Wands/Staffs

[Saiok Tarek]

Heh...probably my most favorite tool...

I'm a wand collector. I have a different wand for almost every kind of ritual. Not only is this obsessive, but it is thorough.

When I pick up my wand that I use for protection, the only energies I feel from that wand are protection energies. They don't get all mixed up with prosperity energies, or health energies.

But anyway...the wand.

Wands can be made of wood, metal, stone, crystal, glass, plastic, and I've even met a person who makes ice wands that will release the magic for the spell as it melts.

Wands are like the athame in that they can be used to draw the circle and to purify ritual items. Wands are also used to direct energy in many more spells than athames, simply because a wand's magical signature is much softer than the athame.

Wands can be hand made or mass-produced. It doesn't matter if you made your wand yourself or bought it somewhere. What really matters is that the wand fits you and works to serve your purpose.

Feel no shame that you cannot create your own wand. Instead, focus on picking the most harmonious wand in the shop.

Don't worry that you can't afford that lovely carved snake handle wand. Commune with a favorite tree, make friends, and carve your own wand.

Here is my favorite wand, one that I use when I want to put out a lot of energy, usually protective, (and sometimes vengeful...I must be honest )


It is made of ebony. It was given to me by my coven when I became their priestess. I love the thing to death.

[Angaridatha]

It truly is a beautiful wand too.

My own wand is relatively new, it's a simple wand made of birch, carved and terminated in much the same way as kathryn's.

I'm not so much a wand worker as a crystal worker, so I'm not as picky about situational wands. I classify it down to wand for generating and sending, athame for tearing down energy. There are many other subtleties I follow, of course, specifics about what feels right about a situation, but I also sometimes use just a quartz crystal to channel energy.

[Saiok Tarek]

They do make crystal wands...perhaps a quartz wand would really get you going!

[Geisel]

As far as wands go, I don't have one I use repetedly yet. I merely find one when I need one and use it. Though I should look into finding a good one. Now where staves are concerned, I only use them to train. I use a staff as a defensive weapon and can weild it pretty effectively.

[aiyanna]

Another good site for wands...

BASIC BUILD-A-WAND: Basic wands come with a felt wand scabbard and a standard white storage box. Cost for the BASIC BUILD-A-WAND is $22.50

www.thewandshop.com/buildawand.htm

[aiyanna]

beautifuly made wand...but can you use a wand made out of cold cast porcelain?


The wand is from the Nobel Collection and is $29.50

[aiyanna]

The wand is a popular tool in magick. Whether in the magick wand of the fairy godmothers, or the staff of the magicians in fairy tales, it has survived in the collective image of the magick practitioners as a guide and director of power. And that image is not far from the truth: in ritual, the wand will fulfill the function of conducting the energy we raise during ritual, more or less in a way similar to the athame. Symbolising the masculine energy, and asigned according to tradition to either Fire or Air, the wand will serve us during ritual, maybe with a less agressive quality than the athame or the sword.

There are almost as many different types of wands as there are practitioners, and the difference are seen both in shape, size, and materials used for it's built. Generally they'll be made of wood, the type depending on the affinity each one has with each tree or the uses we're planning for it, even though there are also metal wands, and crystal clear ones (probably acrylic). They can also have a simple ending or a quartz crystal point acting as an "amplifier". The followers of celtic traditions could very well have a different wand for each month of the lunar tree calendar, with their different atributes, as follows:

Birch, purification, the first month, November
Rowan, protection against spells, the second month, December
Alder, protection and prophesy, the third month, January
Willow, feminin, lunar aspects, the fourth month, February
Ash, bonding the inner and outer world, the fifth month, March
Hawthorn, purification and chastity, the sixth month, April
Oak, protection and entrance into the Mysteries, seventh month, May
Holly, superiority in struggle, the eighth month, June
Hazel, intuition, the ninth month, July
Vine, prophesy, tenth month, August
Ivy, search for the Ego, the eleventh month, September
Reed, direct action, twelth month, October
Elder, beginings and endings, the thirdteenth month, the last days of October
Other options are the Apple tree for matters of the heart, willow for lunar magick, or oak for magick that implies a great use of the element of Fire. Some authors, like Scott Cunningham, suggest that before using and consecrating it, we should show it to the rising Moon, rubbing it with lavender and invoking the Goddess, and with fresh leaves at the rising Sun, invoking the God, so that it's imbuided with both energies.

This next bit of info taken from www.witchschool.com
Apple – this wood’s magickal properties often centered around the ideals of honor.

Ash – this wood is preferred for tool handles and embodies the principals of reverence.

Beech – the magickal property of Beech aids the user in achieving goals and wishes by giving that person organizational skills.

Hazel – this wood is one of spiritual leadership and insight.

Hickory – this wood’s magickal property is endurance; those who are firm in their beliefs and brave in their actions best use it.

Maple – the magickal property is kinship; it promotes energy, healing and enthusiasm in relationships.

Oak – this wood promotes higher planes of awareness and aids in shifting of consciousness for magickal work.

Pine – ritual tools made of Pine are excellent choices for those in quest of new beginnings and rebirth.

Poplar – the magickal properties are protection and resolution.

Rowan – this tree was regarded as magickal because of the 13 sections of its leaves and their correspondence to the 13 lunar months.

Willow – the magickal property is healing; Willow symbolizes the importance of being receptive and nurturing.

We can also use, of course, pieces of wood bought at a store, if we're going for a smoother appearence. Personally, I'd rather go either for finding it during a walk in the woods, or finding a tree, asking permission, cut a branch, wait till it dries and then consecrate it. It might be longer, but I think it helps in the process of getting a tool more atuned to ourselves.
After this process, and decorating it at will, follows the consecration ritual. The important part, whatever the method we use, is that we feel afinity with our chosen tool.

[aiyanna]

yeah, the Wand for The Mommy!!!!



The Dragonheart III
Finally, by popular demand, we have introduced the stunning Dragonheart III. Carved from one solid piece of hardwood, this vine-wrapped beauty will surely make even the brightest young witch of her age very, very proud indeed. Between 14.5 and 15.5 inches long, the wand comes with its own velvet case, the classic box, plus a parchment of authenticity signed by Professor Faren himself. The Dragonheart III is $78.00 plus $8.00 shipping and handling.

[aiyanna]

The Fellowship of Wandmakers

[aiyanna]

corn - a harvest symbol, abundance, wealth

apple - love, happiness, often used for scrying a potential mate or lover

alder - often considered unlucky, one of the sacred trees

ash - battle, austerity, protection, magic, rejuvenation, one of the sacred trees

bay (leaves) - protection, purification, strength

beech - potency, thanksgiving, used in divination

birch - cleansing, one of the sacred trees

elm - attraction (of Sidhe), protection, love, one of the sacred trees

elder - hosting (of Sidhe), protection from magic, shape-shifting

flowers - (general) beauty, youth

gorse - (also called furze) difficulty, protection

Eildon tree (hawthorn) - sacred to the faeries, used for attraction (during Beltane), hosting (of Sidhe), quest, trial, one of the sacred trees

hazel - poetry, magic, one of the sacred trees

hazel nuts - imparted wisdom

holly - trickery, used to bring good dreams, one of the sacred trees

mistletoe - fertility, health, hunting (luck in), love, protection

mugwort - insight, protection, used for divination

nuts (general) - wisdom

oak - abundance, hospitality, law, tradition, one of the sacred trees

pine - fertility, protection, purification

poplar - magic

rowan - (esp. the berries) protection, magic, rejuvenation, one of the sacred trees

spindle (tree) - encouragement, endurance

St. Johnswort - happiness, health, love divination, protection

valerian - love, sleep, health, purification

thistle n/a

willow - health, fertility, magic, one of the sacred trees

yarrow - courage, health, love

yew - royalty, life/death, one of the sacred trees

[aiyanna]

Traditionally the Wand is the length of the users arm, from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow. However there is no set ‘rule’ that says your Wand ‘has to be’ a certain size. If you are more comfortable with a smaller size, then that is right for you.

Making your own wand is one of the most powerful things you can do. By making your own tools, you charge them with your personal power and therefore they will work better for you. From its' conception it is charged with your vibrations, your energy and your thoughts. It reflects a part of you.

The Wand can be made from many different materials. Some people like the feel of a metal Wand, some like glass. Some Wands are made of composite materials or wood purchased from your local hardware store. It doesn’t have to be expensive and it can be collected directly from Nature.

Take a walk through the woods near your home or visit your favorite forest area. This might be a good time to bring a book to help identify tree types and leaves. Obtaining your wood directly from Nature means you will have a more natural looking Wand – complete with knots, wormholes and pieces of bark.

The size of the branch should be approximately ½” to 1” thick. The thickness will depend on how it feels in your hand. Some people will prefer the weight of a thick Wand, and some prefer the petite feel of a thin Wand.

Traditionally, wood is the favorite material for creating a Wand. Wood provides a durable and practical material. Hardwoods are best suited and are easier to craft than softwood like pine. Fresh cut wood will require a drying and bark removal procedure before starting. You may want to look for a branch that has already broken from the tree.

If you must cut a healthy branch, make your wishes known to the Tree. Meditate on why you need this piece and how you will use it. Ask the Tree’s permission to remove the branch. Consider covering the wound with a sealant so the tree will not become infested. Remember to thank the tree for the use of its limb.

The wand may also be made from a variety of other things – you are only limited by your imagination!! Try using a piece of copper, a glass rod, a crystal point, modeling or Fimo clay.

You may add specially chosen stones, leather wrappings, feathers, herbs, talismans, or a pentagram. You can carve symbols into the surface or paint your Wand…whichever you want. The Wand you make will be ‘uniquely you’!!

If you want, you may purchase your wand or perhaps barter for it. There are many talented people who lovingly craft wands out of many different materials.

Your Wand can be stored in a protective cloth or linen, or you may choose to leave it on your altar.

www.witchschool.com

Brief History of the Wand:
The wand dates back to prehistoric times. The Greek god Hermes is represented by a wand entwined with snake and winged top, which is a symbol of power, wisdom and healing. It was the badge of Hermes' office as messenger of the gods and as the guide of the dead. The wand with 2 snakes, now called a Caduceus, was called a ‘kerykeion’ by the Greeks.

Mercury had a sleep-producing wand. Arion, a famous musician who dwelt in the court of Periander, King of Corinth, had a wand of Ivory.

Linguistic research shows that the symbol ‘cel’ of the word Celts and ‘ger’ of the word German, both mean ‘wand’. Both cultures used the wand as the symbol of the axis of the Solstices.

Flails, made from Applewood, were used to thresh grain and are one of the symbols of the pharaohs of Egypt.

In Ireland, three of the Five Magic Trees were Ash.

In Scandinavian mythology, the ‘enchanted’ Ash, Ygdrasil, is the cosmic world tree. It’s roots and branches extend throughout the Universe.

In northern European countries, the Goddess of Spring is seen as the Birch Goddess

[aiyanna]

Begin as always by clearing and releasing.

Hold the Wand straight up-and-down before you, pointing upwards.

Imagine the Wand surrounded by a ball of yellow-white light. Focus on this light, see it grow and expand. Concentrate upon the idea of purifying the Wand, and cleansing it of all impurities. Say something to the effect of;

“Behold, I do cleanse and purify this sacred Wand, casting out from it all negativity.”

Now imagine a beam of light coming from the Wand and going down to the ground. Imagine that beam of light descending into the earth, going deeper and deeper. As the beam of light goes down into the Earth, it takes the impurities you have banished with it.

Now imagine a stream of blue-white light coming up from the earth, through the beam of light and into the Wand. See the Wand fill with the blue-white light. Say something like;

“And behold, I do bless and consecrate this Wand to my use.”

Now imagine the blue-white light shooting out through the top of the Wand like a geyser, or a fireworks fountain -shooting up and arching all around you like an umbrella. Allow this to continue until you feel that there has been enough.

You have now consecrated your Wand. Clear and release as always.

Whenever you feel that the Wand needs to have its energy cleansed or strengthened, repeat this process.

A magic circle, drawn by the Wand is used to protect the practitioners during rites and holiday celebrations. It is a boundary to your consciousness. You may have heard the expression ‘draw the line’. The circle draws a line between you and the rest of the world.

Hold the Wand and focus energy through it; visualize the energy emerging as a beam from the tip of the Wand. The wand is considered a tool of persuasion rather than a tool of command. It is with the power of the mind that magick begins. A thought manifests it to reality. YOU control the intent. The intensity of the focus, combined with the energy of the intent, causes the energetic idea to solidify and become real.

During a ritual, the Wand is most often held high while words of power are spoken to invoke specific Deities to witness the ceremony or ritual. The Wand can also be used to direct energy, outline the ritual circle and draw magick symbols. One or both hands may hold the wand.

When casting a circle, you want to point the Wand at the ground as you walk the perimeter of your circle. Envision white light coming from the tip of the wand, making a safe and secure ritual place.

When taking down a cast circle, you would point the Wand to the ground as you walk around the perimeter of the circle. Envision the white light coming from the ground back into the Wand, opening the circle to allow exit.

The Wand is also used to ‘cut a doorway’ when someone has to leave the circle. Most often, leaving the circle is an emergency thing. All personal business should be handled before starting. Point the Wand and trace a doorway for the person to exit. After they exit, close the doorway by re-tracing the doorway. When they return, repeat the steps to open and re-close the doorway.

The wand is your ‘tool’. It does not do magick, you do.

www.witchschool.com

[Angaridatha]

So since I've upgraded lol.
www.alivans.com/files/lignum_product_600.jpg

This is a lignum vitae wand.

Not many of you will have heard of the wood. In myth, this wood was used for the wand of Merlin. It is spectacular for protection and sheer power, a good opposite to an ebony wand.

It's a little pricey tho.