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The magic wand

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Themagicwand
Copyright2005JosephH.Peterson
TheuseofthemagicwandcanbetracedbacktoprotoIndoEuropeantimes,asshownbyits
appearanceinbothZoroastrianismaswelltheearlyHinduism.

ZoroastrianismandtheMagi
Themagioftheancientworldwerethepriesthoodofthe
Zoroastrianreligion.AsPlatonoted,magic(mageia)refersto
"theMagianloreofZoroaster"(Alchibiades1.122).The
baresman(Phl.barsom),orsacredbundleoftwigs(or"slender
wands"),isaritualimplementwhichhasplayedanimportant
partinZoroastrianreligiouspracticessinceprehistorictimes.
AccordingtoKotwalandBoyd,thebaresmanisan"ancient
IndoIranianemblemofseekingtheHoly",andit"establishesa
connectinglinkbetweenthisgetig[material]worldandthe
menog[spiritual]realm.Thebarsomis,asitwere,theconduit
throughwhichthearchetypalprinciplesandpowersmanifest
theirpresenceandreceivetheofferings."(APersianoffering,
1991,p.6,10wordsinsquarebracketsaremine).Itisalsoan
instrumentthroughwhichoneacquiresthesacredpower(op.
cit.p.23).Perhapsthenitisalsoaconduitforchannelingthe
poweroutwards,andthusisaprototypical'magicwand'.The
baresmanistraditionallymadeoftamarisktrigs,althoughin
5th4thcenturyB.C.gold
moderntimesmetalrodshavebeensubstituted.
plaqueshowingamagus
holdingthebaresman
Dino,acontemporaryofPhilipreferstotheuseofthe
barsomfordivination,whichisalsosupportedbytheDenkard.
(Modi1922,RCC,p.280.)
Astickwithnineknotsisusedduringtheninenights'
purification(barashnom).Theknotsarebarriersagainst
pollutionandevilinfluences.(Vd9.14,compareKeyof
SolomonBook2,chapters4,5,and13.)
InZoroastrianismwealsofindthemaceused.Thisis
nowreferredtoasgurz(fromAvestanvazra,Sanskritvajra.)It
isusedasaspiritualweapontodriveoffevil.

Egyptian,Greek,andRomansources
TheuseofthebaresmanbythemagiwaswellknowntoGreekwritersandismentionedby
StraboandPhoenixofColophon(280B.C.),citedinAthenaeus.Themagicwandwasalsoknown
amongtheancientGreeksandRomans.
LiketheZoroasrianmagi,theancientRomanFlaminesorfirepriests,alsocarriedsuch
bundlesoftwigsintheirhands.(ModiRCC,1922,p.280).
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PlinyandApuleiusbothattesttotheiruse.Homer(intheOdyssey11.14ff)andVirgilboth
describethearchetypicalsorceress,Circe,asusingamagicalwand.TherelevantpassageinVirgil
wasnotedbyAgrippainhisOccultPhilosophyBook1,chapter41.ItisalsocitedbyEliphasLevi
KeyoftheMysteries,part4,chap1.
Betz'collectionofGreekandDemoticmagicalpapyrihasexamplesofspellswhichinclude
theuseofawandorstaff.ThespellPGMI.42195,forexamplehasthemagician"holdabranchof
myrtle...shakingit,[andsalute]thegoddess."(Betz,p.5)SimilarlyPGMII.22,II.65(Betzp.13,
14)

Iamblichus
Iamblichus(c.A.D.250325),oneofthemoreimportantNeoplatonicphilosophers,discussed
magicingeneralinhisOntheMysteries.Inithementionstheprophetessholdingastafforwand,
invokingthedivinity.(MysteriesoftheEgyptians,chapter7.)Agrippaalsocitesthispassagein
OP3.48.

TheGrimoires
Earlymanuscriptsofmagic(grimoires)havemanyreferencestotheuseandimportanceofthe
wandinwesternmagic.Therearetwosimilarritualimplementscommonlydescribedinmagical
literature:Thestaff(LatinbaculusorbacculusItalianbastoneFrenchLebaton,bton)andthe
wand(LatinVirgaorvirgulamItal.vergaGermanStbchenFrench:LavergeInFrench
manuscriptsthisissometimescalledviere,baguette,baguettemagique,baguete,orbagette,also
translatedasrod).Thestaffismorethesizeofawalkingstickthewandissmallerandtapered:
ThestaffandthewandfromAd.10862(the"Zecorbeni"manuscript),fol.164v

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomon(Book2chapter8):"Thestaffshouldbeofelderwoodor
cane,andthewandofhazelornuttree,inallcasesthewoodbeingvirgin,thatisofoneyear's
growthonly.Theyshouldeachbecutfromthetreeatasinglestroke,onthedayofMercury(i.e.
Wednesday),atsunrise.Thecharactersshownshouldbewrittenorengravedthereoninthedayand
hourofMercury."(Matherstr.revisedbyJHP)
ThemagicalsymbolsforthestaffandwandaccordingtoAd.mss.10862,fol.122v

AccordingtotheSwornBookofHonorius(ChapCXXXII),themagician'swandorstaffis
madeoflaurelorhazel,likewiseofoneyear'sgrowth("magistertenensbaculumlaurivelcoruli
illiusanni...").MoredetailsareprovidedinchapterCXXXIX:"Butthewandshouldhavefoursides.
Ononesideshouldbewritten'Adonay'onthesecondside'Sabaoth'onthethird,'Hiskiros'on
thefourth'Emanuel.'Onthemiddleofthewand,makethepentagonfigureofSolomon,andwhere
thewandisheld,across,andthusitwillbepreparedforsacredandwonderfulworks."(My
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translation,notinRoyalms).
Verysimilaristhesceptrum(scepter)inmanuscriptsofthePseudoBacon(Roger)treatise
Thesaurusspirituum,whichinstructsthatitshouldbeofbay(laurel)wood,"neereasbiggasyour
armeatthehandanditmustbejustacubitlonge,andthebarketakenoffit."(Wellcome110,fol.
8r).
Abognazarspecifiestwotypesofbtonareneededformagicaloperations:oneforoperations
ofVenus(madeofelder),andanotherforallotheroperationscallingforabton.
BtonpourtouteslesOprations.

BtonpourlesOprationsdeVenus.

InClaviculesduRoiSalomonparArmadel,LivreIII(LansdowneMS.1202),the"keytothe
work"isatriangularwandmadeofhazel.

TheLesserKeyofSolomon(Book1:Goetia)recommendsholdingahazelstickinthehand
duringtheoperationofBileth,forupholdingone'scourage.ThisisbasedonWeyer"baculumcorili"
(hazelstaff).ThepassageinReginaldScottranslatesbaculumas"bat",butitcouldmeanrod,staff,
orstick.
InLeGrandGrimoirethemainritualimplementiscalledlabaguettemystrieuse,oulaVerge
Foudroyante(themysteriouswand,orblastingrod)"whichcausesthespiritstotremblewhichGod
alsousedtoarmhisangelwhenAdamandEveweredrivenoutoftheearthlyparadisewherewith,
finally,hesmotetherebelliousangels,precipitatingtheirambitionsintothemostappallinggulfsby
thepowerofthisveryrodofthisrodwhichcollectstheclouds,dispersestempests,averts
lightning,orprecipitateseachandalluponanyportionoftheearthatthepleasureofitsdirector."
(tr.Waite,BCM)Itismadeof"wildhazelwhichhasneverbornefruititslengthshouldbenineteen
andahalfinches"withaforkedendandmagnetizedsteelcapsonthepointedends.

AccordingtoFranzBardon(19091958),oneofthemostimportantoccultistsandmagicians
ofthetwentiethcentury,"themostimportantaidinritualmagicis,andalwayswillbe,themagic
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wand."
GrillotdeGivry(Witchcraft,Magic,andAlchemy,p.308)showsamagicaloperationwhich
featuresa"wandofpoplarwood,'halfwithoutbark'."

Summaryofwoodsusedformagicalwands
Acacia
Almond

Apple

Ash

Bay
Beech

AccordingtoFranzBardon,"thewoodofanoakoranacacia,too,isanexcellent
materialformakingamagicwand."
ThiswoodisspecificedintheBookoftheSacredMagicofAbramelintheMage.The
wandofthemagicianmaybemadeofanynutwoodaccordingtotheKeyofSolomon.
AccordingtoAgrippa(OP1.26),almondandotherwoodsofnuttreesareassociated
withtheplanetJupiter.Levirecommendsthemagicwandbemadeofalmondor
hazel.
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).ThedruidicwizardMannannMacLircarrieda
wandofapple(PeterBerresfordEllis,ABriefHistoryoftheDruids,NewYork,
Carroll&Graf,2002,p.249.).
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).AccordingtoFranzBardon,amagicwandmade
ofashisespeciallytobeusedinhealingpeople.YatesrecountsdetailsofanIrish
"fairydoctor"onewhosemysticalpowerisreceivedfromfairieswhoobserved
manytraditionalpractices,includingcarryingawandofashduringprayer.
(Seelaurel.)
SacredtoJupiter(perAgrippa,OP1.26).

Box

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonboxandoakhave"somequalityreferringespecially
untothespirits"ofJupiter.AccordingtoMCthisisasacredtreeassociatedwiththe
zodiacalsignofLibra.

Buckthorn
Cane(L.
arundo
donax)

SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofAquarius(MC).
ThestaffofthemagicianmaybemadeofcaneaccordingtotheKeyofSolomon.

Cedar

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomoncornelandcedarhave"somequalityreferring
especiallyuntothespirits"ofMars.

Chestnut
Cornel

SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofLeo(MC).
AccordingtotheKeyofSolomoncornelandcedarhave"somequalityreferring
especiallyuntothespirits"ofMars.
UsedtomakeamagiccirclefortheexperimentoftheBlackHen(Fr.poulenoire,It.
gallinanera)foundinseveralgrimoires.
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignof
Scorpio(MC).
EbonyisnamedasthewoodofHermesinoneancientGreekspell(Faraone,p.202.)
ThiswoodisspecifiedbyTrithemiusinhistreatiseoninvokingangelstoappearina
crystal.TheEgyptiankingNectanebususedarodorwandofebonyalongwithmagic
formulaetoanimatemodelsofhisenemiesandattackthem.(Budge,1930,p.488
1971,p.92.)AnEbonywandisusedintheGraecoEgyptianspellPGMI.335(Betzp.
12).

Cypress
Dogwood
Ebony

Elderor
elderberry
(L.

ThestaffofthemagicianmaybemadeofelderaccordingtotheKeyofSolomon.
GrimoriumVerumspecifiesawandofeldershouldbeusedinpreparingthe
parchment,andisalsousedinpreparingthepentaclesandmagicrings.Accordingto

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sambucus)

Elm
Fig,White

Hazel

Holly

Holmoak
Horse
chestnut
Juniper
Laurel

The magic wand

themethodofAbognazaraspecialstaffofelderisusedforoperationsofVenusonly.
AccordingtoFranzBardon,"thewandmadeofelderwood,proves,onaccountofits
analogytoSaturn,especiallyefficientwhencallinguporevokingelementalspirits
anddemons."
SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofPisces(MC).
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).
MultiplesourcesattesttheuseofHazelforthemagicwand,includingtheKeyof
Solomon,Weyer,Goetia,GrandGrimoire,andLevi.AccordingtotheSwornBookof
Honorius(ChapCXXXII),themagician'swandorstaffismadeoflaurelorhazel.Per
Agrippa,sacredtoMercury,andalsotoJupiter(OP1.26andOP1.29).Accordingto
MCthisisasacredtreeassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofCancer.Accordingtothe
KeyofSolomonhazelhas"somequalityreferringespeciallyuntothespirits"of
Mercury.GrimoriumVerumspecifieswandsofhazelandeldershouldbeusedin
preparingtheparchment.TheGrandGrimoireincludesadiviningmethodusinga
hazelrodorwand.AccordingtoBardon,"hazelnutorwillowaretobeusedfora
wishingwand.Thewishingwandisamodificationofthemagicwand."
Hollyisthewhitestofallwoods,andhasbeenusedinmakingpianokeys.Itwas
consideredsacredbythedruids,andplayedapartinthemagicoftheGreeksand
Romans.Itwasespeciallysuitablefordivination.InearlyEurope,hollyandother
thornyplantswerebelievedtorepelallevilspirits.(Gale,p.2.)Thesameapotropaic
propertieswerenotedbyPlinytheElder(2379CE).
SacredtoJupiter(perAgrippa,OP1.26).Arodofthismaterialisusedintheoperation
ofthemagicgarters,accordingtoAbognazar.
SacredtoJupiter,accordingtoAgrippa(OP1.26).
AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonjuniperandpine"somequalityreferringespecially
untothespirits"ofSaturn.
AccordingtotheSwornBookofHonorius(ChapCXXXII),themagician'swandor
staffismadeoflaurelorhazel.Wandsoflaurelarefoundinmultiplespellsinthe
MagicalPapyri.Called"Apollo'sholyplantofpresage"and"Phoibos'mistress"(Betz
pp.15,110,112)Asprigoflaurelheldintherighthandissaidtobeaprotective
charm(PGMI,Betzop.cit.p.10).AlsousedinGraecoEgyptianspellsPGMI.335,
II.6,II.22(Betzp.12,13).AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonlaurelhas"somequality
referringespeciallyuntothespirits"oftheSun.AccordingtoMCthisisasacredtree
associatedwiththezodiacalsignofGemini.OnmagicalusesoflaurelseealsoL.
Deubner,KleineSchriftenzurKlassischenAltertumskunde(Knigstein:Hain,1982,p.
4012.)AccordingtoPorphyry(OnImages,fragment8),laurel"isfulloffire,and
thereforehatedbydaemons."
AccordingtoPseudoBacon,themagicalsceptermustbemadeofabay
(laurel)tree.(Ad.36674,fol.73rSloane3850,fol.98vWellcome110,fol.8r.)

Myrtle

Oak

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonmyrtlehas"somequalityreferringespeciallyunto
thespirits"ofVenus.MarvinMeyer'sbookAncientChristianMagicincludesaspell
whichinvolvesabranchofmyrtleheldintherighthand(p.272).TheuseofaMyrtle
branchisalsofoundintheGraecoEgyptianspellmentionedabove(Betz,p.5.)
AccordingtoMCthisisasacredtreeassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofTaurus.
SacredtoJupiter,accordingtoAgrippa.AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonboxandoak
have"somequalityreferringespeciallyuntothespirits"ofJupiter.AccordingtoFranz
Bardon,"thewoodofanoakoranacacia,too,isanexcellentmaterialformakinga
magicwand."

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Oleum
Olive

SacredtreeassociatedwithJupiter,accordingtoAgrippa,OP1.26.
SacredtotheMoonandJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.24,OP1.26).Sacredtreeassociated
withtheZodiacalsignofAries(MC).WandsofolivearealsofoundintheGreek
MagicalPapyri(e.g.Betz,p.109.)AccordingtoButler(p.145)Casanova(1725
1798)usedamagicwandmadeofolivewood,approximately18incheslong.

Palm

AtwigofpalmisheldintherighthandduringaritualdescribedintheSixthand
SeventhBooksofMoses(T2).SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignof
Sagittarius(MC).
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).SacredtreeassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignof
Virgo(MC).

Pear
Pine

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonjuniperandpine"somequalityreferringespecially
untothespirits"ofSaturn.AccordingtoMCthisisasacredtreeassociatedwiththe
zodiacalsignofCapricorn.

Plum
SacredtoJupiter(Agrippa,OP1.26).
Pomegranate ThiswoodisalsomentionedasacceptableforthebaresmaninZoroastrianritual.
TreesacredtoJupiter,accordingtoAgrippa.GrillotdeGivry(Witchcraft,Magic&
Poplar
Alchemy,p.308)showsamagicaloperationwhichfeaturesa"wandofpoplarwood,
'halfwithoutbark'."
ThiswoodisspecifiedforthestaffofthemagicianaccordingtoLaVeraClavicoladel
Quince
ReSalomone.
Rosewood MathersincludedrosewoodinhistranslationoftheKeyofSolomon,howeverthiswas
amistranslationoftheFrenchword"roseau"(anotherwordforcaneorreed).
Servicetree SacredtoJupiter(perAgrippa,OP1.26).
Tamarisk
Zoroastrianmagi
Walnut
ThewandofthemagicianmaybemadeofanynutwoodaccordingtotheKeyof
Solomon
Willow

AccordingtotheKeyofSolomonwillowhas"somequalityreferringespeciallyunto
thespirits"oftheMoon.AccordingtoBardon,"hazelnutorwillowaretobeusedfora
wishingwand.Thewishingwandisamodificationofthemagicwand....Inmaking
magicwandswillowtwigsmayalsobeusedforanytype,forthewillowisavery
goodfluidcondenser."GiordanoBruno'sthirdimageofVenuscarriesawillowwand
(DeImaginumCompositione(1591)Book2,ch13.

Wormwood UsedinGraecoEgyptianspellPGMIII.704(Betzp.36).
Yew
TraditionallyconsideredasacredtreeamongtheIrish,theyewdeeplyrootedinIrish
folklore.Ithaslongbeenknowntohavetoxicproperties.

Thelength
AccordingtoPierreMora'seditionofLesVritablesClaviculesdeSalomon,thewandshould
beoneandahalffeetinlength,andaninchthick.ThisaccordswellwithFranzBardon'sstatements
thatitshouldbebetween3/8and3/4inchesindiameter,andabout1220incheslong.
TheAvestamentionsthegreatestlengthofthebaresmantwigsistheheightofaknee,though
ancientartshowsitapproximatelythelengthofthearm(seeabove).Modernbarsomsaremuch
shorter,asshortasnineinches.
ThewordinginAbramelinissomewhatconfusingonthispoint.Perhapshalfthelengthof
yourarmisintended:"AuchbrauchstDueinreinesglattesStbchen,ungefhreinenkleinenFinger
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dickundeineEllelang,vonMandelbaum."(Youalsoneedasmallstaff,pureandsmooth,
approximatelyasmallfingerthick,andaelle/yardlong,fromalmondwood.)
AccordingtoAd.36674,fol.73ritshouldbeinthickness"neereasbigasyourarmatthe
hand,anditmustbejustacubitlong,andthebarketakenaway,andremainwhitewithoutpainting."
TheGrandGrimoirespecifiesalengthofnineteenandanhalfinches.
JosephAntonHerpentil,inhisEpitomeofsupernaturalmagic,ThatisR.P.S.F.(1519)
specifiesthewand(orrod)shouldbe4spanslong.

Additionalmaterialsaddedtothewand
Theliteratureincludessomeexamplesofaddingmaterialstothewandtoenhancecertain
characteristics.Herearesomeofthemorecommonlyascribedmagicalattributesofmaterials.
Aetites
Amber
Amethyst
Beryl
Birthwort

StoneassociatedwithVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28).
AssociatedwithVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28).
StoneassociatedwithScorpio(MC).
StoneassociatedwithLibra(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofPisces(MC).

Calamint
Carbuncle
Carnelian
Chalcedony
Chrisophrase
Cock
Comfrey

SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofVirgo(MC).
StoneassociatedwiththeSun(MC).
StonesacredtoVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28).
StoneassociatedwiththezodiacalsignCancer(MC).
StoneassociatedwithCapricorn(MC).
BirdassociatedwithGemini(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofCancer(MC).

Copper

MetalassociatedwithVenus(MC).AccordingtoPseudoBacon,the
magicalsceptermusthaveaffixedtotheendalaminofcopperwithcertain
symbolsonit.

Coral
Crow
Crystal
Cyclamen
Datepalm
Dock

AssociatedwithVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28).
SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofSagittarius(MC).
StoneassociatedwithMercuryandwithAquarius(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofLeo(MC).
usedtobindthetamariskwandsofthemagi.
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofCapricorn(MC).

Dove
Dragonwort
Eagle
Emerald
Garlic
Gold

BirdassociatedwithVenusandwithTaurus(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofAquarius(MC).
BirdassociatedwithJupiterandLeo(MC).
StoneassociatedwithVenusandVirgo(Agippa,OP1.28,MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofLibra(MC).
MetalassociatedwiththeSun(MC).

Goose
Granite

SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofLibra(MC).
StoneassociatedwithSaturn(MC).

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Heliotrope
Heron
Ibis
Iron

HerbassociatedwiththeSun(MC)
SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofCapricorn(MC).
SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofCancer(MC).
MetalassociatedwithMars(MC).Levirecommendsacoreof
magnetizediron.
Jacinth
StoneassociatedwithSagittarius(MC).
Jasper
StoneassociatedwithVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28),orLeo(MC).
Jove'sBeard
(SilverleavedWoodbladeplant)HerbassociatedwithJupiter(MC).
LapisLazuli
StoneassociatedwithVenus(AgrippaOP1.28).
Lapwing
Lead
Maidenhair
Metal
Monkshood
Owl
Peacock

BirdassociatedwithSaturn(MC).
MetalassociatedwithSaturn(MC).
HerbassociatedwithVenus(MC)
GrandGrimoirerecommendsmetalcaps.
HerbassociatedwithMars
BirdassociatedwiththeMoonandwithAries(MC).
SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofAquarius(MC).

Pimpernel
Ruby
Sage
Sapphire

SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofSagittarius(MC).
StoneassociatedwithMars(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofAries(MC).
StoneassociatedwithVenus(Agrippa,OP1.28),alsowiththeMoon
andwithPisces(MC).
Sard
StoneassociatedwithTaurus(MC).
Sardonyx
StoneassociatedwithAries(MC).
Selenotrope
HerbassociatedwiththeMoon(MC)
Sempervivum
HerbassociatedwithSaturn(MC)
Silver
MetalassociatedwiththeMoon(MC).
Sparrow
St.John's
Wort
Stork
Swan
Tin
Topaz
Tuthia
Vervain
(Bending)
Vervain
(Upright)
Vulture
Woodpecker
Wormwood

SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofVirgo(MC).
Siblyspecifiesthatthisbeboundtothetopofthewandforusein
necromanticoperations.(p.1106)
BirdassociatedwithMercury(MC).
BirdassociatedwiththeSunandPisces(MC).
MetalassociatedwithJupiter(MC).
StoneassociatedwithJupiterandwithGemini(MC).
GemstoneassociatedwithJupiter(Agrippa).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofGemini(MC).Vervain
wassacredandcarriedinreligiousprocessionsaccordingtoseveralancient
writers(cf.Meyer&Smith,AncientChristianMagic,p.63.)
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofTaurus(MC).
BirdassociatedwithMars(MC).
SacredbirdassociatedwiththezodiacalsignofScorpio(MC).
SacredplantassociatedwiththeZodiacalsignofScorpio(MC).

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Otherelements
Bark
HalfofthewandisleftcoveredwithbarkinthemethodcitedbydeGivry.
Letters TrithemiusspecifiesthatthewandshouldhavecertainHebrewcharacterswritteningold.
TheGreekMagicalPapyridirectsthemagiciantowritethesacredormysticalnamesof
Magical
godsorangelsonthewand(forexampleseeBetzp.14).SeeKeyofSolomonformagical
symbols
symbolsforthewand.

Howtousethemagicwand
Mostmagictextsagreethatthewandshouldbeheldintherighthandwhilepraying,orwhile
callingoraddressingspirits.ChristopherA.FaraonegivesanancientGreekspellwhereinthe
divinityorspiritisinvokedwhileholdingabranchoflaurelintherighthand,andanebonystaffin
theleft.Whendismissingthespirits,thehandsareswitched.(CompareMeyer,p.272.)Thisalsohas
aparallelinPGMI.335(Betzp.12).Inthisuseitisprimarilyusedasadefensiveweapon.Itisused
tostrikethebowlinsomedivinationmethods.InZoroastrianritualthegazeandtheritualpower
('amal)isfocussedonthebarsom.Itisalsoheldintherighthand.

References
Abognazar,

LesVritablesClaviculesdeSalomon,traduitesdel'Hebreuxenlangue
LatineparleRabinAbognazar.London,BritishLibrary,LansdowneMss.1203.
Abramelin
AbrahamofWorms,TheSacredMagicofAbramelintheMage,editedby
S.L.Mathers(London,J.M.Watkins,1900.)
Agrippa
OccultPhilosophy(London,Moule,1651).
Bardon,
PracticeofMagicalEvocation(Merkur,2001)
Franz,
Betz,Hans
TheGreekMagicalPapyriinTranslation,includingtheDemoticSpells,
Dieter
SecondEdition(Chicago,UnivofChicagoPress,1992)
Budge,
AmuletsandTalismans,(NewYork,Macmillan,1930,p.488EM,p.92.)
Budge,
EgyptianMagic(London,1901/reprintNewYork,Dover,1971,p.92):
ebonyrod.
Butler,E.
RitualMagic(Cambridge,1949,reprintHollywood,Newcastle,1971.)She
M.,
cites(p.122)Cellini'saccountofritualmagic(circa1533)alongthelinesofthe
grimoires,includingtheuseofawand.
Ellis,Peter
ABriefHistoryoftheDruids(NewYork,2002)
Berresford
Faraone,
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