Quick Specs
- Author: Sandra Kynes
- Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
- Pages: 552
- Format: Trade paperback, 8 x 10 inches
- Best for: Ritual planning, spell research, cross-referencing magical components
What Correspondences Actually Are
A correspondence is the symbolic link between two things: a planet and a day of the week, a color and an intention, a plant and a deity. These connections grew from centuries of folk practice, herbalism, ceremonial magic, and astrology, each tradition reinforcing and expanding the web. When you choose rosemary for a protection spell or green for a money working, you are drawing on a system that spans cultures and centuries.
Sandra Kynes spent years compiling this reference so that practitioners would not have to own a dozen separate books to access those connections. At 552 pages, it covers plants, minerals, animals, deities, zodiac signs, moon phases, days and times, the Ogham, runes, tarot, elements, numbers, chakras, and colors. Entries are cross-referenced so you can follow a thread in any direction: start with an herb, find its associated deity, then find what other plants share that deity’s energy.
How Practitioners Use It
This book functions best as a working reference, not a cover-to-cover read. Keep it beside your altar and consult it the way you would a dictionary. Readers consistently describe reaching for it multiple times a week, using it to build spells from scratch, substitute components they do not have on hand, or deepen their understanding of why a particular combination works. Spending a few minutes with the introduction pays off in faster navigation.
How to Use Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences
How to get the most from this reference as a working ritual tool.
- Start with Intention
Open to the intentions and powers section first. Find the outcome you are working toward, such as protection or abundance. The book lists herbs, colors, planets, and other components associated with that goal.
- Cross-Reference Components
Once you have a component in mind, look it up in its own category to see its full profile. A single herb may connect to multiple intentions, planets, and deities. This cross-referencing reveals layers most books miss.
- Build or Adapt Your Ritual
Use correspondences to build a ritual where candle color, herb, timing, and deity all reinforce one intention. Or use it to find substitutions for missing components. It also guides you in creating personal ones.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this book because every serious practitioner eventually needs a single reliable reference that does not force them to chase information across a dozen sources. Kynes built exactly that. It is not a how-to spellbook, it is a research tool, and that distinction matters. For practitioners who want the companion doing side, browse my full books collection for titles that cover ritual technique alongside this reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though it works best once you understand the basics of spellwork. Beginners benefit from an introductory text first, then using this as a reference. The intentions section is accessible with minimal prior knowledge.
Most correspondence books cover one or two categories and leave the rest sparse. This one covers plants, minerals, animals, deities, runes, tarot, chakras, moon phases, and more in a single cross-referenced volume.
No. This is purely a reference, not a spellbook. It explains what corresponds to what and why but does not walk through casting a spell. That makes it a complement to how-to books rather than a replacement for them.
It is primarily written for Pagan and Wiccan audiences, so the correspondences reflect that tradition. Ceremonial magicians and eclectic practitioners still find it useful for cross-referencing herbs, stones, and timing.
2 reviews for Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kynes — Ritual Reference