How to Make a Wand

Wand Tutorial!

Hi Guys!

So on tumblr I asked if you guys would like me to create a wand tutorial, and I received a resounding “YES!” So here you go! (*= optional)

Supplies you will need:

1. Scissors
2. Ruler
3. Jewelers Needle Nose Pliers
4. Tung Oil
5. 20 Gauge Wire (brass or whatever wire color) and *22 Gauge Wire (this one is optional for extra wire wrapping)
6. Stick/ Branch about .5 to 75 inches in diameter
7. Cord (Leather or Hemp)
8. Thin Cloth- (a cloth handkerchief is excellent for this, DO NOT GET a normal fuzzy cloth.)
9. Quartz Crystal (about 1.5-2.5 inches long)
10. *Beads (optional)
11. Small sharp knife (or wood carving tools you can get at Hobby Lobby)
12. *Small Hand saw (just in case you need to make your stick smaller)
13. Fine Grain Sand Paper (a nail file works great for this- make sure it's unused though!)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Instructions:

Step 1: First start out by finding the wood! (I use wood that has already fallen from the tree. Make sure the bark matches though so you know what tree it comes from! Because different woods have different magical properties, etc.) Don't forget to ask the tree if you can have it, and also it's nice to leave a small offering behind as thanks.

2. Next, once you get home, begin to strip off the bark with a small sharp knife (or you can go to hobby lobby and get some wood carving tools- which I did.) Go with the grain, not across it.
   
3. After all the bark is removed, gently sand the wood with fine grained sand paper. (Or a nail file) Make sure all sharp edges are smooth and filed down.
   
4. If you want to draw out the woods natural color/shine rub/apply Tung oil to your clean cloth and very lightly rub into the he wood. (Don't use a lot, because it will take forever to dry.
   You can also use other wood finishes if you desire... Allow the wand to dry for at least a day. 
   
5. When the wand is dry, it's time for the wire wrapping! Cut a strip of wire (approx. 40 inches long.)
6. Then, fold the wire in half around the center of the crystal. Twist the two ends together around the stone.
   
7. Begin to wire wrap downwards on the stone. (the picture is up side down). It's ok if the wire wrapping is loose, it will need to be later down the road when we weave the wire. 
   
8. Once you reach the end of the stone, twist the wire straight down like 5-10 times. This creates a little tail that helps attach the stone to the wood. 
   
9. Continue wire wrapping exactly how you did to the crystal but this time onto the wood for about 2 inches into the wood. 
   
   
   
10. Now, it's time to go back up! Start wire wrapping upwards (toward the crystal)! 
    
    
    
    
11. Once you reach the crystal, get the closest wire to you and wrap it around the lowest wire of the crystal. (make 2 loops around the wire.) This technique is how you will STABALIZE the crystal in place. 
    
12. Continue moving in a zig-zag ( almost clock wise around ) pattern with the same wire, move across the base of the crystal until you are almost out of wire (leave about a 2-3 inches- this will turn into your curly-q). 
    
13. With the other (second) long piece of wire that was left dangling, begin tucking the wire and weaving in in a zig-zag like pattern (counter clock wise). This is so you can wire wrap the back of the crystal. (When you are done, leave a 2-3 inch tail)
    
14. With the tails create a spiral from each, and move it towards the center of the stone! Since the stone is gong to be loose, create little lightning bolt shapes with your needle nose pliers to tighten the wire around the crystal. 
    
    

2. *OPTIONAL STEP* if you want to add beads on your wand, with your 22 gauge wire (a strip about 20 inches long) wire wrap down the wand. Each time you wrap, string a bead, the pull the two ends together and twist. Keep doing this until you are satisfied. On the last twist around the wand, create spirals and pull it around the wand for a finished look.
   
   
3. The hardest part is now done!! Now, time to create the handle! Get your leather cord or hemp and cut about 70 inch strip. (if it's a really thin cord). Gather the cord and leave a 5 inches to dangle. Then, with the longer end, start about 3-4 inches from the end, begin wrapping the cord downwards (away from the crystal.) Make sure the wrap is tight. 
   

2. Once you reach the end of the wand, still with the longer end of the cord, move upwards, in a large spiraling motion and meet the 5 inch dangly strip, and tie them together in a knot. (At this point you can cut the excess ends or do the next step.)
   
3. *Optional Step- With the two dangly ends of the cord, you can string beads and feathers onto it!

Congratulations you have now a completed wand!

I apologize for the crappy photo's but you should get the gist of things! So tell me what you think by commenting down below! If there is something I did not address,  let me know!

Bright Blessings,

~Brittany

Creating an Altar

Altars are as unique as a person is. They reflect our spirituality, personality and mental state. It can become our sacred space where we leave the mundane behind to create something magical. But it also is an important place of worship for our Gods as well as our Ancestors.

So how to create one? Like I stated before, altars are very individual but here are several common features of modern Pagan ones:

- Figurines or Art- representations your patron deities, ancestors, etc.
- Spell Book or Spiritual Journal- other names depending on your path are: Book of Shadows, Grimoires, etc.
-  Elemental Representations: like Candles (for fire), Feathers (for air), Shells (for water), Soil (for earth).
- Wand- this can be made of anything, mine for instance is made of a long white antler tip with a quartz on the end. The point is that the wand is used to focus and channel your energy.
-Crystals- these are used in spell work by enhancing it; giving your energy a boost or grounding yourself.
-Divination tools-  such as: Tarot cards, scrying bowls, crystal ball, scrying mirror, ogham staves, runes, rods,  pendulums, etc.
-A Small Cauldron- great for spell work of all types where you need to burn things. Also it can be used as a scrying bowl.
-Chalice or Drinking Horn-  used symbolically or ritualistically, used to toast to the Gods etc.
-Incense or smudge stick- Used to cleanse/ purify your sacred space. Incense can also be used as a divination tool or aid.
-Offerings-  this can include anything you deem to be fit to give your deities. I happen to use different herbs as my offerings, but you can use food products, handmade gifts etc.
-Altar Cloth- a great item to liven up your altar, which also can have practical uses.

Now where in the world are you going to find this stuff- especially when your'e on a budget? A lot of the items on your altar you'll find are handmade by yourself- like your spell books/ journals, wands, offerings, and some divination tools. But what about Cauldrons? Chalices? Altar Cloths, etc? Well, a lot of the things I mentioned can be found out Garage sales. I have found sooo much stuff while out and about that work as great ritual items! Also check thrift stores and consignment shops,  a local shop of mine that sells mostly consignment clothing has some home items and I found a great mortar and pestle there! Check GoodWill as well,  I have found dozens upon dozens of cauldrons there. The one I currently use is actually from there! As for an altar cloth, you can use scarves or tapestries!
Next, CHECK YOUR PARENTS KITCHEN. You would not believe the stuff that you'll find there, like old glass goblets that can be used as a ritual item. Also you can find great small offering plates! All of which were tucked away in the back of a cabinet. Just don't forget to ask if you can have them!

But, hey, what if your thinking: "I want an altar, but I'm still in the broom closet!!! What should I do????GAHHH!"
Well here is what you can do, as much as it is a hassle to do, you can get a large old wooden travel trunk to hold all your altar supplies. Then, when you need to do a ritual or just meditate you can set it all up on the top of the trunk like a table. When you are finished, just place the items back inside and slide the trunk under your bed. Another option is that you can set up a small altar in the corner of your closet. This way it is out of sight, but you can still have it permanently set up.

So I hoped I helped some, and if there is something that I missed that you would like me to address, leave me a comment below!

Bright Blessings,
~Brittany

P.S. The picture above is a photo of  my own Altar! :D

Craft Alert! Making Divination Tools

Greetings my Witchy and Pagan friends!
This latest entry is all about creating Divination tools! There are so many tools that you can create, but I'm only going to address a few. You will learn how to create scrying mirrors, quicky scrying bowls, pendulums and pendulum boards and Norse runes. Since this will be a long entry, there will be a second post that I will make next week. That will be about creating your own unique oracle set and divination with different colored gemstones.

Now to get crafting!

1. Scrying Mirror-
Supplies you *need*:

• Picture frame (preferably wood) with the glass inside
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Wide paint brush 
• newspaper/paper towel
• Sheet protector to use as a palate (or just use a paint palate)

Steps:
1. First get your empty picture frame and take off the back so you can get to the glass. Once off, throughly wash the glass so it is perfectly clean of any dust.

2. Lay newspaper or a paper towel down, then place the glass on top. This is so you don't get black paint everywhere. Get your black paint and pour out a little on your sheet protector or palate.

 

3. In one direction begin to apply the paint on to the glass. Be very careful to apply evenly- don't glob it on!

4. Once the first is put on, wait about 10 min to air dry. Once dry it may seem like the black paint is perfectly put on and didn't streak, the best ways to check if you have missed any spots on the glass is to hold it up to the light!

5. If you have streaks (like in the picture) apply a second thin coat of black paint. Wait 10 min to dry (or until it's perfectly dry and you don't see any wet spots.)

6. Super carefully not to scratch the painted back, place the non painted side face down onto the picture frame and reassemble everything. You're done!

EXTRA DETAILS for the mirror:
7. To make your mirror a little extra special, on the frame you can paint crescent moons, or wood burnish the out side with magical symbols!

2. Quicky Scrying Bowl

Supplies:

• shallow wooden bowl (you can usually find these at thrift stores or goodwill if you don't have one on hand.)
• wood burning tool (aka pyrography tool that you can find at any craft store. They are around $12)
• Silver Paint
• Fine (thin) paint brush 

Steps:

Preparation-> If you have bought the wooden bowl from a thrift shop, you need to throughly wash it with a anti bacteria soap.
1. With the bowl and begin to draw lightly with pencil of your desired design. I prefer to draw on it free hand but you can use a stencil. Have your wood burnisher on and heating up- make sure the tip is not touching anything so you wont catch something on fire.

2. Once the wood burnisher is sufficiently hot begin to trace your design on the wood.
3. Once completed burnishing, trace the design below it in silver paint!

5. Wait for it to dry and you are done! See, wasn't that quick! :)

3. Pendulums
Supplies:


Option A: Natural Pendulum-

• Shell (or you can use a raw crystal, holey rock, etc... )
• a small wood or ceramic bead for the end of the pendulum
• 12 inch leather chord
•  20 gauge brass wire (about 15 inches or so)
• scissors and needle nose jewelry pliers

Option B- Chain and Crystal Pendulum

• Quartz Crystal (any crystal will work)
• 10 inch brass cable chain
• 10 inches of brass 20 gauge wire 
• 2 small jump rings
• A small sparkly bead (for the end of the pendulum)
• Head pins for beads (or you can just use the wire)
• scissors

Pendulum A steps:
1. Starting with your pre-cut wire begin wire wrapping from the top of shell (the point is facing downwards). You need to create a loop so that the leather cord can go through this loop. (When you are wire wrapping, treat it like you would be creating a pendant, if that makes sense.)

2. Once the shell (or crystal etc.) has been wire wrapped, tie one end of the chord through the top loop of the shell several times.

3. Now at the other end of the leather chord, slide your wood bead or ceramic bead on and then tie the end! 

4. Congrats your done!

Pendulum B steps:

1. Starting with your pre-cut wire, begin wire wrapping from the top of crystal (the point is facing downwards). You need to create a loop so that the jump ring can go through it. (When you are wire wrapping, treat it like you would be creating a pendant, if that makes sense.)

2. Open the jump ring with your needle nose pliers and place the wire wrapped stone on it. Then with your 10 inch cable chain, slide the last link onto the jump ring too. Close the jump ring tightly.

3. Now with your head pin (see below for what these look like) or with your wire, slide a sparkly crystal bead onto it. The create a loop at the end of that. Next get your other jump ring, open it up with needle nose pliers, and slide the last link of the chain onto it. After that, slide the crystals head pin loop onto the jump ring. Close the jump ring tight.  (Example below- a bead with a head pin on it)

4. You're done!

It should look like this:

4. Pendelum Board

Supplies:

• A smooth, cut piece of wood. (In the picture is a 5"X5" wood square that you can get at Michaels or any craft store.)
• Wood burnishing tool
• Pencil

Steps:

1. On the wood piece, draw on your design. I chose to do a pentacle :) At the top and bottom, write the word "Yes." To the right and left of your design, right the word "No." Then in the in-between areas write "Maybe." The reason behind writing all this stuff is that when the pendulum is swinging, you know what the answer to your question was. *As you draw, have your wood burnisher heating up*

2. Once sufficiently hot, trace your wood burnisher over the design over the sketch. Feel free to embellish as you go!

3. You're done!

5. Norse Elder Futhark Runes

Supplies:

• 24 river rocks
• silver acrylic paint
• A list of all the runes you can print one here: http://www.badalijewelry.com/runekey.htm
• fine paint brush
• sheet protector (as your paint palate)

Steps

1. One gather your rocks from a river if you can, I say this because they are super flat and smooth and perfect to work on.

2. One by one, with your silver paint (on the sheet protector palate), begin painting each rune on the rock. As you do this, meditate on the symbols meaning. 

3. Ta da, that's it!
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Well everyone, I appreciate you  guys reading and I can't wait for the second part of this post. It will definitely be more fun and creative!

So what do you guys think so far!?! Comment below! :D

Goodnight!
~Brittany

Quicky Post!

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to a post real fast to let all of you lovelies know that I haven't forgotten about this blog and I will be doing a new entry sometime this week! It's going to be a "how to" create your own divination tools!

It will be awesome and fun so I hope you will stay tuned. Also, I wanted to let you guys know that I am a huge tumblr freak now (which is why you don't see many posts here anymore) so if you want the latest news, images, EVERYTHING that is going on check out my tumblr page: http://eirecrescent.tumblr.com/

Next, I wanted to welcome all of my new followers! HI!!!!!!! Remember, you guys can always contact me- via posting below in the comments section or on the "contact button" on my profile page.

Goddess Bless, and I will see you soon!!!
~Brittany

One Witch's Way- Incorporating Paganism or Witchcraft in your daily life!

Hello my Pagan and Witchy Friends!
It's been far too long since I have last written, even though this blog is constantly on my mind! This latest entry is going to be about incorporating your faith and practice into your daily life!

As a college student, there is simply never enough hours in the day it seems for anything but homework. Not to mention having a job on top of that! And when there is a brief free moment all we really want to do is just take a deep breath and just... relax.
The problem with this is, we are so physically invested that we neglect our spiritual selves. Quickly, we begin to forget to live our faith. Whether it be to call upon our Gods and Goddesses for inner guidance, seasonal festivals, meditation and reflection, and the reasons WHY we are Pagan and (or) Witches.

I will freely admit where there has been times in my life that I had been slacking in some departments of my faith, but how I got eventually out of it was by creating art.

Art to me is a reflection of my spirituality. My art is the deepest part of me. Whether is be painting, beading, wood-burnishing, sewing and bookbinding, my blood hums with the energy that I pour into that object.

With the opening of my online pagan store, it allowed to reach depths of my faith that was unexpected. My creations forced me to further research each Pagan or Witchy object- symbols, spells, history, herb lore, crystals, everything.

I found myself doing more guided meditations and talking to and calling upon my patron Goddess, Danu. I became more active in my spiritual practice. So what I learned is that you need to find something that you are passionate about and weave faith within that action.

For example, say you are passionate about gardening. Start growing a small herb garden! With each herb you will learn their name, their magical and medicinal properties. You can harvest the herbs and use them in your spellwork~ and they will have even more meaning because you nurtured them to fruition.

Say you are not sure what exactly your passionate about but you do want to start being more active in your faith but time is a huge factor for you. There are a few things you can do while on "the go" or incorporate into your daily practice.

1. Incorporate Nighttime magic- create your own anti-nightmare spells, peaceful sleeping, healing, herbal sachets or magical pillows, rituals etc...
Two useful resources for this sort of thing can be found in:

A.) Wiccan Spell a Night by Sirona Knight.
For those of you who are all like "HEY, I'm not Wiccan I'm (insert a Pagan branch here)!" Well, neither am I, but it is a handy resource for nighttime magic. You can always adjust and adapt the spells to suit your needs or make your own!

B.) The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes
This book is truly invaluable, and  be on any Witch's shelf. This is probably my favorite books because there is so much information in it! This book can help spark magical crafty ideas! 

C. Make your own magical teas and sleep herbal blends! Pretty self explanatory!

2. Start Chanting.
Learning chants are beyond handy!! You can compose your own, find them in books or on the internet.  Most importantly, you can do them anywhere- on the bus or in a car, as you walk, you can do them when you are about to do something important. Eg. I always chant to the Goddess to guide my fingers right before I an about to perform a piece on my harp, because I get nervous playing in front of people. This allows me to have the Goddess calm me down and center myself.

3. Wear a symbol of your faith- 
This doesn't need to be some gaudy pentacle or anything, just something that is important to you that you can directly link to your faith as an affirmation of your spirituality. You can make a bracelet braided from yarn that are the colors of the phases of the goddess- maiden, mother, crone. Be creative, and it will mostly have more meaning!


4. Start a Pagan Journal- 
This doesn't need to be a Grimoire or a Book of Shadows. What you would do is go about in your daily life and collect fallen leaves, flowers. Write about what you find and what drew you to them. If you happen to know what the object's name is (like an oak leaf or maple leaf) do a bit of research about it and write it down. 


5. Start Scrying- 
You would be surprised to find how helpful and relaxing it is. To make it time efficient before (or after) you eat your lunch (breakfast, dinner etc.) Fill a dark cup (or a coffee mug) with water. Relax and let the world melt away, if you so desire you can chant! Allow images to rise to the surface of the water and fade away. This is a great way to develop your "sight" and gain greater insight about yourself.


6. Hit the Books-
The best thing about a book is that you can take it virtually anywhere. If you are still in the broom closet and don't want the world to know what you are reading, you can get a stretchy textbook book cover to put over the book. You can learn wonderful things while in line at a convenience store, in a doctors office, or if you are in school~ between classes.

A great book to read for everyday magic is a book literally called: "Every Day Magic: Spells and Rituals for Modern Living" by Dorothy Morrison.

7. Make Sigils!
To learn how to, see my video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLnrntjHeA


These are just a tiny bit of what you can do to. There is always meditation, beading, knitting and more. Create practices that work best for you!

~*~ I really hope that I have been able to spark a few ideas with this post! So I would love to know what all of your thoughts are, and would love to know how you incorporate Paganism or Witchcraft in your daily life!

Bright Blessings!
~Brittany

My Witchy heart is all a-flutter!

Good afternoon my lovely Witchy friends!
Yesterday the best thing ever happened. My box that was full of herbs and willow tree branches came in! (My clothes were also shipped in the box from NY-but those aren't as important. :D
I was sleeping in my bed when I heard my mother say "Brittany," then probably something else, and a loud thump on the floor in my bedroom. My sick little  body was like: "Sleeppy sleep sleep..." But a split second later my brain registered what the thump was! I leapt out of bed and thought crazed-ly "MAH BOX, MAH BOX IS HEREZ! YEAAAAH!"
(image of pantry found here: 
http://frostedpetunias.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html)

I tore into that box as if it was a life line. I pulled all the herbs and branches out and just hugged them. They were my precious- like in Lord of the Rings! LOL
As I fondled my herbs and sticks I decided to take a picture of them to share with you all! Here they are:

Oh, and the feathers you see are actually swan feathers I found on the bank of the Hudson. (I saw the swans swimming nearby that's how I know what type they are)

If you are wondering what I made with the willow branches...BAM!- here are some pictures! I made WANDS! YAY!

These 2 will be up on my etsy shop within the next day or so! I also made a third wand but I am keeping that one for myself! It's made of willow and 18 inches long. There are purple-y blue fresh water pearls and moonstones decorating it with a long quartz point. The wand is also very graceful looking and it curves upward. It fits my hand so perfectly! It feels like an extension of my arm. Since it is so long it's so hard to take a picture of it, that's why I don't have a picture of it on here just yet!

On a completely different topic, the most wonderful, thoughtful, sweet thing ever happened to me today. Again, I am laying in bed trying to rest and my father comes in my room and says "Did you invite Scott to come over?, because his truck is outside and he is about to ring the doorbell."
So once again I practically leapt out of bed! But I took one look at myself and was like "Crap!" My hair was in a messy pony tail, I was in my poka dot pajamas. I needed to take a shower but there was no time! I heard the door bell ring and I ran to get some deodorant on; within 5 sec. there was a knock at my bedroom door. A very self conscious me greeted my boyfriend. Of course he looked so handsome and get this, he had a bouquet of white roses and a bag of goodies that he knew would make me feel better. The thought was so sweet that I actually started tearing up. He is so good to me and always manages to make my heart flutter. I love him so much! He even brought me more herb jars since he knew I ran out of them! I am so lucky to have him in my life!

Thanks for reading and Bright Blessings!
~Brittany