#ritual instruments

I am harvesting a bough from a tree on my family property, which has been tended by four generations of our hands. The branch will be be made into a magical instrument vital to my family's tradition of magic, and yet I find myself nervous to ask.

Do you have any tips for wooing a plant ally for such a task? How may I repay her for it?

What a beautiful and fortunate relationship to have with a tree! I think it's absolutely lovely that you carry on this tradition.

Frankly, I think it's likely that the spirit of this tree already loves you. You are part of a family who has tended it for generations, and it has seen you grow over the years. That carries a lot more weight than people may think. Beyond that, though, there are some simple things that can be done to help "woo" a plant ally, as you put it.

Firstly, I would make multiple, meaningful offerings to the tree. I'm not sure how that might look within the context of your familial tradition, but offerings of food, libation, and/or precious items are good staple propitiations. Offerings of your hair and blood may also help to bind and endear you to the tree, but that is probably better to only do if you intend to carry on propitiating the tree.

Secondly, it's a good idea to ask the tree, aloud, for its wood. Omens and signs that follow such entreaties are worth watching out for, should they be immediate, or show up later in dreams.

Thirdly, when you feel you are ready to harvest, do it with precision and care. Try your best to minimize harm to the plant in the process by using good tools and clean cuts, and don't take more than you need.

Finally, this is pretty specific to my tradition, but any time I harvest a length of wood, I completely cover the site of the wound with my own blood. I was told long ago in a dream that doing so helps to soothe the spirit of a tree, as well as helping it to heal in some way, and so I always carry out this final act. This tradition has served me well and has always felt intuitively right to me, so I've decided to share it here now.

This wand is made from wild Hazel wood, and it measures approximately 12 inches/30 centimeters in length and 4 inches/10 centimeters at its widest point.

After acquiring and curing this length of Hazel, I proceeded to sand and smooth the surface of the wood, making sure to preserve the subtle gnarls of the rod. Once I was satisfied with the texture of the wood, I went on to stain the piece a shade of Burnt Umber, before sanding the piece again in order to give the wood its mottled coloration. Finally, the piece wand was sealed with Wisefool's Glaze (an empowered wood varnish crafted from an array of potent arboreal resins) and fumigated with Dragon's Blood.

The Hazel tree has an abundant and varied magical history—from its use by the Druids (particularly the Scottish Druids, who were said to prefer the wood for their staves,) to its place in Faerie folklore, to its associations with Wisdom, Inspiration, and Protection—and between this, and the energy and care that went into creating it, I believe this wand has the potential to serve as a great implement for its chosen wielder.

Recently, I was given permission by my partner and his father to take and upload pictures of this handmade Crucifix—another important familial treasure.

Having come from a long line of rural Appalachians, my father-in-law has always been a fan of traditions and rites of passage pertaining to his heritage. One central example of these familial customs is the practice of taking every male child in the family, around the onset of puberty, to the same river for Baptism; this practice goes back generations and is upheld to this day, with my partner having traveled over 2,000 miles to undergo his rite of Christening. About a year before the actual baptism, however, my father-in-law created this piece for my partner in commemoration of a separate Rite of Passage.

The Crucifix was whittled entirely from a singular, solid piece of Red Maple heartwood. My partner’s father harvested the wood from a tract of old Family Land, shaping it in complete isolation over a course of several weeks. Along with the carving of Christ on the cross and the 13 interconnected loops from which it hangs, my father-in-law also engraved the back with a personal inscription that I have chosen not to share here,

“From left; a six tined threshing fork used as a seasonal altar, a hazel 'talking stick' for chthonic vision, the antler topped ashen altar staff, an antler topped twisted/ serpent form personal ashen working staff, a blackthorn staff, topped with a carved owl.”

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Traditional Witchcraft:

A Cornish Book of Ways

“A collection of Cornish working knives in the Museum of Witchcraft. A human bone hilted curved blade beside two hand forged wise-woman's knives. We are told by Cecil Williamson that they were forged by the women who used them.”

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Traditional Witchcraft:

A Cornish Book of Ways

“A blackthorn and horse-hair 'spirit whip’ together with a hook-wand. Author's collection”

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Traditional Witchcraft:

A Cornish Book of Ways

Given the positive response I got to my question about making a series of posts on botanical inks for magic, I went ahead and began the process of doing that.

This is an improved recipe of an ink I’ve used before, and it relies primarily on flowers from the Asteracea family; namely, Calendula and Marigolds. While I love the golden color it produces, it is also a useful tool to employ when it comes to Healing Magic. In particular, this ink can be used to great effect in magic meant to soothe pain—both physical and emotional—especially in the case of chronic conditions. As such, it is also useful when petitioning entities known for their soothing and curative qualities.

Recipe:

Combine 1 part Calendula petals harvested on the Full Moon,

1 part Marigold petals harvested on the Full Moon,

And 3 parts White Vinegar inside a glass vessel (This helps to leech, seal, and preserve the pigment.)

Add a couple pinches of salt (This works in tandem with the vinegar to prevent mold.)

Allow this to steep for approximately 7 hours.

With yellow being one of the hardest colors to produce, the addition of a tiny pinch of saffron and a sliver’s-worth of turmeric root is helpful in deepening the color-tone. What’s more, both herbs are also quite good for healing and soothing.

Place the container inside a pan of water and set it to simmer on medium-low heat for about an hour. Make sure the glass container is open while simmering, as the heating of the vinegar causes an expansion of gasses that can lead to an explosion if it’s sealed shut!

Allow the mixture to steep for up to 3 days in a shaded, auspicious location, visiting it daily to give offerings of prayer and song.

Thoroughly strain the contents and rebottle the ink as you see fit.

Add 1 part Gum Arabic for every 6 parts Ink (This isn’t strictly necessary, but improves the viscosity and flow of the ink.)