I just got the calendar in the mail yesterday from Lynne. Llewellyn’s Witches Calendar, with wonderful woodcuts and all kinds of information about nature, the seasons and different practices relating to them.
I opened the calendar to March and found it was all about string magic, written by Brandon Weston. “Ordinary string has long been a beloved magical tool in the Ozark Mountains…”
Ordinary string, I have plenty of that. Not only in my studio, but all those pieces I’ve collected and have rolled up in the drawer in the kitchen.
I was also thinking about my Blue Baling Twine tied to the fence post.
“…Ozark folk magic traditionally has a deep connection to simplicity…tool and ingredients…could be grown…gathered…and repurposed.”
Then it goes on to explain “String Magic” how it works by tying off, binding and knotting.
“A traditional cure for illnesses and hexes, involves tying them [the blessed or hexed strings] to a “witch tree” …or a fence post at a four way cross roads.”
I may not have all the detail just right, but then I never heard of String Magic before. And I often wonder if when I’m tying the baling twine onto the fence post if I’m not imbuing those knots with whatever it is I’m thinking of feeling at the time.
This all makes me wonder if I shouldn’t be more intentional when I tie those knots and wrap the twine around the post. That’s the potential for a lot of blessings.
It also makes me wonder if someone, deep inside of me, I didn’t somehow know something about string magic.
Mmmm beautiful artistry on the fence post
I have been using the Witches Calendar (and some other things) from Llewellyn Press for decades. I always wear the color of the day in some fashion daily for any magic it may send. I don’t have a daily string supply; perhaps I can use the tall ornamental grasses I am cutting down now to prepare the gardens for spring. Thanks for the inspiration, Maria.
Oh the grasses would be perfect Marianna. What a good idea. I’ll have to look more closely at the colors. I never would have thought there would be so much good information in a calendar.