Wands      

The wand.... some say it represents air and the east, some say fire and the south. That is for you to decide when making or buying your wand. By definition, it is a rod used to direct energy or for summoning. The wand is the tool of the mind, a tool of communication and invitation and also used to bestow blessings, charge objects and draw down the moon. The Guardians and the Gods are invited into the witch's circle through the use of the wand. It is an instrument of invocation associated with the element of air. The type of wand you choose and what is made from should be influenced by you. There are crystal wands that are used for healing, telepathy, communication, and empowering your circle (see Crystals for more information), copper wands and wood wands. Most wands have a crystal attached to either end to focus the direction of energy although there is no reason why you couldn't have it natural.

Crystal wands should not be confused with Angel Wands. These are glass wands which have a specific purpose. They have crystals attached to either end and decorated along the shaft of the wand with other gems and silver or gold spirals two of which are pictured below. These tend to be used more for spiritual development rather than Magick and Ritual.

So the practitioners wand..... Copper or wood? The choice is up to you. It could even be another metal such as silver or gold depending on the deity and property of the metal. Copper tends to be the universal choice for metal wands and is considered to be the most powerful when it comes to magick. 

Wood then. The choice depends on the properties inherent to the spirit of the tree and the tradition of magick you practice. A wand made of oak and tipped with a quartz crystal could be used in a spell for success in a job search or upward mobility in a current position. A wand made of apple and tipped with a pine cone could be used in a fertility ritual. A good study of the magickal properties of the materials that make up the wand will guide in the making or purchase of this tool.

To attach a stone to your wand you can secure it to the end with a resin glue or carve out an appropriate sized hole in the side and glue it or wrap leather thonging around it. Copper or silver wire is available for the appropriate wand & can be wrapped around it - or a small piece can be hammered into a small hole in the end of the wand.  It can be simple or as decorous as you want. You can have sigils and inscriptions on it if you want. Traditionally, the wand is made from the branch of a sacred tree. You can use hazel, oak, willow, rowan, hawthorn, elm, blackthorn, birch, beech and applewood. More on special trees can be found here. 

Do not kill a productive tree for your wand, take the piece of wood to be carved into a wand from a tree that has already felled or is going through a winter period of dormancy and is not productive. If the branch is to be cut, get to know the tree first. This may sound silly but if the spirit of the tree and you do not get on then the wand you make will not work with you. Ask the tree's permission first and leave an offering of water, wine or copper pennies in gratitude of the tree's gift to you. The branch is then dried, the bark removed and cut the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. Cleanse and charge the branch in the elements (sprinkle with salt water for earth and water; pass through the smoke of incense for fire and air). Offer the branch to the four directions and to the God and Goddess (you amy wish to consecrate it to a particular pantheon) so that it may be blessed by them. Hold the branch close to your body and connect with its energy. Feel your life force merging with the sacred wood. The branch can now be decorated with a crystal at the top and various stones or symbols along its length. The wand is now ready to work with you.

As with all ritual tools, remember that your wand is sacred and should be treated with reverence and respect. Allow only those whose energy you want affecting your magick to pick up your wand. After all, you don't want someone else stealing it's energy or plastering it with negativity!