The Hidden Knots of Life: Why Life Gets Stuck and How to Untie It

Book Summary

The Hidden Knots of Life: Why Life Gets Stuck and How to Untie It

If you feel that despite all your efforts, life just doesn’t move forward… if you’re stuck in repeating emotional, relational, or career patterns… and if you’re searching for a deeper answer than surface-level psychology, this book was written for you.
Hidden Knots is an inspiring, deep, and practical guide that explores the unseen roots of life’s entanglements: karmic knots. These knots may be hidden in your birth chart, childhood trauma, ancestral wounds, or unconscious fears.
This book offers a path to see, understand, and begin untangling them. Through a fusion of intuition, astrology, inner psychology, and practical exercises, it helps you not only understand your pain but also find a real path to freedom.
🌀 Chapter-by-Chapter Overview:
Chapter 1: What Are Knots, and Why Do They Paralyze Our Lives?
A clear definition of karmic knots, how they differ from surface-level problems, and signs of active knots such as repetition, chronic pain, apathy, or irrational fears.
Chapter 2: How Can We Know If There Are Knots in Our Chart?
An introduction to the birth chart, the North and South Nodes, squares and oppositions, and how to link real-life patterns to symbolic placements in astrology.
Chapter 3: What Feeds the Knots and Keeps Them Closed?
A deep psychological dive into how shame, fear, childhood wounds, inherited beliefs, and silence fuel our inner blocks.
Chapter 4: What’s the First Step to Untangle the Knots?
Practical techniques including mindful observation, inner dialogue, breathwork, therapeutic journaling, and rewriting old life narratives.
Chapter 5: How Can Cosmic Cycles Help Us Let Go?
Using major astrological transits like Saturn Return and Pluto transits to recognize transformative times, and learning the art of conscious surrender.

❓Frequently Asked Questions Answered in This Book:
Why doesn’t my life move forward, no matter how hard I try?
What exactly are karmic knots and how do they affect my life?
How can I identify karmic knots in my astrological chart?
Could my current struggles be rooted in family trauma or a forgotten past?
What exercises truly help release psychological and spiritual blocks?
How do I align with cosmic timing for personal growth and healing?
What’s the difference between surrendering and giving up?
Are karmic knots really resolvable, or must we simply endure them?

Author: Vahid Zekavati

Copyright: NLP Radio

📘 Introduction

The Hidden Knots of Life: Why Life Gets Stuck and How to Untie It

Maybe you’re one of those people who have always felt something in life just doesn’t move forward, even though you’ve done everything logically and thoughtfully. Maybe you’ve found yourself asking again and again, “Why does this keep happening? Why won’t this pain let go of me?”

If you’ve hit the same wall too many times, if you’ve lived with unexplained fears, if you’ve felt stuck in your relationships, career, or even your own inner world — this book was written for you. It’s for those who seek answers deeper than conventional psychology, shallow advice, or false optimism.

In this book, we introduce you to a rarely discussed but deeply transformative concept: karmic knots. These knots are not only etched in your birth chart, but also woven into your psyche, family memories, past-life imprints, and unconscious decisions.

But this book is not just about naming the pain — it is about liberation. It is about untangling these knots, reconciling with yourself, and finding a way to live free of repetition. You deserve freedom, and this book could be the light that guides you toward it.

Chapter One:

What Are Knots, and Why Do They Paralyze Our Lives?

Sometimes, a person feels everything in their life is in place, yet nothing seems to work. It’s as if invisible forces behind the scenes are preventing progress, love, peace, or the fulfillment of desires. These unseen forces can be described as karmic knots.

Karmic knots aren’t simply divine punishment or guilt, but rather stuck energies on the soul’s path. Knots that have traveled with us from past experiences—whether in this life or previous ones—and are etched into our psyche and birth chart. They live inside us like silent mountains, waiting to be seen and released.

Many people suffer from depression, anxiety, repeated failures, or chronic apathy, without knowing the root cause. External remedies may offer temporary relief, but the core issue remains buried. These lingering pains can stem from unseen knots.

Karmic knots show up in our relationships—we attract partners who reopen old wounds. They appear in our careers—we hit walls despite our talents. Or in finances—money comes and goes, never bringing stability or safety.

Astrology, this ancient symbolic science, has long spoken of these knots. In each birth chart, two key points exist: the North Node and South Node of the Moon, indicating the soul’s path. The South Node reflects our past habits, and the North Node shows where we must grow.

But these knots aren’t just in the skies—they live in our psychology. Children raised in fearful or shame-filled homes develop mental knots that often stay for life. These knots block expression, freedom, and even belief in self-worth.

Some knots are inherited through family memory. Generations who endured war, migration, betrayal, or rejection often pass on their unfinished pain. Without knowing it, a child carries the emotional burden of a parent or ancestor.

Karmic knots may surface in dreams: recurring nightmares, strange yet familiar places, or emotions that don’t belong to this lifetime. The subconscious is a vast archive preserving these knots, awaiting the moment we are ready to face them.

A knot may be a silence that was never broken. Words we were forbidden to say as children, tears hidden behind forced smiles, or rage we had to bury to appear “good.” Repressed emotions form the deepest knots.

Sometimes, a person doesn’t know why they can’t feel joy, why they feel empty despite external success, or why intimacy scares them. These are signs that must be taken seriously—they often originate from long-forgotten pasts.

Recognizing knots is the first step to freedom. Once you know where something is stuck, you begin to find your way through it. This awareness releases energy that’s long been trapped.

Knots are like invisible threads wrapped around the psyche. Some are simple and untangle with awareness. Others are tightly woven and require time, patience, and immense gentleness.

One of the main signs of a knot is the repetition of painful patterns. When people, situations, or emotions recur, it’s not just bad luck—it’s a lesson yet to be learned. An unresolved knot keeps repeating itself.

From an inner psychology viewpoint, every knot is a wounded part of us that has yet to be heard. It cries, “See me, understand me, bring me out of the dark.” Ignoring this cry only deepens the pain.

Knots are not enemies—they are messengers of the soul. They ring like bells calling us inward, to touch what’s long been unseen. A knot is a voice guiding us toward release, if only we listen.

But why do knots paralyze us? Because they consume energy. The psyche is stuck in defense, escape, or pretending everything’s fine. This inner fatigue halts movement. With knots, we don’t live—we endure.

When a knot won’t release, it can lead to apathy, hidden rage, or even physical illness. The psyche, if unheard, speaks through the body. And the body always tells the truth.

Knots force us to face ourselves. We can no longer pretend all is well. They become mirrors reflecting our deepest wounds. Sometimes, life must fall apart so we can rebuild from within.

We weren’t born to be victims of our knots—we came to move through them. Each knot is an invitation to grow, awaken, and break free from invisible chains. This path, though challenging, is filled with beauty.

Knots remain hidden only when we ignore them. But the moment we shine the light of awareness on them, they begin to loosen. Life begins exactly where the knot used to be.

Chapter 2:
How to Know if We Have a Node in Our Chart?

Many of us don’t know how to get to know our birth chart, or even why it matters. But a birth chart is not just a picture of the sky, it is a detailed picture of our psyche, our soul’s path, and our hidden wounds. And in this chart, the nodes make themselves known silently but vividly.

The first thing we need to know are two important points called the North and South Nodes of the Moon. The South Node is the path we have traveled many times: habits, abilities, but sometimes old attachments and fears. The North Node is the new path we must take in this life, however challenging it may be.

When we get to know the South Node, we realize what is all too familiar to us, even if it is disturbing. We may always be drawn to certain types of relationships, or to environments that are controlling because our psyches feel comfortable with them. But this familiarity is the trap.

A birth chart is like a map, showing intersections, dead ends, and open paths. Squares, planets that are at 90-degree angles to each other, are a sign of inner tension. These squares are usually the psychological knots that need attention.

Oppositions, when two planets are in opposite directions, indicate deep struggles. These conflicts are usually internal, between wanting and not wanting, between moving and stopping, between the past and the future. When you see such conflicts, know that there is probably a knot hidden there.

The easiest way to see your birth chart is to use free websites or software, where you just need to enter your date, time, and place of birth. But more important than the tool is your perspective. You can’t see your chart with a hasty mind. You have to see it with your heart, with inner questions, with painful silences.

For example, if your Mars is square your Moon, there may always be an unspoken tension in your life between your anger and your emotions. This tension may make you afraid of intimacy, or you may explode more quickly than usual in emotional situations. This is a node in itself.

Or if your North Node is in Pisces, but you are always attracted to dry, logical, and controlled environments, it may be time to realize that you need to learn how to be submissive and flexible. The North Node always takes us to places we fear, but the soul demands.

If your chart is full of squares and oppositions, it doesn’t mean you have bad luck or a curse. Rather, it’s a sign that your life has been filled with unresolved energies from the beginning, which, if you become aware of, will accelerate and deepen your path of growth. There are no bad charts, only charts with more difficult missions.

You can also see the knots in your chart in your life experiences. If something has been happening to you over and over again, and you’ve asked yourself, “Why does this always happen to me?” This is probably the knot that your birth chart is showing you, but you haven’t wanted to look at it yet.

Sometimes looking at your chart gives you a strange feeling, like looking into a mirror from the inside. You may see parts of yourself that you’ve always denied, or you may recognize things that you’ve always felt were there but didn’t have a name for. The chart is the language of your subconscious on paper.

If planets are clustered in certain houses in your birth chart, those houses indicate areas of your life where a lot of energy is concentrated. Like rooms full of memories, sounds, fears, or hopes. Those places need to be opened slowly, with respect.

Realizing that there is a knot in your chart is only the beginning. Sometimes just knowing that there is something wrong with you that is not your fault is a great healing in itself. Knots don’t always want to be opened immediately; they want to be seen, understood, accepted.

When you look at your chart with conscious intention for the first time, something inside you begins to melt. You may find tears, or a strange sense of peace. This is a sign that you have seen something that has been hidden for a long time, and now has found a way to be heard.

A chart is not just for predicting the future. It is a tool for traveling deep into the soul, to understand why, to reconcile with the past and to walk a new path in the future. If you learn to listen to it with your heart, it will become one of your most loyal friends.

Even if you don’t know much about astrology, you can understand your chart with your inner sense. Some things the mind doesn’t understand, but the heart does. Especially when you are faced with your birth chart, sometimes you just need to say: “Yes, this is me.”

Remember that knots are not just problems, but sacred invitations to go deep into the soul. Each knot is a ticket to an inner journey, to where your truth is hidden. And by recognizing them, you will be one step closer to liberation.

The birth chart is a silent map of all your suffering, talents, and opportunities to pass through. Do not be afraid of what you see in it, because nothing in it is your enemy. Everything is at the service of your growth, if your gaze changes from judgment to intuition.

You have the right to know what is inside you. The birth chart only shows the signs, but the path to passing through them is made possible by your heart, your intention, and your courage to see yourself. The knots can be untied, if you believe that seeing is the beginning of liberation.

Chapter 3:
What feeds knots and why don’t they untie?

It all starts with us not wanting to feel anything. From the moment we decide not to see a pain, to hold back a tear, or to swallow a cry. Right at that moment, the first loops of a knot are formed.

A knot is like a psychological wound that we have covered with tape and thought was over. But deep down, that same wound breathes, calls out, and devours us from the inside. Knots are nothing but unseen emotions and unfinished experiences.

Feelings like shame, anger, fear, and sadness, if they don’t get a chance to express and understand, turn into dark masses. Like mud that has settled at the bottom of a river, but is still there. And every time the water flows, it rises again.

Shame is one of the main foods of the knot. When we believe that our being is wrong, or that our feelings are too much, shame begins to weave a wall inside us. A wall behind which the knots hide and grow.

Fear is equally powerful. Fear of rejection, fear of being alone, fear of failure or even fear of success. These fears are like invisible threads that wrap around the knots and keep them from the light of awareness.

But the knot does not only feed on feelings, but also draws strength from long silences. Those words we never said, those tears we were not allowed to shed, those angers that turned into smiles. Silence is fertile soil for the persistence of knots.

One of the important sources of knots is family wounds. Generations that were not heard, or whose feelings were suppressed in patriarchal systems, have passed these wounds on to us like an inheritance. The knots are often familial, even if they have a personal form.

The child within is the most careful guardian of the knots. When a child is scared, left alone, or humiliated, knots form in their psyche that grow with them. We think we have grown up, but we still live with the decisions of a wounded child.

Limiting beliefs are another food for the knots. When we think we are unworthy of love, or that success is not ours, we are actually tightening the knot. These beliefs are like a rope that wraps around the knot, making it harder to untie.

Many of us think that time will untie the knots. But time only takes them to deeper layers. If we don’t consciously want to see and touch them, knots shape our lives, without us realizing it.

Sometimes a knot shows itself in repetitive patterns. For example, every time we enter a relationship that hurts us, or every time we become interested in something that suddenly collapses. These repetitions are not random, they are the language of knots.

One of the reasons knots don’t untie is our fear of facing pain. We prefer to see pain outside: in the other, in society, in the past. But untying knots means accepting that part of the pain has a home inside us.

Sometimes knots are tied to our identity. We are so used to our past pain that if they weren’t there, we wouldn’t know who we are. This is where liberation, more than being technical, is courageous.

Our bodies also host knots. Chronic headaches, unexplained shortness of breath, or pain that doctors can’t explain are often messengers of knots that have been ignored for years. The body is the last refuge of pent-up pain.

Sometimes the only way to untie a knot is to cry deeply, to have an honest conversation with yourself, or to write down the truth that we have been running from for years. Untying always begins with a confrontation, however simple, however painful.

Knots don’t untie themselves unless we see them, believe them, and decide to move past them. And this moving requires self-love. Because nothing loosens a knot like love.

Knots want to be understood, not judged. They are part of the hidden history of our soul. Not an enemy, not an obstacle, but a guide. All we need to do is take a moment to listen to them instead of fighting them.

Every knot has an untold story. A story of suffering, hope, and the struggle to survive. If we look at it with kindness, it may not only untie, but also lead us to a deeper truth about ourselves.

We cannot remove the knots, but we can understand them and lighten them. And that understanding is the beginning of liberation. The beginning of untying something that has been tied for years, without hearing our voice.

If we can see the knots not as obstacles, but as invitations, everything changes. Because every knot is an opportunity to see ourselves, to touch the pain, and to be reborn from the darkness.

Chapter 4:

What is the first step to untying knots?

Many of us think that we have to do something big to untie our psychological knots. But the truth is that the first step is not action but awareness. Awareness without judgment, without analysis, just honest observation of what is.

One of the easiest ways to start is to practice observing your feelings. Sit for a few minutes each day and just notice what is going on inside you, without trying to change it or find meaning in it. Just watch, just listen.

Sometimes you may feel something is restless inside you, or maybe you don’t feel anything at all. The very fact of not feeling is a message. Because numbness is also an emotion: a shield against old pain.

The breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. If you can learn how to breathe consciously, you can gradually access the more hidden layers of yourself. Breathing slowly, deeply, and measuredly is the first conversation with the inner self.

Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated. Just close your eyes and just be present in the silence, even for three minutes. In this quiet space, the knots begin to chatter, to show off, to demand to be heard.

A helpful exercise is to write an imaginary conversation with the knots within you. Imagine one of the knots taking on human form, and ask it, “What do you want from me? What have I neglected?” The answers can be surprising.

Most knots just want to be seen. They don’t want to destroy you, they don’t want to hurt you, they’ve just been forgotten for years. And like a lonely child, all they do is beg for attention.

Another exercise that helps is to rewrite old life narratives. If you’ve always said, “I’m not worthy of love,” try rewriting the story like this: “I’ve learned that love is dangerous, but now I want to see it in a new light.”

Rewriting doesn’t mean lying to yourself. It means accepting that your past narratives were the result of limited experiences. Now that you’re more mature, aware, and receptive, you can find new meaning for those same events.

Another tool is body touch. Our bodies have a language that speaks through pressure, heaviness, or tightness. If you learn to listen to your body, knots that are hidden in your mind will surface in your body, and this is an opportunity to see them.

Practicing mindfully touching areas of your body where you usually feel pain or tension can open a door to hidden feelings. For example, hold your shoulders and ask, “What am I carrying here that doesn’t belong to me?”

One of the obstacles to untying knots is our mental resistance. We want everything to be resolved quickly, to reach conclusions quickly, and to end the pain. But knots are untied with time and kindness, not with haste and control.

If you set aside time every day to sit with yourself, even if it’s just five minutes, you will gradually connect to a part of yourself that has always been waiting for you. This connection is the greatest medicine for untying knots.

You don’t have to understand everything at the beginning. Just intend to see. Even if you name just one feeling today, or just write down one sentence, you are opening a door that has been closed for years.

Sometimes the best way to enter the unconscious is to watch your dreams. At night, before going to bed, intend for your subconscious to speak to you. In the morning, write down everything you remember. In dreams, knots appear uncensored.

Talking to knots is like reconciling with parts of your being that you were previously angry with. When you talk to them, you understand that in their hearts there is neither hatred nor enmity, but pain, loneliness and the need to be understood.

Every time you do an exercise, do not judge yourself. Do not say “was it good or bad?”, “was it enough or not?”. Just see that you have done it, and that means you have come one step closer to yourself.

Awareness, kindness and persistence are the three main tools for untying knots. They do not require complex science, nor modern technology, just an honest heart and a hand that gently loosens the knots one by one.

Untying knots is a spiritual path, not a quick psychotherapy project. This path is where you reach your truth, to the parts that have always been with you, but have been left out of your sight.

You came to be free, not to live in the shadows of oblivion. So if today you can only be silent for a few moments, or take a conscious breath, know that the path has begun, and this beginning is the most sacred step.

Chapter 5:
How to Untie Knots with the Help of Cosmic Cycles

Life is not just an individual flow. We are part of a system that silently affects our psyche and path with the movement of stars and planets. When we recognize these cycles, we can go with them instead of resisting them.

Some moments in life are heavier, deeper, and more complex than ever. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, we collapse or suddenly transform. This is where cosmic cycles come in: transits that open doors to growth or liberation.

The Saturn return is one of the most important of these cycles. Around the age of thirty, Saturn returns to the point it was at the time of our birth. This return forces us to confront the decaying structures of our lives.

Saturn is a lesson in discipline, responsibility, and spiritual maturity. At this time, the nodes suddenly reveal themselves, because they can no longer be hidden. You must either see them or be overwhelmed by their weight.

The transit of Pluto is another moment of profound transformation. Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth. When it passes through a sensitive point in our chart, everything that is false collapses and something genuine is born.

These cycles are like the tides of the sea. We cannot stop them, but we can learn to ride them. He who moves with the universe is wounded, but awakens in his wounds.

The North and South Nodes also move every eighteen months. This shift alters the path of collective growth and, on an individual level, activates our personal nodes. During this time, inner voices become louder.

If the North Node is transiting one of the important houses of your chart, you may feel like it is pushing your life in an unfamiliar direction. Here, the resistance of the nodes is greater, but the opportunity for growth is also greater.

There are moments when everything seems out of control. These are seasons of cosmic liberation. Outer planets like Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto break the structures that the nodes have been hiding in for years.

At such times, there is nothing we can do but surrender. But not surrender out of weakness, but conscious surrender. It means seeing, accepting, and stepping aside so that life can show itself its own path.

Surrender is not the opposite of effort, but a form of cooperation with the universe. Sometimes we just have to get out of the way of the knots, so that they themselves will free our truth from the chaos. This is the art of being in the middle, without trying to control everything.

In every birth chart, there is a planet that teaches a lesson in liberation. For example, if Uranus is in your fourth house, your family knots will sooner or later awaken with great tremors. Recognizing these patterns will increase your courage to accompany them.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask yourself every day: “What in me wants to be released today?” and then be silent and wait for the answer. Perhaps just a sigh, a tear, or a nighttime dream is a sign.

Each knot is like a seed that must bloom at the right time, in prepared soil, with enough light. If you expect it to bloom in the winter, you will only be disappointed. Know the seasons, and plant the seeds in time.

The cosmic cycles do not tell us what to do, but they show us when we are ready. They are like the ticking of an inner clock that when you hear it, you know that the time to pass through the knot is now.

When you understand that knots are also part of the divine design of life, you no longer fight them. You listen to them, you cry sometimes, but you do not fear them. Because you know that behind every knot lies a gift.

The universe is kinder than we think. No transit comes to break us, but to separate from us what is no longer useful. Separation is hard, but liberating.

And finally, the knots are untied when we decide to listen to the songs of the sky instead of getting stuck in the past. The sky, in the language of light and movement, quietly says: “Now is your time.”

Conclusion:
Sometimes a person does not know why, even though everything seems right, something is stuck inside them. Why repetitions do not end, why pains remain alive, why hopes fade. This book was an attempt to untie those invisible knots.

In the first chapter, we understood together what karmic knots are and why they paralyze life. We saw that some pains are not just unpleasant experiences, but deep-rooted wounds that remain in our psyche. Knots that do not untie themselves.

We learned that some knots were formed not only in this life, but in the unfinished stories of previous generations or even our previous lives. A knot is the result of something that has not been seen, accepted, or left unfinished. Silences that were never shouted.

In the second chapter, we were introduced to the birth chart, a hidden but precise language for understanding psychic and karmic patterns. The north and south nodes, squares, oppositions, and astrological houses all became words of a text that had been written within us for years but had not been read.

We learned how to match the recurring signs of life with our astrological charts. We saw that if we looked intelligently and intuitively, we could find the nodes on the birth chart. And this seeing was the first step in healing.

In the third chapter, we traveled into the psyche. We saw that the nodes are not just stars, but also our memories, shame, silences, and repressed beliefs. They feed on things we have been running away from for years.

We said that the child within is the most wounded guardian of the nodes. It is he who holds the memory of suffering, even when our elders have forgotten it. The knot reminds us that a part of ourselves has not yet been heard.

In the fourth chapter, we got down to action. With simple exercises such as non-judgmental observation, imaginary dialogue with the knots, writing and rewriting old stories, conscious breathing and touching the body, we experienced ways to open up.

We learned that we don’t have to solve everything immediately. It is enough to see a little bit every day, feel a little bit, and gradually, with kindness, touch the knots. Self-love begins with these gentle touches.

In the final chapter, we saw the sky. We learned that cosmic cycles are not just astronomical events, but larger flows of soul growth. Saturn, Pluto, Uranus and the nodes of the moon are doors to transformation.

We have seen that if we align with these celestial timings, we no longer need to fight. We can surrender, but not out of weakness, but out of courage. Liberation sometimes just means getting out of our own way.

Now, if anything in this book spoke to you, it was perhaps a small knot ready to be untied. Perhaps just one sentence, one feeling, one pause is enough to brighten the darkness a little. Liberation always begins with intention.

This book is not a prescription for all knots, but it is a mirror for seeing them. If you can see even one of your knots with love, know that a movement has begun. And this movement is the most sacred thing a human being can do.

Remember that you are not alone. We all have knots that have shaped us, and we can all move through them with kindness, with courage, with awareness. Knots are not the enemy, they are just forgotten messages.

Your path is unique. Even if you don’t use all the tools in this book, there is still something inside you that knows the way. Listen to it, trust your inner voice, even if it is quiet, disjointed, and sometimes contradictory.

If there is only one thing left in your heart from this book, let it be this: Knots don’t need a sword to be untied, they only need presence. And presence means being in love with what is now.

I hope this journey will be the beginning of your reconciliation with yourself. Not from the path of war with the past, but from the path of seeing, touching, and loving. No knot is too strong that it cannot be untied with love.

If today you feel a little lighter, or even touch a heaviness with awareness, that means the path has begun. This book does not end, but continues in your heart. In your tears, in your dreams, and in the still voice that brings you back to yourself.

And you are the dearest person who can walk this path. A path from the darkness within to the forgotten lights. So go, and if you ever fall along the way, remember: even falling is part of untying the knots.