chanting as you work. Then get some linseed oil from
your local hardware store and rub several coats of oil
in with your hands until dry, chanting all the while:
“Blessed by thou rod of power; Blessed be thou wand
of wisdom...” This will deepen the color, accentuate
the natural grain, seal the wood, and give a fine luster.
Finally, polish it with beeswax for a silky finish.
There are two ways to finish off the small end of
your baculum; either as a thyrsus (pronounced THIR-
sus), or with a crystal. The thyrsus was the pinecone-
tipped staff carried by Dionysos, Greek god of wine
and revelry. If you wish to finish your wand as a
thyrsus, carve the end into a knob with a sharp knife
so it resembles a pinecone. Or you can attach an
actual small unopened pinecone on the end, in the
same way as I’ll next describe for attaching a crystal.If you prefer, find a crystal the same diameter as
your wand. To create a powerful conductor of energy,
magnetize a length of piano wire by stroking a magnet
along it in one direction over and over until it will pick
up paper clips. Cut a thin notch with a hacksaw into
each end of the wand, and then anchor the magne-
tized wire into the notch at the tip end. Next, make a
small wad of beige-colored epoxy putty (or melted pine
resin if you want to be really traditional!) and press it
onto the small end of your wand. Carefully set the
crystal into place and smooth the putty so it blends
seamlessly into both the wood and the crystal.Use the wire to wrap the joined place to cover the
putty, then continue in a wide open spiral all the way
down the Wand to the base, where you may add an-
other tight wrap before anchoring it into the other
notch. Cap the base end with a cabochon, a smoothly
rounded gemstone with a flat back. Or you could cap
the end with a small round magnet, as medieval alche-
mists used to do (allowing for special “magical” ef-
fects). Be sure to remember to measure carefully, and
cut off a bit of the base if necessary after the tip crys-
tal is in place, so that your finished wand is still ex-
actly the length of your forearm and hand.
After you have finished, wrap your Wand in linen
or silk, declaring: “So mote it be!”Engraving and Consecrating
On the next Wednesday of the waxing Moon, un-
wrap your wand and, chanting all the while, mark the
following runes—first in pencil, then in ink, working
from right to left, from tip to base:These commonly used runes (and all those fol-
lowing) come from the Greater Key of Solomon. Bill
Hedrick, head of the Ordo Templi Orientis magickal
lodge, says that they are a degenerate crypto-Hebraic
script, and they translate as “cut a green young
branch.” This is just the first step of instructions, rather
than anything particularly mystical. But they have
become traditional through centuries of use. As with
any of these tools, you don’t have to use these tradi-
tional runes. Instead you might just inscribe your own
magickal name in Theban runes. Many Wizards give
special names to their wands, staffs, knives, and
swords. If you decide to do so, you might also in-
scribe that name into it.
If you have the skill, you may then carve out the
runes with a small sharp knife (X-Acto makes some
great V-shaped carving blades for just this kind of
work—but be careful not to cut yourself!), engrave
them with a Dremel (best), or burn them in with a wood-
burning tool. You may even fill in the carved runes
with paint of whatever color you choose.
To consecrate your wand for magickal use, burn
some Mercurial incense, such as cinnamon. Pass your
wand through the smoke, saying:I consecrate thee, Rod of Skill
To focalize my Truest Will.
May my power flow through thee,
As I do Will, so mote it be!When you are finished, wrap it again in linen or silk.Using Your Wand
Your wand is made for channeling and focusing
your personal energy. To use it, hold the base end in
the palm of your hand, and point with the thyrsus or
crystal end. Visualize your auric energy being gath-
ered and focused through the glowing wand to beam
forth as a laser, directing your magickal Will to what-
ever purpose you desire. You may use it in rituals to
draw the Circle or salute the four Quarters. In divina-
tion, use your wand to point to the cards, or runes, or
whatever you are using, to help focus your concen-
tration and receive the correct message. When you
work spells, use your wand to point towards whatever
you want your energy to reach, such as healing an
injured friend, or protecting an endangered forest.
Treat your wand as a part of your own body—a very
special and magickal part, but still yours, and no one
else’s. And always keep it wrapped whenever you are
not using it! Lay it on the front of your altar, or at the
East (right) side—the direction of Air.Lesson 3: The Chalice (Water)
The magickal cup, or chalice, represents the an-
cient Cauldron of Goddess Cerridwen, which grantedCourse Three: Practice 105
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