A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar development.
SymbolismIn ecclesiastical and formal government ceremonial, special officials may carry a wand of office or staff of office representing their power. Compare in this context the function of the ceremonial mace, the sceptre, and the staff of office. This is a practice of long standing; in Ancient Egypt, priests were depicted with rods. Its age may be even greater, as Stone Age cave paintings show figures holding sticks, which may be symbolic representations of their power.
SymbolismIn ecclesiastical and formal government ceremonial, special officials may carry a wand of office or staff of office representing their power. Compare in this context the function of the ceremonial mace, the sceptre, and the staff of office. This is a practice of long standing; in Ancient Egypt, priests were depicted with rods. Its age may be even greater, as Stone Age cave paintings show figures holding sticks, which may be symbolic representations of their power.
Mystical, occult, and religious usage
Ancient Egyptian wand. From the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.In Pharaonic Egypt, toilette articles, weapons against possible enemies, amulets against serpents, were also left in the tomb, together with magic texts and a magic wand which enabled the ka (soul) to use them.
In classical Greco-Roman mythology, the god Hermes/Mercury has a special wand called a caduceus.
Six- to eight-foot-long staves with metal tips adorning them are carried traditionally in Freemasonry during rituals of the Craft. Ceremonial uses may have several wands for different purposes, such as the Fire Wand and the Lotus Wand in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In Zoroastrianism, there is a similar ritual implement called a barsom. In Wicca and Ceremonial magic, practitioners use several magical tools including wands for the channeling of energy—they serve a similar purpose to the athame although the two have their distinct uses. While an athame is generally used to command, a wand is seen as more gentle and is used to invite or encourage. Though traditionally made of wood, they can also consist of metal or crystal. Practitioners usually prune a branch from an Oak, Hazel, or other tree, or may even buy wood from a hardware store, and then carve it and add decorations to personalize it; however, one can also purchase ready-made wands. In Wicca the wand usually represents the element air, or sometimes fire, although contemporary wand makers also create wands for the elements of earth and water as well. The wand is most often used by modern Pagans, witches, Shamans and others in rituals, healing and spell casting.
There is some scholarly opinion that the magic wand may have its roots as a symbol of the phallus. It may also have originated as the drumming stick of a shaman, especially in Central Asia and Siberia, as when using it to bang on his drum or point, to perform religious, healing, and magical ceremonies
Apple
Sacred tree to the Druids. Shamans and ancient poets are often described carrying apple branches as symbols of their office. Apple indicates choice, and is useful for love and healing magic. Especially suited for spells to do with horses or travel, illumination, enhancing any skill, love, harmony, and beauty, harvest, and magic of divine, shamanic madness or visionary experience.
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Ash
A Druid sacred tree. Druid wands were often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your pillow to stimulate psychic dreams. One of the few surviving Druid wands of old, found in an archeological dig, was made of Ash with a sunwise spiral design, symbolizing Ash's links to the Sun. So generally magical is the Ash that it is the wood used in some traditions in the brooms of witches.
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Birch
It is often associated with the beginning of the year. It is a tree of beginnings in general and of the Bards, as the first grade of the Druid order. Birch is also a wood with great powers to purify and discipline, to create the new forest in service to the great trees that will come after, such as the oak and ash and maple. Birch forest is young and so birch is linked to youth and all things new. It is especially suited to magic of new beginnings, spells of youth and fresh starts, bardic enchantment, creativity, renewal and rebirth, purification, and spells for discipline and service. Birch is an excellent wood for brooms. A Birch Wood wand will bring the wizard luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackthorn
Blackthorn is a winter tree. Its white flowers are seen even before the leaves in the spring. It is black barked with vicious thorns and grows in dense thickets. The wood is used in the cudgel shillelagh and Blasting Stick. Its thorns are used to pierce waxen images. Blackthorn indicates strong action of fate or outside influences that must be obeyed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cedar
Also known as the Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. Ancient Celts on the mainland used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy and ground yourself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the leaves. Evergreen Cedar is sacred, like Juniper, for the promise of eternal life. Cedar is a wood of protection and preservation. Cedar is a protective wood. It will protect the wizard against evil. It is also used for money and love charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ebony
Ebony is an exotic hardwood that comes from various sub-tropical climes. It is a wood that is used extensively for carving in Bali and in Africa because of its density and hardness. It is extremely difficult to carve, but the end result is a superb black wood (sometimes with lighter grain). Ebony is not one of the sacred woods of the Celts. Ebony is quite a popular wood for wands, and is unquestionably very handsome. It's presence and energy is very strong, and so it is not a wood for the faint of heart. Ebony is the most powerful wood for wands. Ebony gives the user pure, unlimited power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elder
Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder. Sacred to the White Lady and Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse. Standing under an elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can be used to drive out evil spirits or thought forms. Music on panpipes or flutes of elder have the same power as the wand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fir
Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows in mountainous regions on the upper slopes. Fir cones respond to rain by closing and the sun by opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and below. Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and yet to come.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazel
Wands made of this wood symbolize white magic and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If outside and in need of maigckal protection quickly draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a cord and hang up in your house or ritual room. Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holly
A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore and is important to the Winter Solstice. In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used in spear shafts also. Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maple
Maple's sacred bird is the Great Horned Owl who is herald of the coming Feast of Samhuinn with its magick and mystery. The owl is a bird associated with wizards and wisdom, and the bearing of messages in the night. Maple is a strongly masculine wood, somewhat rebellious and tough, but with a beautiful smooth grain; hard, yet excellent for carving. Well-suited to spells of sending and communication, binding, transmutations, creation, revolution, rebirth, healing, beauty, art, and abundance. Maple is a favorite wood for magical wands. It is the wood of longevity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oak
Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak was the "King of Trees" in a grove. Magic wands were made of its wood. Oak galls, known as Serpent Eggs, were used in magical charms. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere. It can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own special 'flavour' to the magic. Oak is a potent magical wood. It adds potency to all charms, particularly health and money charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rowan
Also known as Mountain Ash, Witchwood and Sorb Apple has long known as an aid and protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. Rowan spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely red berries feed the birds in winter. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and beguiling. The Rowan was sacred to the Druids and the Goddess Brigit. It is a very magical tree used for wands, rods, amulets and spells. A forked Rowan branch can help find water. Wands are for knowledge, locating metal and general divination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow
Also known as White Willow, Tree of Enchantment and Witches' Asprin. Once of the seven sacred trees of the Irish, a Druid sacred Tree. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady, Its groves were considered so magickal that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and prophecies. Willow is favored for its general magical uses. It has strong protective qualities and is good for healing and love charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yew
Also known as English Yew and European Yew. Another important tree to the Winter Solstice and the deities of death and rebirth. It is a beautifully smooth, gold-coloured wood with a wavy grain. The Irish used it to make dagger handles, bows, wine barrels and wands. The wood or leaves were laid on graves as a reminder to the departed spirit that death was only a pause in life before rebirth. The yew may be the oldest-lived tree in the world. Ancient yews can be found in churchyards all over Britain, where they often pre-date even the oldest churches. There are some convincing arguments for it being the original 'World-tree' of Scandinavian mythology. Yew is the Wood of Death.
Birch, purification, the first month, November
Rowan, protection against spells, the second month, December
Alder, protection and prophesy, the third month, January
Willow, feminin, lunar aspects, the fourth month, February
Ash, bonding the inner and outer world, the fifth month, March
Hawthorn, purification and chastity, the sixth month, April
Oak, protection and entrance into the Mysteries, seventh month, May
Holly, superiority in struggle, the eighth month, June
Hazel, intuition, the ninth month, July
Vine, prophesy, tenth month, August
Ivy, search for the Ego, the eleventh month, September
Reed, direct action, twelth month, October
Elder, beginings and endings, the thirdteenth month, the last days of October
Other options are the Apple tree for matters of the heart, willow for lunar magick, or oak for magick that implies a great use of the element of Fire. Some authors, like Scott Cunningham, suggest that before using and consecrating it, we should show it to the rising Moon, rubbing it with lavender and invoking the Goddess, and with fresh leaves at the rising Sun, invoking the God, so that it's imbuided with both energies.
I use my sticks (Wand and Staff) to gather, redirect and guide energy. I use my Blades (Athame / Ritual Knife and Sword) to focus my will and power to its purpose. However, some Witches reverse these roles. You can often tell by which Element they connect with the tool. To me a wand is Fire
Apple – Love, healing and immortality
Ash – Protection, prosperity, health and the sea
Birch – Protection, banishing and purification
Cherry – Divination and love
Chestnut – Love, strength, money and healing
Elder – Prosperity, sleep, protection and banishing
Elm – Love
Hawthorn – Fertility and love
Maple – Love, money and longevity
Oak – All purpose (Many “standard” staffs are made from Oak or Rowan)
Poplar – Money, success and personal riches
Walnut – Health, mental powers and riches
Willow – Divination, love, protection and healing
Ancient Egyptian wand. From the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.In Pharaonic Egypt, toilette articles, weapons against possible enemies, amulets against serpents, were also left in the tomb, together with magic texts and a magic wand which enabled the ka (soul) to use them.
In classical Greco-Roman mythology, the god Hermes/Mercury has a special wand called a caduceus.
Six- to eight-foot-long staves with metal tips adorning them are carried traditionally in Freemasonry during rituals of the Craft. Ceremonial uses may have several wands for different purposes, such as the Fire Wand and the Lotus Wand in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In Zoroastrianism, there is a similar ritual implement called a barsom. In Wicca and Ceremonial magic, practitioners use several magical tools including wands for the channeling of energy—they serve a similar purpose to the athame although the two have their distinct uses. While an athame is generally used to command, a wand is seen as more gentle and is used to invite or encourage. Though traditionally made of wood, they can also consist of metal or crystal. Practitioners usually prune a branch from an Oak, Hazel, or other tree, or may even buy wood from a hardware store, and then carve it and add decorations to personalize it; however, one can also purchase ready-made wands. In Wicca the wand usually represents the element air, or sometimes fire, although contemporary wand makers also create wands for the elements of earth and water as well. The wand is most often used by modern Pagans, witches, Shamans and others in rituals, healing and spell casting.
There is some scholarly opinion that the magic wand may have its roots as a symbol of the phallus. It may also have originated as the drumming stick of a shaman, especially in Central Asia and Siberia, as when using it to bang on his drum or point, to perform religious, healing, and magical ceremonies
Apple
Sacred tree to the Druids. Shamans and ancient poets are often described carrying apple branches as symbols of their office. Apple indicates choice, and is useful for love and healing magic. Especially suited for spells to do with horses or travel, illumination, enhancing any skill, love, harmony, and beauty, harvest, and magic of divine, shamanic madness or visionary experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ash
A Druid sacred tree. Druid wands were often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your pillow to stimulate psychic dreams. One of the few surviving Druid wands of old, found in an archeological dig, was made of Ash with a sunwise spiral design, symbolizing Ash's links to the Sun. So generally magical is the Ash that it is the wood used in some traditions in the brooms of witches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birch
It is often associated with the beginning of the year. It is a tree of beginnings in general and of the Bards, as the first grade of the Druid order. Birch is also a wood with great powers to purify and discipline, to create the new forest in service to the great trees that will come after, such as the oak and ash and maple. Birch forest is young and so birch is linked to youth and all things new. It is especially suited to magic of new beginnings, spells of youth and fresh starts, bardic enchantment, creativity, renewal and rebirth, purification, and spells for discipline and service. Birch is an excellent wood for brooms. A Birch Wood wand will bring the wizard luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackthorn
Blackthorn is a winter tree. Its white flowers are seen even before the leaves in the spring. It is black barked with vicious thorns and grows in dense thickets. The wood is used in the cudgel shillelagh and Blasting Stick. Its thorns are used to pierce waxen images. Blackthorn indicates strong action of fate or outside influences that must be obeyed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cedar
Also known as the Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. Ancient Celts on the mainland used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy and ground yourself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the leaves. Evergreen Cedar is sacred, like Juniper, for the promise of eternal life. Cedar is a wood of protection and preservation. Cedar is a protective wood. It will protect the wizard against evil. It is also used for money and love charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ebony
Ebony is an exotic hardwood that comes from various sub-tropical climes. It is a wood that is used extensively for carving in Bali and in Africa because of its density and hardness. It is extremely difficult to carve, but the end result is a superb black wood (sometimes with lighter grain). Ebony is not one of the sacred woods of the Celts. Ebony is quite a popular wood for wands, and is unquestionably very handsome. It's presence and energy is very strong, and so it is not a wood for the faint of heart. Ebony is the most powerful wood for wands. Ebony gives the user pure, unlimited power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elder
Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder. Sacred to the White Lady and Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse. Standing under an elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can be used to drive out evil spirits or thought forms. Music on panpipes or flutes of elder have the same power as the wand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fir
Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows in mountainous regions on the upper slopes. Fir cones respond to rain by closing and the sun by opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and below. Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and yet to come.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazel
Wands made of this wood symbolize white magic and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If outside and in need of maigckal protection quickly draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a cord and hang up in your house or ritual room. Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holly
A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore and is important to the Winter Solstice. In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used in spear shafts also. Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maple
Maple's sacred bird is the Great Horned Owl who is herald of the coming Feast of Samhuinn with its magick and mystery. The owl is a bird associated with wizards and wisdom, and the bearing of messages in the night. Maple is a strongly masculine wood, somewhat rebellious and tough, but with a beautiful smooth grain; hard, yet excellent for carving. Well-suited to spells of sending and communication, binding, transmutations, creation, revolution, rebirth, healing, beauty, art, and abundance. Maple is a favorite wood for magical wands. It is the wood of longevity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oak
Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak was the "King of Trees" in a grove. Magic wands were made of its wood. Oak galls, known as Serpent Eggs, were used in magical charms. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere. It can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own special 'flavour' to the magic. Oak is a potent magical wood. It adds potency to all charms, particularly health and money charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rowan
Also known as Mountain Ash, Witchwood and Sorb Apple has long known as an aid and protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. Rowan spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely red berries feed the birds in winter. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and beguiling. The Rowan was sacred to the Druids and the Goddess Brigit. It is a very magical tree used for wands, rods, amulets and spells. A forked Rowan branch can help find water. Wands are for knowledge, locating metal and general divination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow
Also known as White Willow, Tree of Enchantment and Witches' Asprin. Once of the seven sacred trees of the Irish, a Druid sacred Tree. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady, Its groves were considered so magickal that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and prophecies. Willow is favored for its general magical uses. It has strong protective qualities and is good for healing and love charms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yew
Also known as English Yew and European Yew. Another important tree to the Winter Solstice and the deities of death and rebirth. It is a beautifully smooth, gold-coloured wood with a wavy grain. The Irish used it to make dagger handles, bows, wine barrels and wands. The wood or leaves were laid on graves as a reminder to the departed spirit that death was only a pause in life before rebirth. The yew may be the oldest-lived tree in the world. Ancient yews can be found in churchyards all over Britain, where they often pre-date even the oldest churches. There are some convincing arguments for it being the original 'World-tree' of Scandinavian mythology. Yew is the Wood of Death.
Birch, purification, the first month, November
Rowan, protection against spells, the second month, December
Alder, protection and prophesy, the third month, January
Willow, feminin, lunar aspects, the fourth month, February
Ash, bonding the inner and outer world, the fifth month, March
Hawthorn, purification and chastity, the sixth month, April
Oak, protection and entrance into the Mysteries, seventh month, May
Holly, superiority in struggle, the eighth month, June
Hazel, intuition, the ninth month, July
Vine, prophesy, tenth month, August
Ivy, search for the Ego, the eleventh month, September
Reed, direct action, twelth month, October
Elder, beginings and endings, the thirdteenth month, the last days of October
Other options are the Apple tree for matters of the heart, willow for lunar magick, or oak for magick that implies a great use of the element of Fire. Some authors, like Scott Cunningham, suggest that before using and consecrating it, we should show it to the rising Moon, rubbing it with lavender and invoking the Goddess, and with fresh leaves at the rising Sun, invoking the God, so that it's imbuided with both energies.
I use my sticks (Wand and Staff) to gather, redirect and guide energy. I use my Blades (Athame / Ritual Knife and Sword) to focus my will and power to its purpose. However, some Witches reverse these roles. You can often tell by which Element they connect with the tool. To me a wand is Fire
Apple – Love, healing and immortality
Ash – Protection, prosperity, health and the sea
Birch – Protection, banishing and purification
Cherry – Divination and love
Chestnut – Love, strength, money and healing
Elder – Prosperity, sleep, protection and banishing
Elm – Love
Hawthorn – Fertility and love
Maple – Love, money and longevity
Oak – All purpose (Many “standard” staffs are made from Oak or Rowan)
Poplar – Money, success and personal riches
Walnut – Health, mental powers and riches
Willow – Divination, love, protection and healing
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