Knots are one of the oldest forms of magic and were originally considered women’s magic.
Knots began as a way to ask for protection or blessings from the land and spirit from something special. The first knots were used to bring protection to babies, asking for their lives and well-being to be protected. Soon the practice extended to cover more of a child’s life, then expanded further to other loved ones, important animals, and lastly items of importance.
Knots were also considered a curiologic. Especially as their popularity and use grew, so did the way they were used to picture and tell a story of intended protection and well-being.
Knots also were a quipu, which was a numeral recording method. These cords were used to record important times and amounts.
The practice of tying knots was considered a women’s practice. The belief in forming external forms by agreement with earth and divine entities, for protection, was initiated by women and has been practiced in many cultures for centuries. All original forms of knot were made in agreement with universal laws, understandings, and agreements. They all were ways of wearing something that would bring luck, protection, or some other intention and keep evil away from the wearer.
Many of these ritualistic practices are considered an Earthen agreement, with the originator calling in spirits to help them keep protected what they wished. The women used wisdom and ceremony to decide what to include when requesting protective help. They carefully passed the information along to only women for centuries, before even sharing the information with men.
Knots were considered the very earliest form used to call in protection, asking universal laws to tie protection to a specific object. After a while, knots also became a different form of recording. Initially, as a recording means, individual knots recorded an important date or number (quipu).
Quipu was a main cord with smaller cords or varying colored cords that represented numbers, dates, and calculations. Then knots represented ways to not only count and record events but also communicate. Knots represented words through the use of different colors and forms of knots. When the simple practice of tying knots became a method of communicating and recording, knots evaded further and even became a part of amulet, talisman, and sigil making. The evolution happened because women began to realize the significance and effectiveness of communication through symbols.
There are many historical recordings that talk about how women used knots in ceremonies to tie what they cared about to protection to universal laws. Women began tying knots when death rates among new infants were high. They tied knots asking the earth spirits and the divine to hold the newborn’s life safely. The mother was the first to tie a knot for the baby. Soon the practice expanded to the mother or grandmother tying the knot. And then the ritual became the responsibility of the midwife or leading spiritual community woman.
Initially, a cord was tied to the newborn’s wrist. Later locks of hair from a child’s first haircut were kept and used in future knot ceremonies. It was also common to tie intentions in hair from the child and weave that hair into the baby’s or child’s clothing.
The practice of knot tying grew to include family members, community, groups, and valued animals. Knots were also used to seal relations, such as when handfasting. And many animals had their hair braided with knot intentions tied in. Flower hair wreaths and flower door wreaths are other ways that show how early women began and used the practice of knots to tie positive intentions into an item.
There are recorded instances of how women used knots. Women braided the hair of a loved one to wear as a bracelet, done in love and memory. Women braided and wove hair into decorative pieces to wear for special occasions. A person’s hair was especially used to tie good into their life.
Women generally practiced hair tying as a ritual done to enhance the life of the hair’s owner. For a short time, family hair was gathered and tied together with the intention of bringing good to the home. However, when family members died it became a problem. So, the practice of using hair from multiple family members was discontinued, except when tied as a symbol of love between two people. When that love ended, the expectation was that the hair needed to be burned or the remaining person could never have a new happy relationship.
Rather than using an individual’s hair, cords and ropes became the modality. Once cords and ropes were used, the practice of using hair and cutting hair was greatly decreased for the simpler practice of using a neutral cord or rope as the modality to hold the intention.
With this, the practice expanded to knotting cords into one’s hair, making an intention cord to be worn on the wrist of the joint hair woven together and worn on the wrist of another.
Women expanded the use of cords to include using a rope worn around their waist to tie their men to the homelands and bring their menfolk to their home or land when they were traveling or fishing or at sea. When a harvest was successful, some of the bounty from that previous year’s harvest was tied into the hair of the plow animal to tie that year’s success to this year’s harvest.
Knots became an important part of showing love, care, safety, well-being, good intentions, and so much more to communicate and tie one’s intention to self, family, community, animals, and property.
Knots were also used in our history during the Great Depression. In addition to drawing symbols, there was a system of tied knots or colored cords that were used to show which homes were friendly, what they offered, and which should be avoided.
Throughout history, many stories have told the value and uses of knots.
Previous to recorded history, knots were used to tell and tally a family’s story through dates and important events, to tally things owned and much more. Each of these uses for knots, hair, cords, and ropes began with women wanting to enhance the safety and well-being of what they had care over.
One specific such record told of 16th-century Scandinavian women wearing knotted belts. Each knot was tied in song, calling on the help of Sirens, to help them bring back their men from the seas. These knots were considered successful until a priest instructed the women that tying knots was of no use and to trust their men’s skills more and not wear the belts. After some women discontinued tying the knots and wearing the belts in secret, fewer men returned home from the voyage. At his death, the priest declared he believed he made a mistake.
Even when told the tying of knots was a waste of time, women continued to use knots to call on the universe to bring protection to various things under their control.
The use of knots was a part of many cultural practices by women. Little by little women began to discontinue tying knots by being told to trust other more practical ways of protection. However, it was discovered those few women who continued using knots, even with several miles and cultures separating them, had just a few knots in common with very similar meanings.
In addition to the basic knots most knot users also created some very elaborate knots to refine the meaning of their knots. Soon, knots represented cultural meanings and became a form represented in art designs.
Even with elaborate designs there were just a few common knots used from the beginning of time and endured all these years. The five common knots with the same meaning were:
Basic knot – Represented securing and interlacing an intention onto the cord in union with universal laws.
Double knot – A second basic knot tied onto the first, representing reinforcement through that second strengthening tying of a practical intention.
Connecting knot – Symbolizes a knot that is either not quite tied yet but has all intention to be connected or a promise of joining two ideas or intensifying the intention.
Multiple circle knot – Symbolizes bringing two differing ideas together into one, connecting opposing but agreeable intentions together.
Flat knot – Symbolizes protection and intentions around a solid core or foundation and connection, longevity, peace, and prosperity.
Cross knot – Symbolizes opposing sides being brought together through the Divine and satisfaction, perfection, and old love.
Square knot – Symbolizes aid, security, or maybe used as a temporary connection, aid, and security
The firmness of the type denoted the sincerity of the intention. Also, the use of colors when tying knots brought additional intention in the knots. The colors’ representations were similar to those of chakra color symbology.
Knots were tied in ceremony. Some ceremonies were elaborate or done in private. It was the person tying the knot that decided how public a ceremony or how private in which the tying would be done.
All knot desires address the intention. Usually, an intention was practiced before the actual tying so the intention was as pure, true, honest, and complete as intended. The intentions were tied to a base. Intention bases may include an element, a special deity, the divine, or other strong base as chosen by the person setting the intention. When colored cords were used, the purpose for using that color was included in the ceremony.
The entwining of the knot ties all the desires, dreams, love, happiness, and needs wished for and in some cases prayed over. The cord represents the binding of intent, vows, and desires, with universal law, and between creator, source, desire, and recipient. It sometimes includes bringing the divine into the agreement. The knot is to remain tied as long as the intention is needed as stated. If the intentions change, a new knot should be created.
The knot is made to hold and withstand good, bad, and neutral times, as long as the intent is pertinent.
Colored cords, used in the same ceremony, are one way to intertwine more than one intention, yet give each intention greater strength.
Examples of setting an intention:
Simple ceremony – As I tie this knot, I call on the seas to keep my son safe, protected, and safely brought back home.
Using a color cord – May this blue cord hold the truth that along with the seas keeps my son safe, true, and brought safely back home.
Double knot – I tie this knot as I call on the seas to keep my son safe, I tie this knot asking the seas to bring my son home safely and in good health and protection.
Multiple circle knot – With this first circle I sing the seas to help my son have a successful voyage, with this second, I call on the seas to keep my son safe, with this third knot, I sing my son the protection needed to bring my son home.
The ceremonial intention can be made in whatever words seem right for the creator. However, when spoken the agreement is made so it is best to practice and revise an intent until it seems right. In caution, intentions are best when not too tight or restrictive that there is no room for Universal beneficial intervention or revision.
An intention may be knotted for personal reasons or for another purpose. It was believed intentions were stronger when tied to a source to help another purpose. Therefore, there were few personal intentions made.
When the person tying the knot is doing it for another they must include themselves in the intention, who they are tying the intention with, who the intention is for, and what the intention is. It’s the person setting or declaring the intention who makes all the decisions and who or how the rope is to be worn. The person setting the intention may choose to wear the rope (as in the case of the Scandinavian women who wore their ropes because as a part of the intention the rope tied their men back to them and their home land).
They will also decide what knot to use that will help reinforce and solidify the intention, if a color cording will be used to help reinforce the intention and all other aspects they believe applicable to securing their desired outcome.
How the knotted rope was worn was also decided by the originator, though it may be changed by the person wearing it after a while. When wrapped around the body, a circle is formed. A single circle shows the intention is held in completeness. When there is a circle with a
tail hanging down the intentions are meant for a group. If the knotted rope is wrapped around something, forming a spiral, the intention is ongoing and continual. It may also be kept straight by being held in a hand or laid out, it means it is one dimensional, traveling, directional, or defined.
Though the knotted piece was often called a rope, often they were not ropes unless used as knotted belts. Many items were tied to protection with a simple string or thread or hair. The creator also decided how thick the rope would be and if it would be colored.
Also, how the rope or cord was worn was significant.
When in a straight line it was a sign of a strong intention for one purpose. Belts were considered worn in a straight line with the one strong intention of bringing the men home from the seas. When the cord formed a circle, it was considered an encircled intention. This meant it had one intention and it was meant to be fulfilled in one complete manner. When a cord was wrapped around an item in a spiral manner, it represented ongoing movement and energy around the intention.
The colors used are part of the intention. Who or what is called in to assist impacts the outcome. Asking an element is specific to the qualities that an element can offer.
Who the intention is meant for or what the intended object can think or believes may impact the ability of the intention to manifest. Relationships are another factor to consider. A mother has a stronger influence on a positive outcome than a stranger. An inanimate object has no known involvement in the intention.
Words, symbols, and the manner of the intention have the strongest influence on the strength and ability of the intention. What the intent or desire of the intention is stronger than is the use of the wrong color or semi-clear wording of a calling.
However, inaccurate wording does create a calling that may not be able to be fulfilled as the indented originator wanted.
For women, the magic happened with the entwining of ropes, cords, knots, threads, or hair, tied with the intent to enhance desires, dreams, love, happiness, protection, goodwill, and blessings, through clear intention and ceremony used for good. The cords represented the binding of vows. It was strong magic for the women, and when done with pure intent, they were seldom disappointed.
Women became the protectors of their families and property, especially when men were not home. It was common for the matriarch of a family to create protective intentions for family members, home, land, and even crops and livestock. They used the ceremony to help them create the best atmosphere, wording, and calling for their intended calling. It’s thought that the ceremony helps to facilitate a clearer calling than just words alone.
The use of knots in ritual was not limited to women. Men also began using knots. As well, knots began to be used for spiritual purpose.
The original prayer beads were a string of knots before they evolved to using beads. Many spiritual practices use prayer beads, which include rosaries and malas.
Today some people use this strong ancient women’s magic to provide protection for what is important to them just as their ancestors did. So, it may be used on pets.
Pets may have a protective rope or cord. When a pet has a cord, it may be connected to a color vis a circle, spiral, or hanging down. Decide how and what you want to use, your source and intention, and how it is to be done with the highest connected powers.
If you use knots to tie an intention, may your knots remain tied as long as you desire.
May your words always be clear and pure, never bitter.
May you and your intended be held tight through the good and challenges faced.
May your intention grow well, as asked for, and as long as is needed in accordance with the best outcome. May a bond be formed with the earthen spirits and divine to bring forward your highest self with each intention you call forward.
Women’s magic was not limited to knots. Differing groups of women began creating fancy knots and symbols they believed strengthened the magical connections created with source and intention. These new symbols gave the women more power to create better-defined intentions and the ability to wear their intentions in secret when needed. Women created ways they considered stronger connections through amulets, talismans, sigils, and other forms of protective curiologics.
Learn more about these next forms of women’s magic in the next piece.