The Paradoxical Journey
The Crone is a symbol of inherent wisdom. Although the Crone is the harbinger death, she is also responsible for birth and new life. She is our archetypal midwife.
~ FOLLOW THE ENERGY UNRAVEL THE KNOT~
As a child, I was fascinated by knots. My father had mastered the art of knot tying and I would beg him to teach me how to tie knots. His idea of teaching was to tie a knot and hand it to me to figure out what he had done. That is not the way I learn. As a result, I experienced a lot of frustration with myself for not being able to figure it out. Despite the frustration, I persisted and in the process I mastered the art of unraveling massive entanglements of knotted cord as my attempts to tie the complex knots created an abundance of entanglements and it was my responsibility to unpick what I had created. I learned very quickly that having patience was important and my long slim nimble fingers were a tremendous asset as well as my strong fingernails. As I gained confidence in my ability, I no longer felt overwhelmed by entanglements. The bigger the entanglement, the more excited I was to meet the challenge. I had discovered a secret that made it easier. As a child, I had no idea how this unraveling experience would shape my life or that my desire to tie knots was the beginning of a paradoxical journey.
FORT McMURRAY . 1983 . FINE ARTS
Dear Journal,
As you know my friend, my passion for Celtic knots has led me to this amazing Fine Arts course where I have the opportunity to learn to draw these beautiful intricate complex knots that I have admired for years and years. Today was the most amazing class. We are beyond the basics now and into the complex knot work and my secret that I learned as a child is serving me well. The instructor was amazed at how quickly I learned to draw these knots. I was in knot heaven. My heart was overflowing with joy as I drew knot after knot.
Then just before the end of the class the instructor told us that we would be creating these patterns we were drawing with cord. I could barely stay in my seat. I wanted to dance around the room. I could see the cord in my hands, not the one cord he was describing, but three cords. I had seen a picture in The Book of Kells and I could see myself with three cords in my hand making the knot in the picture. I could see the completed knot and feel the joy in my heart as I looked at it.
After class, I went to work. I was bubbling with excitement and had no idea that it was going to get even better. A woman came into the store and deposited a clump of tangled gold chains on the glass showcase. She explained to the manager that her toddler had discovered her jewelry box and this was the result. My fingers were tingling with the anticipation of untangling the chains. The manager obviously did not feel what I was feeling as she was encouraging the woman to take them to another store. I walked over to them and asked the manger if I could do it. Despite the doubtful expression on her face, she agreed. I suggested to the woman that she come back in a couple of hours. I was in entanglement heaven. My nimble fingers worked swiftly and when the woman returned, her six chains were untangled, cleaned, inspected for damage and in individual pouches. She was surprised and very happy.
My friend, my secret served me well today. I feel like I am walking on air. I am drunk with giddiness. There is so much joy.
It is late and I need to sleep but I don’t want this day to end.
Love you,
Karen
GANDER . 1991 . SHARING MY SECRET
Dear Journal,
This contract to teach Celtic knot work is challenging me in so many ways. This evening was the third class. The first two classes went so well. I was teaching the basics and all of the participants were doing well and I thought they had grasped the concept and that they could draw more complex knots. I was so wrong, and the harder I tried to help them, the more frustrated they got. I decided it was time to share my secret. I was so sure it would help them and the rest of the class would unfold with ease. But not one person in the class could see what I was showing them and that escalated the level of frustration, mine included. I needed to salvage the class and I did. The calm returned when we returned to the basics and they were having success. I stayed after the class drawing knot after knot on the board trying to figure out how to help them to see what I was seeing. What was I doing wrong? It was so easy to see. Why couldn’t they see it?
Here I am hours later still trying to figure it out. There are seven more classes to teach. I need to figure out how to do this.
All I know right now is that I can teach the basics and build on those concepts one step at a time, just as I was taught and they will have success but I want them to feel the passion and joy I feel when I experience the magic in the knots. What now? How do I do this?
I am perplexed my friend,
Love
Karen
HALIFAX . MAY 2022 . THE GIFTOF SEEING
Dear Journal,
It feels like yesterday that I stood in the Cletic knot class feeling so perplexed with my inability to share the magic and yet many years have passed and over time the answers to the questions I asked so long ago have been revealed.
In 1991 I was very much stuck in the belief that if I shared my secret, others would see and feel the magic I experienced. That teaching contract was the undoing of that belief and that led me deep into my shadow where I was challenged to face my need to fix, to make everything okay and to make others happy. I learned that even though no one in the class could see what I saw or feel what I felt, they could have their own experience and create their own magic with the knots. I learned that witnessing their magical experiences was even more joyous than if they were experiencing mine. Mine were for me to experience and feel the joy.
When I was born visually impaired, I was gifted inner vision. I could see energy patterns and that is what enabled me to unravel knots without overwhelm. I could see the strand that had the most energy and if I worked with that strand knots unraveled with ease. As my trust in what I was seeing grew, so did my confidence, and my skill continued to develop the more I practiced. When it came to drawing Celtic knots, I chose the strand with the most powerful energy and followed it. The energy guided me. That teaching contract turned out to be life-changing. I not only embraced my gift but learned to use it to serve others. I learned how to support others to create magic and joy for themselves. That was empowering for all.
Over the years, as my healing journey continued to unfold, I could see how this gift — when used with archetypal patterns — served not only my healing, but supported others to heal as well. Archetypes are Universal energy patterns. As I learned to identity their energy it was easy for me to follow the patterns as they threaded their way through stories and conversations. When I dove into my family intergenerational story of ‘not enough’, all I could see were many archetypal patterns in a massive entanglement of knots. There was certainly unraveling to be done. I chose the pattern with the strongest energy and the unraveling began. It was like a giant energetic tapestry woven over thousands of years and the energy had been passed on from generation to generation, strengthening with each passing. In 2014 I was in the Vatican and saw a gigantic tapestry that filled a room and I remember thinking, wow this is what my family intergenerational story would be if it had been woven with thread and this is what I have been unraveling. I felt humbled, in awe and empowered all at the same time as I stood in the presence of that tapestry.
A paradoxical journey — desperately wanting to master knot tying like my father but instead my life has been focused on unraveling, which was not at all what I wanted as a child. Perhaps there was a greater plan at work.
Dear Dad,
Where ever your Soul is, I see your smile and hear your laughter. I am laughing with you and this is perfect paradoxical Cosmic humour. Was this paradoxical journey I have been on part of our Soul contact? Is this what you were trying so hard to communicate with me before your Soul left your body? As you know, I never did master the art of knot tying like you. Eventually I became so passionate about unravelling, I lost interest in tying. Was this the plan Dad? Was I to become a master of unravelling? Our family intergenerational story was a massive entanglement of knots. I imagine that there were many of our ancestors like you, that mastered the art of knot tying. Perhaps the plan was for me to stop that tradition and to become a master at unraveling. If so, in your own way Dad, you supported me to break tradition, and who knew the medicine for healing our intergenerational family story lay in the opposite! What a beautiful paradox it is.
Thank you, Dad.
I love you.
Katharina
SELF-AWARENESS QUESTIONS
What energetic knot is knotting you up?
How does this one knot impact your relationship with yourself, your family, money, and your health and wellbeing?
I invite you to imagine how unraveling this one energetic knot could change your life.