… “who was it who undid the nine witch knots 

Braided in amongst this lady’s locks?” - Willie’s Lady, Child Ballad (1880) [1]

The first three knots are for increase and gain, 

the fourth being both of boon and also of bane.

The next knots three are for wane and decline,

While the eighth celebrates the light divine.

Knot the first

Take you a hempen cord, or else a rope of good length. When Candlemas Bells shew ‘pon the frozen ground, those Fair Maids of February dancing the spring, take up the cord. When the north-easterly blows, a Stafford Knot [2] fashion and purse thine lips as though to whistle. Through the loop that is formed before tightening the tie, whisper the charm and seal the knot. 

Out of the mound,  serpent queen rose

Speckled maid,  snake of  hazel grove. 

I will not harm the Queen, 

Neither will She harm me.

Knot the second

Upon thy compass cord, orient to the east of the dawn’s first light. When day and night being equal, fasten again the Stafford Knot and afore the loop is sealed upon it, whisper the charm of the east wind:

O Morning Star, light of the East,

Eternal shining, sun of righteousness;

Come ye, Lucifer, to illumine the hearts 

of all who in darkness now dwell.

Knot the third

When the May Blossom blooms its maiden white bouquet, and merrymaking abates, take once more your hempen cord and prepare the wind that waits. With pursing lips, and half drawn knot, charge full the loop with breath. Whistle the wind through that knot as it is drawn closed with the following charm: 

O lusty May with Flora Queen,

The balmy drops from Phoebus sheen

Prelucent beam before the day,

By thee Diana groweth green ,

Through gladness of this lusty May. [3]

Knot the fourth

As Sol climbs higher in the noonday sky, Apollo’s empyreal journey reaches the welkin summit. This is the time when the cord should be taken from its place of safekeeping and knotted upon Summer’s southern wind, Tubiel’s blessing to fasten fast. 

At topmost peak of heaven’s hill, 

Bold Summer King, honour to thee,

Dark shadow looms as sun stands still,

Lord of Death must soon come to be.

Knot the fifth

The knotted cord now passed its midpoint, the waning tide doth hold the sway. To the winds of waning now we move, as the reaper stalks the corn with his sickle blade. When the harvest has commenced, the Stafford Knot shalt thee tie. Between the ends of the knot, breath the charm and make it tight.

In the ripening of the seed, 

It’s quickening is received,

But by the stalk that holds the crown,

Shall Summer’s lord be cleaved. 

Knot the sixth

When the nights have been made equal to day, when the scales are upturned by Her will, ‘tis time to hold the knotted cord once more. Under the squalls of the Western wind, with moon high and sun low, show thou the open knot which you will seal upon this eve. As the wind passes through the hollow loop, chant the spell and close the cord upon the zephyr.

Day and night, sun and moon,

Old and young,  bane and boon,

Start and end, light and dark,

Summer, Winter, owl and lark,

Now the balance of scales must tip,

And close this wind in fated grip.

Knot the seventh

Now is the time when the birds have flown and the Winter King is in the woods, stripping naked the trees and bringing slumber to the beasts. The Northwest brings a clearing wind, opening the way to the crisp cool night. Before the gaping maw of the mound, fashion thou the seventh sacred knot and whistle the spell as the cord is bound.

To the High Sabbat, of masters four,

Cometh the huntsman from mound’s open maw,

Gatherer of souls, to his hame does he drave,

From the east to the north, escort of grave.

Hoarder of souls, night’s cold breath,

From south to the west, stalker of death.

Knot the eighth

The eighth knot is sealed upon the winds of chaos and change, the mystery out of time. Take up your cord and prepare, for when the cold hollow tomb has become the birthing womb to capture the vagitus wind of the newborn light and the crowning of the year.

Dark and dismal cavernous Night,

Death’s abode, secreting light,

Star-studded cloth of heaven’s high bower,

Venus heralding dawns coming hour,

Bind now this the eternal knot,

which compasses round this divel’s  plot.

The Nameless Knot

Now thou hast walked the wheel of the year, binding the winds in the knotted cord. Eight are they all as a compass rose, bound in a circlet of hempen thread worn about the waist or the neck. When girt at the waist, the wearer becomes the centre, the axial spirit which commands the airts. At the heart of the compass, betwixt heaven and hell, wear thou the airs tied in each knot. Whenever the need should arise, a wind may be loosed and its spirit unleashed. When the cord is unbalanced, its knots out of kilter, so too will its gait be uneven. Ever mind, this should be remedied lest the compass become precarious and unwieldy. 

The final knot, standing out of time, should be secured when the winds are in equipoise. When a wind blows that hath no direction, which flurries and blusters from all and none, you may lock the knot which binds the lot. Take you the cord and recall ye this charm as the loose end is fastened upon a slipknot – for the Nameless Knot is most surely a noose, whose meaning and use is yet to be told

Tie a knot to catch a wind,

The devil in a bind,

Take it with you e’ery day,

Nine knots of fate entwined.

[1]  King, G. (2019) The British Book of Spells & Charms. London: Troy Books Publishing.

[2]  The Stafford or Staffordshire Knot is the basic overhand knot, named after the heraldic device of the English county of Staffordshire. 

[3] O Lusty May, 16th Century Scottish May Day Carol.