Wahya Circle
Wednesday Works

Beginning Practicum
Ribbon Magick

One of the oldest forms of Magick 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 even come from woven grasses, or willow. This was often our first spell taught by our Elders, what we now call ‘cord cutting’. Some now have evolved into “ribbon shirts” or “ribbon skirts” as this is powerful indigenous and personal Medicine. We would learn these often before we learned about our Plant Allies or how to use the oils from our Animal Kindred or wax from our pollinator friends.

Easily acquired in an earthen tone or various shades of gray, or red, we first learned how to 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. The first lesson was learning the meaning of those colors. For example, we almost instinctively know now that pink is often connected to ‘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. 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 has therefore been learned as an Earth magick. It is of the Element Earth and a strong representation of Spirit in Matter, expressing feminine energy. Another paramount caveat to correspondent magick is 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.

For example:
Lavender - predominantly blue/purple flowers. Learned as a great healer plant, 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.

Colorful Possibilities

Here is a list of correspondences in which we can see how they have changed over time and how they compare with others we have learned at 3CMM. As always, look at the world around us. 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 Magick and our Medicine in different ways. Again, weaving with Intent for wherevewe need or desire the energy to go.

Spell of Nine (Knots)

Spell example for Spell of Nine Knots

Gathering a cord 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 as this:

Intent: Increase Self Love:

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

I focus on my Intent. I see it coming to fruition. I see the time the spell takes. I see the obstacles it faces and how it may overcome them. After spending a few minutes meditating with this Intent, I begin to work the cord.

“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,
we are 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!”

We can also “name” each knot with Intent, and like Pandora’s box, we can untie one each time we wish to Work the spell. For example, if we wanted snow, we could use a white ribbon and the words would be similar to this:

“By the knot of one this spells is begun, this knot holds the name of ‘frost’. …sleet

… hail

…light snow

…snow

…heavy snow

…blizzard

…snow storm

…cloud burst.”

We have now Charged the item with our Intent. We can “add” Intent, or energy, by placing it in the place of the Divine we are working with (altar), in sunlight or moonlight, in the weather, or in the freezer, etc. When we are ready to “ignite” or “initiate” what we have done, untie ONE knot at a time. If we 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 items safely as well. They still use the words as they place the length of the ribbon or ribbon pieces in the jar. Your magick is what you make it!

Some 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 highest Medicinal or 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 leftt. 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 you.)

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 All Paths Magick School.  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.

Contemplations 101
Effects of Thought

Are you ready for what is to come after 3CMM? Today? Tomorrow? Next year? Are you thinking “on a continuum”? Living on one? How much do you “plan ahead”, or do you wake each day and “see what happens”? How do you go through the time you have? This process of Thought can both directly and indirectly effect our spirituality. Do share!

Wednesday WD2

General - Journal - Book of Shadows
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