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.

Some people believe that the wand originated from the drumsticks in Central Asia or Siberia. These drumsticks were used for healing, religious and magic ceremonies.

Works of fiction and fantasy have given magic wands the popularity that they are enjoying now. Wands are represented as spell-casting magical rods with the ability to change destiny by performing miracles. Fairy godmothers and witches are generally shown as carrying wands with a shining star or point on its tip. Most of us are familiar with the depiction of Cinderella's fairy godmother's wand and all that it did. Wands are also portrayed as weapons used in magical duels.

In the fantasy world of Harry Potter, a wand helps the wizard or witch to focus their energies and perform spells. Wands are generally required for most spells though it is possible to perform spells without them. Each wand is said to be unique and different from other wands. They are available in many varieties, being made of different woods, such as holly, willow, rosewood or oak and having different magical cores such as phoenix feather, unicorn hair or dragon heartstring.