Knot magic: a hand-holding spell using clothespins

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Note: This article was originally published by @gritchenwitch on Instagram. To learn about me and my practice, including more info on folk witchcraft, mountain magic, knot work, and hearthcraft, please visit gritchenwitch.com or join my Patreon at patreon.com/gritchenwitch.

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Here’s a hand-holding spell using round clothespins and knot magic. It’s based on an Appalachian superstition that states if a women accidentally splits a pin, her husband will return home with bad news. (I included all three stages of the process in the picture—swipe to zoom.)

I found my pins at my antique store. They’re a bit worn but I like when these objects have history.

You will need:

- clothespin
- scraps of (worn) clothing from yourself and your partner
- thread in a color to represent you
- thread in a color to represent your partner
- fresh lavender
- twine

Cleanse your clothespin.

Take a small scrap of your clothing and hold it against one leg of the pin on the outside. Using the thread you chose to represent yourself (I use brown for family and home), wrap the scrap to attach it. Don’t wrap all the way around the pin—rather, pass the string through the slit every time, leaving that space open.

You don’t want to tie actual knots in the string (knot magic should be able to be undone). Just tuck the ends under wherever.

(You could also replace the strings with hair.)

Repeat the process on the other side of the pin using your partner’s clothing and the thread you chose to represent them (I used black in this case to mirror the qualities of protection and quiet power—it’s also associated with Virgo.)

Stuff the center of your pin with herbs. I used lavender for marriage, romance, and peace. Rose would also be good for affection and devotion, or rosemary for memories and longevity.

Wrap the entire pin with a length of twine. If you want, you can add some extra power using numbers. Make six wraps for balance and happiness.

Place your pin on your altar. Burn your favorite incense and a chime. Encircle with earth.

Dedicate your pin to harmony or, traditionally, recite psalm 57:10. (All of my work is done in a whisper, if I speak at all. I find more power this way. I also feel like a giant dork if I try to follow a spoken invocation—it pulls me out.)

Give as a token or hang from a tree to creep everyone out.