Book of Shadows~Strung Out!
By Natalie Zaman

Yin-Yang. Ahhh...knotting and balancing--two things we do at the Autumnal Equinox. You probably already know the balancing part--the Equinox (one of two in the course of the year--the other is the Vernal or Spring Equinox), is a point in the year where day and night are balanced. But knotting? That's the way Corn Dollies, a traditional Autumnal Equinox craft, are made. We're going to do something with that a little further down, but first, let's talk about balancing.

Nothing shows balance better than the Yin-Yang. It's a never-ending circle that is half black and half white--but notice that each section incorporates a bit of the other. It's a lot like our Wheel of the Year. We have our light seasons and our dark seasons that come and go, cycle after cycle.

Now we are approaching the darker seasons. Unfortunately, many folks assume that darkness and shadow are negative. Nothing could be further from the truth. Darkness is a place of rest, growth and quiet change. Babies grow in the darkness of moms' bellies (there are no night lights in there!), and seeds begin to sprout in the darkness of the earth. Sleep and dreams come in the dark--you wake up refreshed after a good night's sleep.

So why is balancing so important, especially at this time of year? Moving from one extreme to another isn't always easy; there is a great deal of change in the climate, in schedules (back to school!) and in timing--the days are getting shorter. Open your Book of Shadows to a clean page and copy the Yin-Yang symbol onto it. Look at each side and see how each color blends into the other. Now visualize yourself moving from one season to the next. Think of the changes that happen at this time of year for you. Write down the things that you can do to make dealing with those changes easier.

Tied up. People from all paths wear magical jewelry; symbols like crosses and stars are worn to show faith and invoke protection. Jewelry is even more powerful when it is made with a focused thought behind it. At the Autumnal Equinox, it is traditional to make a corn dollie by making knots (braids) in straw. We can make a magical piece of jewelry for balancing by making knots in thread--a Yin-Yang bracelet. You will need:

4 strands of black embroidery thread or yarn, each about 60 inches long

4 strands of white embroidery thread or yarn, each about 60 inches long (there will be eight strands in all, one for each Sabbat)

Scissors

Safety pin

Salt, Water and Cinnamon (stick or powder) for blessing and charging

The yarn you use to make your Yin-Yang bracelet doesn't have to be bought from a store. If you have any old UNUSABLE/UNWEARABLE yarn-knit sweaters, mittens or hats in the colors you need, you can unravel the yarn for your project. DO NOT start cutting up clothes--check with an adult first!

Lay the lengths of thread or yarn together on a flat surface.

Fold the strands in half (the loose ends should be as even as possible).

Tie a knot about 1 inch down from the fold point to form a loop.

Slip a safety pin through the loop and pin it to the knee of your jeans or pants (it's the best way to hold the thread for making a bracelet).

HOW TO MAKE THE KNOTS Hint: You may want to take a couple of strands and do some practice knots first so that when you are making the bracelet you can concetrate on what you're making it for.

Separate one white thread from the bunch. This will be your wrapping strand--the knots you make will wrap around the bunch.

Make a knot by laying your working strand underneath the bunch...

...then bringing it around to pass over the top of the bunch and through the loop that is formed.

Pull the white strand snugly and UP, so that the knot is formed near the big knot at the top.

Repeat the process eight more times (9 knots in all) to form a row of white knots. You should start to see the beginnings of a spiral pattern forming around the bracelet. Take your time. Each time you make a knot, you want it to sit right against the last one you made (going fast may cause you to make knots over knots--NOT what you want!).

Now you're ready to make a black row. Gather the white thread you were using back into the bunch and take a black thread in your right hand. Repeat the knotting process, making 9 knots.

Continue making rows, alternating black and white until you have 18 rows total (9 rows of each). Every time you form a new row, use a thread you did not use previously (you'll be able to tell as the used threads will be shorter).

As you make your knots, think about the things you will do to achieve balance in the coming months. You will see a spiral pattern forming as you tie your knots. Spiral patterns are symbolic of the ever continuing life-cycle. Black and white stands for the equal day and night of the equinox, and of course, the number nine is sacred--3 x 3 for the god and goddess--you'll have a great deal of help for keeping Fall and Winter happy and comfortable!

Take all the strands together and make a knot at the bottom of the last row.

Divide the eight free strands under the knot into three sections and braid them all the way to the bottom. Don't know how to make a braid? Click here!

Make a knot to secure the braid.

To wear, wrap the bracelet around your wrist and slip the braid through the loop. Secure it by tying a loose knot. If you do not want to wear the bracelet, it can be hung by the loop, tied around an object (magical tool or bedpost) or placed under your pillow.

Hint--remember, we're balancing. Make one of these for yourself, and one for someone special!

Blessing for Balance. While you were making the knots in your bracelet, you were thinking balancing thoughts. As we've talked about before, concentration and focused thought is an important part of magical work, BUT, before you wear your bracelet, bless and charge it so that IT is focused on working for you. (if you've made a bracelet for a friend, they should charge their bracelet).

When you bless and charge an object, you are asking the energies of the four elements--earth, air, water and fire--to be a part of your work, and to help you with the task you are trying to complete--in this case, keeping balanced during the coming months. Each element has its own attributes that can help you do this.

Put three measures of salt into a small cup of water and stir it clockwise. These will represent the elements of earth (the salt) and water. Dip your fingers into the salt water and sprinkle the bracelet three times, saying aloud,

"Earth, help me to stay grounded. Water, help me to flow with ease over any challenges that come my way."

Next, breathe in the scent of the cinnamon (this is an herb that is spicy hot), which will represent the element fire. If you have a cinnamon stick, wrap the bracelet around it. If using a powdered form, sprinkle the bracelet with it, saying aloud,

"Fire, help to keep me motivated."

Finally, take the bracelet in your hands and blow three breaths onto it. Your breath represents the element of air, and it will give the bracelet some of your own energy. Breathe onto your bracelet, and then say aloud,

"Air, help keep my mind clear."

Your bracelet is ready to wear--but remember--even though it is magical, it doesn't work by itself. Your continued actions and focus are what will keep you balanced this Winter--the bracelet is there to help.

Black and White. As the months progress towards the Spring Equinox, wear your bracelet or hang it in a special place in your home (where you sleep or on your altar). Re-read your Book of Shadows to help you remember the things you planned to do to stay balanced during the dark months--remember, dark doesn't mean bad or scary, it means quiet growth, rest and reflection! Write about what happens--did wearing the bracelet, or meditating with it, help you stay balanced and focused? Why or why not? If not, what do you think you could have done differently to stay balanced? Write about it--when the next Equinox rolls around, you'll be ready to start fresh!