Living Wands of the Druids
by Jon G. Hughes
Inner Traditions

Exploring the history, lore, and creation of living wands—those crafted from local natural materials—fifth-generation Druid Jon G. Hughes presents a practical guide to the harvesting, crafting, and potentializing of living wands as well as rods and staffs. He offers detailed harvesting advice, explaining the spiritual energies specific to each tree as well as important external influences such as the phases of the moon and the seasons. He looks in depth at wood lore, explaining the variety of woods and other botanicals that may be used to craft wands, their magical and hermetic attributes and virtues, and how these influence the adept’s intention and magical workings. Trees and botanicals examined include oak, hawthorn, hazel, birch, apple, rowan, mistletoe, holly, and ivy.

The author explores various types of wands—from rudimentary, entwined, and compound wands to more unusual wands, such as thorn, forked, and brewing wands as well as protective and binding bundles—detailing how each differs in its use and intended outcome. He offers step-by-step instructions on how to use wands for magical workings and explains other aspects of wand practice, including cleansing, intention, potentializing, and how to properly return a wand to nature after its purpose has been fulfilled.

Presenting a complete guide to crafting and using living wands, this book allows you to harness the magical essence of the living natural resources that surround you, helping you elevate your manifestations from the mundane to the higher spiritual planes.