Rhadmos - Wands and Wishboxes - About Wands

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About Wands:
There is not much to say about the making of a wand.  The process is mainly intuitive.  The choice of materials is generally governed by the intended use but there is much leeway in that choice. At the request of customers we have used a range of materials - copper, bronze, iron, steel and silver; these alongside stones, crystals and glass. However, by preference we tend towards wood as a natural choice because of its connection to raw natural energies.
A wood is respected for its texture and character.  Most of the woods we use, for reasons of tradition, are British natives but others may chosen for their particular qualities – a good example being rhododendron, which produces wonderfully twisted and characterful branches from mature bushes.
Our wood is taken either from windfalls or from prunings supplied by our tree surgeon friends.  Only in very rare circumstances is wood deliberately cut from the growing tree for the making of wands or staffs  (this is where a wood needs to be taken at a particular time or moon-phase for use in ritual magic and this is done with great care and respect for the living tree or bush).
Generally we tend to work with Beech, Birch, Ash, Hazel and Oak.  We do use other woods including Elm when available and Holly, which makes excellent straight and strong staffs. Honeysuckle is a particular favourite but suitable lengths are none too common. 

Our wands are not straight – if you insist on a wand that is straight try a length of dowel!  We endeavour to respond to the natural flowing form of the wood with it’s potential to channel energy.

Wands are produced using hand tools.  No power tools are used; we consider that raucous noise is not conducive to the contemplative nature of the craft.  Wands are generally made to order, using the client’s own specification.  We keep a number of items in stock, which have been made when a particularly inspirational length of wood has been discovered.

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image of hands measuring a cubit against a forearm. By tradition a wand is 19½ inches (495mm) long. This is the same as the length of a human forearm - or a Cubit (specifically a Babylonian Cubit – but whether there is any significance in this is anyone’s guess).  This dimension is also given in the “Grand Grimoire”, an eighteenth century French workbook on magical practice.  For us, however, this set length is a historical and familiar starting point for the making of a wand.  We often make other sizes, when the nature of the wood calls for it, or for special purposes – longer wands are helpful, for instance, in drawing or casting the circle.  A wand can be thin and willowy or fat and charged with deep energy - the wood generally dictates and we endeavour to be sensitive to the identity of the evolving wand.

Because for some practitioners it is important to maintain an element of secrecy, we will produce short versions that can be carried discreetly and safely in public.  These Lytewands or “pocket wands” are 11 ¼ inches long.  They are fashioned with the same intent as their larger cousins and should not be considered lesser in any way.

There are no hard and fast rules.  What is important to us is that when a wand leaves our hands we can be confident that it has been made with integrity and respect for the traditions and rituals for which it is intended. 

Our wands are all hand made in the North of Staffordshire.  We do not sub-contract work out, nor do we have work mass-produced abroad.  There are plenty of cheap, mass-produced wands available on the Internet, a quick search will show you where you can buy these – try ebay. 

Our wands are "clear" - “psychically neutral”, when they leave our care and we take great care to ensure that they carry no charge, intent or residual energy. When a wand is finished we use a neutralising and cleansing process to remove any residual charge, it is then handled with gloved hands so that there is no possibility of energy transfer. The wand is supplied in a muslin bag and will not have had direct contact with any hands other than the recipient's.

I should mention here that all our wands and staves are given names during their evolution from sticks to magical objects. Whilst they may seem fanciful, the names are ours and are a response to the nature of the wood and it's energy potential. Sometimes the identity of the wood shines through as we work and the name used is a reflection of this. Names live with the objects until they pass on to their final custodians. These names can be kept or changed and we would impose no covenant that they should be retained. We mention elsewhere that we believe that objects have power - for us this is also true of names. The resonance of our chosen name will guide our hands during the creative process.

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Since there are so many various Traditions within the community of magical practitioners the method of consecration/dedication is left to the owner of the wand.  We can supply suggestions if required to do so but we have no specific allegiance to any Tradition.

Depending upon intended use or Tradition we embellish our wands and staffs with relevant talismans, sigils and cantrips.  These are often in Runic or Ogham.  We will also use Sanskrit but most of our work tends to be native, with the elder influences of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, reflecting the history of the British Isles.  As with most areas of magical practice, the Qabalah (spell it how you will) has entered into some Traditions.  To reflect this we have on occasion incorporated relevant Hebrew characters and symbols into our work when required.
Once again I will stress that we hold to no particular Tradition or doctrine but we have respect for all sincere paths to inner truth.

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The wands shown on this web site are either, as stated, part of a private collection - when we have the owner’s permission to show them; or they are made as spontaneous expressions of the craft, stimulated by a particular length of wood that has fired our imagination.  Some of the items on the web site are for sale and the prices reflect the value that we place on our work.  We will make wands to order and are happy to work with customers to produce something that exactly fits their requirements.   If you have a particular need or request please email us via the link on our Contact Us Page. We are happy to answer questions and discuss any relevant matters.
Please note that we are not at all embarrassed by money issues - if you have a particular budget, no matter how restricted - talk to us - we will be happy to work with you!
My name is Rospro. I am happy to answer any questions about what we do and how we do it; and to discuss any of the above.

May you be happy, May you be well.
Rospro Signature


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© Rhadmos 2009