Book of Shadows

Planetary Correspondences

        The old Hermetic phrase "As above, so below" states that whatever is going on in the heavens mirrors life on earth. The "macrocosm" (the universe at large) reflects the "microcosm" (a person's life), and vice-versa. This is the premise behind astrology, and some systems of spellcraft are based on it, too. Different planets correspond to different types of spells, which are listed below, and the materials you use for those spells correspond to the planets. Some magical paths rely heavily on the planets-- you have to do the spell on the right day corresponding to the planet, wearing the right color, using the right metals and herbs, at the right lunar phase, when the moon or sun is in the right constellation... etc., etc. Some take it a step further and plan spells based on every astrological event, every trine and conjunction. This is way too complicated for me, but planetary correspondences are a good thing to know, at the very least, even if you don't plan to use them. 

The Moon
Type of Spell: Transformation, protection, psychic abilities, emotions, intuition, dreams, prophecy.
Element: Water
Day: Monday
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Color: Silver
Animals: Dolphin, hare, cat, wolf, deer, unicorn.
Metal: Silver
Crystal: Moonstone, pearl, quartz.
Plants: Willow, lily, lotus, jasmine, lunaria, cucumber, water plants.
Spirit: Undine
Deities: Selene/Luna, Artemis/Diana, Mani, Arianrhod, Sin/Nanna, Thoth, Khonsu, Chandra, Parvati, Tsukuyomi, Archangel Gabriel.
Symbol: ☽

The Sun
Type of Spell: Creativity, rejuvenation, confidence, individuality, hope, fame, luck, vitality, ambition, success.
Element: Fire
Day: Sunday
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Color: Gold, orange
Animals: Lion, dragon, phoenix, eagle, scarab
Metal: Gold
Crystals: Topaz, amber, citrine, yellow diamond
Plants: Oak, mistletoe, birch, laurel, St. John's wort, frankincense, saffron, cinquefoil, heliotrope, sunflower, yarrow, citrus fruits.
Spirit: Dryad
Deities: Helios, Apollo, Belenos, Sol, Shamash, Amun-Ra, Amaterasu, Surya, Agni, Brigid, Archangel Michael
Symbol: ☉

Mercury:
Type of Spell: Healing, intelligence and intellect, travel, commerce, communication, memory.
Element: Air
Day: Wednesday
Zodiac Signs: Gemini, Virgo
Color: Yellow
Animals: Serpent, owl, ibis, jackal, hippogriff.
Metal: Mercury (substitute aluminum or platinum- mercury is dangerous!)
Crystal: Opal, agate
Plants: Hazel, lavender, ash, sandalwood, wormwood, valerian, vervain, fennel, mandrake.
Spirit: Sylph
Deities: Hermes, Thoth, Enki, Lugh, Odin, Saraswati, Archangel Raphael, Archangel Raziel.
Symbol: ☿

Venus:
Type of Spell: Love, sex, beauty, art, passion, peace, cooperation, friendship, harmony, fertility, luxury.
Element: Earth, water.
Day: Friday
Zodiac Sign: Taurus, Libra
Color: Green, pink
Animals: Unicorn, cat, dove, swan, mermaid.
Metal: Copper
Crystals: Emerald, rose quartz, jade.
Plants: Rose, olive, alder, apple, pear, cherry, rosemary, almond, yarrow
Spirit: Naiad
Deities: Aphrodite, Aengus, Freja, Astarte/Ishtar, Rhiannon, Lakshmi, Hathor, Archangel Haniel, Archangel Chamuel.
Symbol: ♀️

Mars:
Type of Spell: Action, aggression, power, lust/desire, sex, conflict, physical health, victory, strength, empowerment, energy.
Element: Fire
Day: Tuesday
Zodiac Signs: Aries, Scorpio
Color: Red
Animals: Hawk, horse, scorpion, other venomous animals, ram, dragon.
Metal: Iron, steel
Crystals: Ruby, garnet, carnelian, bloodstone
Plants: Hickory, birch, dragon's blood resin, pepper, ginger, holly, basil, pepper, rue, patchouli, bloodroot, dandelion, thistles, arrowroot, hyacinth.
Spirit: Fury (Erinyes)
Deities: Ares, Set, Sekhmet, Nergal, Gugulanna, Tyr, Kartikeya, Camael, Samael.
Symbol: ♂️

Jupiter:
Type of Spell: Wisdom, justice/law, business, wealth, abundance, peace, joy, optimism, good fortune, honor, peace, expansion.
Element: Air
Day: Thursday
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Color: Blue, purple
Animals: Wolf, eagle, stag, bull, gryphon.
Metal: Tin
Crystals: Sapphire, amethyst.
Plants: Oak, almond, cherry, cedar, mint, juniper, maple, sycamore, chestnut, agrimony, hyssop.
Spirit: Dwarf
Deities: Zeus, Thor, Taranis, Perun, Indra, Isis, Susanoo, Marduk, Enlil, Ganesha, Archangel Zadkiel, Archangel Sachiel.
Symbol: ♃

Saturn:
Type of Spell: Banishment, restriction, structure, endurance, time, frugality, longevity, protection, stability, obstacles, binding, discipline, death.
Element: Earth
Day: Saturday
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Color: Black
Animals: Dragon, owl, raven, basilisk, animals associated with slowness or death.
Metal: Lead (substitute pewter)
Crystals: Onyx, obsidian, smoky quartz, tourmaline, diamond
Plants: Poisonous plants like aconite, belladonna, hemlock, and hellebore; cypress, yew, elm, pine, mandrake, cannabis, thyme, myrrh, cinnamon, patchouli.
Spirit: Gnome
Deities: Chronos, Hades, Nephthys, Anubis, Ninurta, Arawn, Morrigan, Kali, Veles, Archangel Zaphkiel, Archangel Cassiel, Archangel Azrael.
Symbol: ♄​​​​​​​

That's as many planets as traditional astrology recognizes, because Saturn is the furthest planet that can be seen with the naked eye (and that's probably why it gets all the death symbolism). For good measure, here's a bit about Uranus and Neptune:

Uranus:

Type of Spell: Revolution/rebellion, upheaval, freedom, innovation, eccentricity, genius, individuality, the unconventional.
Element: Air
Day: Tuesday
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Color: Turquoise
Animals: Butterflies and dragonflies
Metals: Platinum, uranium (do NOT use uranium- it's radioactive!)
Crystals: Quartz, amazonite, aventurine, turquoise, zircon.
Plants: Clove, nutmeg, valerian, foxglove, coffee, cocoa, sage, wintergreen
Deities: Ouranos, Pan, Nyx, Nut, Urania, Archangel Uriel
​​​​Symbol: ⛢

Neptune:
Type of Spell: Imagination, dreams, visions, art, intuition, illusion, psychic ability, empathy.
Element: Water
Day: Thursday
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Color: Blue, purple, white
Animals: Any sea animals like fish, crustaceans, or marine invertebrates
Metals: Bronze, iron, pewter
Crystals: Aquamarine, coral, malachite, jade.
Plants: Jasmine, seaweed, water lilies, lavender, jasmine, fern, moss
Deities: Poseidon, Amphitrite, Ishtar, Llyr, Dionysus, Angel Asariel
​​​​Symbol: ♆

So, the way you'd use this information is to use all these correspondences for the spell you want to cast. Say you were going to do a love spell. You might make a talisman out of copper or rose quartz, and you'd prepare it on a Friday, wearing green or pink, and burn rose incense. However, you might not have all those ingredients! Some of them are actually dangerous. Like I said before, magic is based on intention, and you don't have to use all those ingredients if you don't have or can't get them. However, it's helpful to know what they are, so you can involve them when you can. For example, do your banishments on Saturday, wearing black, or incorporate the appropriate planetary sigil into your sigils.