Book Review: The Witchs Wand by Alferian Guydion MacLir
Review by Dawn Thomas

264 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Release Date: December 5, 2015

Reference, Spirituality, Religion, New Age, Paganism, Earth-Based Religions

This book is part of the Witch’s Tool series by Llewellyn Publications.

These are the sections in the book.

What is a wand?
Wands in Legend and History
The Wand as a Symbol
Wood, Bone, Metal, Stone
How to Make a Witch’s Wand
Want Gesture and Geometry
Witch’s Wand in Specific Spells
Wands in Ceremonies
Wands in Seasonal Festivals

The author wrote this book from a wandmaker’s perspective. I love his basic description, “It is a stick used to point at things or tap on them…” The author discusses how the wand represents fire and why some believe it should represent air. There is a very comprehensive list of color magic.

The second chapter goes into detail with mythology and history from Cadmus to Circe. Not only does the author discuss wands but also staffs and staves. He writes how wands are depicted in movies. These include Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, Tinkerbell and of course, Harry Potter. However, in these books, the person holding the want needs it to focus magic. In the next chapter, the author describes the parts that make up a wand. These include the pommel or reservoir (handle or hilt), the shaft and the point. It represents the element of air.

Chapter four covers the types of materials used to make wands. There is an extensive list of wood from trees, including the trees of the Ogham. The next chapter goes into the detail of different stains and finishes. Chapter six describes the shapes and their uses along with the specific meanings. Sigils, runes and other magical alphabets are also included. The author provides a variety of spells in chapter seven. This chapter also has suggestions for using wands during meditations, astral travel, and projects. I like the idea of using a wand while doing QiGong.

In the next chapter, the author gives examples of several types of ceremonies. I love the idea of using a wand to write my name in the form of a sigil during a naming ceremony. The last chapter has suggestions for wands, specifically for each Sabbat. At the end of the book, there are three tables. The first table details the trees and their magical qualities. The second table covers magical powers of stones and metals. The last table has beast symbolism.

The book is well-written and is easy to follow. It is an excellent resources for anyone who wants to learn more about wands or are interested in making wands.