Knot/Cord Magic

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

I recently have a desire to start working with cord/knot magic. I know I have seen information regarding this, but now, I can't seem to locate that information again! ACK!

If someone could help me with the fundamentals and basics, I would appreciate it!

Thank you,

~D

[ruthie]

I just loved the idea. I have read a little about the use of cords in some books on Wicca, but never really gave it a second thought so to speak. Then when I saw it written down by youself, it hit me just how simple but splendid an idea it was. I have done a seach on google, and came up with among various other misc pages this one:

http://www.crosswinds.net/~spiritpaths/magic.htm#cord

I hope you find it helpful. Also, another interested person if anyone has any knowledge they would like to share!

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Thank you!

That was precisely what I was looking for! I know I have it in one of my 50 books....but couldn't seem to locate it!

I agree, if there is more out there that can be done with this art of the craft, please post it!

:D

[cydira]

I don't know too much about cord magic, but I know a charm that works pretty good. It's for protection.
Here it is. Who knows, some one might find it helpful. :)

You need a small glass bottle with lid and red cord. Cut the red cord into sections and tie each section into a knot. Fill the glass bottle with the knotted strands of cord and bury it at the entry to your house or hide it near the door. It will keep harm away from you because it will get lost and confused in the knots and never find you. :) I have had pretty good success with this and also with a different protection charm.

Take two oak twigs and make an equal armed cross with them. Tie the twigs together and carry them for protection. They also can be kept in a place that needs protection and it will help to keep that place safe. You need to use red cord to tie the twigs together, I almost forgot to add that. Umm... I think I might have a few more protection charms, if you want I can try to find them. But now I am wandering way off topic. <lol>

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

That would be great!

Thank you!


I am out of red cord....bummer! All I have is neutral cream! Putting it on the shopping list! :D

[Fawn]

I use cord spells. I use different color threads for workings like to me I use a red for a unwanted attraction. Start at the end closest to your right hand then tie a knot there (I have a time in frame mind beforehand like a week or so) then I tie a knot closest to my left hand then the middle and one between the first made and center and then one between the second and center until I have my seven knots.

Day one I untie the first one chanting my spell's work.
Do this until all knots are released (one a day) and I personally prefer to do this at the same time each day or night.
The last knot releases the spell's workings and it is done so mote it be.
The colors and knot numbers or how you chose to tie them is all a matter of personal preference.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Wow! Thanks! ~~hastily making notes!!

:D

[reanna]

I am also hastily making notes. :D

Filing this one away for later.

Thanks

[Apple]

My friend Beth taught me an old Italian/Stregan cord spell. You guys wanna know? (hee hee, I was going to tell you anyway...)

Let's hope I remember it just right...
choose multiple colors to stand for different aspects of your spell, for instance, if you need a job: you could try green for money, red for the push to bring your wish about, white for purity of intent (you don't want to steal someone else's job!), etc. Use a few strands, I don't remember how many Beth taught me to use, but I'd try at least 6. Maybe 9... good magical number... If you need, try using more than one of the same color if you don't use very many shades to make sure it'll be nice and thick when you're done..

Cut them long, about the full stretch of your arms. Take each string (yarn) and run the length of it between your index and thumb fingers while repeating the meaning of each as they apply to your spell in your head or aloud... however you need to to get them infused with their purpose.

When that's done, tie them together in a simple knot at one end. Have someone hold it or pin/hook it securely to something like a wall. Twist the strings together so they become one rope. This takes a LOT of twisting. More than you might think. When you squish the rope in your fingers, it shouldn't flatten. It should be taught and twisted too compactly to do so. If it slips out of your hands and unravels, start over again.

When it's very tight, bend it in half so the end you were twisting from meets the end that is knotted and being held by your friend or other object. Make sure you knot the end you were twisting by tying the loose ends around the knot you had made before so it remains one knot. The thick cord will twist up when you fold it in half. Don't worry, that's what you want to happen. You might want to help the rope in twisting by doing so manually so it's a nice and uniform, like a rope braid.

(As a tip, when you make your initial knots, leave some extra hanging off like a tassle. Do that with the side you twist by not twisting all the way to the tip end.)

Now that you've done that, you can trim the extra or leave it. I personally like to turn the rope into a round circle by slipping the knotted end through the loop at the other twisted end and slipping the circle around the base of a candle to burn while I meditate on the purpose of the spell coming to fruitation.



I'm long winded, WHEEEEE!

The End.

[Emy]

Well, I know of a place that describes the basics of knot magic, however its in swedish... =(

fly.to/iona

I am not sure she's got an english mirror site, so well if you are really interested, I guess I could translate it into english for you (since I am swedish)... =) well let me know if it is of any interest to you...

[Vinga]

Hej Elfva! Va kul att se en till svensk här :D!

Welcome to the boards!

[sherry]

I have been looking through the older stuff making sure I have read everything !! (got that reading info bug again) what are the colors used for and what does each mean!!

[Silver Venus]

Dagda did you ever get knotting then ;)
Sherry heres loads of links for colours
http://au.geocities.com/josie_sallinger/magic_colours.htm
http://www.zsuzsana.com/candlemagic.htm
http://occult.bigfreeweb.com/bos_colours.html
http://community-2.webtv.net/Dazevedo/THECOLOURSOFMAGIC/

[sherry]

Silver Venus thanks so much for the link it was perfect I do love the straight forward kinds!! printed the list !!

And what a pretty site too.:)

[Silver Venus]

Thats cool glad I could help ~ the first site is really good for Crystal picutres! and Chakra's....Im going to post up the link over in the green room under a question I asked... :)

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

~*BUMP*~

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry

from a nice page on Cord magic by crosswinds mostly from Bucklands.....and a link ....
But Cord magic once you get the basics can be adapted to meet your needs ...... and sewing ..weaving and embroidery come under this type of magic too I think......so the possiblities are endless....


Many Witches and covens work Cord Magick. For this you will need a cord, or cingulum as it is
some- times called, that is nine feet long (three times three; the perennial magick number) and is red
in color (the color of blood; the life force). But, you can use another color if you have different cords
for specific purposes (see color symbolism in correspondence tables). It is best to make your own by
taking three lengths of silk (or wool, nylon, whatever you prefer - though natural materials are
preferred) and braid them yourself so the three become one cord. As you braid, concentrate on
putting your energies into it so that it becomes another part of you. Tie a knot at each end to keep it
from unraveling. Make sure it is nine feet long.
Consecrate the cord, when done. Some traditions use their cords tied about their robes and wear
them all the time at Circles. I would suggest you keep yours for strictly magical use, since it is a
purely magical instrument. When not in use, keep it wrapped in a piece of clean cloth.
One magical use of the cord is as a "storage cell" for the power. Rather than dancing around and
working as a group, the coven will work as individuals, sitting and chanting, holding the cord in hand
(the same is obviously done by the Solitary). As the power starts to build, each covener will - taking
her own time and ignoring, or mentally separating herself from, the others - pause from time to time to
tie a knot in her cord. The first knot is tied at one end, with the words "By knot of one, the spell's
begun." She will then go back to chanting - sometimes swaying from side to side, or back and forth -
until she feels it is time to tie another knot. This is tied in the opposite end with the words: "By knot of
two, it cometh true". Then back to the chanting. As she chants, she also pictures what she wants ...
she focuses the power. So it goes on; chanting and picturing, then tying a knot. As the power builds,
more knots are tied until there are nine knots in the cord. They are tied in a particular pattern and
with appropriate words. The first knot, as I have said, is tied at one end; the second at the other end.
The third is tied in the middle. The fourth is halfway between the first and third; the fifth halfway
between the second and third. Here is the pattern of tying, together with the appropriate words:

By knot of ONE, the spell's begun

By knot of TWO, it cometh true

By knot of THREE, so mote it be

By knot of FOUR, this power I store

By knot of FIVE, the spell's alive

By knot of SIX, this spell I fix

By knot of SEVEN, events I'll leaven

By knot of EIGHT, it will be Fate

By knot of NINE, what's done is mine



At the tying of the last (ninth) knot, all the energy is directed into the cord and its knots, with a final
visualization of the object of the work. The power has been raised and is now "stored" in these knots
in the cord. There are old woodcuts, from the Middle Ages, which show Witches selling knotted
cords to sailors. They were supposed to have tied-up winds in the cords so that if the sailor needed a
wind for his ship he just untied a knot and got it-one knot for a light breeze, two for a strong wind
and three for a gale!
Why would you want to store a spell? For some magick, the time for it to happen is important.
Suppose, for example, that you want something constructive to happen but the most propitious time
for it to do so happens to be close to the New Moon. Do you do your constructive magick during
the Waxing Moon? No. You do it early on, at the Full Moon, using a cord. Now the power is there,
properly raised, but stored for use.

You have nine knots. Although they are all tied in one ritual, these must be released one at a time-one
a day-for nine consecutive days. Release them in the same order in which they were tied, NOT the
reverse order. In other words, on the first day untie the knot that was first tied (at one end); on the
second day, the second knot tied (at the other end); and so on. In this fashion, the last knot untied,
on the ninth day, is the ninth knot that was tied at the climax of the tying ritual- the time of greatest
power. Each day, before you actually untie, do your concentration on what is to happen, rocking and
again building power. Then, as you release the knot, release the power also with a shout. One note:
Any number of times, after I had empowered the cord and put it away, when I went to use it I didn't
know which end was which! So I couldn't untie my knots in order. It's a good idea to mark one end
(right or left) and always mark the same end.

Here is another chant for tying your knots. This is by Doreen Valiente published in Witchcraft For
Tomorrow.

THE SPELL OF THE CORD

By the knot of one
The spell's begun.
By the knot of two
It cometh true.
By the knot of three
Thus shall it be.
By the knot of four
'Tis strengthened more.
By the knot of five
So may it thrive.
By the knot of six
The spell we fix.
By the knot of seven
The Stars of Heaven.
By the knot of eight
The hand of fate.
By the knot of nine
The thing is mine.






Another use of the cords is in dancing, to raise power. Each Witch holds the two ends of her cord,
with the center looped through that of the person opposite her in the Circle:

Instead of holding hands to dance around, the coven is connected with the intertwining cords like the
spokes of a wheel.


Most of the information on cord magic is from:
Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland

http://www.paganliving.com/spells/cord.htm
Love and Light
Swannie

[Sequoia]

WHOAH!!! so much!!!! I thank everyone for the info!!

^__^ can't wait till I have some cord or something hehehe

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

~*bump*~

[Silver Venus]

Whats everyones experiences with cord magick? :) Did you give it a try?

I have practised it twice (dont do spells that much) and had very good results so I think I will think about using this form this coming Full Moon :)

Thanks for the bump

[~*Ginger*~]

oooh!
Some really good stuff here!
*bump*

[magick_faerie]

i did a really simple ribbon/knot love spell the other day, i sat down with my ribbons and used a chant i got off another witch, i found it worked really well and was very simple, i prefer them simple because then i dont have to concentrate on reading when i can be concentrating on energy....the chant was...

with knot of one, this loves begun
with knot of two my love shines through
with knot of three love comes to me
with knot of four my heart will soar
with knot of five this spells alive
with knot of six the love is fixed
with knot of seven by blood and kin
the spell is cast and love comes in
force and form attend to me
as i will so mote it be!

can i just say, i didnt say this spell with anyone particular in mind, i am going through a very lonely time in my life and i did the spell to bring lovers/freinds close, not to make a certain person love me. the spell worked as my ex came to stay with me and we have had a right laugh, i have someone here to talk to and i dont feel quite so lonely....and the spell was fun to do, i really do enjoy knot magick. Good luck!!

brightest blessings

fae

[Anubis RainHawk]

Cord magick is starting to really confuse me! Some authors say that you knot it in ritual and when you want to use the energy, you untie the knot. Others say that you consentrate on the knots during ritual as a magickal meduim and undo the knots only when on wishes to undue the spell. Which one is it???

Also, where do you store the cords? Do you dismantle them after the intention has manifested?
Thanks!

Anubis RainHawk

[Anubis RainHawk]

*bump*

[Storm Dancer]

Cord magick is starting to really confuse me! Some authors say that you knot it in ritual and when you want to use the energy, you untie the knot. Others say that you consentrate on the knots during ritual as a magickal meduim and undo the knots only when on wishes to undue the spell. Which one is it???

I'm no expert on knot magic, but this is my take on this.

If it's something I want to tie to me, I would tie the knots and keep the cord safe until I whished to undo the spell. Then I would undo the knots. An example of this would be fae's love spell.

If it was something I wanted to release or let go of, I would first tie the knots while putting my intention into the cord. Then I would untie them one by one, maybe one each day. An example of this would be a spell to let go of an unwanted emotion.

By the way, I recently read about traditional use of knots in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. A pregnant woman would carry a knot to prevent a miscarriage, but when it was time to deliver the baby, any knots close to her had to be undone. It was believed that knots would stall the delivery.

[Seren_]

Cord magick is starting to really confuse me! Some authors say that you knot it in ritual and when you want to use the energy, you untie the knot. Others say that you consentrate on the knots during ritual as a magickal meduim and undo the knots only when on wishes to undue the spell. Which one is it???

Also, where do you store the cords? Do you dismantle them after the intention has manifested?
Thanks!

Anubis RainHawk

It's an either or option really.

With the first method, each knot you make is like an expression of intent. As you make the knot, you focus on what it is you're doing the spell for, and charge the cord. Once you've finished charging the cord, you release the knots to release the spell. I guess it's similar to building up a cone of power, and then releasing it to direct the energy to do its work.

With the second method, what you seem to be describing is something like a witches' ladder, or wiccis, as I was taught. From what I was taught, this is usually made from 40 beads of the same size, plus a larger bead, or alternatively, 40 knots and one bigger knot, although the number can vary for a lot of reasons - numerology associated with the spell or personal preference etc.

The wiccis is used as a ritual focus, to create a mantra which you say at each bead/knot (it can also be used for prayer, and as such has a lot in common with a rosary). As you go round, the ladder helps you focus and raise energy, which you can direct into the ladder. Doing it this way certainly means you could use it as a kind of charm, to work for a certain period of time until you no longer have a use for it, whereby you can undo the knots and release the spell so it no longer has effect. This would probably be especially good for spells where you want to attract or repel certain influences, rather than something more specific.

As for storing the cords, it's a matter of taste. You can keep the cords to reuse them later, as a lot of covens do with their coven cords (see the Farrar's on this, especially). If you release the spell immediately, like in the first example, then there's no reason to keep the knots in the cord...but no reason to undo them unless you feel there is. More than anything, I think it's a matter of psychology. Undoing knots=releasing the spell (or undoing it as in the second example), and since a lot of people believe that believing in a spell will make it more effective, then you might find it beneficial to do whatever helps convince your mind that everything is complete.

[Anubis RainHawk]

Thanks Storm Dancer and Seren. :)