Horseshoe-wrapping in folk magic
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I’ve read about a few different horseshoe-wrapping traditions in folk magic, but in general, here’s how to create a lucky talisman🐴:
✶ Choose thread/ribbon colors according to your intention. I used green for growth, white for clarity, and my favorite twine (jute) for the home.
✶ Wrap the thread/ribbon around the horseshoe in a way that feels natural. This is an incredible channel for knot magic. The rhythm of wrapping in a circular motion works well for chanting or envisioning your intention becoming more secure.
✶ Decorate with charms, packets of herbs, beads, garlic if you need to repel vampires, etc. The easiest method for me was to thread a separate string through a charm and then tie it around the shoe (or through one of the holes in the shoe) wherever you want it to hang. Once you reach that point with your main thread/ribbon, you can continue wrapping around the charm as normal. I’ve also seen items tied on once the shoe is completely wrapped—up to you. I used a corno (an Italian amulet to protect against the evil eye) and two keys: one for locking away what’s no longer needed and one for opening roads.
The consensus seems to be that hanging the horseshoe in a “U” collects blessings for your home and that the inverse pours blessings onto those crossing the threshold. Since horseshoes were traditionally made of iron, and iron is forged in fire, it carries its own element of protection and the energy of Mars. The heat is said to ward off evil spirits.
I really love how this turned out and I’m excited to make more. Even after my first try, it feels like a powerful tool for knot magic, and there are so many ways to make it beautiful.
Also, I did a quick blessing on the finished product, which you can find in the reels section of my profile. Now that I have one under my belt, I’ll plan to record the process in the future.🖤