The Magic of knots

Susan Leybourne

The use of knots in magic has been widely practised throughout the World in
former times, for many reasons. It is quick, simple, quite discreet, but
very powerful. Especially in Celtic lands where, it was believed, the
Faerie folk could not be held in any knot, the skill of tying knots was a
faerie gift. A very sacred and holy thing.

As soon as I could tie my shoes I would tie up spells in my laces. I was
drawn to the peculiarity of cords and string and different types of spirit
magic to be worked, which all depended upon the twist and turn of the knot
used and the amount of knotting done.

Although the majority of modern Witches are familiar with only one or two
styles of knotting as a magical device, many other forms of Knot magic were
used to ward off or attract beneficial conditions.

The tying of knots has been practiced for magical purposes for as long as
mankind has needed to secure things, whether securing an object or the
favour of the Gods, knots have been employed. In ancient Egypt seven was
the preferred number, as the seven Hathors were invoked, the Equivalent of
the Faerie folk, Seven knots were tied in cloth, while suitable
incantations were muttered over them invoking the power of the Gods. Isis,
Sekhmet, Amun and Thoth were often called upon during magical rituals as
knots were tied.

Tying up an illness, binding a demon, securing someone's love - for all
these things and more, knots were used. In older times illness or
misfortune was regarded as an evil Spirit to be bound up in cloth or rope,
therefore inhibiting its progress.

We can take another look at knot work, in the specialised skills of old
fashioned midwifery. As soon as a child is born, and the umbilical cord is
cut and tied, this is the first act of magic practiced upon the new born
infant, and in older times, the midwife would have been responsible for
giving the child his future good fortune, by saying a little prayer or
blessing as the cord is cut and tied, securing his future health and
happiness.

In olden times Witches were known to tie up the wind in a piece of string,
with three knots which would be given or sold to sailors, so that they
would have good weather for sailing, and would have the added benefit of
bringing them home safely at the end of the day. All around the world knots
have been used for magical purposes. In England tying new wool in a cris
cross fashion across a mirror was used by witches as a Spirit trap, meant
to capture the evil eye or bad spirits sent at us. The spirit would be
attracted by the light's reflection in the mirror, and then would get
trapped in the wool. At the full moon the wool would be taken off and
burnt, and the mirror re-threaded with new wool.

Elemental spirits do like string, wool and knots, and are easily attracted
to them. The same could be said of the more wider known Native American
Dream catcher, very well known in almost every esoteric shop in the west.
You can even buy them in the craft markets in many large cities. Basically
this is another Spirit trap devise, meant to catch bad dreams, but in most
Shamanic earth centred cultures bad dreams are believed to be caused by
evil spirits.

When we say knots we don't just mean any old knot, as different types of
knots were and are still used by different sorts of people, like farmers,
sailors, climbers etc. and each knot is used according to its purpose.
Similar purposes can be discovered by applying like to like in a magical way.

One of my favourites for a short term solution which can be easily undone
is the chain sinnet. This is a sort of running piece of knotwork, fashioned
into a bracelet and worn around the wrist, for an instant result. The chain
sinnet, is quite decorative, I would suggest doing this when you need an
outcome right now, but might not need it in a weeks time, for example 'I
need another client to replace the client who just cancelled' or 'I need to
find information on Lithuanian folk magic by Friday' or 'I need enough
money to pay the phone bill next week'. Such repeating knots as the chain
sinnet are easy to make, and one can easily enter an altered state while
creating this chain with coloured string or cord. When the goal has been
achieved, simply tug one end, and the whole thing will unravel in seconds.
Knot spells are incredibly quick and very simple once you know how to tie a
few basic knots. The idea is twofold: you put a lot of concentration into
doing the turns and loops correctly, and on another level, once you become
very familiar with a certain knot, you no longer need to worry about it's
sequence, so you put an equal amount of concentration into visualizing the
outcome or chanting over the knots as you tie them.
Either way I find this kind of magic incredibly quick and it works almost
immediately.

Another favourite is the Monkey's fist. While working this knot, you can
enclose a personal item inside the knot, which acts as a protection for the
person whose item it is. This knot is also quite decorative and is
sometimes called a Button knot,  and it works mostly for protection, either
from Spiritual or physical enemies. The knot itself cushions the person 
from all harm, if kept on the person. This knot is quite heavy when wet,
and will act at a distance. So as well as a personal talisman, it can be
worked with heavier cord to send any sort of spell at a distance. This is
done by standing outdoors with the loose end of cord in one hand while
circling the knotted end above the head whipping up the wind, and muttering
to the spirits in a low voice, exactly who it is for, or the result you
need to affect at a distance. Then, when you feel the power is with you and
you are ready to go, let go of the whole thing in the direction it is
needed. It might only travel a few feet, but it will hit it's mark. You
then pick it up and hang it in the branches of the nearest tree, only
taking it down after the result has come or one month has gone by.

Another style of knot I like is the Water knot, which can be used to bring
two people together. It acts very quickly. This knot was only invented in
the 19th century and it is done by tying two separate pieces of cord
together with two separate knots, but when the two cords are pulled in
opposite directions the knots come together. If a coloured bead or crystal 
is worked into each knot, representing the two people, when the cord is
tugged the beaded knots make a rather satisfying clatter as they bang
together. This can be used for many purposes, from romance to meeting a new
business contact, being at the right place at the right time or getting off
on a good start with the mother in law or new boss.

Looking at the whole subject of knot magic could cause a few problems for
modern practitioners as so many of the most lovely knots can be used for
the darkest of curses. Our forebears would not have had such a problem with
this, the older philosophy of 'You hurt me and I will hurt you back' seems
to have been replaced by such notions as 'send it back with love' and the
oh so popular 'an it harm none'. These modern concepts would not have been
so popular in a dog eat dog world, so some of the best knots are used for
binding an enemy, symbolically tying up the enemies intestines, shortening
someone's life, or sending them to the gallows, and other such lovelies
from the horror hit parade.
Obviously these would not be so popular nowadays, as the general thought is
defence not offence. Most people may regard this as an interesting piece of
folklore, but the early Muslims had a great fear of magic and sorcery, and
offered prayers to Allah, to be protected from all those who blow on knots.
It is highly likely that the knots utilised by magicians of the Ancient
Middle East were simple overhand knots, as these can be done in a series
while looping rope or cord around the hand several times, while
incantations are sung or chanted over the hand holding the cord, a quick
blow into the palm and a string of knots are revealed at equal intervals
along the line, the length of the hand is the measure, which gives the
number of turns, which relates to the number of knots, which for an average
person will usually be around seven. When my own students are initiated I
ask them to make their own measure beforehand with natural wool, and a
bobbin with four nails in it. As the length is made charms and incantations
are muttered into the thing which will be their initiation cord, and symbol
of their Magical journey. Such a measure, if done correctly can take months
to finish, but upon completion acts as a powerful personal amulet. During
the initiation, time is set aside for the dyeing of the measure with the
leaves of one's sacred tree, which acts as a fixative for all the magic
incantations done over it during the previous months.

Knot magic is something which appears to have become nothing more than an
added extra in the Witches tool kit these days, but in times gone by, it
would have been one of those basic skills all Witches would have known.
With families or areas having their preferred style of knot, used for both
mundane as well as magical purposes.

Susan Leybourne is the Pagan Chaplain attached to Leeds University, she is
a professional Clairvoyant, healer and full time Witch. She regularly
teaches courses on Pagan subjects throughout the UK and Europe.

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