About wands –
You will find endless treatises on wands. What they absolutely must be made of, when they have to be created, exactly how the wood is obtained, the length and width of the wand, what stones have to be used , whether or not metals or adhesives should be used…
In my experience the vast majority of these absolutes are unnecessary. A wand is an extension of your intent. It is a conduit through which that energy is focused and directed. Everything else is secondary, and dependent on the relationship between you and the wand.
In the beginning there is the character of the wand, the personality that is drawn out in the creation. It’s effectiveness is in the bond between the wand and its user.
While I have noticed there is some difference in the species of wood and other materials used, it is the intent of the user that affects the wand, not the other way around.
For lack of a better explanation, I pay attention to what the wand is telling me during its creation. It tells me what it wants to be. It suggests the patterns and inlays worked into it, and I do my best to follow its direction.
I know some of you will be saying “This nut bag talks to these things!”
Yup. This nut bag talks to these things. And worse…they talk back.
A willow wand in progress.
When I say the flaws in the materials are what give it character, there is nothing that demonstrates this better than diamond willow.
The diamond patterns in the wood are the result of a particular fungus. Willow fungus itself is sometimes used medicinally and ceremonially by Native Americans, who have referred to it as sacred medicine.
A note on “Harry Potter” and wands
I have absolutely nothing against people who wish to have fun in a “Harry Potter” sort of way with wands, but I do feel the need to state that I do not create these wands with that in mind. These are tools, not toys, and there is an inherent intent in the making of them. I’m not going to say there may be unintended consequences for using my wands for LARP purposes, because frankly I don’t know if there would be.
But the wands are unique. No two are exactly alike. And some of them may have a wee bit of an attitude.