Year-end Handicrafts Part 3: A Prayer to Tie

Year-end Handicrafts Part 3

A prayer to unite

There is a certain tense stillness in the air as the year draws to a close. As the year draws to a close, we become more aware of the knots that bind things together.

Things left undone, words left unsaid, feelings left untied... you will have time to put your hands to work, as if gently tying them back together.

The act of tying is not just a simple action, but perhaps something akin to prayer.

A shapeless wish that resides in a knot

Tying strings, binding paper, bundling cloth.

We unconsciously put our wishes into each and every one of our actions.

"May it not come undone" "May it be connected" "May we meet again"

Feelings that are too simple to put into words are gently entrusted in the form of a knot.

It is an invisible form of prayer.

Mizuhiki: the aesthetics of knotting

Mizuhiki is an essential part of Japanese gift-giving culture. This thin paper string is imbued with the meaning of connecting people.

The plum knot is plump and round, and difficult to untie. It is chosen when praying for longevity and peace.

The Awaji knot tightens when both ends are pulled. It is said to convey the wish that the bond will be strong and lasting.

Mizuhiki is not just a decoration. It is a silent expression of the sender's feelings.

By tying, we connect the end and the beginning

The decorations that are hung at the end of the year are also made by hand, with the knots being tied to create a "barrier."

They weave straw, tie paper streamers, and prepare a pure space to welcome the gods.

It is a custom that has been passed down since ancient times, but it has a feeling that is still relevant to us today.

A quiet knot that declares, "From here on, new time begins."

By tying, the end and the beginning are gently connected.

What resides in the memories of the hands

The furoshiki wrapping cloth that my grandmother tied for my lunch box, the shoelaces that my mother untied, the packing string that my father tied.

Before I knew it, those hand movements had become ingrained in me, and before I knew it, I was tying knots for someone else in the same way.

Perhaps the memories of the hands convey feelings more reliably than words.

Living with Knots

There are many knots in life.

Mornings spent tying apron strings, afternoons spent putting ribbons on gifts, and evenings spent tying up hair.

All of these are small rituals that reconnect you with the world.

Knots allow us to feel like we are here and now.

Today's Extra Step

On one day at the end of the year, why not re-tie just one thing?

Tie a loose string again. Carefully fold a furoshiki. Tie a mizuhiki cord and attach a letter to someone.

Or, in your heart, gently reconnect the words you left unsaid.

The handiwork of tying is not only for someone else, but also a prayer to bring oneself into order.