The staff and the wand are common and important tools in several traditions. It can be seen as a representation of the world tree, a symbol used in all religion. The wood of your staff can enhance your connection to the universal spirit of the world tree. For many witches, the wooden wand is a miniature version of the world-tree staff. Like the athame or sword, it may be used to cast circle and direct energy.
The staff is a very important tool in some traditions. It is used to mark quarter points or as a "stang" to hold banners representing elements or other unique symbolic flags. It may be used in much the same manner as the wand. It is usually matched "to your measure," meaning it reaches to your shoulder, and can be especially helpful if you like to hike into the woods or through mountains for outdoor rituals. Both the staff and wand are masculine tools, but they may be used by both sexes.
Though many people think of wands as long wooden branches with a big stone on the end, your wand can be any material you feel drawn to (wood, metal, bone). Crystal wands or wands made of different metals work and feel much different, since they are not connected to the world tree. Non-wooden wands connect to the mineral world. Some Witches (like myself) work better with organic over inorganic implements. Decide which you work better with and you’ll know what kind of wand will be right for you.
It is very common for a "Wand Witch" to have many wands of various types. Witches who do not use athames often use a wand instead. Though wands can be made of any wood, hazel wands are considered especially powerful if made during Midsummer. Wands fashioned from any of the seven noble trees: oak, apple, alder, birch, hazel, holly, and willow or from the woods typically found in Need-Fire: the Seven plus aspen and ash, make powerful wands, especially on the equinoxes and solstices.
The uses of the wand are often tied to the magickal uses of the tree, whether it is for healing, love, or what have you. You can purchase a ready-made wand or collect one from a neighborhood tree. When searching for wood for your wand, even wood from a building supply store will work. Of all the tools available for use, the wand tends to be the one tool that most Pagans can and will make themselves. The length of the wand also varies, but it is safe to say that the wand should be fairly straight, comfortable in your hand and is not so long as to be unwieldy. The typical size is usually the length of your forearm, but the maximum is a foot and a half. As one of the major magickal tools, the wand has been in use for thousands of years.
The wand is an outgrowth of the pointed finger, amplifying all attention, divine and mortal, to the thing indicated. It is used to draw attention and direct or amplify the will, in spells and incantations. Magickal symbols may be drawn in the air or a protective circle on the ground. Wands can be used for divination and rudimentary dowsing. It is nearly a universal tool, capable of being applied to any task the mind devises. It is used most to invoke the God and Goddess and to charge other objects and even to stir the cauldron. Some traditions claim the wand is the tool of the South and is associated with Fire. Others consider it a tool of Air and the East.
The Staff
a wooden staff of a comfortable length (pine is the simplest to carve but will exude its sticky sap after a few months)
leather scraps
some leather or sinew straps (or heavy string or twine)
some epoxy or other durable and water-proof glue
some lacquer, shellac, or wood finish
wood working tools -chisels or dremels, rasps and files
olive oil
carnauba paste floor wax
stain
alcohol
# 80 sandpaper, steel wool #000First of all, you don't need to be a gifted wood carver to make your staff unique. If you don't feel comfortable carving wood, you can epoxy a decoration on the top of your staff. (*If you plan on doing this, skip step number two.) For those just beginning. use a straight grained wood free of knots. Lay out your design in pencil directly on the wood or let the wood speak to you. Turn the piece frequently, working at it from different angles. Rasps and files are used to define detail and smooth wood. Use coarse files first, gradually working down to the finer files. File in one direction using only short even strokes. Sand the piece. The steel wool is used for smoothing. Rub olive oil into the wood to preserve it as well as expose the grain.
The staff you choose should ideally be some sort of hard wood or cedar. You can get a piece of wood for a staff from a renaissance festival, a construction site where new housing is going up (and trees are coming down), or even a hardware store (closet poles). If you decide to go scouting in the woods for a fallen tree, be careful that the wood is not starting to rot. Once you have found your wood, clean it of all the branches and bring it home. It is important to empower the wood before beginning to shape it. More than any other tools, those made of wood have distinct personalities. This wood will be your companion for a long time.
*Carve the staff to mark it with your energy. If you are not good at carving, or can't for some reason, you can drill a hole in the top and epoxy a finial on it. (A finial is the decorative piece used for the ends of curtain rods). Otherwise, find some chisels, a pocketknife, or a dremel tool and carve the top into a symbol or icon that represents you. Whatever you do, make sure to sand it thoroughly after you are done - this will help the wood to stay more durable.
If you use a light color wood, you may decide to stain it first. This can allow for even more creativity, using a variety of colors or simple wood-type stains for a natural tie-dye effect. Treat the wood with a lacquer, giving the staff several thin coats. Stain between coats and sand all finishes lightly to facilitate adhesion of the following coat. Many people do not like the shiny look on their staff and don't coat it, but not coating your staff limits its lifespan if you plan any extended outdoor use. If you don't like the shiny look, choose a matte finish. When using a French finish, rub the final coat with steel wool before waxing with the floor wax.
Next wrap the leather scraps around the staff wherever you see fit. Wrap a section towards the top of the staff, perhaps making runners and fringes on the staff. Take the leather or twine straps, letting at least twelve of them hang off of the staff. Using different color pieces of leather can make a nice effect.
The straps hanging from the staff are to hold major totems and gifts that signify achievements. They should have deep meaning to you and represent major developments in your craft. When you first make your staff, choose an item that represents your experience up to this point. For instance, if you’ve been wearing a Pagan necklace, transferring it to the staff might be in order. Other things that would be appropriate for your staff are things found or given to you during major rituals, tokens from your animal guides, gifts from friends and spiritual group members or teachers. For members of a coven, the staff can be great achievement system for group members. As they reach various levels of training or experience, they can receive items for their staff.
Wands
Unlike the staff, the wand is a much more focused tool. Obviously since it is a tool used mainly to focus your will, the aspects of its wood and decoration are much more important when you take into consideration the uses you hope to put it to. The staff is much more general, while the wand is made for specific purposes.
Though you may choose to decorate your wand however you wish, in simplest terms it can simply be a stick of wood that has appealed to you in some way. Much of the techniques applied to making a staff may be applied to the making of your wand. You will of course look up the correspondences of colors and your decorations as well, but all this is superfluous. Nothing needs to be done to your wand unless you wish. You may leave the bark on or shave it off. And there it ends, unless you choose otherwise.
There are many things you can add to you wand either for aesthetics or to make it more powerful. These include: feathers, leaves, colored hemp, jeweler's wire, rawhide, twine, crystals, stones, beads, dried berries, and nuts. Only your imagination limits your ability to enhance your wand. Think of the uses to which you intend to put your wand and decorate it accordingly.
Power Wands
As one of the major magickal tools, the wand has been used for thousands of years in magickal and religious rites. It can be seen as an outgrowth of the pointed finger which amplifies all attention, divine and mortal, to the thing indicated, hence the phobia of casually pointing at things for fear of dire consequences. The wand is used to draw attention and amplify the will. It can be used to draw magickal symbols in the air or a protective circle on the ground. Wands can be used for divination and rudimentary dowsing. They can be put to nearly any use the mind can devise.
Wands can be made of any wood. Hazel wands are considered especially powerful if made during Midsummer. Wands fashioned from any of the seven noble trees - oak, apple, alder, birch, hazel, holly, and willow - or from the woods typically found in Need-Fire - the Seven plus aspen and ash - make powerful wands, especially on the equinoxes and solstices.
You will of course have to look up correspondences for colors and decorations, but in simplest terms, a wand can simply be a stick of wood that appeals to you. Nothing needs to be done to it unless you wish. You may leave the woods on or shave it off.
Materials to include when decorating your wand
There are many things you can add to you wand either for decoration or to make it more powerful. You can use any of the following.
feathers, leaves
colored hemp, jeweler's wire, rawhide, twine, etc
crystals, stones, beads
dried berries, nutsOnly your imagination limits your ability to enhance your wand. Think of what uses to which you wish to put your wand, and decorate it accordingly. A wand is typically eighteen inches.
All Purpose - Avocado, Cedar, Hazel, Mistletoe, Mulberry, Oak, Pear, SloeAnti-theft - Aspen
Dowsing / Hidden Treasure - Almond, Peach, Rowan, Witch Hazel
Eloquence - Apsen
Exorcism / Breaking curses - Birch, Juniper, Myrrh
Health - Ash, Cypress, Elder, Mesquite, Myrrh, Peach, Plum
Love and Emotion - Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Chestnut, Lemon, Maple, Orange, Peach, Willow
Luck - Banyan (Fig)
Money - Maple
Power - Ebony
Protection - Acacia, Ash, Bamboo, Birch, Cypress, Elder, Lime, Linden, Mountain Mahogany (weather), Olive, Peach, Pomegranate
Elemental Wands
adapted from CunninghamWands of Air
Using an 18 in lilac branch, slowly shave the bark off. Make sure the branch is green. Using an incense attuned to air, light it and let the smoke run over the wood. You may hold the intent in you mind or chant if you wish. You might say something like : Spirit of air whose voice is a sigh, join in this wand your will to mine.Wand of Fire
Use an 18 inch length of cherry wood for the Wand of Fire. Shave off the bark. Light a candle and gently let the flame kiss the wood. Don't burn the wand. Again, you may hold the intent in your mind or chant. Perhaps something like : Spirit of fire, soul of the flame, I consecrate this wand in your name.Wand of Earth
Cut an 18 inch length of oak or dog wood, and shave off all the bark. Slowing sprinkle the wand with earth while chanting or holding the intent to make the wand in your mind. You might chant : Spirit of earth, strength of the stone, through the use of this wand, make your will known.Wand of Water
The Wand of Water can be fashioned from Willow or drift wood. If using willow, shave off the bark. If it is drift wood, do not shave it. Slowly sprinkle the wand with water while thinking your intent or chanting : Spirit of water, song of the sea, your will and mine in harmony.