Making wands for use in the forest or magical rituals can be a fun project. Once you find a wand that looks right for your purpose, you can learn how to carefully prepare it and adapt it for whatever use you desire. Would you like to have a versatile walking stick? You want to play LARP (Live Action Role Playing) game with your friends? Want to perform a pagan ritual? We will help you. See Step 1 below to start learning how to make your own wand.
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Method 1 of 3: Making a Climbing/Survival Stick
Step 1. Gather dead wood to the right length
For a good walking stick, look for deadwood that is a little heavy, but still light enough to be carried comfortably. The wood should ideally reach your chin, although you can use a longer or shorter walking stick, depending on your preference. These sticks should be relatively straight and uniform in thickness throughout, with a diameter of at least 2.5 to 5 cm.
Greenwood is too flexible to be used as an effective walking stick or survival stick, so collect only dead wood to make your own cane. If you find a very nice tree branch that you want to use, but it's still too green, cut it and trim it to remove the bark, but let it dry outdoors for a few weeks before you work on it and finish it
Step 2. Look for hickory or ash wood
Any wood that feels comfortable to you can be used, but many people prefer the lightness and strength of hickory and ash, in addition to the fact that both types of wood are easy to find. Look for good quality rods as you climb, of the right size, and the type of wood that will be suitable for heavy use. Do your research to find good quality wood in your area, which is commonly used for climbing sticks. Other woods that make good climbing sticks include:
- Maple vine
- Ironwood
- Salt cedar
- Aspen
Step 3. Remove the skin and notches
Use a sharp penknife to peel away the skin, being careful that you can smooth out any small branches or uneven surfaces. Round the ends of the sticks making small cuts for a long-lasting and neat finish.
After cleaning your branches, leave them for a few days to make sure they are completely dry. If an orange peel begins to form on the flesh in the wood, this means that water is coming out. Peel again and leave for a while until a white color appears which persists after a few days
Step 4. Seal with stain
If you want to give your wand a neat and durable finish, use a coat of stain for the wood or a good quality polish. Usually, you'll need several layers, by layering them in an even layer, then wiping them off and adding more layers. Do this at least 3 times, and add more layers if you want a darker finish. Follow the instructions on the brand of coating you purchased.
Alternatively, some people choose to use a woodburn or pyrography design on their walking stick before coating it. Choose a unique design that you like if you want to give your wand some character and make your wand look cool
Step 5. Add survival features to your walking stick
Some hikers and survivors like to wrap a Parcord cord around a stick to use as a handle, and electrical tape or fishing hook or other objects underneath. You can also use carabiners for other accessories, such as water bottles, knives, and other survival tools. Consider using a leather handle attached to the stick for a more comfortable grip.
At the bottom third of your stick, make inch/cm measurement points to use for tracking purposes or measuring water depth as you climb a mountain
Method 2 of 3: Making a Magic Wand
Step 1. Find wood after the storm
Many Wiccans and neo-pagans believe that wood dropped by storms has supernatural powers. Whether this is true or not, it's still a good idea to find wood after a storm. Visit the forest after a windy storm to find the pieces of wood that catch your eye.
Step 2. Choose a stick that has a certain significance
In witchcraft, wands are usually symbolic of male energy and are often associated with wind and sun. Usually, wands are made of hickory or oak, which is significant for their strength and durability, but wands can actually be made of any wood that feels right in your hand. This stick is the one you'll use for your own practice, so make sure it feels comfortable and looks significant to you, for whatever reason.
When you find a prospective wand, try it right away. Hold this stick in both your hands. Try to feel the energy. When you get the right one, you'll find out. Usually, your wand should be between 90-150 cm long
Step 3. Smooth and clean the stick
Use a knife and sandpaper to remove the bark and smooth the surface of the wood. Use even long strips with a very sharp knife to keep the sticks as clean and smooth as possible. Be very careful when you use a knife. Allow the wand to dry thoroughly and remove any orange peel that may have developed as the wand has dried.
Step 4. Pray for or bless the wand
Depending on your beliefs, you may have a specific ceremony intended for the purpose of filling an object with a certain power, or blessing it in preparation for your witchcraft. Light a candle, clean the area, say a prayer, or do whatever is necessary for your ritual.
When meditating, consider the natural elements, earth, sunlight, and water that have shaped the tree that produces the stick you will use. Thank the tree and meditate on the gift it gives you
Step 5. Consider engraving important pyrographic symbols on the wood
Pyrography is performed by heating a metal object, usually a needle or soldering iron, and burning patterns on raw wood. On a wand, this can be very useful as a way of imparting symbolic power to it.
As a general rule, avoid artificial coatings and shields on your wand. Some magicians believe this will limit the strength of your wand, because you are limiting the natural properties of the wood. Just to be safe, leave your wand uncoated
Step 6. Decorate the tip of the wand with a specific stone or crystal that has a special meaning to you
This may bring you more profit, as the top of your wand is decorated with crystals or other gemstones to make your wand more powerful. If desired, make a small recess in the top of your wand and smooth it to match the shape of the gemstone you wish to place it on.
Don't use glue or stick it permanently to your wand. Instead of doing that, tie the rock with rubber or string, so you can remove it for a specific purpose if needed
Method 3 of 3: Making a LARP Stick
Step 1. Purchase wooden pegs of appropriate length and thickness
If you want to make cool looking sticks for your costume at a LARP or cosplay event, wooden pegs, which are available at any hardware store, are a perfect choice. These wooden pegs are uniform in size and clean, and are available in a variety of lengths and widths. Other options that can be used as the base of your wand include:
- Old broom or mop handle
- The broken hockey stick
- ax handle
- shovel handle
- curtain rail
- PVC pipe
Step 2. Wrap your wand with electrical tape
Use red and black for a cool wand look and a metallic finish. Your wand will look different, so that's why you should do it. For a cool effect, cover the base with black tape, then cover it with red electrical tape pointing downwards, making it look like a snake wrapped around the black part of a stick or a drop of blood.
Step 3. Find a crystal ball to place on top of the wand
A wand wouldn't be complete without a shiny ball on it. For a cool effect, look for small bouncing balls in the toy section of the supermarket, or look for other light balls that look good to work with. Some of the balls have psychedelic colors, which would be perfect for a wand.
- If you want to change the color, look for spray paint and paint the outside carefully. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated area and ask for parental supervision.
- You can also hang an engraving or other decoration on the top of the stick to finish it however you want. Be creative and free your expression.
Step 4. Make handrails from electrical tape or leather
To make sure you can hold the stick firmly when you're on the battlefield, make sure you make the handle part. If you have an old soccer ball that you don't use anymore, undo the stitches and use one of the gem-shaped parts to make a leather-like gripping part, so you can hold the stick firmly. Sew with twine to make your wand look old-fashioned but perfect.
