The wand is not an optional tool in Witchcraft. It is one of the must have tools. The reason for this is that the wand is used for two important functions during ritual, namely invocation and directing energy. When casting a circle, the witch uses invocation to call the quarters (North, East, South and West) and to invite the Goddess and God to be present at the rite. Additionally, when performing magick, the energy that is raised during the ritual is collected in the wand and then directed to the "item" to be charged with the spell's power and intent.

Wood, in most traditions, is the prescribed material out of which a wand should be fashioned. The type of wood from which the wand is made is also important as different types of woods bestow different powers on a wand. Here are some examples:

Apple - Love, healing and immortality
Ash - Protection, prosperity, health and the sea
Birch - Protection, banishing and purification
Cherry - Divination and love
Chestnut - Love, strength, money and healing
Elder - Prosperity, protection and banishing
Elm - Love
Hawthorn - Fertility and love
Maple - Love, money and longevity
Oak - All purpose (Many "standard" staffs are made from Oak or Rowan)
Poplar - Money, success and personal riches
Walnut - Health, mental powers and riches
Willow - Divination, love, protection and healing

As a result, witches end up with a large variety of different wands over time suited for the various spells that can be cast.

Let us dwell for a moment on one of these woods - the Elder - to explore its magickal aspects and how they can be influential during magickal rituals.

Elder

The Elder tree is one of the sacred trees of both Wicca/Witchcraft and Druidism. It is strongly associated with Litha (Summer Solstice) and the White Goddess. In the Wiccan Rede, Witches/ Wiccans are cautioned not to set fire to an Elder: "Elder be ye Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be." Many Witches/Wiccans prefer not cutting a branch off the Elder to create a wand. They look for a fallen branch instead.

A Wand fashioned from Elder can be used to enhance the results of the following types of spells:

1. Protection and banishing
Its association with both Litha, which is the Summer Solstice, and the White Goddess, imbues the Elder with very strong protective powers. Because light rules over darkness during Litha, Elder is an excellent wood for banishing negativity. Use the wand both during circle casting and magick work when protection or banishment is required for highly positive results.

2. Prosperity
As strongly as the Elder dispels negativity, it attracts positive energy. The power of light afforded to Elder makes a wand fashioned from this wood highly effective in spells to attract Love, Luck and Prosperity.

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