most widely used in the modern Western tradition. For the idea behind them see the principle of correspondence and a world bound by sympathy.
The seven planets
| Planet | Day | Metal | Color | Number | Line total | Sphere | Incense | Powers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn | Saturday | Lead | Black | 3 | 15 | Binah | Myrrh | Structure, limits, discipline, endings |
| Jupiter | Thursday | Tin | Blue | 4 | 34 | Chesed | Cedar | Growth, generosity, law, fortune |
| Mars | Tuesday | Iron | Red | 5 | 65 | Geburah | Dragon's blood | Energy, courage, conflict, severance |
| Sun | Sunday | Gold | Gold, yellow | 6 | 111 | Tiphareth | Frankincense | Vitality, identity, clarity, authority |
| Venus | Friday | Copper | Green | 7 | 175 | Netzach | Rose | Love, harmony, beauty, the arts |
| Mercury | Wednesday | Quicksilver | Orange | 8 | 260 | Hod | Mastic | Thought, language, learning, trade |
| Moon | Monday | Silver | Silver, violet | 9 | 369 | Yesod | Jasmine | Rhythm, dreams, memory, the tides |
Number is the count of cells on each side of the planet's magic square. Line total is the sum of any row, column or diagonal of that square. See planetary magick.
The four elements and spirit
| Element | Qualities | Quarter | Season | Time of day | Temperament | Faculty | Tool | Power | Tarot suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Hot, dry | South | Summer | Noon | Choleric | Will | Wand | To will | Wands |
| Water | Cold, wet | West | Autumn | Dusk | Phlegmatic | Feeling | Cup | To dare | Cups |
| Air | Hot, wet | East | Spring | Dawn | Sanguine | Intellect | Dagger | To know | Swords |
| Earth | Cold, dry | North | Winter | Midnight | Melancholic | Sensation | Pentacle | To keep silent | Pentacles |
| Spirit | Balance of all | Center | The whole year | The present | Balanced | Awareness | Lamp | To go | Trumps |
The twelve signs of the zodiac
| Sign | Sun in sign | Element | Mode | Ruler | Part of the body | Keynote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | 21 March to 19 April | Fire | Cardinal | Mars | Head | Beginning, initiative |
| Taurus | 20 April to 20 May | Earth | Fixed | Venus | Neck and throat | Stability, possession |
| Gemini | 21 May to 20 June | Air | Mutable | Mercury | Arms and lungs | Exchange, curiosity |
| Cancer | 21 June to 22 July | Water | Cardinal | Moon | Chest and stomach | Shelter, nurture |
| Leo | 23 July to 22 August | Fire | Fixed | Sun | Heart and back | Expression, dignity |
| Virgo | 23 August to 22 September | Earth | Mutable | Mercury | Belly | Analysis, service |
| Libra | 23 September to 22 October | Air | Cardinal | Venus | Kidneys and lower back | Balance, relationship |
| Scorpio | 23 October to 21 November | Water | Fixed | Mars | Organs of generation | Intensity, transformation |
| Sagittarius | 22 November to 21 December | Fire | Mutable | Jupiter | Hips and thighs | Aspiration, the far view |
| Capricorn | 22 December to 19 January | Earth | Cardinal | Saturn | Knees | Structure, achievement |
| Aquarius | 20 January to 18 February | Air | Fixed | Saturn | Shins and ankles | Principle, community |
| Pisces | 19 February to 20 March | Water | Mutable | Jupiter | Feet | Dissolution, compassion |
Dates vary by a day from year to year. Rulers are those of the classical scheme of seven planets. See astrology.
The ten sephiroth
| No. | Name | Meaning | Pillar | Heavenly sphere | Color | Virtue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kether | Crown | Middle | The first motion | White | Completion of the Great Work |
| 2 | Chokmah | Wisdom | Mercy | The zodiac | Grey | Devotion |
| 3 | Binah | Understanding | Severity | Saturn | Black | Silence |
| 4 | Chesed | Mercy | Mercy | Jupiter | Blue | Obedience |
| 5 | Geburah | Severity | Severity | Mars | Red | Courage |
| 6 | Tiphareth | Beauty | Middle | Sun | Yellow | Devotion to the Great Work |
| 7 | Netzach | Victory | Mercy | Venus | Green | Unselfishness |
| 8 | Hod | Splendor | Severity | Mercury | Orange | Truthfulness |
| 9 | Yesod | Foundation | Middle | Moon | Violet | Independence |
| 10 | Malkuth | Kingdom | Middle | The four elements | Four earth colors | Discrimination |
The stages and operations of alchemy
| Stage | Color | Emblems | Inner meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigredo | Black | Raven, skull, eclipsed sun | Dissolution of the false self; facing the shadow |
| Albedo | White | Dove, swan, moon, white rose | Purification and clear seeing |
| Citrinitas | Yellow | Rising sun | The dawning of wisdom and warmth |
| Rubedo | Red | Phoenix, red king, rose, royal marriage | Union and embodiment |
| Operation | Planet | Metal | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcination | Saturn | Lead | Burning to ash |
| Dissolution | Jupiter | Tin | Dissolving in water |
| Separation | Mars | Iron | Dividing and filtering |
| Conjunction | Venus | Copper | Joining what was divided |
| Fermentation | Mercury | Quicksilver | Quickening with new life |
| Distillation | Moon | Silver | Raising and purifying |
| Coagulation | Sun | Gold | Fixing in final form |
The sevenfold scheme is a modern arrangement. Older authors give many different lists. See alchemy and the stages of the work.
Using the tables
The tables are a vocabulary, and a vocabulary is learned by use. Take one table at a time and commit it to memory. Then begin to notice the attributions in the world: the color of a day, the element of a mood, the planet of a task. When designing a ritual, choose everything in it from a single row.
Remember that these are human conventions with a long history, and that sources disagree in details. No table is a law of nature. Plants and incense are named here for their symbolism only: do not eat or drink them, and burn incense with care.