The Knot Spell: Tying a Wish into Thread

Knot magic is everywhere in Slavic folk practice — from wedding cords to red thread on a baby's wrist. It's Haggath's favourite first spell for students.

What you need

• About 30 cm of thread or cord (red for protection, green for money, pink for love)
• A quiet ten minutes

Tying the knots

Tie nine knots along the cord in this order: 1 at one end, 2 at the other, 3 in the middle, then 4 through 9 in the gaps. With each knot, repeat your wish once.

Haggath's words for the first knot: "By knot of one, the spell's begun." Make up your own for the rest.

Afterwards

Keep the cord somewhere safe. When the wish comes true, untie it or burn it with thanks.

Coloured cords are in Haggath's shop.