THE SOBER WITCH BLOG

In the Protecting Our Mental Health During the Election Season episode from last year, I mentioned that Energy Reclamation work is something we have to do often. In that episode’s ritual, the magic had a lot more to do with visualizing detaching our energy from unhealthy attachments. I also mentioned that it is worthwhile to make note of reoccurring attachments. When an attachment occurs often enough or when it quickly reattaches itself to us after energy reclamation work it’s a good indicator that a good old cord-cutting ritual is in order.

With cord-cutting, while there is still some visualization in it of course, we also get to be a little more hands on by bringing in some sympathetic magic. 

I should also mention that this is how I do cord-cuttings. There are some folks who use 2 or more candles, wrap the cord around them and burn the cord that way. I just prefer doing this because (1) I like the more active severing of the cord and (2) I get to use my ritual scissors, which I specifically use just for rituals, and I love my ritual scissors. Again, it’s the little things. But of course, you can use your athame or ceremonial knife or just your standard craft scissors, pocket knife, whatever.

Anything can be used as an attachment. I’ve also performed cord-cutting on my attachment to a particular outcome that I wanted, as well as my attachment to the approval from another person. When working with an attachment to a person, it’s important to be careful of wording. I prefer using things like “my attachment to John’s approval” as opposed to just saying “my attachment to John” because I still might want to have a healthy relationship with John, but as it stands I recognize my attachment to his approval is unhealthy and my attachment needs to be severed for the sake of my health and the relationship’s health.

Now that being said, if your aim is to fully rid yourself of the relationship and you wish to never see that person again, by all means simply say the person’s name, but please ensure that is what you truly wish.

There are also good, old freezer spells to freeze someone out of our life but we’ll just be going over cord-cutting today.

SUGGESTED SUPPLIES

• Two 15-inch pieces of different colored yarns (I use 15-inch cords since 15 is the # of The Devil in Tarot, which is representative of bondage and addiction)
• A pinch of dried rosemary
•  Any cutting tool (scissors, knife, or athame)
• Matches
• A cauldron or heat-safe container of some kind

SUGGESTED STEPS

1. Cast circle. Call in the elements. And call in any deities you wish to bring into your circle. For cord-cutting rituals the more severe goddesses are my favorite energies to call in like The Morrigan, Kali, or a personal favorite, the Cailleach since she represents the ending and beginning of cycles.
2. Cut your two 15-inch pieces of differently colored yarns. Be sure to distinguish which color represents you and which represents your attachment. [In the above photo, the blue yarn is representative of me and the beige yarn is representative of my attachment that I am struggling to let go of.]
3. Sit with both pieces of yarn and begin envisioning the attachment and how it has influenced your life and yourself. As you think of this, lay the two pieces of yarn together and tie a knot as close to both ends as possible.

4. Then, holding the yarn at both ends (where the knots are), twist. When you can’t twist anymore, tie the two knots together.  

This step is meant to show how what was once relatively controlled, now becomes twisted and warped. Try to lay your yarn down in a circle. Try to flatten it with your fingers and then let go. It should twist into all manners of other forms other than a circle.

This is often what our attachments cause us to do as well. It creates dis-ease, twisting us and our serenity out of shape. Again, remind yourself of all the negatives tied to this attachment and how it has affected you and your life.

5. Take your athame or scissors and cut the top where you connected and tied both knots. Slowly uncurl and separate the yarns. As you do so, envision the new freedoms and all the new positives in your life and self that the separation from the attachment allows.

6. Place the yarn representative of you to the side.

7. Place the yarn representative of your attachment into your cauldron. The parts of ourselves that are still wrapped into our attachment are sometimes best sacrificed too.

8. Throw in your pinch of rosemary to help neutralize the attachment. 

9. Feel free to change the following declaration as needed. Place your hands over the cauldron and say aloud: “NAME OF ATTACHMENT, I have learned all the lessons I can from you. You have served your purpose, but your cost has become too great. Your services are no longer needed. Be well and depart.”

10. Set fire to the yarn representative of your attachment as well as the rosemary.

11. With your remaining yarn that represents you, make 3 evenly spaced knots if you can. For each knot state a commitment to help assist you in adapting to life without the attachment. Keep the yarn on your altar or in your Book of Shadows.

12. When ready to close the ritual, thank any deity you invited in, thank the elements, and close circle.