How to Make Magic Wands
© 2002 by Lily Gardner

Wands have served as tools since humans could break a branch off a tree point. They are as old as magic itself.

As a wand extends from your arm, magically speaking, it extends from your will. It can be used to direct energy and amplify power, or it can help you cast your circle, draw magical symbols, or stir a cauldron.

The traditional wand is a simple branch of oak, willow, or hazelwood cut the length of your arm from the crook of your elbow to the end of your middle finger. The wand is best cut on Wednesday, the day of Mercury. Although the simple branch is traditional, many Witches possess wands made from an array of woods and crystals that reflect either personal energy or the intent the wand is being used for.

Personal Energy

There are hundreds of ways to design a wand that reflects personal energy. Here are a few ideas:

Fashion a wand using your astrological sign. Suppose Cancer is your birth sign. Make your wand from willow, a tree favored by the moon, Cancer's planet. Paint the wand silver or gray, Cancer's colors, or paint the Cancer glyph on your wand with silver paint. Insert Cancer stones, such as pearl or moonstones. Because Cancer is a water sign, you might wrap your wand in watery colors of blue and green or attach charms of fish and crabs.

You could fashion your wand from your Chinese birth year. Suppose you were born in the year of the rabbit. The rabbit is associated with the Chinese element of wood, so any wood that appeals to you will work. Green is the color of the rabbit, so wrap your wand with green leather strips or ribbon. It is said that you will be especially lucky if you use the color green in combination with red. Wrap a band of rabbit fur around your wand, or hang rabbit fetishes from the ribbons.

Intent

The beauty of making a wand for a specific goal is the spell actually begins the moment you start gathering materials and preparing for it. Simply hold your magical goal firmly in your mind and heart as you go about fashioning a wand, and the wand is sure to have tremendous power by the time you're ready to use it.

Gather a tree branch from the ground or from a tree itself. If you take a live branch remember to ask permission from the tree and its owner before removing it. Assuming that you have the tree's permission, leave an offering of copper, tobacco, or crystals. Next, take your wand home and sand it starting with a medium-grade sandpaper, such as number 120. Finish with a numbewr 180 sandpaper for fine sanding. If you focus your intention on its magical use, you will empower your wand. When it's sanded, you can hollow out one end with a small knife and glue in a quartz crystal tip. Quartz crystals help focus energy. Some Witches tip their wands with acorns or pine cones.

The final step is to dedicate the wand. Many Witches put a drop of their own blood on the wand. It is said that menstrual blood is very powerful. Consecrate it by passing it through the smoke of burning insence and the flame of a burning candle to empower your wand. Drop a few drops of holy water (or annointing oil) on your wand and sprinkle a few grains of salt on your wand to strengthen and deepen its magic. If you have a name in mind for your wand, name it now. Finally, hold the wand against your solar plexus, the chakra of will, and empower your wand.


Wands are powerful tools. Made with good intention from the work of your own hand, they can work mighty magic.