Advice on wand making

[Venutius]

Hi everyone,

I am involved in the campaign to save the Thornborough Henges (http://www.petitiononline.com/Pet10001/petition.html - please sign our petition) which are currently under threat from quarrying.

As a realist, I know the only way our council will step in on our side is in we can show that there is more money in keeping the henges and their environment rather than allowing the quarries to do their worst (I should say that the henges themselves are protected, it is the ancient landscape around them that is the target for the quarries). We The Freinds of Thronborough are therefore exploring all avenues that might allow us to create sustainable business ideas related to the henges.

The Northern henge is quite rare in that it has a dense covering of trees, and it struck me that some of these might be ideal for use as wand material, which could be sold as an ideal sustainable product. Im sure that the revenues from these sales are hardly going to amount to the millions that the quarries bring, but this is sustainable, and a craft - councils measure value in terms of long term jobs.

So, I would like to ask;

1. would a wand made from wood grown within a 5,500 year old henge be seen as having value?
2. What sorts of wood are ideal?
3. What is involved with making wands?

Thanks in advance

George

[Sylvan]

1. would a wand made from wood grown within a 5,500 year old henge be seen as having value?
I would say yes.

2. What sorts of wood are ideal?
Oak is very traditional, but so are many others to different pagan traditions. My top few list would include willow, rowan, and oak, but that's just my personal preference.

3. What is involved with making wands?
This also depends. There are some traditions that state that the wand material must be cut on a certain day of the week during a certain Moon phase. Most trads agree that the material (twigs/branches) must not touch the ground after it has been cut. Some people would rather cut and make their own, as it ends up being a very personal item. Others will buy a wand if it *feels* right to them. Some wands are carved, others are left natural, some are wound around with silver or copper (or other metal) wire, some are drilled on the ends to accept crystal points, some are wrapped with beadwork or leather, some have symbols carved or burned into them. Some will have the bark left on, some will have it shaved off. Some will be treated with special oils, some will be varnished. Some will have dangling feathers or beads, some will be as large as a walking stick.

There is a great variety in wands. The only thing I'd definitely recommend is to not market them to Harry Potter-type kids, as they won't respect the meaning behind the wood...

[Venutius]

Thanks for the response, I will get a tree survey done - see what we have got, I thing we do have oak, probably hazel and elder, not sure what others.

Is there a guide to making wands anywhere?

I would see the market as a Pagan underground type of thing, there is a local pagan gathering, and I think that would be a good place to test the market.

[Sylvan]

Hazel and Elder are good too. Probably would have listed them too if my brain was working properly today. ;)
I did a search on Google and came up with many websites that have guides for making wands:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=guide+to+making+magickal+wands
Good good good. Sounds like a great place to test market these.