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THE KNOTTED ROPE IN MASONIC ESOTERIC TRADITION

by Bro. William Steve Burkle KT, 32, KCRBE

Alpha Lodge No. 116, Grand Lodge of New Jersey

Philo Lodge No. 243, South River, New Jersey
Scioto Lodge No. 6, C hillicothe, Ohio.

The k notte d rope is an ancie nt Masonic Sym bol com m only associate d with the Te sse llate d Borde r , which in m ode rn tim e s is
re pre se nte d by a se rie s of contiguous e quilate ral triangle s e x te nding around the pe rim e te r of the Lodge floor . The story of the
transform ation of the te sse llate d borde r from wavy k notte d rope use d as a fram e for the Tre sse l Board (Figure 1) to its m ode rn
configuration as a sk irt for the Lodge Floor appe ars to be shroude d in the m ists of tim e , and re m ains m ostly conje cture . The e sote ric
sym bolism of the k notte d rope howe ve r has survive d m ore -or-le ss intact and is m uch m ore inte re sting. This pape r will de al with this
sym bolism and will e x am ine the e sote ric characte ristics and use s of the k notte d rope both in non-Masonic traditions as we ll as in
Masonic tradition. It will conclude with spe culation that the re configuration of the Te sse llate d Borde r from Tre sse l Board fram e to
Lodge Floor Sk irt m ay have be e n due to its pe rce ive d e sote ric purpose .

The knotted rope is an ancient Masonic Symbol commonly associated with the Tessellated Border[I], which in modern
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 times is represented by a series of contiguous equilateral triangles extending around the perimeter of the Lodge
floor[II]. Mackey[III], speaking on the Tessellated Border states:

The French call it "la houpe dentelee," which is literally the "indented tessel"; and they describe it as "a cord forming true-
lovers' knots, which surrounds the tracing-board.

and:

The Germans call it "die Schnur von starken Faden," or the "cord of strong threads", and define it as a border surrounding
the tracing-board of an Entered Apprentice, consisting of a cord tied in lovers' knots, with two tassels attached to the ends.

further:

The idea prevalent in America, and derived from a misapprehension of the plate in the Monitor of Cross, that the tessellated
border was a decorated part of the Mosaic pavement does not seem to be supported by these definitions. They all indicate
that the "tessellated border" was a cord.

The story of the transformation of the tessellated border from wavy knotted rope used as a frame for the Tressel
Board to its modern configuration as a skirt for the Lodge Floor appears to be shrouded in the mists of time and is
mired in conjecture. The generally accepted explanation is that the modern configuration may be attributed to errors in
translation, or even illiteracy. In depictions of the knotted rope version of the Tessellated Border, the Masonic Love
Knot or Infinity Knot is the type of knot employed. Also called the Figure Eight knot, examples of this knot have
been found in Egyptian Middle Kingdom Burial sites[IV] incorporated into anklets and bracelets.

It is the premise of this paper that there may be another explanation for the change in form of the knotted rope from
the Tressel Board to the Lodge floor skirt which is based upon esoteric symbolism and associated rationale. This paper
will deal with this symbolism and will examine the esoteric characteristics and uses of the knotted rope both in non-
Masonic traditions as well as in Masonic tradition. It will conclude with speculation that the reconfiguration (if such a
change indeed did occur) of the Tessellated Border from Tressel Board frame to Lodge Floor Skirt may have been due
to its perceived or intended esoteric purpose.

Knotted ropes and cords have been used for centuries for pragmatic applications such as counting[V],
measurement[VI], as memory aids for prayer recitation[VII], and for simple binding and tying. It could easily be said
that knot tying may have been one of the major developments in the advancement of mankind, perhaps even
overshadowing the invention of the wheel in terms of its impact. Anthropologists theorize[VIII] that during the period
in which man was learning to domesticate animals the rope became the very symbol of his mastery of brute nature.
Consequently, the rope, or cord, came to acquire very early symbolic and mystical meaning.
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 Since early antiquity, knotted cords have been used for magical purposes; primarily purposes associated with the
binding capability of knots. In this regard knots were viewed to hold the power to bind or store spells and
enchantments until they were released through the act of untying. An example includes the magical wind knots used
by sailors[IX]. Wind knots were normally tied in groups of three, and were used to bind winds which could later be
called upon when needed. Release of the first knot was believed to activate a moderate breeze, release of the
second, a strong breeze, and release of the third knot caused a heavy wind. Other variously cited and beneficial uses
of Knot Magic include the curing of fever, alleviation of diseases of the groin, prevention of scarlet fever, and keeping a
person out of harms way.

Because of their association with binding, knots were often viewed to restrict, impede, or constrain certain events
such as childbirth, marriage, and death. It is recorded[X] that in 1705, two persons were condemned to death in
Scotland for stealing charmed knots which were subsequently used to interfere with the marriage of Spalding of
Ashintilly. In 1718 the parliament of Bordeaux sentenced a person to death by burning for having spread desolation
through an entire family by the use of knotted cords. Knot magic was also used for other malevolent purposes; such
as causing impotence in men, or to surreptitiously prevent a desired pregnancy.

In the tradition of the religion of Islam, there is a story that the Prophet was bewitched and was rendered very ill by a
man whose daughters tied a spell into a cord using 11 knots. God sent the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet[XI] carrying
two Chapters containing 11 verses and revealed where the Prophet could find the cord. The Prophet recited the 11
verses of the two Chapters over the knots and at the end of each recital one knot was untied by powers unknown. As
soon as all eleven knots were untied the prophet was cured of his bewitchment. Magical Knot tying in Islam is a
serious offense. Even in Christianity, Priests and Ministers wear collars, but eschew ties, a tradition ostensibly based
upon an aversion to Knot Magic. In the Hebrew religion[XII] the tallith, or prayer shawl contains eight tassels, each
tied with five knots. Using the system of Kabalistic Gematria, 8 + 5 sums to 13; the numerical Gematria value of the
word tzitzit, which is the collective term for the eight tassels is 600. The sum of 13 + 600 is 613, the total number of
precepts in the Torah. Nearly every major religion in the world can be shown to have practices or traditions relating in
some way to knot magic.

The Masonic Love Knot

The Love Knot, Knot of Hercules, Infinity Knot, or Figure of Eight Knot is described[XIII] as a continuous knot having
the form of a figure-eight which originated as a healing charm in ancient Egypt. It well known for its use in ancient
Greece and Rome as a protective amulet or as a wedding symbol. Other sources identify the Love Knot to be an
adaptation of one of the eight Buddhist symbols having origin in Tibet. Various interlocking Celtic knots also bear a
striking resemblance to the Love Knot. Figure 1 illustrates the form of the Masonic Love Knot. The crossing strands in a
love knot are viewed[XIV] in Celtic lore to depict the spiritual meaning of life. The symbolism of the knot has survived
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 well beyond its ancient origins, and was a very common symbol in medieval and Renaissance love tokens.

Knotted Ropes and Cords

In Freemasonry there is a very strong parallel between the Love Knot and the Chain of Union According to Bro. Carlo
Martinez Jr. [XV]:

This chain, is actually a rope, which, circumvests the inner walls of the Masonic Temple in its upper part. Its elevated
location gives it a celestial connotation, confirmed by the twelve knots that appear at intervals all along said rope, and,
which, symbolize the twelve signs of the zodiac. These knots also correspond to the twelve columns that, except in the East
side, surround the Inner Sanctum of our Temples in its entirety. Five of these columns are situated in the North, the other
five in the South, and the remaining two, Jachin and Boaz, in the West.

Bro. Martinez Jr. further states (regarding the Chain of Union):

This emblem is, indeed, the celestial frame which limits, separates, and protects The World of Light from The World of
Darkness; the Sacred from the Profane.

The reader will recognize that the form taken during the Chain of Union is one in which the crossed arms and grasped
hands of the participants form a series of connected love knots. Brother Shawn Eyer in his Paper on the Mosaic
Pavement[XVI] also notes the astrological associations of the knotted rope in the Emulation Rite, which developed
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 following the 1813 union of the Antients and the Moderns. He writes:

The indented or Tessellated border refers us to the planets, which in their various revolutions form a beautiful border or
skirtwork round that grand luminary, the Sun, as the Other does round that of a Freemasons Lodge.,,

Brother Albert Pike also made allusion to the knotted rope and its parallel to the Chain of Union when he wrote:

"...a mans intellect is all his own, held direct from God, an inalienable fief if the stream be but bright and strong, it will
sweep like a spring-tide to the popular heart. Not in word only, but in intellectual act lies the fascination. It is the homage to
the Invisible. This power, knotted with Love, is the golden chain let down into the well of Truth, or the invisible chain that
binds the ranks of mankind together."

No description of an esoteric function served by the Masonic Love Knot (other than the mentioned astrological
association) is to be found in Masonic literature; however the exoteric explanation is that the knots represent the
bond of love between brothers. It is the Authors view that the esoteric value of the knots as symbols of unity,
strength, and infinite love are self-evident.

The Masonic Knotted Rope

Falconer[XVII] reports that the earliest recorded use of a

Masonic Knotted rope may have been that of an 81 knot Rope
dated August 23, 1773. However, during research for this
paper a story[XVIII] was located in which a Clockmaker in1986
discovered and restored a rare Neuchtel Masonic clock dated
by Josu Robert as being circa 1749. This clock was adorned
with a Knotted Rope along with other symbols such as a skull &
bones and Square & Compasses. Further research identified a
Tapestry entitled The Hunt of the Unicorn, one of seven
Tapestries of similar theme, often referred to as the Unicorn
Tapestries. This tapestry, dating from 14951505, and currently
on display at The Cloisters shows a group of noblemen and
hunters in pursuit of a unicorn.. An analysis of these
Tapestries[XIX] reveals significant Masonic symbolism, including
that of the Knotted Rope.

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 The form of the Tassellated Border applied as a Tressel
Board Frame is illustrated in Figure 2. Brother Gabriel Vasile
Oltean provided an excellent description of the Knotted Cord
used as a border within a Lodge Room in a recent article[XX] in
Masonic Forum magazine. He wrote:

A red cord with 12 knots in the shape of a recumbent 8 (the

symbol of the infinite), called the knots of love, surrounds the
temple and ends above the two Pillars upon the entrance (Boaz and
Jachin), in laced tassels. The twelve knots of the cord remind us of
the twelve Gates of Jerusalem, the cubic city where each side
measured 144 cubits (12 X 12). The text of the Apocalypse states
that this number is a Number of Man and, by this very reason, a
Number of Angel.

A similar description of the knotted rope discovered

during a visitation to a Masonic Lodge in Portugal[XXI] is
provided by Brother Norman Ryder. Brother Ryder writes:

A large rope (about 5/8 inch) was on the wall around the lodge
with knots in it every so far. They also wear ties with a rope and
knot configuration but I do not know the story behind the knots

It is notable that image of the wavy cord containing love knots

was at one time prominently assocciated with Masonic Symbolism, as is evident from Figure 3, which shows the use of
the Knotted Rope as artwork on a record album cover for Brother Mozarts Masonic Music, produced between 1964
and 1968 when Peter Maag served as chief conductor at the Volksoper in Vienna.

Knotted cords and ropes find extensive use in both

folk magic and various forms of ceremonial magic as a
protective ward or boundary against evil, especially
during sacred rites. I believe the Masonic knotted rope
Tessellated border serves in this capacity. While there
is controversy concerning the Masonic origin and
evolution of the Tessellated border, there are a
number of authoritative references which suggest that

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 its original purpose was to serve as a protective
instrument. The MacBride Ritual[XXII] for example
states:

"You will see that our carpet has a tessellated border,

which represents the divine protection encircling
humanity..."

In The Master Key[XXIII], a scholarly paper reputed to

present the form for the prestigious Prestonian
Lectures, Dr. John I. Browne states (concerning the
Tessellated Border) that it is:

"the kind care of Providence which so cheerfully

surrounds us and keeps us within its protection ..."

In its capacity as a protective bounding device the

Tessellated Border also exhibits certain parallels to the
Point Within a Circle, within the boundary of which
no Mason is able to error.

Conclusion

Given the historical esoteric significance of knotted ropes it is not surprising that our Tessellated Border ended up
being used on the Lodge Floor as a protective boundary between the profane world and our sacred rites. I would
submit to the reader that a reconfiguration of the Tessellated Border did not occur because of a misinterpretation of
the word Tassellated; rather the Border was, and always had been, intended as a protective enclosure for the
Lodge room.

In closing I remind the reader that if you wake up with knots in your hair, it's said that the fairies have played with
your hair.

Notes

[I] Falcone r, Donald H.B. (2003). The Four Tassels. C hapte r 24 in The Square and C om passe s In Se arch of Fre e m asonry. R e tre ive d
March 15, 2012 from Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry at www.fre e m asons-fre e m asonry.com /don13.htm l.

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 [II] Brom we ll, He nry P.H. (1909). Restorations of Masonic Geometry and Symbolry: Being a Dissertation of the Lost Knowledges of the Lodge.
De nve r: The H.P.H. Brom we ll Masonic Publishing C om pany.

[III] Mack e y, Albe rt Gallatin. (1929). Mack e ys R e vise d Encyclope dia of Fre e m asonry and Kindre d Scie nce s. Masonic History C om pany.
ASIN: B001LO Y03C .

[IV] W e bste r, R ichard. (2005). Gabriel: Communicating With The Archangel For Inspiration & Reconciliation. Lle we lle n.

[V] Urton, Gary (1998). From Knots to Narratives: Reconstructing the Art of Historical Record Keeping in the Andes from Spanish Transcriptions
of Inka Khipus. Ethnohistory. Vol. 45, No. 3 (Sum m e r, 1998). Duk e Unive rsity Pre ss.

[VI] Ze nne r, Marie -Th r se (Ed.). (2004). Villard's Legacy: Studies in Medieval Technology, Science, and Art in Memory of Jean Gimpel.
Burlington, Ve rm ont: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN: 0-7546-0929-4.

[VII] Day, C yrus L. Knots and Knot Lore: Quipus and Other Menmonic Knots. In W e ste rn Folk lore Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan., 1957), pp. 8-26.
W e ste rn State s Folk lore Socie ty.

[VIII] Taylor, He nry. The Cable Tow. in The Builde r, Nove m be r 1923. Volum e IX - Num be r 11.

[IX] Gordon, Stuart. (1993). The Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends. London: He adline .

[X] F ra z e r, J a m e s G e o rg e . ( 1 9 4 7 ) . The G ol de n B ough: A S t udy I n Magi c A nd R e l i gi on: A de t ai l e d e x am i nat i on of t he

f orm s of occul t pract i ce acros s t he worl d and t he age s . S upe rnat ural B e l i e f s and My s t i ci s m , Magi c S pe l l s & Pract i ce ,
A nci e nt D e i t i e s , W i t che s & W i t chcraf t , F ai ri e s , D e m ons , H um an S acri f i ce , t he D rui ds , e t c. , e t c. Ne w Y o rk : M a cM i l l a n
C o m p a n y.

[XI] M a y e r, T o b y ( T ra n s ) . A ra b i c/ En g l i s h . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . K e y s t o A rcana: S hahras t ani ' s Es ot e ri c C om m e nt ary on t he Q ur' an.

O x f o rd U n i v e rs i t y P re s s . I S B N- 1 0 : 1 9 9 5 3 3 6 5 2 ; I S B N- 1 3 : 9 7 8 0 1 9 9 5 3 3 6 5 7 .

[XII] Hastings, Jam e s (Ed.) (2004). A Dictionary of the Bible. Honolulu: Unive rsity Pre ss of the Pacific.

[XIII] Love Knot. Symbols Dictionary. A Visual Glossary. R e trie ve d March 14, 2012 from http://sym boldictionary.ne t/?p=3030.

[XIV] Parwani, Kritik a (2011).Celtic Love Knot Meaning. R e trie ve d March 24, 2012 from http://www.buzzle .com /article s/ce ltic-love -k not-
m e aning.htm l.

[XV] Martine z Jr., C arlos, Antonio. The Chain of Union: Another Omitted Essential Part of Our Ritual. Northe rn C alifornia R e se arch Lodge .
R e trie ve d March 21, 2012 from http://calodge s.org/ncrl/union.htm l.

[XVI] Eye r, Shawn. The Mystery of the Mosaic Pavement. Philale the s. Fall 2009. No. 93. R e trie ve d March 10, 2012 from
http://acade m ialodge .org/pdf/e ye r_m yste ry_of_the _m osaic_pave m e nt.pdf

[XVII] O p. cit. Falcone r, Donald H.B. (2003). The Four Tassels.

[XVIII] Baillod, Gil. ( 2011). Conversation About a Masonic Clock. W atch Around. R e trie ve d March 24, 2012 from http://www.watch-
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 around.com /e n/subscribe rs-zone /m agazine /article /le s-m e m e s-ge ste s-de puis-de s-sie cle s.htm l.

[XIX] C om e au, Howard. Freemasonry and the Hunt of the Unicorn. R e trie ve d March 16, 32012 from
http://www.pre m ium orange .com /tapisse rie s-licorne s/C HASSE/01j-%20Fre e -Masonne ry.htm .

[XX] O lte an, Gabrie l Vasile (2008). The Masonic Chain. in Masonic Forum m agazine No. 33 Spring AL 6008. re trie ve d March 22, 2012
from http://www.m asonicforum .ro/archive /e n/nr33/olte an.htm l.

[XXI] R yde r, Norm an. A Visit to Portugal: W ould You Me e t the C rite ria to Be com e a Mason in Portugal ? The Ne wsle tte r of the
C om m itte e on Masonic Education, The Grand Lodge of C anada in the Province of O ntario. Vol. 19, No.2.

[XXII] MacBride , Andre w Som m e rville . (2008). The MacBride Ritual: The Complete Ritual of Andrew S. MacBride. Masonic Publishing
C om pany. ISBN-10: 095442686X; ISBN-13: 978-0954426866.

[XXIII] Brown, John I. (2010). The Master-Key Through All the Degrees of a Free-mason's Lodge; to Which Are Added, Eulogiums and
Illustrations, Upon Free-masonry; Theology; Astronomy; Geometry; Architecture; Arts; Sciences. Gale EC C O . ISBN-13: 9781170988213.

Ilta

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