Wood question

[BlueMoon13]

Hello all. I want to make a staff that will also double as a walking stick, so I'm looking for a wood that's physically strong and also has protective properties. I'm seeing in my mind's eye something that has vines wrapped tightly around it, but I think that might be impractical. I don't fancy the idea of burning :eek: the vine or Celtic knot pattern into the wood, though the thought of carving the pattern does'nt trouble me. Does anyone have suggestions. Myself I'm partial to willow, but I know that's not strong enough, my second thought is birch.
Also, if I'm not able to harvest the wood myself and have to obtain it commercially :sick: how do you suggest I pay respect tho the tree it came from since I don't suspect it would have been done :awwman: .
One last question- I DO have a big piece of driftwood I've taken a shine to, but would have to reduce it in size for my needs. The problem is I have no idea what kind of wood it is, but just feel like it was sent to me for a reason (I have a huge affinity for the ocean). Do you think that I should work with the driftwood and not concern myself with what kind of wood it is?
Thanks in advance! :hearthear

[Dave the Druid]

I should think that any wood that you feel connected to would be good. The notion of staff being seperate from walking stick strikes me as being a little odd, they are essentially the same. To me at least, there may be other thoughts on this. (There will be! what am I thinking?)

I have a staff of White Oak, no decoration. Another of Ash decorated in the style of a european (think Austria here) walking stick. Another of Maple no decoration and a tall piece of drift wood from the high mountains of Montana with the natural shape of either an eagle or cardinal at the top. This one needs to be treated as it is still bare wood.

On the woods. Oak and Druid what more do I need to say? The Ash presents problems for me in that this was a very sacred tree and not to be cut down none the less it is a great staff. [let me find that link....]
good but wordy (http://www.dutchie.org/Tracy/tree.html)
page down for associations (http://www.illuminationofspirit.com/celtictree.html)
Bugger! these are acceptable but not what I was looking for. Sorry!
fits closer to my memory on the information (http://pages.prodigy.net/groovyskye/11.html)

[BlueMoon13]

Thanks for the links!
I was thinking of my lovely driftwood, as it washed up on my favorite beach, and I think I will go with it, no matter what the wood is. As far as the staff/walking stick linkage, I will also be depending upon it for a certain amount of security as I do many of my "travels" alone. I will probably also put some sort of cap on the bottom for durability :smash: .
My other thought is a good-old fashioned Irish blackthorn :kooky:

[Meadhbh]

Either of those would work out rather nicely. I was going to mention blackthorn but it seems you've already thought of that one. I find that rowan works as well, but it can be hard to find at times, in Hawaii anyway all those woods have to be shiped here.

[odubhain]

I have a staff of Oak, another of Ash, and a Blackthorn walking stick. All of these were given to me as gifts. The driftwood sounds to me like it was also gifted to you. If it is strong enough, I'd use it for a staff or even for Ogham.

Searles

[BlackMagicalCat]

I have a chinese waxwood staff,its flexible and imported from china and used by Kungfu monks for practice,its very flexible and great for walking and practice.You can order them almost at any KungFu.com site

[ShadowDragon999]

I am fortunate enough to have several walking sticks that were given to me throughout the years,hazel,apple,ash,blackthorn (I have 3 of these)and I was give a beautiful Oakwood staff as a birthday gift a couple back...I always enjoy working with each when I can but the one I lately most resound to is blackthorn.

[wolfchild]

I have 2, one of willow and one of scrub oak, the scrub oak is by far the stronger of the two, but the willow holds me closer in spirit, but if wood came to me as yours did, I'd go that way....

[KellyP]

I recently received a walking stick made of sweetgum. My favorite feature is that the bark is smoothed but left on the stick so that it has a very warm feel to my hand. Can't wait to put some serious trail miles and a few rituals into it.

[Ladyvi]

mine is black birch. with a citrine point on top.