
I’ve got a fetish. Not just any old fetish but one filled with magick.
I’ve shared cord/knot magic and I want to continue with something that is called a Witch’s Ladder.
In modern witchcraft, these are used sort of like meditation beads. I create one every year and in the image above you can see my one for 2019 (the gray one that is frayed and has been loved to death) and my new one for 2020 (below) that is still on my braiding bar.

Witch’s ladders can be your own art, interpretation and customized for you. They can also be used for about anything as they are something called a “fetish.”
What is a fetish?
An item filled with magic that has a connection to spirit, imbued with magical intent. It’s designed to bring prosperity, luck and protection and can be used for manifestation, warding, protection, banishing, binding and other things. A fetish can be anything from a carving, to a bag filled with herbs, to a poppet.
I create these for meditation. I infused energy into each one for use with my own journey and to tie my energy into it. I will pick it up even when I just need to center or bring myself back to reality and get out of my feels.
This is mine and how I do it.
I do not follow the order of knot tying for my personal ladders because of the way I macrame my stones into them. I go from the top to the bottom, but I still use the incantation and by the time I tie in my last charm or knot, my magick is infused into every piece.
For the one I made in 2019, I have 9 things:
1. A Feather
2. A Pentacle
4. An Intentional Knot
5. Lapis Lazuli
6. A Crescent Moon Charm
7. A Shooting Star Charm
8. A Moon and Star Charm
9. A Charm that says “Journey”
My journey through 2019 was about opening up, wisdom and taking steps. For the one I made for this year, I have 9 things:
1. A Charm that says “Simplify”
2. A Crescent Moon
3. Black Tourmaline
4. A Charm that says “Breathe”
5. A Feather
6. A Charm for the 4 Elements
7. A Cowrie Shell
8. A Charm that says “Listen”
9. A Key
Each object in each of my ladders for the year represent something personal to me. 2020 is about saying no, self preservation and being quiet. The key has turned and I am in flow. I use these while I do energy work, meditate or even when I am performing a spell and need to say something multiple times. They help me keep track and keep me in the right energy.
You can create these for your yearly intention, to use with spells, to use as meditation or prayer beads or just about anything that you want your energy bound to. It’s tied in.
For spell work, it’s all about synergy for me. I will use certain herbs, crystals and oils to enhance their individual properties and the potency of my magick. As I do cord magick or create a ladder, I may use thread or yarn in the color that enhances my intent, an oil blend on my hands while I work and elemental, planetary and timing correspondences. While I tie, I also still use the incantation from cord/knot magick, just not in the order I posted for this type of work.
https://www.whitewitchgrimoire.com/knot-magick/
For me, a witch’s ladder is cord/knot work, but it goes deeper. I create one for the year and keep it close. Use it when I meditate. Use when I need to release, or when I have anxiety. While I create, I start at the top and use the incantation, but just keep flowing in the natural order. Do what feels right to you. Go by the order, use 9 feathers or 9 similar objects or 13 or whatever numerology you want. This is your magic.
By knot of one, the spell’s begun.
By knot of two, the magick comes true.
By knot of three, so shall it be.
By knot of four, this power is stored.
By knot of five, my will shall drive.
By knot of six, the spell I fix.
By knot of seven, the future I leaven.
By knot of eight, my will be fate.
By knot of nine, what is done is mine.
Here is some history on the witch’s ladder if you would like to read further: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch%27s_ladder
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