Element: Air

Direction: East

Colour: Yellow

Gender: Male/Female

FOLKS THE WORLD OVER associate Witches with magic wands. Perhaps it's because nearly every childhood story written about Witches connects them to the tool. That being the case, the mind's eye views it not only as a symbol of magical power and essence, but as the instrument necessary to manifest any number of supernatural phenomena in the physical realm.
Fairy tales and childhood impressions aside, though, the wand is probably the most important utensil in the Witch's toolbox. That's because its magical uses are so widespread. It's an attractant, a repellent, a director of energies. It divides the worlds during Circle-casting, then connects them again when the magic is done. Simply put, it's the one tool that most serious practitioners just can't and won't do without.
What seems most interesting to Craft newcomers, though, is that there's more than just one wand in the Witches' basic tool assortment, Of course, there's the small wand made famous by storytellers. But there's also a larger wand that closely resembles a staff. Both are equally important in magical work, and both can be used to cast Circle. If that's so, then what's the difference? The small wand is generally used to conduct and direct energy. The large wand, however, is better suited toward attracting and repelling energy. It's a little like having two sides of a magical coin. They can either work together or independently of each other to achieve the desired result.

Before we begin to create the wands, it's important to understand exactly what they are, and what they are capable of. A good way to do this is to list all the types of 'rods' you can think of, along with their purpose. A partial list is provided below, but don't stop there. Put on your thinking cap and make your own list. Only then will you fully understand what the wand means to you and be able to make the personal connection necessary for successful use.

Since preinitiate wands are traditionally created from the wood of a living fruit or willow tree, making these tools takes some time. It isn't as simple as cutting a couple of branches. You must first find a tree that appears to be healthy and strong. And then you have to befriend it. This isn't always as easy as it sounds. Fact is, you have to talk to it. Get to know it. Hug it and love it. You even have to bring it gifts. (Cornmeal, tobacco, and fertilizer sticks are good choices.) Yes, this sort of behavior tends to raise the eyebrows of unsuspecting passersby. For this reason, you may wish to work with a tree in the privacy of your back yard, or locate one in a fairly remote area.
Once you've formed a good rapport with the tree, ask permission to cut its branches. Tell it that you will need a small branch and a large one for your magical work. Put your arms around it and listen for its response. You may not actually hear it speaking at this point, but should get a feeling of how to proceed. If the response is negative or you get no feeling at all, don't worry. Know that the tree has its own reasons for denying your request. (Even though it's not apparent, the tree could be sick or too weak to accommodate you.) Just go on to another tree, form a new friendship, and try again. Eventually, you'll find the tree that's right for you.
If the response is of a positive nature, however, thank the tree by giving it a hug. Then, walking in a counterclockwise direction, encircle its base while visualizing a protective circle of white light forming around it. Feed the tree positive energy, and leave it a small gift before saying goodbye.

Wands
How to make you Wand
Exercises with you wand
Contents