Perhaps making a good trickster wand requires going with the flow.
Hiya, I made a student of mine a wand in trade for her artwork. Below I share my process.
A branch fell from my backyard’s huge oak. The wand is from that. I didn’t cure the wood. That tree helps my Druidic practice.
One can think of the wand’s tip as two pronged, though one prong is tiny. Or if one does not think such a small protrusion constitutes a prong, one could think of wand tip as crooked. After I chose the piece for the wand, I decided I wasn’t happy with its crooked/pronged tip. I was in trance, and here’s what came to me:
* Of course it’s crooked—this wand is for a trickster.
* A wand does not need to be straight for energy to come out of the wand straight. In the same vein, the bend won’t make the magic bend, going awry, off-target.
* The curve is a reminder Trickster has Her hand in all endeavors, including magic, making things curve this way and that, even when the path overall moves in a straight line.
* Thus a curved tip creates a spell powerful.
* Plus the curve reminds us we can’t control whether we reach goals through magical or mundane means.
I anointed the wood with organic Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil, which cost me about 180 bucks for 1/8 oz. No surprise I’m possessive of it, but spirits told me to anoint the wand with it. Also anointed with essential oils of Peru Balsam, Spruce, and organic Lime Peel.
I left the handle end bare, so you’re touching oak when doing ritual.
Peyote stitch beading is labor-intensive, providing lots of hands-on time to bless the wand. During the initial beading, I held the wand upside down, which I intuited as good for a trickster’s wand. In one peyote stitch tube, I free-form beaded to add larger beads here and there. Felt the wand’s power building.
Upcycling silk from a gorgeous hand-me-down skirt, I built a silk tube around the wand. Felt important this practitioner have silk on her wand.
The cord is waxed cotton. As two photos show, I knotted it so its two fringes are on opposite sides of the wand, repeating the two prongs’ energy.
However—I love this!—the two fringes go in different directions from the prongs, making the wand’s end represent the sacred four directions. The implications of that are awesome. Don’t you love how magical realizations happen if you go with the flow when making a magical object? It’s like with the crooked tip: had I rejected that crookednees, I never would’ve had all the realizations about it.
And isn’t learning by going with the flow such a trickster lesson? … Perhaps making a good trickster wand requires going with the flow.
Hanging from wand:
* a coin because it’s Irish, money, gorgeous, and has a peacock and harp on it
* a little bell because a trickster needs a bell. I think the natural beads are rose quartz and goat horn, and the bell silver, but all three items are upcycled so I’m not sure. I don’t mind being uncertain because the wand’s nature doesn’t rely on labeling the items in question but on energy I felt in them.
A few note to my student:
I’m excited about our trade!
I wanted to add Dentillium shell and coral, but Dentillium is fragile and coral felt wrong. I was told they’d bless the wand by being kept near it. I put them in an organza bag for you, if you want to keep them in a bag.
Dentillium was money in ancient California and is deeply sacred to me. I only pass it on when Divinely guided. And this shell is even more special: in the photo is a note from the vendor.
The coral is dyed so can run if wet.
You could add items—e.g., herbs with magical properties you like—to the bag, if you want.
Your wand has been blessed and empowered, but I think most wands need power and blessing added by their owner.
The fabric in the photos is from a huge swatch of a silk two of my married initiates dyed and gave me. When I send the wand, I’ll wrap it in a piece of that silk. It is unhemmed.
If you don’t like the wand, no problem; I’ll know it’s for someone else.
To ensure the “price” is comparable to your artwork’s, I’ll throw in the other wand you like, which should more than do it.
My beadwork is strong. This one-of-a-kind useable art is made to last, but beadwork is inherently fragile. This isn’t a wand to make snapping motions with, or wave around in a ritual hard, or anything like that. In that vein, though the bead tubes can move up and down the wand, I’d not move ’em.
Same goes for the macramé: if it twists around, e.g., aligns with the directions the prongs are in, leave it. You have to treat the wand gently, let it shape as it will, and then it’ll make good magic for you. Heh, trickster stuff.
This handmade wand is designed by the power that flows to it from its parts, the earth, and an artisan-shaman. Aside from that and what I said above, I can’t explain what was in my soul when making the wand. However, it’s in the wand itself, which can explain itself. After all, it is your wand, made for you (unless you decide otherwise). And if you feel it is yours, but it doesn’t explain itself, that may not matter—if it is yours, it is yours.
Guarantee: if the wand breaks within two years, I repair or replace it.
Respond here or by email.
Love, honor, power, FDG
HAAAHAAA! I’m delighted!
I so hope that the swelling goes down now that you’re moving forward decisively with your latest book too!
Thank you for sharing too – it means alot.
Hugs and blessings and I like how you called the story/poem a chant because originally my deck was called Songs of the Lefties …
K.
Soooo glad they arrived safe and sound and that you are enjoying them 🙂 I too am so honoured by our trade and blessed.
“Enough” is a lefty from the 52 card oracle deck I created and I’ve no idea why I attached her but I love her dearly and thought it would be an intriguing addition to your package…here is her poem/story that I wrote for my Lefty Oracle Guidebook in case you’re interested (and it’s not completely edited yet so it may still be revised):
There comes a time when one must say:
“Enough is enough…it’s time to fly.”
To be brilliant, brave, tough and tall,
to do what must be done,
that time is now.
I release fear and doubt
as I call out,
“Divine Mother,
Divine Father
BE WITH ME NOW.”
I am guided and all is well.
Luv u!
Kathy
Your intuition about the attaching the card was spot on, oh my Goddess! That is so funny, Kathy, LOL! (And we are once again on the same page about life. No surprise, though, it makes sense I draw students who are like-minded.)
So here’s the story: It’s been so hot here that my feet are actually swelling. I’ve never had swollen feet until this past year. I’m taking care of them with natural healing, which is helping, but in terms of metaphysical causes I realized last week that I’ve been doing a lot of meditations/rituals the past five years or so about stepping forward decisively and in that one step crossing the tiny distance into everything I want.
And one thing I want is to more than ever be of service. So a few days ago I told myself, “Enough is enough, Francesca, it’s time to finish the book set! The longer you dawdle, the longer it will take for people to be able to read it, and the longer it will take to get to another project for the community. You are wrapping it up and sending it to the proofers next week.”
So, my dear Kathy, geez, you ought to be a professional psychic. … Oh, wait, you are! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with me. I love the chant.
Kathy, my pictures arrived today! I already have them on display. They definitely found their home.
I think that as time goes by they are going to develop even more meaning and blessings for me. I think that’s the nature of some art.
And it is lovely to see your walnut ink drawing in person. The snapshot you showed me transmitted its amazing magic to me but now I can see the physical part of it better. For one thing, I love the tiny details of how you worked the ink.
Pls tell me about the picture you attached to the back of the envelope in which you shipped the pictures. I removed it to keep it.
Thank you so much for doing this trade with me. I feel honored to own these original pieces.
I’m planning on delving into his questions once I spend more time working with my wand.
Cool.
It is definitely an affirmation and empowering; I have yet to work magick with it; need to anoint it first. I did share your post with my best buddy the elf who is the person that really got me into paganism to begin with back in the 80’s and who also suggested I find an ecstatic magic teacher which is how I decided to study with you! He had some interesting questions and things to say about the wand and your lovely post so thought I would share that here:
“Really liked the bit about the fork in particular. Have you used it yet? Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is it used for? is it purely talismanic? is it used in place of an athame? do you actually point it at anything? is it for sealing a spell? Or maybe it’s more like a ‘marotte’ – sort of an alter-ego, an object that you invest yourself in. I guess a druid’s staff or a witch’s ‘stang’ could be kinda like that too maybe: a power conduit, like having the spirit realms on speed-dial. dunno. As i understand it, stangs and priapic wands (and athames for that matter?) tend to embody a masculine energy. Do you think of your wand in that way? I guess it kinda makes sense in that *projecting* energy is a yang process. Maybe a wand is more of a 2-way energy traffic?”
Wow, pls thank your friend for me for suggesting an ecstatic teacher and for his kind words re my insight re the fork.
I bet you already know my response to his questions: Pls tell him I said, “Yes, … and other stuff is true about the wand too.” 🙂
My wands have arrived safely and are now magically ensconced on my altar where they fit right in! Somehow having my very first wand made by you brings everything to life in a much more solid way; magic feels more real to me now. Just knowing I have a little bit of your magick with me adds so much weightiness to my own practice, but in a totally fey touched, sparkly way…yes, gentle but oh so powerful and witchy – thank you Francesca for touching my heart.
ps. I’ll be matting your originals this weekend and sending them to you next week – blessed beeeee!
Luv,
Kathy Crabbe
Soul Reader & Artist
http://www.kathycrabbe.com
Hi,Kathy, I am glad to know the wands arrived safely. I feel special knowing they are on yr altar.
Thank you for your incredibly sweet words.
It is interesting how having something from one’s teacher can feel empowering, not in the sense of not having power without the teacher, but more as affirmation and additions.
I cannot wait for my originals, tu! ❤️
Thank you also for your kind words Francesca about my painting…i hope to have it to you by next week if all goes well ❤️
Happy dance, am doing a happy dance! Thanks!
So glad I could connect you and Kingston Sue (I think that’s you?!) And yes, FDG we are a wonderful group – very unique in our gifts indeed!
Thanks for connecting us, my dear, connectivity, yum! Sue, hi again!
what a gorgeous wand, and a beautiful story of it’s coming into being.
thank you for sharing. may it bring power and love to your magic making. xo
Wow, Sue, thank you so much! And may there be great power and love in your own magic making. Blessed be.
Well you made mine too ❤️ and I am so blessed to have you in my life ❤️
Kathy, thank you. Yes, after leading the training group today, I just felt really aware of and blessed by being in a bunch of women all of whom are extraordinary. Thank you for being you and for being in my life. … And for your painting I’m going to get soon, yahoo! ? ❤️
OMGODDESSSSSS I absolutely love what you’ve created for me Francesca! I will pore over the details you’ve written so I can absorb their magickal intention which adds so much to the work itself which also can stand alone in it’s awesome beauty and power. Words are beyond me…almost! But I have to say thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart and I just want to share this post and this wand with everyone so please let me know if that is alright!
Blessings and love,
Kathy Crabbe
http://kathycrabbe.com
Artist/Writer/Soul Reader/Teacher
LOL, you made my day! Oh my goodness, I am so happy from your reaction. Yes, of course share the post, please please please. It’s public, so no problem. Thanks for wanting to share it, I’m honored honored honored! I look forward to your walnut ink drawing blessing my home. This is a wonderful trade. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️