Golanv Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

Intermediate Practicum
New Year Ribbon Magick

We learned of Ribbon Magick while walking with Wahya Circle in our First Degree. With that, we know that Knot Magick is a part of that Craft. Being the time of year that it is in the Northern Hemisphere, we are most likely to come across what is needed to do this simple, secret, Spell.

For the close of both the Solar and Lunar years, we are tasked with finding this often abundant correspondent for a little more needed Magick or Medicine before we complete our Knowledge Check and rest.

This Spell is entirely up to you beyond utilizing the ribbon/cord/string(s) of the season. You have until the FIRST SUNDAY OF JANUARY to complete this Work. Directions for Submission are found in the Q & C section.

Refresher from Wahya Circle - First Degree

One of the oldest forms of Magick and Medicine in Craft is one we have weaved as a species for tens of thousands of years. When we first began clothing ourselves, we began to gather those materials and using them in various ways.  What became known as ‘ribbon magick’ evolved from those days.

Some of the oldest spells known are those that come from hide, skin, or catgut. Some come from woven grasses, or willow. Some are Crafted from human hair. (Medicine and Magick, additive and subtractive.) These were often our first spell taught to us by our Elders, what we now call ‘cord cutting’ was once a Tradition of Magick that safely Protected one as they left their family groups. Each female child that was leaving would then receive a cutting of the cord from the maternal knots. We would learn these often before we even learned about our Plant Allies or how to use the oils from our Animal Kindred or wax from our pollinator Friends, or Insect Allies.

Easily acquired in an earthen tone or various shades of gray, or red, we first learned how to change the color the hide with the plants or Insect Helpers around us. We were taught to consider our purpose to determine the color we would need as we Journeyed on our own. The first lesson was learning the meaning of those colors. For example, we almost instinctively know now that pink is often connected to ‘love’ or ‘Self love’ and the states of being connected to it. We feel ‘red’ is passion, whether it be in a warring or loving state.

These meanings of color have developed and refined over the centuries and only changed slightly based on local resources and personal Paths. They are the beginning of what we now call our “correspondences”, which have personal meaning above all and this is another key that lies at the heart of the commune we have with the Divine in Craft.

This Magick and Medicine has therefore been learned as an Earth based one. It is of the Element Earth and a strong representation of that Spirit in Matter, often expressing feminine energy. Another paramount caveat to correspondent Magick or Medicine is in fact that of the Elemental alignment.

In the beginning, we learn what each color means and the ‘why’ as a novice Practitioner. We look all around nature and connect the colors we see with meanings of work.

Ribbon Color Correspondence

Lavender - predominantly blue/purple flowers. Learned as a great Healer Plant Ally, and in particular a calming, relaxing plant. (Due to its heady aroma?) Because of its ability to relax and heal, it became used in rituals of divination and psychic awareness as well as healing.

Here is a list of correspondences in which you can see how they have changed over time and how they compare with others you have learned at APMS. As always, look at the world around you. Magick is VERY personal to you, the Practitioner. :

White: Peace. Purity. Spirituality.

Red: Courage. Health. (Burning dis-ease). Passion. Sexuality. War.

Orange: Ambition. Career matters. Law.

Yellow: Creativity. Happiness. Imagination. Intellect. Memory. Sun.

Green: Abundance. Fertility. Harmony. Luck. Money.(in time)

Blue: Devotion. Inspiration. Occult Wisdom. Protection.

Purple: Idealism. Increased Psychic Ability. Material Wealth.

Pink: Affectionate Love/Self Love. Romance.

Silver: Astral energies. Clair … Intuition.

Gold: Sun. Contentment. (Modern: Money. Wealth.)

After learning color correspondence relative to the world we live, we learn to weave them in different ways. Again, weaving with Intent for whatever you desire the energy to go.

Ribbon Magick or Medicine: Spell of Nine Knots (example)

Gathering a cord/ribbon/string of white, bleached by the sun, then colored for the Intented purpose, the cord is then cleared of any energy it holds and consecrated for the Work at hand. (Some Practitioners clear their space and ward or Call or Cast.) The spell may then go for this example as:

”Intent: Increase Self Love:

Gathering the ribbon, cord, strap, etc in between my hands, I begin.

Focus on Intent. see it coming to fruition. See the time the spell takes. See the obstacles it faces and how it may overcome them, all in your mind’s eye. After spending a few minutes meditating with this Intent, begin to work the cord.

Words recited:

“By this knot of one, my spell has begun,
‘self love’ is my name to thee.

By this knot of two, you carry through,
‘self love’ -- my eyes do see.

By this knot of three, I love me,
sweet words from Self, I do hear.

By this knot of four, inside my core,
I am warm and sincere.

By this knot of five, Love into Life,
your sweetness I do taste!

By this knot of six, solid and sticks,
this spell heals my Soul.

By this knot of seven, from Earth to the heavens,
I feel the love inside.

By this knot of eight, between the planes,
She (or He, or It, insert Divine helper) will help the goal.

By this knot of nine, Self Love is mine,
I do declare it so!”

You can also “name” each knot with Intent, and like Pandora’s box, you can untie one each time you wish to Work the spell.

KNOT MAGICK FOR WEATHER
Another example, if you wanted snow, you could use a white ribbon and the words would be similar to this:

“By the knot of one this spell’s begun,
this knot holds the name of ‘frost’.

…sleet

… hail

…light snow

…snow

…heavy snow

…blizzard

…snow storm

…cloud burst.”

You have now Charged the cord/ribbon/string with your Intent. You can “add” Intent, or energy, by placing it in the place of the Divine you are working with (altar), in sunlight or moonlight, in the weather, or in the freezer, etc. When you are ready to “ignite” or “initiate” what you have done, untie ONE knot at a time.


ALTERNATIVE
If you do not wish to ‘tie knots’ to begin with, there are Practitioners that place their corresponding cord or ribbon in a jar with corresponding stones or other items for their Intent. They also flush, burn, bury, etc the item safely as well. They still use the words as they place the length of the ribbon or ribbon pieces in the jar. For example, reciting a line from the Spell and pulling a length of cord to place in the jar. Repeating this process until all words are recited.
Your magick is what you make it!


THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
You DO NOT have to use this on the day you create it, allowing you to utilize the other correspondences like bodies of water, events, moon phases, etc to your magickal advantage.

You CAN leave it in a protected space until needed for use. (The longer something sits, it can either dwindle in power OR over-Charge.)

You CAN stop this spell at any time. Let us take for example, a money spell worked over time. If you cast a Money Knot Spell and by the third knot opening you have increased by two tax brackets -- which cause you to lose those other benefits you thought were secure, you may reconsider continuing, or analyzing your TRUE Intent.

(PLEASE NOTE: There are some Practitioners that feel to stop the work you will need to undo the Work you Crafted with equal or more effort. You CAN NOT simply “throw it away”. That leaves some very powerful energy for others, or the Universe, to use that YOU left. Think about it. Over charged batteries explode. Cold glass cookware placed into a hot oven will burst. There are plenty of things that happen that we can “see” the reasons “why”. Play that tape out, if you’re good, you’re good. If not, try NOT to make it easy for harm to come to others.

The Nine Knots Spell is an ancient and powerful one and some Practitioners will not use it lightly because so much energy goes into it. We do not fear “strength”. We implore everyone to “work smarter, not harder” at Three Circles Medicine™.  As with many traditional, or hereditary, Craft, this one is typically one that is passed down from generation to generation. As a result of that passing, it can alternate from each family and each member.

With all spells you Craft, remember to be precise and clear in your words and Intent. A spell such as this can be used to Heal, Harm or Bind.

Moon Day GD3

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: GD3 MON RIBBON SPELL (Due by FIRST SUNDAY OF JANUARY)
Please submit a MINIMUM OF ONE PARAGRAPH describing your Work.
SUBMIT ONE PHOTO of completed Spell.
Please TAKE TIME TO WORK TO YOUR HIGHEST BENEFIT.

EMAIL
Three Circles Medicine & Magick™
Please utilize the above email link
IF NO BUTTON IS PRESENT
to receive full Submission credit.

Lessons are subject to change without notification to Practitioners.
Late Submissions receive no credit without prior approval.