Meaning and symbolism of handfasting knots
“Knit your hearts with an unslipping knot”
A dazzling Nine Knot design with a handful of roses - check out my gallery of Nine Knots cords here, and contact me for any customisations you have in mind
Different styles of knots are a great way to imbue your handfasting cord with meaning and contribute to telling the story of your love This post will explore different knots used in handfasting cords, their meanings and the Celtic numerology behind them, and how they might be incorporated into your wedding ceremony.
GENERAL NOTES - A ‘DISCLAIMER’
As always, I’d like to start with some general thoughts on the design of handfasting cords. Some people claim that particular designs are traditional or authentic, but this can be misleading. Handfasting as a tradition is very old – so old in fact that we don’t know exactly when it originated or where it came from. What we DO know is that there are traces of it all over the world. What this means is that there is no linear handfasting tradition with strict ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ to adhere to and this goes for knots just as anything else. Different designs have had different meanings in different cultures and at different times, so there is no right or wrong way to choose one.
The cords I make are all inspired by the aesthetics and meaning of Celtic knots. One of the things I love most about Celtic culture is that the way meaning is created is never black and white but fluid and contextual. And this is exactly what I believe the most important rule is when it comes to choosing the design of your handfasting cord: What matters most is what your chosen cord means to YOU and the story of your relationship. Handfasting cords allow us to create a ritual of love that is special and unique to our relationship. If you are not sure about whether to choose a certain design, just listen to your heart. It’s your ceremony and your handfasting cord, after all. With that in mind, here are some associations that particular knots have:
This Hearts Entwined design in grey and natural cord is simple and stunning - the interlaced hearts in the central knot are the perfect symbol of your union
True lover’s knot
My cord designs draw on Celtic interlacing techniques, and the Celtic love knot is a motif I use throughout. It appears as two interlinking hearts, but these are made up of one continuous line - a beautiful symbol of how lovers are connected to one another eternally. Celtic art is full of techniques that combine multiplicity and unity, and numerology is an important element of this.
This Tartan Triple Knot (design pictured here in Ivory + MacKenzie Tartan) can be made with your choice of 17 tartans
Third time’s a charm
My triple knot designs are made up of three Celtic love knots, and typically use three colours of cord (though I can customise this as you wish). The number three has a special place within many cultures - in Christianity it is associated with the Holy Trinity, but before that it was linked with other gods and goddesses. In Celtic and neopagan traditions, the goddess Brigid is shown with three faces, while the triple spiral symbol (the ‘triskele’) represents the unity of separate forces - whether these be earth, sea and sky; body, mind and spirit; or past, present and future. In a handfasting cord, the triple knot can represent you, your love, and your relationship - the new thing that results from your coming together.
This Seven Knot Wild Rose cord in teal and champagne is adorned with warm-toned roses and combines love knots (symbolising love) with Josephine knots (symbolising luck and good fortune)
Seventh heaven
My seven knot cords are made up of six Celtic knots, with the knot tied during the ceremony being the seventh. Seven is another traditionally lucky number in many cultures, due to its special properties as an early prime number. The seventh son of a seventh son was considered to be born with special powers, while there are seven planets, seven days of the week, seven colours in the rainbow, and seven notes on a scale. For the Celts, seven represented perfection and completeness - ideal for a ceremony in which you find completion in one another.
The power of three: this Nine Knot design in Taupe and Ivory has a gorgeous light blue ribbon woven through it
Cloud nine
My nine knot designs draw on the history of nine as a magical number. In Celtic tradition, as it is three times three, it represented the completion of a cycle and made room for the beginning of a new journey. The Otherworld - a magical and spiritual realm parallel to our own - was said to lie beyond the ninth wave, meaning that nine was associated with eternal life. In addition to this symbolism, in your ceremony you might consider each knot as representing a vow or something else that is special to you as a couple.
You may prefer the Nine Knot in gold, champagne, and white ribbon - please get in touch with any desired colour or accent fabric choices
I hope you have found this post helpful. If you would like to work with me on designing your own custom handfasting cord, please don’t hesitate to get in touch :)
Love,
Ceo