Knot magic is powerful magic. A knot is a stored intention: you tie the wish or the protection into a cord, and the cord holds it until you decide to let it go. That is why knots have been used for as long as people have had string. Folklore tells of sailors buying winds tied in three knots from witches, and of cords knotted to bind sickness, hold a promise or guard a doorway.
Its strength comes from being physical. You have to slow down, choose your words, and commit your hands to the work. Each knot is a small decision, and the cord in your pocket afterwards is a reminder you can feel.
Handle with care. A knot holds its intention until it is untied, so decide before you begin when and how you will release it. Never bind another person, and never tie a knot for a purpose you would not want tied back to you.
What you need
- A cord. Natural fibres such as cotton, hemp, linen or wool are best, cut to about a foot for small workings and three feet for a ladder.
- A colour. Red for courage and protection, black for guarding and banishing, white for peace, green for growth and prosperity, and blue for calm and clear speech.
- Your voice. Say the words aloud as you tie. The rhythm of knot and phrase together is what holds the working.
- An ending. Untie a cord slowly when its work is done, thank it, and bury or burn it, or keep it if it is still guarding.
Three knot spells
Spell I
The Nine-Knot Witch’s Ladder
- Purpose
- To protect a home, a room or a person by tying a guard into a cord.
- Timing
- A Saturday evening or a new moon, both traditional for protective work.
- Materials
- A three-foot cord of red or black thread or yarn, nine small beads or feathers (optional), one white or black candle.
Steps
- Light the candle and hold the cord in both hands. Say aloud what the cord is to protect.
- Tie the first knot in the middle of the cord. Say the first line of the incantation and thread a bead or tie a feather into the knot if you are using them.
- Work outward from the middle, tying the remaining eight knots along the cord, one at a time, saying the matching line at each. Pull each knot firm before moving on.
- When the ninth knot is tied, hold the finished ladder over the candle flame at a safe distance and say the whole verse through once more.
- Hang the ladder above the main door or beside the bed. Do not untie it while it is guarding.
Incantation
One for the door that stands closed to harm.
Two for the window, the hearth and the wall.
Three for the roof and the ground below.
Four for the four winds that come and go.
Five for the sleepers, safe in their beds.
Six for the road and those who return.
Seven for the words spoken kindly and true.
Eight for the fear that has nowhere to stay.
Nine, and it’s sealed: this home is kept.
Refresh the ladder once a year. When it is time to retire it, untie the knots one by one, thank the cord, and bury or burn it.
Spell II
The Three-Knot Wishing Cord
- Purpose
- To name a single clear goal and hold it in a cord while you work towards it.
- Timing
- The waxing moon, from the new moon to the full.
- Materials
- A twelve-inch cord in a colour that suits the goal (green for prosperity, red for courage, blue for calm), one candle.
Steps
- Sit quietly with the cord and the candle. Decide on your goal and put it into one plain sentence.
- Tie the first knot loosely and say the goal aloud. This knot names it.
- Tie the second knot and state one action you will take this week. This knot sets the work in motion.
- Tie the third knot and pull all three snug, picturing the goal as already achieved. This knot holds it.
- Keep the cord in a pocket, on your altar or by your bed while you work towards the goal.
Incantation
First knot names it, second knot moves it,
third knot holds it, the way is clear.
What I have tied, I will follow through;
the wish is set, and the work is near.
When the goal is met, or the moon has run its course, untie the knots in reverse order, thank the cord, and bury it in the earth.
Spell III
The Untying Cord for Releasing Worry
- Purpose
- To ease worry, a habit or lingering tension by tying it into a cord and then untying it.
- Timing
- The waning moon, in the evening.
- Materials
- A two-foot white or pale blue cord, a bowl of water or running water nearby, a quiet room.
Steps
- Hold the cord and breathe slowly. Name one thing you want to release, and keep it to a single worry or habit.
- Tie three knots along the cord, pulling each one tight. As you do, imagine the tension leaving your body and settling into the knot.
- Hold the knotted cord against your chest for one breath and say: “It is out of me and into the cord.”
- Untie the knots slowly, one at a time, in reverse order. Let each one loosen as you exhale.
- When the cord lies straight, rinse it in the water, then wash your hands. Leave it to dry in moonlight or bury it.
Incantation
What I have carried, I set in the cord;
what I have tied, I now undo.
Loosened and lightened, I let it go free,
and the night takes it, gently, through.
Nothing here replaces care from a doctor or counsellor if your worry is heavy or does not lift. The cord is a quiet ritual to sit alongside that support.
