Wands

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sulis	08 Aug 2002
I know that you`re supposed to make your own wand but I`d like to recommend a site where there are beautiful home- made wands at very reasonable prices. I`ve just bought one of John`s wands and am extremely satisfied with it: It`s hazel with a natural twist in it which was caused by honeysuckle growing in an anticlockwise spiral around the branch. Some of John`s wands are tipped with amethyst. This is amehtyst which he finds locally, so it hasn`t been mined or ripped from the earth - one of the reasons why I don`t usually buy crystals. Anyway enough of my waffle, take a look at his wand http://john-vickery.members.beeb.net/p2.htm Blessings Crystalmynx

Sorceress_Jade	08 Aug 2002
Looks like this guy has the right idea and some talent to support it, but I'd like to see more variety. Didn't read the page fully, does he make custom wands to order? The ones he's got remind me of Harry Potter.

Starfish	08 Aug 2002
First of all, thanks for including the link - they are beautiful. I have to admit that the first thing I thought of (agreeing with Sorceress Jade) is Harry Potter ;) :TMAGE Starfish

Sulis	08 Aug 2002
Yes I think that he does make wands to order. Crystalmynx xx

jema	08 Aug 2002
they were pretty and inspiring. i need a new wand. this is my old one: http://www.pristine.nu/camera/wand.jpg (only the tip can be seen really but the whole wand is as this with the silvery thread and some pearls and a leather cord in knots) somehow i think the autumn is the best time to make a wand! i think i would like one with burnt in runes the next time:) and a pine cone at the tip!

Sorceress_Jade	08 Aug 2002
I am actually looking into making a wand, or aquiring the peices and having my very crafty best friend fashion it. I figure this is as good a place as any to ask... The wood that I want is not readily available in my area, so far as I know. Does anyone know of a good place for me to look to aquire it? I'm interested in Aspen, and in Rowen (aka Ash, I believe...) What kinda places should I look? Any net links etc? Also, since we're on the subject... what do you all like best on your wands: carvings, metal, stones, etc. And what do you think of the glass ones?

jema	08 Aug 2002
http://tarahill.com/treelore/trees.html this is a site about trees. i couldn't find aspen though:( i have made all my wands myself and i just use whatever materials i have at home or can find in the woods. they may not be as pretty as some of the ones i have seen on-line but i like em anyway:) i think i will use rowan for my new one and inscribe it in runes and use a cone for the tip, very organic:) rowan grows just about everywhere up here. i even got one just outside the house. the trick is to find a good size stick to use!

Redmoon	09 Aug 2002
I dont have a wand, but I have a maple staff! I normally wont cut live wood(or living anything, for that matter), but I cut this. It's semi-straight. Straight enough to support me. Tapers slightly from the base, which is about 1.5-2 inches thick to the very tip which is about an inch thick. The top 10" or so is curved slightly, and kinda reminds me of a sickle. It's about 5'7". When I cut it, it was the exact same height as me. I cut it, smoothed the ROUGH knots(only like 2) with a little bit of sand paper enough so that they were still rough, but smooth enough to not give me blisters from walking. I smoothed the top of it a little bit, but decided to stop before it got a smooth look to it. I love it. It still looks very natural- inlike the twisty driftwood branches you see every once in a while that are covered in some kind of finish, and polished to a shine. My staff is basically worn from walking with it. Smoothed in two spots- one in the exact middle from carrying it and not using it for walking, another almost at the sickle part where I grip it when walking. I love it. I do want to burn some runes into it sooner or later, and attach some smaller crystals to it(with wire, or leather?), but I haven't gotten the chance yet, and I'm in no urge. I love it. I'm not Wiccan, and don't have a need for a "wand", but I'd say I use my staff just the same as you use your wands. Meditating, rituals(though I'm not too into the rituals- more just a meditative thing!), hiking.. I absolutely love it. Since it has been handled only by me, I dont get any of the "bad vibes" you get from harvested gems, crystals, wands you buy in stores, etc... You should try it.

Rain	09 Aug 2002
So what do you use wands for? Can anyone tell me, please be specific...thanks Blessings, Rain

Laurel	09 Aug 2002
Over the next month, I'm going to be making my first wand- a Lotus wand in the style of the Golden Dawn tradition. http://www.kamazahmagick.com/item009.htm Compared to pagan wands, Golden dawn wands (which are as long as staffs, most of them) look pretty silly imo. Its the rainbow colors. But each color is symbolic of various things, and I think it will be good practice for me to start making magical tools in general. The friend who's going to be teaching me has published a short essay on how he made his: http://www.hermetic.com/osiris/constructlotuswand.htm It struck me, upon reading this thread and relooking at those notes, how tremendously different the pagan and ceremonial traditions are when it comes to making tools. I'm not going to put a judgement value on the situation, and hope no one else here does either. Definately, definately different however. Laurel

jade	10 Aug 2002
i had a glass wand and it shattered the first time i used it. it couldn't handle the energy that was being channelled....AND....it was a very intense session. i paid over $200 for it and the company didn't replace the glass....so now it's just pieces...... :( which is why i would never buy another one made of glass.......i don't feel that it can handle intense energy. now, wood...........aaaahhhhh, i'm wondering what properties a dogwood would have. they are beautiful trees and have been used to make piano keys. they are sacred in bc and you can't cut them down! we have had to prune ours and i kept the branches and have made beaded curtains out of them by attaching them to the window frame and then hanging strings of beads tht i string. it's beautiful :D anyways, back on topic............i wonder what properties a dogwood would have. hmmm, jade

Violet Gargoyle	10 Aug 2002
As a maternity present a few years back, a friend of ours gave me a wand made from driftwood and set with stones associated with water. (mother of pearl for instance) I think it is better than anything I could have made, maybe because it was a gift from someone I would consider an elder when it comes to spiritual evolvement. Thats my take on it anyway.

Starfish	10 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Violet Gargoyle As a maternity present a few years back, a friend of ours gave me a wand made from driftwood and set with stones associated with water. (mother of pearl for instance) I think it is better than anything I could have made, maybe because it was a gift from someone I would consider an elder when it comes to spiritual evolvement. Thats my take on it anyway. What a lovely gift! It sounds gorgeous and that it was gifted to you makes it even more meaningful. :TLOVE Starfish

the hermit	11 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Sorceress_Jade I am actually looking into making a wand, or aquiring the peices and having my very crafty best friend fashion it. I figure this is as good a place as any to ask... The wood that I want is not readily available in my area, so far as I know. Does anyone know of a good place for me to look to aquire it? I'm interested in Aspen, and in Rowen (aka Ash, I believe...) What kinda places should I look? Any net links etc? Also, since we're on the subject... what do you all like best on your wands: carvings, metal, stones, etc. And what do you think of the glass ones? Get yourself a tree guide for california and then head up 80 or 50 toward the mountains. There's lots of aspen and ash trees up there in the national forests, just check about gathering restrictions and be sure to only gather downed dead wood. If you like aspen for it's white, just remember it's the bark and that comes off easily. You should be able to find both tree types just above Auburn or Placerville. Stay away from glass wands. They're expensive and break easily. As for what to put on them... put whatever makes you happy. It is, after all, your wand.

Diana	11 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rain So what do you use wands for? Can anyone tell me, please be specific...thanks Blessings, Rain Can I echo this question, please?

jema	11 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rain So what do you use wands for? Can anyone tell me, please be specific...thanks Blessings, Rain this may be differently for someone else. but generally a wand is used to direct energy. in a circle we raise energy in a number of ways, with a wand we collect it and direct it. a wand is also used to raise the circlea and invoke the elementals and the watchtowers (if you are wican) me, i also use it to let my inner child play. ritual is after all a way to communicate with your inner self and there is no better way to do that then to use symbolism. the wand is a very "witchy" thing and the action of standing there and waving the wand, using it as a transformer for energy is very exciting and just plain fun! it helps the mind to sort of switch over to a magickal mode. add some chanting, incense and candles and perhaps a drum and you will have a fun time and it will be a lot easier to go into a light trance state which is where magick takes place.

divinerguy	11 Aug 2002
I recently acquired a wood lathe. I have been making wands out of woods not normally associated with wands. I have made wands with: Black Walnut (north american) Padauk (dark red african hardwood) Bloodwood (also a dark red african hardwood) Eucalyptus (from australia) I'm going to be making some soon from ... Lacewood (australia) Manzanita (California, a pretty red and white) Pau Ferro (from mozambique, sort of like rosewood) Some of them look like Harry Potter wands, and some look like drum sticks (a round tip). Some have a tapered handle with a central bead. I tried doing some with oak, but oak doesn't turn well, so is better when used in its natural state. I've also made some conductor's batons, which would also make nice wands. I have 10 - 12 laying around. If anyone wants one of the bloodwood or padauk wands, ask me. Just pay for the postage, that's all I ask.

Momof6	11 Aug 2002
Merry Meet, I'll look at the page in a second. I love to look at wands. I waited a long time for my wand. I kept my spiritual eye out for any branch or tree that I felt held my wand but just was not finding one!! One day, a wand came in the mail! No kidding. It was from a High Priestess in the Order that I am studying under. She did not know that I had been yearning and searching for "my wand" but had a strong feeling when she was making this particular wand, that I belonged to me. So, she mailed it to me!! Imagine how I felt when I opened this package and saw my wand! She followed the spirit of intuition in choosing the colors, gems etc...for my wand. I just love it. I know I am a little bit off in sharing this since the discussion was about this one place that sells wands...but I love reading about how people find their spiritual tools...or should I say how the spiritual tools find their people????!! *lol* Hugs and Bright Blessings, Momof6

Momof6	11 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rain So what do you use wands for? Can anyone tell me, please be specific...thanks Blessings, Rain Rain, I use mine to cast my circle. In times that I am not using it, it sits on my altar. Another wonderful use is to direct energy. Hugs and Bright Blessings, Momof6

jade	11 Aug 2002
i have also used them during healings............i love the 'warmth' they can bring and the intensity of the healing. although i haven't used one for many many years. i also use them for blessing a home, creating a protective barrier around my home or around other's homes as well. if a plant is ill.....a wand can assist in drawing in the 'earth' energy and making it well. (not a quick process, but slowly it works) love jade

raeanne	11 Aug 2002
I had a tree in my backyard that ended up being removed because someone had cut the bark three fourths of the way around and it died. (Yes, I think I know who did it but I have no way to prove it.) Anyway, it was a poplar tree and one of the roots was right on the surface of the ground. I saved a nice piece of this root. This roots is cool. It looks like wood and feels like wood but it is very, very lightweight! I haven’t decided what to make with this. It’s about five feet long and maybe 4-5 inches in diameter. Is there anyone here who knows if there is suppose to be any special power or energy in a tree root? I feel very attached to this root so it does have a special energy for me but I was wondering if there are any legends or anything. Would this make a good wand or walking stick?

Sulis	18 Aug 2002
Like Momof6 I use my wand to cast my circle, I also use it to direct energy. I used to cast a circle with an athame but it just didn`t feel right, I find that a wand is much more `me`. Blessings Crystalmynx xx

The Wands thread was originally posted on 08 Aug 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.