The web of words

From the ancient Near Easterners’ point of view, a spell’s sturdiness and effectiveness would find additional reinforcement through similes that compared its “string” of words to the strings of a net or twine. As the twined threads of a net are twisted and knotted together, so are the words of an incantation. As a net can be “cast,” so can an incantation. As a net can be laid out as a trap, so can an incantation. As a net can ensnare someone, so can an incantation. As a net can be a divine weapon, so can an incantation. As a net can entangle birds or fish in its fine mesh, so can an incantation snare demons and other malevolent forces.

When such an incantation needed to be reversed, then the ritual practitioner would merely unravel it like twine and dispose of its individual parts. Specialists could also annul the “spell” by untying the “knots” of the incantation’s net. Should speed be a factor, then the expert could rip apart the twine or tuft of wool. Throwing it into fire would assure its complete destruction.— Cursed Are You!, page 291