Whether you are a Neophyte or a Grand Magus, a Novice or a High Priest, you want your spells and rites to have more influence than not. Of course you want the archetypal energies you're channeling to flow more freely, why wouldn't you? One of the oldest and best ways to do this is to incorporate magickal correspondences into your practice. I will show you what correspondences are, how to use them, and what the benefits are to using them to make your rites and spells more powerful and influential.
What does this mean?
If you wanted to learn about something, you would want to look at everything that has to do with your subject matter. The easiest way to do this is to compile a list of correspondences. Say you're preparing a ritual for Sam Hain, and you want to make your rite as powerful as you can. You might consult your book, in which you would have a table like the one below.
Directional correspondences
North| East| South| West|
Green| Yellow| Red| Blue|
Earth| Air| Fire| Water|
Gnomes| Sylphs| Salamanders| Undines|
What good is it?
Sometimes you feel a need to place more meaning into what you're doing. Maybe you're doing a rite for a child or a parent. Maybe it needs more of the personal touch. That extra little bit a kitchen witch puts into her culinary masterpieces to set them off. Having a set of tables with this kind of information at your fingertips can be handy for this. You can give any rite or ceremony more depth and authority by simply adding more details that sympathize with your goals.
How do I use them?
If you are getting ready for a full moon rite, you would want to use as many corresponding details as you could. What colors, what scents, what images? But where do you find the information? Try looking in some of your favorite pieces if pagan literature! Many a tome can be found which holds a wealth of information and pre-gathered tables waiting for you to spice up and enhance your spiritual practice!
Now that you know?
Now you know how to gather and use correspondences. There are plenty of ways you can grow from here. Let your imagination guide you. Is there any danger to this practice? As with any information, it's all in how you use it. Be wise in your cultivations of the old ways and you will never be disappointed. And remember, harm none!