“Knot enthusiasts like to say that civilization is held together by knots. It sounds like a wisecrack — but if you take a look around, you may begin to see the truth behind the quip.” – Jody Rosen

Throughout history different types of knots have been used for various reasons. Man’s ability to tie knots most likely pre-dates human capacity to make fire and to talk intellectually and coherently. Primitive cultures used them to form snares, nets and traps for capturing food. They were also used in the construction of shelters and weapons, the making of clothing, and they also made it possible to move heavy loads. The art of knot tying, for whatever reason was generally passed down from generation to generation.

Entangled, Connected OR Protected? Magic OR Charm?

In basic esoteric terms, the tying of a knot captures, binds or retains something, the undoing of it releases. 

The most celebrated historic person to fall victim to the knot was the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. The tale goes like this:

One day, the Prophet Muhammad was taken mysteriously ill. No one could diagnose his malady or find a remedy. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and revealed that he was under a bewitchment by knot magic. One of his enemies had tied nine knots in a piece of string and had thrown it down a well. Muhammad immediately dispatched his servant to fetch the knotted string from the well and once in Muhammad’s possession, he recited nine magic verses over it and at each verse a knot untied itself until the prophet was cured.

Knot magic has been known worldwide since the dawn of time – the idea of tying things up: imprisoning, constricting or entangling something or someone either for good or evil. So, depending upon the circumstances and intentions, it is important to tie knots to achieve a certain objective and at other times it becomes vital to untie them.

• Babylonian sorcerers believed they could seal a man’s lips by making him tongue tied simply by tying knots in a cord and reciting a spell over it.
• In Scotland, the belief in knots was so strong that sick people would pray to the devil to loosen the hidden knot that lay behind their illness.
• In Togo, West Africa, tribe doctors would claim to “bind up the life” of any enemy by knotting a piece of grass.
• In 1718, in Bordeaux, France, a person was buried alive for ruining the life of an entire family with curses involving knotted cords.

Superstition concerning knots with weddings and births has been widespread over the centuries:

• In medieval Europe tying knots during a wedding service was punishable by law and grounds to be excommunicated by the Church. Further consequences could mean a barren bride or an impotent groom.
• In Greece, Morocco and Scotland it was customary that any knot in the clothing of a bride or groom be undone during the wedding.
• Conversely, in some churches, even today, it is a tradition for a priest to knot his stole around the joined and clasped hands of the bride and groom while they made their vows.
• It was believed that untying all knots and unlocking all doors as well as unbraiding a woman’s hair relieved the pain of childbirth.
• In Scandinavia, a couple wishing to have no more children would name the last to be born Knut which means knot.

Healing and protection:

• Scandinavian lore also holds that when someone dies all knots should be loosened so the soul would encounter no obstacle when leaving the body.
• In the first century A.D. people thought they could heal diseases of the groin by tying seven – nine knots in a thread naming a widow for each knot.
• In Germany, a cure for warts involved tying knots in a length of string and leaving the string under a stone. The next person to tread upon the stone would catch the warts.
• In parts of India, a man could be cured of fever if someone took seven cotton threads to a place where an owl was hooting. He was to tie a knot with each hoot and then return and tie the threads around the arm of the fevered.
• Fathers in the Masai tribe of East Africa would tie a knot in their hair for each son going into battle along with a prayer to keep their bodies and souls bound together.
• Zulu hunters in Africa would tie a knot in the tail of each animal they killed to make sure the flesh did not give them stomach pains when they ate it.
• Russian hunters tied knots in thread to prevent themselves from being shot. It was believed that knots had the power to lock guns and entangle bows.

More knot worthy items:

• In the Shetland Islands, fishermen believed they could control the weather by buying a handkerchief from the old women who claimed to be able to rule the elements and tying a knot in it.
• In the early 20^th century, women would “sell wind” to sailors in the form of a string with three knots. The more knots the sailor untied, the stronger the wind would blow.
• In the Zoroastrian religion, a high priest ties a kushti or girdle of faith (knotted cord or belt) around the waist of a young initiate. The girdle will become a part of everyday dress for the initiate to remind him of his faith and to the accompaniment of prayers the kushti will be united and re-knotted several time daily to express determination to defeat the forces of evil.
• The square knot or reef knot was known as the Knot of Hercules by ancient Greeks and it was considered to be particularly useful in healing.  If a wound was bandaged with a bandage tied with this knot is was thought to heal faster.
• The Incas did not have a written language but used a system of knots tied in cords called quipus.  The quipus served to do accounting of business transactions and as memory aids in recounting significant events in the local history.  Special training was required to interpret these quipus.  While many quipus exist in museums today the meanings are lost in the passage of time.
• In Feng Shui, a mystic knot is great for a happy life and great fortune. A mystic knot is made by tying six infinity knots together and placing it in the southwest or southeast part of a home.
• People still tie knots in handkerchiefs to prevent them from forgetting something. The original belief was that the knot prevented the devil from making you forget.
• Some nurses believe that tying a knot in the bottom right sheet for a dying patient to last through the night.
• Putting a knot in a necklace means you have warded off evil. Getting a knot in a necklace means you are protected by an unseen force.
• The origins of this practice are unknown, but folding a dollar bill into a knot is another popular tradition that is done on New Year’s Eve. Fold a dollar bill into a knot and keeps the dollar bill inside the wallet. Do not to unfold or spend this dollar bill. This practice is believed to bring good luck and financial success for the coming year.
• In Hoodoo it is thought that if you tie some of your lover's hair, and some of yours, into a knot and keep it in a bottle because as long as you keep the bottle, you will keep your lover.
• Tying a knot in a handkerchief wards off evil.
• If you accidentally find a knot in your shoelaces (a knot not placed their intentionally), you are going to have an extremely lucky day. Keep the knot in the shoe lace for the rest of the day so as not to undo your luck.