Strip the bark from the wood completely using a small paring knife. Allow the wand to dry overnight. Once dry you may decorate it in whatever manner you see fit. Add stones and crystals, paint it, etch i t, put symbols on it. It's really all up to you. However I recommend that you put a piece of clear crystal on the top of the wand this can be secured with a leather strap or epoxy if you wish.

Elemental Wands

To make a wand with the element of;
Air use a piece of lilac.
Fire use cherry.
Water use driftwood.
Earth use dogwood or oak.

The Staff

This is made in the exact same way as the wand but the staff should be of the height of the user or roughly eye height to the user. It should be fairly straight and made of a strong hard wood. It may be decorated in any manner that you see fit or left unadorned. If you do any hiking or walking in the woods to gather herbs you may find that you have a lot of use for your staff.

Preferably, one should affix a crystal to the upright end in some fashion, usually with leather straps. The crystal may be any one of your choosing. If you want your staff to be Elementally related, follow the instructions above.

The Athame & Sword

If you're not good at knife making and let's face it not many of us are you can look around and find a knife that 'calls' to you. Start by taking a good look around at your own surroundings, your own house. Many times I've found that I already have the item, I just wasn't looking for it yet. If you don't find it there, other really good places Auntie Moon has found to obtain daggers, dirks, athames, and swords (other than online or speciality shops) are flea markets and garage sales! Be on the look out wherever you go, the item will find you. If you do purchase from a flea market or garage sale, be sure and cleanse the item heavily, removing as much old negativity as possible, before use and to consecrate it to yourself and your deity. places I've found to obtain swords and athames is actually flea markets and garage sales.

The Censer

This can be any object that is heat resistant. Earthenware, brass or other metal, sea shells work great as well. My censer is an small earthenware pot that was once used for small plants. It has three holes in the sides and works well for me. If you're ceramically talented you can make your own. Or you can purchase one. If you purchase a metal or premade censer, be sure it is big enough to hold the burning charcoal and tall enough to allow for smoke to gather and exit, instead of rapidly dissipating.

The Cauldron

People often think that this will be one of thee hardest tools to find. But the truth is they're very readily available. These can be found at any place that sells Cast Iron Cookware. Look at your local Lechter's or other speciality kitchen store. Once again, yard/garage sales and flea markets may be a good bet for this item as well.

The Chalice

This is also referred to as the Ritual Cup. Again this can be any glass or cup that you find around your house and/or which may hold any special meaning for you. Mine is an antique goblet of clear crystal which has been etched with a floral pattern. It's OLD. But, like I said, it's been hanging around my house forever. I also have two more which I use, both are green crystal, one is a wine glass and the other a cordial glass. If you like fancy items, you can go and buy a special one if you so desire.

Decorate your c halice in any way you choose by carefully etching the glass. Some people etch the )O( symbol into it. You may also leave it unadorned.

The Broom

Personally I ordered mine from Romanian but you don't have to go that far. (Hey, what can I say? It was a catalog and it was a good deal!) This can be made from an ash staff with birch twigs bound with willow binding. It's especially good if you can use the Broom plant, regular Broom, Spanish Broom and/or Scottish Broom will be wonderful as the bristles and then bind with, either, a hardy piece of the Broom plant, or a good sprig of Willow Tree. It is used to cleanse the sacred space before holding a ritual. It is also "jumped over" in some Pagan Rituals of Union or Handfasting.

The Book of Shadows

This is your personal diary and history of your life in the Craft. It should be strictly personal unto you. Cherish it, love it and above all....Use It! This book is yours and yours alone. It can be done in a plain note book, a three ring binder, a store bought journal or you can be a techno-pagan and store it on your computer. It's all up to you.

The Robe

This is easy even if you can sew worth a lick! Just buy fabric that is twice your height, it can be of any color that you like but black is the main color used. Measure the fabric from end to end and mark the middle, this is where your head will go. Cut a hole large enough for your head to fit through comfortably. Pin the sides together, tapering as you go up if you wish and then sew. No, you won't have designer duds, but this doesn't have to be fancy. This robe is good for late spring through summer use as the arms will only be about half-length.

If you want to get fancy, you can take your new robe and decorate it with cloth symbols, embroidery, crystals, or glitter, a colored cord may be added if you wish. This is your robe, your garment that you will wear when you worship...don't let anyone tell you that it MUST be this or it MUST be that. The only thing it MUST be (like all your other tools) is right for you. If you do not feel comfortable in your robe it will greatly effect any magickal workings you attempt. Also, I have run into many people who will insist that there must be different robes for different magickal workings and that those robes must be different colors even shapes! Hogwash! The only thing color has to do with it is that color helps the practioner associated his/her magick with one thing or another better. You do not need color to do this, you can do it just fine one your own. That goes for different colored candles as well...a plain white candle will work just as well for a love spell as a red one...a green one will work just as fine for a protection spell as a white one will and so on. It's all in your perception and your own view of the Universe.

Pagan Library Main Page