Of all the witchy tools one can possess, the wand has got to be one of the most iconic. We have all seen the Hollywood version of the witch or wizzard waving a magic wand with lightning bolts bursting from it (or some such thing). It really conjurs up some fascinating imagery. But what is a wand for, anyway?
To begin with, please remember that the most magical tool you can possess is that of your own self-confidence as a witch or magical practitioner (there are many of us and we use a number of “labels” to describe who we are and what we do. I am using the term “witch” to encase all of the categories at once). As your self-confidence grows you will find that the use of tools will naturally decrease. It is not that the witchy tools are a crutch or anything like that. It is that they serve as an extension of our thoughts, feelings and intents. As such, they serve us well. But eventually we no longer need those extensions. We simply manifest from thought itself.
So the wand is an extension of the witch’s intent and desire. Thus, it has the ability to manifest for us whatever energy we put our minds and hearts into. This is why it is important to use a wand with respect and honor, as opposed to using it with ill intent, because whatever we will through the wand will indeed happen…if not instantly then eventually. It is also important to not just flippantly use a wand. This is not a toy to be played with. This is a tool…a VERY POWERFUL TOOL.
There are as many styles of wands as there are practitioners who use them. In the photo that I am providing you will find three wands that I, myself, have created. As you can see, they vary in size. This is indeed an area where size does not matter. When I have the concept for a wand inspire me to create, I meditate on the wand and its usage. As I meditate I will receive messages regarding what kinds of materials I will require in order to create the wand. This means anything from what the body of the wand is made of, what crystals to attach, if any, what to stuff the wand with if the handle is hallow, what length the body of the wand should be, what color it should be, how to adorn it for the best outcome of the intent etc. I have used quite a variety of materials to create wands, but bamboo is, by far, my favorite. It allows me to insert and mount crystals, to stuff the hollow handle with anything from herbs and spices to smaller crystals, gold shavings, iron, faery dust, sea shells, sand and any number of other things that work with the program of the intent of the wand I am creating.
One of the wands in the picture has a crystal point that has been passed down through my family line for generations. For a while I was only using that crystal seperately, but then when I was creating that particular wand I was inspired to attach the crystal as a point for it. I am really glad that I did. I can always remove it to pass it down to my children, or I can pass the wand itself as well.
Wands can be used to do earth magic. As an example of this, I can take my wand out into the yard or out to a beach somewhere, and draw sigils in the sand or soil. The sigil invokes certain energies from the earth herself and, in so doing, enhances and empowers any spell I am working on. So if I am manifesting a larger income, I would use a sigil that is designed for that and draw that sigil in the earth and then allow Nature herself to pick up the relay batton and create the heck out of that spell.
You can use a wand in a similar fashion while performing water magic. For example, if I want to know what is happening on the other side of the lake, I can place the tip of the wand into the lake water and allow the lake itself to then become a large scrying bowl. I can then see what is happening on any shore of the lake. Or, if I am manifesting, I can use the wand to create whatever sigil into a large vessel of water and then either allow the water to evaporate, thus taking the spell into the very air we breathe, or I can pour it out onto the earth, thus “planting” the spell into the body of the Great Mother. For a longer lasting spell, you could also try using your wand to create a sigil in the snow!
The crystal tip of a wand can also be used for scrying by allowing yourself to gaze at the crustal with firelight on the other side of the crystal. So holding it so that you view a candle flame through the crystal will spark the scrying images. You can also gaze through the crystal at a fire in a firepit and have the same result. This is fire magic and it is extremely spontaneous and powerful. On a safety note, I would not recommend gazing through your crystal wand at the Sun. You can really hurt your eyes doing that. I would, however, recommend gazing at the moon through your crystal. The light reflected off of the surface of the moon is much softer than the light that comes directly from our Sun. I will often, during a full moon ceremony, gaze at the mood through one of the crystal tips of one of the wands. It is amazing what Divine inspirations will come through! I can also “call down the moon” through that wand. With this technique we draw on the energy of the moon and bring it through to our circle, or gathering place, where healing and magic is then performed.
Yes, wands can also be used in healing practices. I have often found that laying a wand on a person’s body while I am doing a healing on them actually expediates the process of healing energy coming into their body and helps their energy field to flow properly. I have also often used the pointed tip of the wand to stimulate proper energy flow through the pressure points and meridians of the body.
If you are manifesting something into your life, you can also use your wand along with the smoke of some incense to relay that message to Spirit, who then provides for us. Light an incense stick or cone of your choice. If you like to can also match the type of incense with the type of spell. I find, however, that pretty much any type of incense smoke works for this, regardless of the type of incense that is used. Once the smoke is rising, focus on your spell and then place the tip of your wand into the rising smoke. Speak your spell and then hold the wand there for as long as it feels necessary. You can repeat the spell if you like while doing that, but it really isn’t necessary. Once done, remove the wand from the smoke, give gratitude to Spirit for the collaboration that you have created with Spirit, and then you can either let the rest of the incense burn all the way down or you can extinguish the incense to be used at a later time.
The most “standard” rule of thumb when choosing a wand or creating a wand for yourself is to have the length of it be the same as the distance from the inside of your bent elbow to the inside of the bent wrist. This is not a steadfast rule. As you can see in the photo, I have wands of quite a variety of lengths. The original reason for the elbow to wrist rule of thumb was so that the wand could remain concealed beneath the cloak or cape of the practitioner. Straps around the forearms also served to secure the wand while en route to your destination.
When you are adorning your wand, be sure to have adornments that are in synch with the intended use of the wand. A wand that is designed to bring deeper connection to Nature might, for example, have a twig attached to it. A wand that is designed to help you achieve a higher perspective might have a bird feather attached to it. The possibilities are endless, just be sure to stick with the theme of the intended use of the wand. Of course, a multi-purpose wand may have any number of things inside or attached to it. The only thing holding you back is your own lack of inspiration, so meditate on it and allow Spirit to guide you to create whatever type of wand is best for you. And do not limit yourself to just one wand. There is nothing that says that there is only one wand per practitioner. Yes, the more you use your wand, the stronger your connection to it will be. But I have also found that sometimes a wand needs to take a little vacation from being utilized. So in a situation like that I will switch out the wand I am using and will give the one that I had been using some time to recuperate.
As we use our wands, we come to understand some intense and deep connections through the energy that flows through us and through the wands. Much like a rider will be able to feel the horse’s mood and whether today is a good day to ride, so we will also find that type of understanding between ourselves and our wands. And remember…a horse knows your mood before you even walk in the stable. You wand also knows your mood before you ever pick it up. Some days it will not be a mood that is congruent with the use of the wand, and the wand knows that, so the wand will not allow itself to be utilized that day. A wand, once created, becomes a sentient being in and of itself. Yes, it is an extension of ourselves, but it is also a sentient being. So do respect it.
One more thing. Never touch another person’s wand without expressed permission. That can actually be a very dangerous thing to do because you do not know how powerful a protection spell it may be with which it is adorned and blessed! Frankly, I do not create a wand without adorning and blessing it with protection. In so doing, I am also blessing and adorning myself with protection. That is a step that is never missed, even if the wand has been gifted to me or has been one that I have purchased instead of created myself. Many practitioners do this with their sacred instruments and witchy tools. So no matter what it is, do ask permission before touching it. If you don’t, then we cannot be held resposible for the blow back you may experience.