Knot magick is one of the oldest and simplest kinds of witchcraft: you tie your intention into a cord, and the knot holds it. A piece of ribbon, some string or a strip of fabric is all you need.
Because it seems so ordinary, knot magick is easy to overlook. But every knot you tie with focus is a small act of binding: it catches an idea and holds it in place. Untie it, and you release what it held. That simple pair of actions, tying and untying, is the heart of every knot spell.
In this guide you'll learn how to cast a knot spell step by step, which cords, colors and numbers to choose, the knots most useful in witchcraft, and three easy knot spells to try, including the classic witch's ladder.
How to Do a Knot Spell in 6 Steps
- Choose your intention. Keep it to one clear goal, such as protection, a new job or letting go of anger.
- Pick a cord. Choose a natural cord, ribbon or thread in a color that matches your goal (see below). About an arm's length is plenty.
- Decide how many knots. One knot works, but many witches tie three, seven or nine. Use the number table below if you like.
- Hold and visualize. Hold the cord in both hands, close your eyes and picture your goal already happening. Let that feeling flow into the cord.
- Tie each knot with words. Tie the knots one at a time, pulling each one firm as you speak your chant. Each knot "locks in" the intention.
- Keep, carry or release. Keep the cord on your altar, carry it with you, or hide it somewhere safe. When the spell has done its work, or when you want to release something, untie the knots or bury or burn the cord safely.
What Is Knot Magick?
Knot magick is a form of sympathetic magick: the physical act of tying stands for the result you want. A knot can bind, join, protect, store or hold back. When you untie it, the energy is set free.
Knot spells fit beautifully into Wicca. Tying a cord is a quiet, focused act, a little like meditation, and the cord can be dedicated to the Goddess and God or kept on your altar. Many witches also keep a single cord as a ritual tool, sometimes called a cingulum, worn around the waist during ritual.
A Short History of Knots in Magick
People have been tying knots for as long as they've been making tools, so it's no surprise that knots show up in religion and folk magick around the world. In ancient Egypt, the tyet or "knot of Isis" was a sacred symbol linked to the goddess Isis. It was often made into amulets, and examples have been found in burials.
In ancient Greek legend, the Gordian knot was said to be impossible to untie, until Alexander the Great cut through it with his sword. Today "cutting the Gordian knot" means solving a tangled problem in a bold, simple way.
The Roman writer Pliny the Elder wrote that binding wounds with a "Hercules knot" (what we now call a reef or square knot) helped them heal, and Roman brides wore a belt tied with this knot, which the groom untied on the wedding night. Folklore from Scandinavia, Finland and Scotland also tells of sailors buying "wind" from local witches, tied into a rope with three knots: untie one for a gentle breeze, two for a strong wind, and never the third. These stories show how widely people have trusted knots to hold power.
Cords and Materials for Knot Spells
You can knot almost anything, but beginners do best with something easy to tie, sturdy enough to hold, and pleasant to handle. Natural materials are a favorite because they can be buried or composted when the spell is done. Good choices include:
- Cotton string or embroidery floss
- Wool yarn
- Hemp or jute twine
- Silk or cotton ribbon
- Leather cord
- A strip of fabric or an old scarf
- A thin chain, for a spell you want to last
- Vines or long grasses, for outdoor spells
All of these are cheap and easy to find. Pick a length that suits the number of knots you'll tie, and if you'll wear the cord, make sure it's comfortable.
Cord Colors for Knot Magick
Color adds another layer of meaning to a knot spell. You can use the same color correspondences as in candle magick. Here are the most common:
- White: purity, protection, any purpose
- Red: passion, courage, strength
- Pink: love, friendship, self-care
- Green: money, growth, luck
- Blue: calm, healing, communication
- Purple: intuition, spiritual growth
- Black: banishing, protection, endings
- Brown: home, stability, animals
For the full list, see our guide to candle color meanings. If you're not sure, white or natural undyed cord works for any spell. Trust what you feel: if a color seems right to you, use it.
How Many Knots? Numbers in Knot Magick
One knot is enough for a simple spell, but numbers carry meaning too, and many witches like to match the number of knots to the goal. Here's a quick guide to common knot numbers and how witches use them.
| Number of knots | Meaning | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beginnings, focus | A single clear wish |
| 2 | Partnership, balance | Love, friendship, cooperation |
| 3 | Creation, the Triple Goddess | Growth, manifesting, blessings |
| 4 | Stability, the four elements | Home, money, grounding |
| 5 | Change, protection (the pentacle) | Protection, big changes |
| 6 | Harmony, family | Peace at home, healing a rift |
| 7 | Wisdom, spirit | Intuition, study, spiritual growth |
| 8 | Abundance, success | Career, prosperity |
| 9 | Completion, power (three times three) | Any important spell, the witch's ladder |
Magickal Uses for Knots
Knots can be used for almost any intention. These are the most common.
Binding
A knot holds something in place. Many witches bind a bad habit, a nagging worry or their own impulse to overspend by tying it into a knot. Binding another person is a different matter: most Wiccans avoid it unless it's to stop real harm, because of the Wiccan Rede and the idea of the Threefold Law. Think it through carefully, and trust your own ethics.
Joining, Love and Friendship
Tie two cords together, one for you and one for a friend or partner, to strengthen the bond. Handfasting, the Wiccan wedding ritual, uses this idea: the couple's hands are loosely tied together with cord. It's where the phrase "tying the knot" comes alive.
Cooperation
Braid three or more strands together, one for each person in a family, team or coven, and tie the ends. As long as the braid is kept together, it stands for the group working as one.
Luck and Protection Charms
Knot a cord around a charm, bead or small crystal and wear it as a bracelet. The knots "hold" the luck or protection close to you. Protective knot charms can also be hung by the door: see our protection spells for your home for more ideas.
Releasing
Untying a knot releases what it held. Tie a knot while you think of a problem, then untie it later to let it go. This is a gentle way to end a chapter or clear stuck energy.
Weather Magick
Following the old sailors' folklore, some witches tie wind or rain into a cord and untie a knot when they want that weather to come. It's best seen as a way to connect with the elements rather than a weather forecast.
Self-Improvement
Tie a knotted bracelet for courage, an anklet for stamina on a long walk, or a cord you hold while studying for a better memory. Wear it as a reminder of the strength you're building.
The Best Knots for Witchcraft
Mathematicians have catalogued hundreds of millions of different knots (one study counted over 350 million with up to 19 crossings), but you only need a few. Simple overhand knots work for most spells. These four are worth learning too.
Reef Knot (Square Knot)
The reef knot, also called the square knot or Hercules knot, ties two ends together neatly and flat. Because it joins two things, it's ideal for love, friendship, partnership and healing spells. Tie a left-handed overhand knot, then a right-handed one on top. An old rhyme helps: "right over left, left over right, makes a knot both tidy and tight."
If you tie both halves the same way, you get a granny knot, which slips easily. Close cousins of the reef knot include the thief knot and the surgeon's knot.
Figure-Eight Knot
The figure-eight knot (also called the Flemish knot or Savoy knot) holds firm under strain but is still easy to undo later. Climbers and sailors rely on it for safety. In knot magick, use it to strengthen something, like a bond, a commitment or your own resolve, while keeping the option to release it.
To tie a simple figure-eight stopper, make a loop near the end of the cord, pass the end behind the standing part, then bring it back through the loop and pull it tight. You'll see the "8" shape.
Celtic Button Knot
The Celtic button knot is a round, sturdy stopper knot traditionally used as a button or to stop a rope fraying. It takes practice, so follow the video slowly. Because it's so firm and compact, it's lovely for long-lasting protection charms and amulets you can sew onto clothes or a bag.
Slip Knot
The slip knot comes undone with one tug. That makes it perfect for releasing spells: tie your worry, a blessing for someone, or a wish for good fortune into a slip knot, then pull the end to "release" it into the world. Crocheters and knitters start every project with one, so it's a natural choice for crafty witches.
Knot Spells for Beginners
Every knot spell follows the same idea: think of the cord as your situation, pour your intention into it, and tie (or untie) with focus. You can chant, speak plainly or stay silent. Here are three to start with.
Simple Nine-Knot Wish Spell
Use this spell to give a wish a physical form and keep it safe.
- Hold a cord in a color that matches your wish and picture it clearly.
- Tie nine knots along the cord, one at a time, keeping the picture in mind.
- As you tie, say:
I tie the knot and set it right,
I tie it true and tie it tight,
I tie the knot and count to nine,
And now the thing I want is mine.
(Incantation courtesy of Spells8.) Keep the cord somewhere safe until your wish comes true, then untie it with thanks.
The Witch's Ladder
A witch's ladder is a knotted cord with feathers, beads or herbs tied into it. Many witches use this traditional counting chant as they tie nine knots, working from the ends toward the middle:
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, the power is stored.
By knot of five, the spell's alive.
By knot of six, the spell is fixed.
By knot of seven, the stars of heaven.
By knot of eight, the hand of fate.
By knot of nine, the thing is mine.
Tie a feather or bead into each knot if you like, then hang the ladder by your bed, your door or on your altar.
Letting Go Knot Spell
This releasing spell helps when you're holding on to anger, hurt or worry.
- Hold the cord and think about what's bothering you. Let yourself feel it fully.
- Tie one firm knot, letting the feeling flow into it. Put the cord down.
- Leave the room or go for a walk to clear your head.
- When you come back calm, slowly untie the knot and say: "I release you. I am free."
- Bury the cord, put it in the compost, or burn it safely in a fireproof dish.
Knot spells work well alongside other folk magick. You can add a knotted cord to jar spells or witch bottles, or tie a sigil into a charm bag. To build your own spells from scratch, our spell crafting course shows you how.
Final Thoughts
Knots may look ordinary, but in witchcraft they hold a lot of meaning. With a piece of string and a clear intention, you can bind, protect, join and release. Start with a simple overhand knot, keep notes on how each spell feels, and try the bigger knots once you're comfortable. Timing your spells with the moon calendar adds an extra layer: tie on a waxing moon, untie on a waning one.
Have you tried knot magick yet? Which knot spell will you try first?
Check out our other articles:
Jar Spells Made Simple
Witch Bottles: How to Make One
Sigils for Beginners
Candle Color Meanings
See All Articles
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Knot Magick FAQs
What does a knot mean in witchcraft?
In witchcraft a knot holds or binds energy. Tying a knot locks an intention in place, while untying it releases what was held. That’s why knots are used for protection, love, binding habits and letting go.
Which knot is best for a knot spell?
A simple overhand knot works for almost any spell. Use a reef knot to join two things, like in love or friendship spells, a figure-eight knot to strengthen something, and a slip knot for spells about releasing. Pick the one that matches your goal.
How many knots should a knot spell have?
One knot is enough for a simple spell. Many witches use three for blessings, seven for wisdom and nine for important spells, because nine is three times three. Choose the number that feels right for your goal.
What do you do with the cord after a knot spell?
You can keep it on your altar, carry it, wear it or hide it somewhere safe while the spell works. When it’s done, untie the knots with thanks, or bury, compost or safely burn the cord if it’s made of natural fibers.
What is the knot of nine chant?
It’s the counting chant used for the witch’s ladder: "By knot of one, the spell’s begun, by knot of two, it cometh true," and so on up to "by knot of nine, the thing is mine." You say one line as you tie each of the nine knots.
Is a binding knot spell safe to do on someone?
Many Wiccans avoid binding other people, because it interferes with their free will. Binding your own habits or worries is a gentle and common use. If you think about binding someone to stop real harm, reflect on your ethics first and make sure you’re also safe in practical ways.
