wand

The wand is one of the most renown of the tools and one of the most versatile. Traditionally, the wand is made from the wood of many different
kinds of trees including willow, elder, oak, hazel, and fruit trees. The length
of the wand varies from tradition to tradition, but it is safe to say that the
wand should be fairly straight, comfortable in your hand and is not so long
as to be unwieldy.

If you take your wood from a living tree, remember to ask the tree first, then thank it for its sacrifice. Wands can also be made of crystals and metal. Make the wand your own by carving or painting symbols on it, adorning it with ribbons, whatever makes the wand special to you.

For thousands of years the wand has been used in both Magick and rituals.
The wand is used mostly to invoke the God and Goddess, direct energy,
and to charge other objects. It is used to draw symbols on the ground and
even to stir the cauldron. The wand is the tool of the East and is associated
with Air. The wand is phallic in nature, is a masculine tool and is sacred to the Gods.

The wand is used to bind the energy of the spell together. The wand has
been used for thousands of years in religious and magickal rites. The
Goddess and God are invoked with the wand. The wand is also used to direct energy, to draw magical symbols during ritual. Since the wand represents the Element of Air, it evokes the energy of the East for the spell. The energy is sent in the direction the wand is pointing.

You can purchase a ready made one or collect one from your friendly neighborhood tree.

                                     Making A Wand

   Making A wand is very simple. Start by finding the tree of your choice.
Keep in mind that a wand should be cut after a new moon or up to three days after. Once you have found a tree that is suitable for your magical goals (keeping in mind that every tree has different magical qualities). Bring an offering to the tree like milk and honey and pour it by the base of the tree.

   Then walk around the tree three times asking it if you can have a branch from it's body. If you get a sense of a yes from the tree, find a good branch and cut it off using some shears or by hand. If you get a sense of a no then it is best to find another tree. Only use as much of the branch as you need. Once you have chosen a branch remember to thank the tree spirit.

Take the branch indoors and shave off the bark. Save it and later go back to the tree and scatter the bark shavings around it's base. shape the wand how you want it to be, working on it a little each day. Place it in the window with moonlight shining on it and allow it to cure for a full moon cycle.