wand making

[Sovaan]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this discussion board. I recently wrote to the Dragonmother http://dragonmother.com/ and she recommended that I post my questions about wand making to this board.

After using a metal wand for several years, I decided I wanted to use a traditional wooden wand. I thought about buying one, but a friend strongly encouraged me to make my own. I began researching different traditions regarding how to make a wand, and found more than a few contradictions. Also, most of the woods recommended are not common in the U.S. (I wouldn't know an ash tree if I walked into one), but common woods like maple aren't mentioned.

I had planned to cut my wand sometimes next Spring, according to the traditions I was researching, but while out for a walk last month I came across a tree that had recently fallen in the forest.

I began to wonder if I was meant to make my wand from this tree, even though it wasn't Spring, nor was it during the New Moon. But I got the sense that if a wand were to be made from this fallen tree, it had to be done soon, before the tree lost any more of it's fading life-force. (I also know some people who don't believe in cutting living trees, and will only take wands from trees that have fallen naturally.)

Ultimately, I found a branch on the tree that I really liked. I asked
the tree for permission to take the branch, which I felt I received. I took the branch and left offerings, but now that I have the branch I'm not sure what to do with it. I peeled the bark and sanded the wood and I've identified the wood as black cherry. What are the magical properties of cherry? The astrological correspondences? The bark smells like almond, and I do have some bitter almond oil I could annoint it with, but what else should I use? How to bless and consecrate it? What herbs and/or oils to use? What crystals and/or metals? Tip it with a crystal, or acorn, or a pinecone? The Farrars use jet and copper wire at one end, amber and iron wire at the other. Other traditions wrap their wands in copper or silver wire. I can buy
anodized aluminum wire at craft shops in a variety of colors. What are the properties of aluminum? What does it correspond to?

I would appreciate any and all thoughts people have. Thanks much.

[Ganga]

Cherry is a feminine tree ruled by Venus. Its element is water, and powers love and divination. This was from Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Remember that there are many kinds of love, so your cherry-wood wand doesn't mean that the only things you can do with it are romance-related.

Almond is masculine, ruled by Mercury in the element air. Sounds like a good anointing oil for a wand. Deities associated with almond are Attis, Mercury, Thoth and Hermes. It brings money, prosperity and wisdom. Magical wands, according to Cunningham, are (sometimes) made of almond wood, beacuse in some traditions the elemental ruler of the magick wand is Air. Some others consider Fire to be the wand's elemental ruler.

As far as I remember, copper is considered feminine and iron masculine.

I wouldn't worry too much, though. Go with your intuition. I've been contemplating getting a wand, too, as I don't have one yet. I feel that a right one will show itself to me when the time is right. I would prefer to find and make one, instead of buying it. Like you, I like the idea of wood most.

[Sovaan]

Thanks for your reply, Ganga. What you said about cherrywood is pretty much exactly what I was thinking, too.

When I decided I was going to make a wand, I was thinking I wanted something very "airy" to represent my knowledge and intellect, but the gods led me to a cherry tree. I think they want me to get in touch with my emotions more, so now I'm working on making a "love wand." I'm not so much thinking of erotic or romantic love, but "love of life" and of feeling very connected with the world.

I think I'll still use almond oil on my wand, but perhaps blended with some "watery" oils as well--to represent emotion balanced by reason, and knowledge softened by love.

Thanks again.

--Sovaan

[Old Witch]

You don't follow any one tradition, right........Then I would say you make your wand the way that feels right for you.......Although other people here might disagree......You'll know whats right for you........I'm Babbling !! What am I trying to say?

If you go about your way, and you are having doubts, then maybe that means it's not right for you........On the other hand, if you just follow your heart in making your wand, and it feels better and better........then go for it.......It's probably for you.........

Check out New Pagans in the stuck threads......I'm sure there's a link for correspondences there......BTW....My wand is just one BIG quartz crystal.....nothing else.........And it's pretty amazing.......But my Staff is Cottonwood and it has a story...............:D

[Dragonmother]

Yes, Sovaan did email me, and I suggested he begin this discussion on Mysticwicks. And I'm so glad he did! *hi, Sovaan!*
I am going togo to the new pagans and see what thread there is about woods and trees . But in this thread, I wanted to copy and post what I had written about the crafting of the wand- my thoughts so far, that is:

"As far as creating your wand from your branch, the work is all about putting energy into the object. As far as what you carve, it helps if you think of a wnad as a pointing instrument, like a flashlight or a lazer pointer. It's use is to direct energy where you will it to go. We have plenty of experience these days, with things like Capacitors and transistors, that store energy and strengthen it- you can think about those things and create images that symbolically enhance the energy flow through your wand. Does that make sense? The "ball" shape you see so often in my wands is a capacitor. Besides looking pretty, and providing a division between the handle and the taper of my wands, I envision the magic entering the ball, swirling around in there, and shooting outwards with renewed force"

I think that carved images such as spirals that travel up the wand, are obvious enough. Perhaps there is a "language" of wand imagery. I wonder... Snakes are conduits of enery, leaves could represent energy sources, as could acorns- if the wand is of oak. You might carve your totem animal to guide your purpose.

Any one have additional thoughts?

[Old Witch]

This is true too......Sort of like my Staff.........My late best friends husband carves the face of the Greenman into his Staves, you might think about that..........:D But That would have to be a pretty small carving.......maybe that would rule it out for a wand........:(

[WinterArcher]

Hi, i was wonder if you can use Dogwood to make a wand. The tree in my front yard was prude because of the low hang branches and the leaves turning brown too soon.

Is Dogwood a good wand wood?

Will the fact that the tree branches might have been effect by something, effect the wand?

[phoenix1010]

I was wondering how to make a wand out of a branch also. Do you cut off the bark? Do you treat the want with a type of shallack or polyeurethane(I'm sure mispelled!)? My husband had to prune a willow oak in my yard, I saved some of the branches.

[mucgwyrt]

Cherry is also associated with the rune Wynn/Wunjo, symbolic of Joy :smile:

I can't believe that you dont get Ash over there; every other tree here in the UK is Ash!! :lol:
I favour Hazel for things like wands; it's a nice, friendly wood :smile:

[MerrisHawk]

I'm in the process of creating several wands from my old corkscrew willow. Ice Storm finally had it's way and she had to come down.
I know green wood has to have time to dry and can be bent a little as needed. I use a coat of sandable primer on some wands to seal the wood and protect it.

It really depends on what you feel is right. I use several different products to preserve the wood. I've used some stains and added crystal tips, beadwork, carvings and "tattoos".

I should post a thread with pictures from start to finish....hmmm

[NivekDrgnMage]

I create wands and staves all the Time and sold quite a few. I find if your creating your own wand or as in my case sometimes for someone else, is to take the wand to be; wood to your alter and hold it as you meditate. Let the wood and spirit of the wood tell and show you want it wants to be.

I once had a nice piece of Ash that I was tring to carve a Lion head at the end. It just didn't work and I tossed the wood on the scrap pile. My wife came in to the workshop and pick up the stick half carved Lions head looked at it for a few seconds and Told me it didn't want to be a Lion it wants to be a Skull. That was it I had no trouble carving it after that...:D So it seems I wasn't listening to the Wood.
So to me that is the main part to making any tool for ritual, to listen to it and see what it wants.

Hope this helps

[NivekDrgnMage]

Oh for anyone who wishes an idea for a wand. I once made a (what I call) an Oak, Ash and Thorn wand. I took 3 thin pieces of somewhat green Ash (about the thickness of a straw and which I found after a storm) and some Tanglefoot vine (which is the only time I ever had to ask and cut something for a wand) and Braided all 4 pieces together. I then used copper wire to bind the holding end together. At the top I place a Very Large acorn and wire wrapped in place with copper wire. I then removed the thorns from the place it would be held.... and there you have an Oak, Ash and thorn Wand.
I tend to like to use wood that has been fallen by wind, flood or lightening. Which I did have wood from a Poplar tree that was struck by Lightening 3 times. :) That wood had some engery to it, and many wands and staves were made from that.

[wandcarvr]

I make wands all the time. I have made them from lots of different types of wood usually whatever reaches out to me for the person I make them for. You can carve them or use ribbon braids or if you have no artistic ability take a drawing you like and take a graphite pencil rub it on the reverse side. then turn it over and trace the drawing it will rub off on the wood. use a wood burning tool and trace the lines onto the wand. I ve even laminated some small piece of art like venus on a shell on to them then gouged with a v-tool spots for gemstones. you can even use a small porcelin doll head on the tip for a goddess . use leather for a handle or just leave it. you can look at the wood and usually it will have a shape use your imagination and visualize. Dont worry about technicalities .primitive can also be beautiful. I hope this helps .if yoou need any other info.dont hesitate.

[RavenStars]

This is a very interesting thread. Yes, there are traditions that are very, very specific about what/how/when/etc. On the absolute other end of the spectrum, a wand it anything that is vaguely wand like, including your finger. I mean it is your energy that you are channeling, why not use your finger?

That aside, I love to get artsy-fartsy with my wands. Symbols are very important to me and, outside of painting my finger nails, you just can't have as much fun as you can with a wand!

I start with a list of what I need of a wand. This naturally suggests a wood, etc. But not everyone, myself included lives where verdant forests lap against your back door. (Gleaning from parks is illegal) I've been taught that symbols, associations, and the like aren't the magic. The intention, the energy that gets bound into the wand, that gives it power. So, I use all the rich history of symbols we pagans have available to us to help guide me when I'm constructing and later using the wand.

I also believe in paint!! There's nothing wrong with a dowel, either (they come in all sorts of hardwoods). I even have some lucite ones! I also like ribbons dangling things like charms, little feathers or bells. A little leather or fur can be great. I use semi-precious beads when there's need for stones. Investing your energy takes time and materials but they don't need to be expensive. And good gods they should be fun to make!! I feel my practice should be joyful, so my tools had better be as well!

Just another take on the matter. Good luck creating the most powerful tool in your tool box!

[Amilee]

Actually I have a beautiful wand made by dragon mother and it's the most powerful tool I have on my altar. I'm very proud to have had such a lovely item made for me by such a patient person.

But on to the question. Goodness, it sounds like everyone's given all the thoughts they could on the matter but I have a good question.

Do you have any crystals or symbols that you posess that you're very attached to. I mean things you never let anyone else touch and are so personal and special to you?

I'd recommend finding somthing like that to put on your wand. I had mine perminantly attached to the wand itself (a small opal piece) but you can hang it off the wand or whatever. But that was what really made it mine.

^_^ Just my own two cents. :hugz: Good luck!

[RavenStars]

Goodness, making a tool really does help make it yours! But it is a great idea to add something that is sacred to you alone to a pre-made wand... it's like a signature.

Consecrating is an important step as well. I know in some traditions a drop of blood is added during the consecration to make a living connection. It also makes sense to re-consecrate at intervals as well.

That said, I don't put much stock in keeping your tools out of other people's hands, if the energy you've invested is strong someone else's touch isn't going to taint or drain it. But that's just me.

[Amilee]

Goodness, making a tool really does help make it yours! But it is a great idea to add something that is sacred to you alone to a pre-made wand... it's like a signature.

Consecrating is an important step as well. I know in some traditions a drop of blood is added during the consecration to make a living connection. It also makes sense to re-consecrate at intervals as well.

That said, I don't put much stock in keeping your tools out of other people's hands, if the energy you've invested is strong someone else's touch isn't going to taint or drain it. But that's just me.

:cutie:Precisely! ^_^ couldn't have said it better myself.:cutie: