I think knitting is a wonderful form of knot magick. Knitting makes sweaters, scarves, mittens - all that can be worn by people you love - and every single stitch can be a magickal knot infused with whatever spell or medicine you wish. There are numerous sources of specific knot spells that could be incorporated into a knitting project. Two good websites on the subject are Knot & Cord Magick by aSkyeWolfe and Knot Magick by Sacred Spiral. Or, as I am doing now with a scarf I'm knitting for my sister, simply fill each stitch with intention. As I knit I will that the scarf will keep her warm and happy, in both actual and spiritual ways, and that the knots of the scarf will serve to strengthen the ties of sisterly love and bring us closer to each other.

I have a book, The Knitting Goddess, wherein the author, Deborah Bergman, offers stories of several spinning, weaving and creation goddesses and knitting projects inspired by them. As the book's tagline suggests, the book is a wonderful resource for "finding the heart and soul of knitting through instruction, projects, and stories." This passage, from her chapter on Grandmother Spider, sums of the magick of this book for me:

The invitation to knit usually doesn't arrive when we are feeling like everything in life has achieved a measure of Parisian fullness and balance and needs to get roughed up again. Not always, but more often, it seems to be in one of those ragged, odd moments of life - when we are feeling somehow at odds, in transition, at risk, out of sorts, or just plain awkward - when two needles and a skein of something intriguing manage to present themselves within arm's reach. A voice whispers in our ear. We pick up the rudimentary tools and fiber, put up with the fleeting added challenge of learning yet another new skill, and the next thing we know we are knitting our way through our transition, ordering our life into a new pattern while we also use our hands and needles to learn to pattern yarn. We counter one transition with another, and get through both, and then some.

Sound familiar?

One of my favorite myths related to knitting magick is that of The Three Fates, or Moirae, Zeus' older sisters. (When I was in Dublin this past summer, I posted a photo I took of a statue of The Three Fates from St. Stephen's Green.) Clotho is the "spinner" and Lachesis the apportioner of lots. The thread of life is spun upon Clotho's spindle, measured by the rod of Lachesis and finally snipped by the shears of Athropos, the inevitable one.

Deborah Bergman offers a ritual for making the Fates your allies, in creative projects and in life. She says you start by choosing your Fate. Clotho is helpful when you need to speed and solidify tenuous beginnings. She is a manifestor, facilitating the birth of something that already exists in the imagination. Lachesis helps us to stay the course when something seems daunting. She is the one to call upon when the distance between where we are and where we want to be seems too far or we feel unable to keep going. Somehow, when we know the answer to the question "how far?" it makes everything easier. Athropos, with her scissors, helps us to recognize when it is time to stop, to accept that something has reached its end, and to cut the thread and move on.

Part of what makes knitting magick fun and effective is your choice of yarn, the cord. As a witch, I can't help but be attracted to a resource for materials called Alchemy Yarns of Transformation. They make incredibly beautiful yarn from silk, wool and even bamboo in the most magickal range of colors. I haven't knit anything using this yarn yet, but I hope to soon. I think this yarn will make a most magickal project indeed.

Knot magick has a rich and ancient history:

Knot Magick A Brief History Eliza Fegley

Knot magick has been in use since ancient antiquity and can be found in the art and literature of all ancient cultures, from ancient Mesopotamia onwards. It is also found in all the religions of the world.

It was a practice among Catholics to tie a knot when invoking saints to bind the saints to them until they have done their bidding.

Mohammed, founder of Islam, was cursed by a knot and, had it not been found and untied, it is said that Mohammed would have died. Some male followers of the Islam religion will tie a knot in their beard to protect them from the evil eye. When at sea, they might tie several knots in their clothing to put an end to violent winds, but when going to Mecca they must not have any knots in their clothing.

In Hinduism, knot tying is often associated with the death gods.

Buddhists refer to the untying of knots as a "process of liberation." [5]

Knot tying was common in Roman magic as images of lovers were sometimes tied together to keep the couple bound to each other. Solemn oaths were also made to their deities while tying a knot.

In mythology, we have the Fates who wove, knotted, and cut the strings of life. We also have the famous Gordian Knot which Alexander was said to have cut in two with his sword.
In not so long ago times, there were men and women who were called blowers of knots. They would recite incantations while tying knots. The most famous of these incantations were done for wind knots.

Wind knots were three knots made in a string, rope, or rag and sold to sailors. If a sailor were to untie one knot, he would get a moderate wind. If he should untie 2 knots, the wind would blow half a gale. To untie all 3 knots would have caused a hurricane. [2]

Knots are prevailent in wedding lore, where two people are united in marriage which is also known as "tying the knot." From the Dark Ages to the 18th century, it was forbidden to tie a knot at someone's wedding for fear that it would prevent a true union between the bride and groom. Another form of knot magic associated with weddings is the wearing of a net over the bride's head. Today, brides often wear a veil, originally meant to protect them from the evil eye and evil sorcery during their wedding day.

During a woman's labor it was custom in many cultures worldwide to undo all knots within the house. In black magic, knots can be used to hinder or stop the birth of a child, killing both the mother and infant. It was also believed that a knot can cause a painful and difficult delivery.

To knot a cloth that had touched a man's penis was believed to bring about his impotence. The same was held true to tying a knot into a man's pubic hair and burying it in the earth.

When someone was dying, it was once a common practice to untie all knots within the room so as to not keep the dying person bound to life and suffering.

In Russia, knot magick was once very common. There are written accounts of the many types of knot spells including an 8 double-knot curse to use against an enemy in which wool yarn was used. As each double-knot was made, these words were spoken:

"1. I go out onto the road, 2. I throw into the open field, 3. into the distance, 4. between the homesteads, 5. into the fields, 6. into the seas, 7. into the forest, 8. into the quaking bag." [4]

This cord was then left in a place where its intended victim would step on it.

For protection from harm by a gun or other weapon, 5 knots were tied in a cord and kept about the body.

Red wool thread with nine knots was sometimes worn by children to protect them from fever.
A cord with 40 knots might be kept as an amulet for protection against thieves.

In todays world, knot magic continues to have its place. Examples of this would be in the dream catchers made by the Lakota's, the "Eye of God", and shell decorated nets that are hung in homes and businesses.

Select Bibliography: ?1. Amulets and Superstitions by E. A. Wallis Budge. Dover Publications. 1978. ?2. The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer. Collier Books. 1963. ?3. Taboo, Magic, Spirits: A Study of Primitive Elements In Roman Religion by Eli Edward Burriss. Greenwood Press. 1972. ?4. The Bathhouse at Midnight: Magic In Russia by W. F. Ryan. The Pennsylvania State University Press. 1999. ?5. The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols by Jean Chevalier and Alain Gheerbrant. Translated by John Buchanan-Brown. 1996.

Copyright 1997-2002, Eliza Fegley.
Knot Magick

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 1:46 PM