Tools of the Craft pt. 1 : The Magic Wand

Light and Love

Many of my friends, particularly the uninitiated have expressed some curiosity in the tools witches use in their rituals and spell work. Although the tools of the Craft may vary greatly between Wicca, and some of the other Pagan faiths and Magical traditions, there are some objects which I believe to be quite universal in that they are often utilized in one way or another by members of the faith. The object that i will be looking at today is an age old tool in Wicca and many other Pagan and Magical traditions: the wand. The magic wand, or in some cases, sacred staff, is perhaps most known to the uninitiated for its association with characters such as fairy godmothers (as depicted in Walt Disney's Cinderella and sleeping Beauty) or with wizards and witches such as from the Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter franchise.

Glinda the good witch, from the (1938) film the wizard of Oz is often pictured in most depictions as possessing a magic wand.

And while the general concept of the magic wand is not at all too different from what we see in the movies, the magic wand enjoys a long and colorful history in the magic arts and is present in various mythical figures such as the Greek God Hermes, whose iconic serpent entwined wand had the power to induce a magical sleep, or the wand of Circe - believed by many to be the earliest magical wand in Western literary canon - which was used (in some variants of the legend) to transform men into the beasts that they truly were inside.  Wands have also had a place in many of the world's ancient civilizations. Magic wands consecrated to Isis or some of the other Egyption gods have been found in Pyramids and it is believed that they allow the soul of the Pharoahs to use the various objects and artefacts that were buried with him in the afterlife. Shamanic wands, or drumsticks can be found in the spiritual practices of many indigenous cultures and the völva is a Norse term that literally translates as "carrier of the magic wand" referring to witches, both male and female, who had the power of foresight. March 2014, it was reported that a ritual wand etched with human faces was discovered at an archeological dig site in Syria is believed to date back at leat 9000 years.

An Egyptian wand (1938 - 1759 BCE) that was carved from a hippopotamus tusk is believed to have been buried with the Pharaoh as a magical tool that would enable him to use all of his worldly possessions in the afterlife. 

Another Egyptian wand, this one consecrated to the Goddess Hathor that is estimated to have been crafted somewhere between 1300 and 1200 BC

An 82 cm magic wand, and other objects believed to be tools of the craft, found in an archaeological dig site  believed to be the grave of a völva (Norse witch). It is believed that she received an honorable Ship Burial and was offered both human and animal sacrifices upon her death. 

For the modern-day Witch, magic wands are often used to channel energies for various rituals and spells, but also to invoke various kinds of spirits (particularly elementals) who are generally more sympathetic to the gentle and nurturing energies that are evoked by the wand, as opposed to the more commanding forces that are generated by the ritual dagger, or athame. Wands are usually made by the witch or practitioner herself but many modern-day witches may also buy wands that they feel particularly connected with. Traditionally the wand is made from a length of wood and may or may not be adorned with symbols carved into its hilt, or crystals, feathers, and other objects that the practitioner believes may enhance the particular energies that are summoned by that wand. A witch who makes her/his own magic wand often conducts a ritual usually before the embellishment of the wand that consecrates it to their deities and the various forces that they are working with so as to invite these deities and forces to be a part of the wand-creation process, thus fostering a stronger and more intimate bond between practitioner, divine, and object of the craft. Wand consecration rituals typically vary from witch-to-witch and coven to coven.

Store bought wands (left) come in a variety of amazing designs while home made wands (right) tend to be simpler based on the tools the practitioner has on hand.

A wand is often an intimate tool and many witches tend to own more than one, each may be used for a different purpose or to invoke a different kind of elemental or spirit.