An Introduction to the World of Magic Wands

"Wandlore is a complex and mysterious branch of magic."

Mr. Ollivander

Without question it is essential to find a magic wand that works. Especially in the world of Harry Potter wands where witches and wizards depend on them in their daily lives.

Wands are used by witches and wizards to channel their magic powers and to cast focused spells. It is commonly thought that a wand increases magical ability but in fact this is not true. A wand actually magnifies and focuses magic making it possible to create very powerful spells. It has been compared to the fire that is created by focused sunlight through a magnifying glass.

There are many things to consider when finding the right wand; it really is not as easy as you might think. For the most part the process is based on trial and error. When making a wand for a specific witch or wizard the elements that are used generally reflect their character. However, the best results are usually achieved when the wand chooses the owner.

Magic Wands

A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick, usually made of wood, ivory or metal which is considered to be generally used in witchcraft for casting various kinds of spells. Some religions use wands as part of ceremonial rituals. The word "wand" originally was a synonym for rod.

In ancient Egypt, wands were among the various articles left in Pharaoh's tombs along with articles of personal use, weapons, amulets and magic texts. The wand was supposed to allow the soul of the Pharaoh to use all these articles. Moses is believed to have carried a hazel wand. In wall murals of the third and fourth centuries, representations of magic wands are found.

In some branches of magic, wands are used for the channeling of energy. Though wands are generally crafted out of wood or metal, crystal is also used for making them. A branch of oak, hazel or other trees is pruned and then carved or decorated to create a wand that suits the magician. Nowadays, readymade wands are also available and can be purchased from several stores or even over the Internet.

Harry Potter Dumbledore Wand

 Harry Potter Dumbledore Wand
Wand measures 15 inches in length. Collector's box included. From the Noble Collection.

Harry Potter Illuminating Wand

 Harry Potter Illuminating Wand

A recreation of the famous wand.
Wave the wand and the light goes on
Wave it again, and it turns off!
Wand measures 14 inches in length.

Witchcraft Magic For Children

Among the most famous children's book writer today is a British woman named Joanna Kathleen Rowling. This lady, in my opinion, is one of the greatest storytellers of our time. She was the one who brought us the amazing wizarding world of the wizard kid extraordinaire named Harry Potter, the boy who lived.
Quite aptly, I first got wind of the "Boy Who Loved" from a kid. I just finished college and was tutoring some brats when one of the said brats excitedly told me about a boy who have these amazing adventures in a school where magic was always the order of the day. Back then, I just smiled at the brat, nodded my head condescendingly, and told her to continue studying for her spelling test the next day. Well, what was I supposed to do? I was still an unenlightened muggle back then that I know Hermione would have forgiven me for my snobbery. A few months after that, one of my childhood friends excitedly handed me a book that looked suspiciously like it belonged to an encyclopedia collection. She was animatedly mumbling things like "wizard", "orphan", "spells", and "witchcraft magic" all in the same breath that I accepted the book just so she would stop babbling. And since I have never been picky when it comes to reading materials, I gladly promised her that I would check the book. So, I read the book that very night. And boy, was I surprised! Stunned! Astounded! Taken aback! The minute I opened the book and read the first page, I was hooked. I gobbled the book in just one day. (What about sleep, you ask? What "sleep"? The concept flew right out of my head when I read the word "wizard".) And by the time I got to the last page, I was grinning like I was under a laughing spell or something. I loved both the quirky and scary teachers of Hogwarts, I so wanted to hug Hagrid, and I was absolutely awed by their headmaster. And I felt so involved in the story that I really thought I would be seeing a real fire-breathing dragon flying by my window that night.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the first book in the series that I got to read was the fourth book. Well, never you mind that. Not being able to read the series in the correct sequence did not diminish any of its greatness for me. And years after I have had that first glimpse of Harry's world, the memory of it still has the power to make me giggle like a little kid. Witchcraft magic, spells, dragons, goblins, ghouls, dark wizards, magic wands, and flying broomsticks...what more could anybody wish for? And now, in between 'The Journey to Trad Witchcraft by Adrian Eglinton'wi and The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, I still find myself browsing through Ms. Rowling's brilliant masterpiece sometimes. Well, real or not, I'm glad I got acquainted with Harry Potter's magical world where pictures are like movies without sound and people could travel by just touching a smelly old boot.

Choosing Between Straight and Crooked Magick Wands

Magick wands come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of materials. Ritual tools made from Pewter, Crystal and Wood are all very popular. For the purposes of this article, we will talk about the Magick wands that are handcrafted from wood. There is much debate about which type of wood wand is more effective. There are some practitioners who insist that wands must be straight. Others instantly dismiss the significance of such an argument and instead swear by the use of curved wands.
When it comes to choosing between straight or crooked magick wands the person using the tool will find a preference. You can have a perfectly straight wand which is sometimes turned on a lathe. This design is more in keeping with Harry Potter style magick wands. The thinking behind this theory is the magick is cast in an accurate way. This is because these wands are almost perfectly straight and the spell hits the intended target.
Or you can decide to go with a bent, curved or twisted wand. These wands may not have a uniform appearance yet they are highly individual pieces. Many people have no problem in choosing such a unique tool. The critics believe that crooked, bent or twisted wands do not deliver accurate results from spell casting. The supporters of crooked wands dispute this belief.
On a personal level, I have used both types of wands for over 12 years with excellent results. Like any experienced witch or warlock I have a number of wands at my disposal. I like to use certain wands for a particular kind of spell or ritual. I have never been unduly concerned with slight bends, kinks or twists in a magick wand. If the tip is straight then the magick is delivered as intended and there has never been any adverse effect.
I must admit to having a fondness for unusual shapes where my magick wands are concerned. Make no mistake I have a good number of straight wands which serve a purpose. However, the crooked and bent wands have a certain character in abundance that is seldom found in similar quantities in the conventionally shaped wand.
There is no wrong or right answer where the shape of your magick wand is concerned. And there is no rule that says you must possess only the one. It all comes down to personal preference. The best course of action is to try several and find which type works best for you. Of course, you may end up like me and many other practitioners with a sizeable collection of highly charged magick wands to call upon.

Wands in Harry Potter's World

In Harry Potter's world, no wizard or witch is truly complete without a wand. Wizards use wands to channel their magic powers so that they can cast spells, although as it happens, some are able to work magic without wands. However, it's apparently very difficult to do powerful and focused spells without a wand.
While it would seem that a wand increases a person's magical ability, it is more correct to say that the wand serves as a focus for magic. Think of magic as sunlight and wands as magnifying glasses: Sunlight can burn a leaf when focused through a glass.
Mr. Ollivander is said to be the best wand maker alive, although many favor the European wands made by Gregorovitch. Ollivander comes from a long line of wandmakers who have been working their craft since 382 B.C.
Wands are made of wood, and each one has some item or substance as its magical core. Ollivander typically used one of three items as a magical core: Unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, or a phoenix feather. Other wandmakers might use different materials, such as veela hair.
Wands are peculiar things that seem to have personalities and rules of their own. According to Ollivander, the wand chooses the wizard-- not the other way around. A wand remains loyal to its chosen wizard. Although it's possible for a wizard to use another's wand, it won't feel quite natural; the wizard will have the most success with the wand that chose him.
A wand will often reflect the qualities of the wizard. For example, Hagrid's wand was made from sturdy oak. Dolores Umbridge's wand is short, just like her.
Often it seems that the wood used to make the wand corresponds with the wizard's date of birth according to the Celtic calendar; a tree is associated with each month in the Celtic year, and each tree has its own symbolic meaning. It works rather like the zodiac. Harry's wand is made from holly, which corresponds with his birthday (July 31st). Incidentally, holly symbolizes luck, protection, as well as death and rebirth.
If there isn't a Hogwarts class on wand lore, there ought to be!