Making your own wand and when

[Ashrend]

I am capable of making my own wand from wood, but I wanted to know a few things before I even attempt.

Is there a preferred. time either of year, or for yourself, as to when you should get a wand?

I presume the type of wood matters, but in what way? How do you find the right wood for you?

Are there any dos and don'ts for making the wand?

How do you know which kind of wand to make. A staff? A small typical wand? A massive multilayered wand?

My idea is to use willow braches entwined and glued together. Any and all answers would be appreciated.

devon

[SpiritTalker]

Woods have different properties, so your wood should be matched to the use you put it to. Cutting live wood captures the life-force essence, and as long as the tree lives you can link to it's indwelling nature spirit. An offering should be made to the tree's spirit. Never cut when the sap is running, so cut in the dormant period like winter, between Yule & Imbolg, or the "ember days" particularly for their association to between realms. Cut clean, at a slight angle to aid healing the cut on the tree. Cut at a liminal hour, dawn, noon, dusk, midnight as these are between-times. If you prefer fallen wood, collect it immediately after a storm so it hasn't lain on the ground long. The essence will have been grounded by laying on the earth. Allow wood to dry before working on it. Lightening struck trees are treasured for their extra force.

Since wands are for directing conjuring energies, or life-force, they should be finished, sealed or polished with a living substance like bees wax or olive oil. Two woods are known for cursing, that is, to disrupt the life essence: black thorn and grave-yard yew.

A wand and staff have identical conjuring uses, but the longer staff (mostly used by Trad witches)
is easier to use for tracing the compass on the ground, so you don't have to bend over, obviously. The 2 & 3 forked staff is used as a focal point in ritual much like an altar. The forked prong reps the horned-god and moon-goddess, union of opposites, world tree of three-worlds, etc. A shorter forked wand is also used the same.

Most likely mass produced wands don't follow these ideals, and still work as conduits but have no link to their tree spirit any more.

[Ashrend]

Ok thanks for the info, il keep doing my research before i plan to make my wand

devon

[Wolf]

In my experience, like in most practices, its intent and what feels right. My wand is made of some wood from my yard. What kind? Good question. I tend to just gather wood after a storm since I live in a very rural area. Sometimes I know what it is, in this case I don't, but with all the work I put into it I don't feel it matters since my energy was poured into it during its creation.

Also its okay to get it wrong. Make a wand. You may like it for a bit but find it doesn't work for you as well as you hoped. Try again. Experiment! Learn and grow.

[Firebird]

When I cut branches of the Apple tree for wands (I give them away) I will do this after the sap has risen, and stoped flowing, usually in late April or May. With big ceremony for the tree.
Have fun searching!
Bb, Firebird

[Pallando]

There is no right or wrong way, only what is right or wrong for you.

As for me, I cant take without first giving.
I have been communing with a local buckeye tree for some moons now and this week I will be planting 9 buckeye seeds just before cutting the branch that the tree has offered. Buckeye is corresponded to Luck, and I have been preparing a Luck ritual for St Patricks Day, to infuse the new wand.

That is my way.

[Nightwind]

I have been wanting to make my own wand too, so lots of helpful info here!
I have a few branches from a tree that was cut down, I don't know what it was unfortunately.
Is it recommended to sand/peel of the dry bark, and also, if taking off the bark and putting olive oil on, does the wood remain a bit oily feeling or does it soak in?

[SpiritTalker]

The oil can be applied with a cloth and rubbed off with a soft towel. Only a wee amount is used. It is to seal the wood, not soak it. Just experiment on a non-valuable chunk of wood first,& if you don't like the feel, then don't use it on the wand. Coconut oil is yet another live-substance oil. Oil has been always used on wood furniture.

After removing bark, use a coarse-grade sand paper, followed by a fine-grain sand paper.

[Nightwind]

Thanks ST.

Have you made any advancements on your own wand, Binxy?

[Ashrend]

Yeah iv got my wood grom ebay. Ebony felt right. I plan to get natural varnish/finish hipefully with beee wax but i started it. Going to have a cracked quartz bade and hopefully ruby studded but will have to see.

fire and flames

[Ashrend]

From * hopefully* bade* sorry

fire and flames

[Wolf]

For sand paper, after debarking, I suggest 80 grit, followed by 120, then 220-240.

[MsMollimizz]

I have a few branches from a tree that was cut down, I don't know what it was unfortunately.

There are lots of site on the web for identifying wood,
some were by leaf other's by bark. Not to hard to find.

I live in the high desert in Calif. and thought it only
fitting I make a wand out of Yucca stalk, especially
love the fact that it was hollow inside ! Believe me
I utilized it(can't tell with what).
I have since made a new friend who introduced me
to my new Goddess, I really felt like I was home !
She was put in my life at this time to direct me to
where I am suppose to be at this time. So I need
a new wand to fit my new path !
Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[icey]

It is always better to make your own wand as when you are touching it during the crafting it is absorbing your energy, the wand is a very personal item. Make sure you use wood that is sturdy so that is doesn’t fragment as you are working with it, most wands are approximately twelve to sixteen inches long, you can often find branches already broken off trees and lying on the ground, these are quite suitable to be used for your wand, do not be concerned if the branch is bent or crooked it won’t affect the energy in any way. Sandpaper can be used to make your wand smooth, feel and charge your wand with love and light to help your wand wield its most powerful magic, and as you are charging you wand transmit the energy of love beauty and kindness.

[Nightwind]

There are lots of site on the web for identifying wood,
some were by leaf other's by bark. Not to hard to find.

I think it is some kind of coniferous tree. An evergreen, which is quite nice.

Does anyone wrap wire or stones around their wand, or add extra embellishments, or carve symbols or patterns?