In my absence of posting, life has continued on. At first per usual with regular grooming and teardrop traveling with my wife. In September 2019, a crisis engulfed my family of birth, but happily, we were able to unite as siblings and grow closer to each other. In March 2020, the COVID-19 Coronavirus World Pandemic hit our state of Massachusetts with full force and stopped all normal ‘non-essential’ day-to-day activities, including grooming. This crisis of community has drawn me even closer to family and friends often neglected – our connections have flourished using social gathering technology. I have actually enjoyed the nearly 2 months of daily close connection to my wife and son.

I have used this time with no grooming work to actively strengthen friendships, encourage positive sharing within my church community, learn new audio and video editing skills, practice my music, and I have also returned to cultivate one of my favorite activities – making magic wands!

I first started making wands for my son and his friends when he was a baby, using just found objects on the beach where we would be playing, for example. My memory is that the wands brought the kids great joy.

With my Spring 2020 Magic Wands, I have returned to the arts that I learned from my father – simple carvings on wood using just carving knives and decorations etched with a wood burner. My fathers knives, that he sharpened with great care in the last year of his life, remain magically sharp today, 32 years later, even though I have used them periodically over the years. This carving reconnects me with my great love for woods wood – so often ignored and unappealing to the eye as it lays decaying in the forest tangle. But the magic of wood is powerful. Strip away the protective bark and decaying layers and what lies beneath can bring great comfort and imagination to the seeking eye.

As I have worked on my wands through March and April, they have emerged  without planning into 6 obvious types.  Below, are my examples of each group. I have started sharing the wands with family and friends. I feel that magic is comforting to embrace in these uncertain times, and I will do my part to pass it on! And, by the way, my cat Harper insists on helping me with my wand making… she is very drawn to the magic within!

Here are the wand types that have emerged for me – I hope they bring you inspiration:

A. “Ask the Imp” – Wands for Playful Blessing

B. “Reflections” – Wands for Personal Growth – inspired by the ZenTangle drawing method

C. “Out of Me Dragon’s Arse” – Battle Wands for serious vexing and venting against the forces of evil and corruption!

D. “Water Wizards” – Wands for Flowing Protections to self and others

E. “High Flying Healers” – Wands for Long Distance Caring

F. “Hidden in Nature” – Wands for uncovering the Natural Magic that surrounds us!