Railroad spike spell for stability
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Here’s a simple spell for stability using a railroad spike and knotwork.✨
Seen commonly in hoodoo, railroad spikes are a valuable tool in folk magic. Iron is one of the oldest protective materials, making the spikes especially useful in guarding against evil (cemetery gates were often made of iron to keep the ghosts inside). Iron is also one of the most atomically stable substances in the universe, so when you think about that power combined with the energy of a thousand trains, you have something pretty effective.
I have a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in railroads because of where I grew up, but I never worked with spikes until recently because I didn’t have any. A couple of years ago, an antique shop opened a few minutes from where I live, and the first thing I saw when I walked in was a giant bin of them.
You’ll often see spikes used to secure land, wherein the worker will nail one into each of the four corners of her property to create a barrier. You can think of them as an anchor, useful for anything you need to “nail down.”
Here’s how to create stability string:
- Cleanse your spike and wrap it with a long length of twine. You can cover the whole thing completely or create a pattern, whatever feels natural. Make sure to use a single, unbroken length of cord (if it snaps, start over). As always, when performing knot magic, you want to be comfortable and focused. When finished, tuck in the end (don’t knot).
- Place your spike on your altar and set your vibe. I burn my favorite incense and a chime. Encircle the spike with salt or earth (I prefer earth).
- Inject your energy. Pray from the heart, either to yourself or in a whisper. You can say something simple (“I dedicate this spike to spiritual protection, may it protect…”) or, traditionally, recite a psalm that resonates (Psalm 1 has a good line: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water”).
- Remove the twine. You can now transfer that string anywhere you want to add stability—tie it to a bedpost or gate, use it to make jewelry, or wear it to an interview to nail down a job.