A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal or plastic. Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, which could have large ornamentation on the top.

The wand is often seen as a symbol of authority and power in magical practice, representing the ability to command and control the forces of the universe. Another form of a wand is the Caduceus, or the Wand of Hermes. The caduceus is the legendary herald’s wand of the Greek God Hermes (Roman, Mercury). This symbol, a winged staff entwined by twin serpents, is nearly universal, found in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, where it is always a symbol of harmony and balance. To the people of Sumer over 4000 years ago, this was the emblem of life, the symbol is said to have power of wealth, prosperity, happiness and dreams, allowing the person carrying the rod of the double serpents to touch the magic of the heavens. In Egypt this was carried by Isis and Anubis. In Greece, this was displayed over healing temples, representing the strength and wisdom of Hermes. In Hindu symbolism the Caduceus is represents the double helix or DNA. The wand is about 34 centimeters long, about 11.8 centimeters in diameter, and has a hefty, substantial feel. Find sources: "Wand"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( August 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Rods, another cousin of the wand is a shorter version of the staff, which is about 3 ft in length. It was believed in Egyptian, Islamic, Babylonian, and Jewish magic that a person who carried a rod that had been charged during a storm that had both thunder and lightning, had the power to settle all disputes. Thus giving that person judge and mediation authority. In European lore a rod empowered under the full moon of Samhain carried great authority over spirits of heaven and earth. Other rods were purposely charged for individual events like childbirth. Today, rods are not used or seen often, but are usually painted with the colors of a persons coven and symbolically inscribed. Like the wand it is used to focus intent and energy.

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Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 315-6, Dover Publications, New York 1965

Overall, the material and design of the wand were believed to have a significant impact on its magical properties and the success of the spells and rituals performed with it. Magic wands in the Harry Potter series The authentic, cordless version of the Original Magic Wand® and 2022’s #1 massager as chosen by the New York Times Wirecutter. But where did the wand originate? That is a good question that does not necessarily have a scientific answer in history. Most history on wands have come down from verbal tradition, though there are many stories of wands in history and myth, very few have been found and dated, probably due to the fact that especially in Northern cultures, the wand being made of wood, would have decomposed over time.

In the 19th century, the use of wands in magic began to be associated with the burgeoning field of spiritualism. This movement, which was popularized by figures such as the Fox sisters, was centered around the belief in the ability to communicate with the dead. Many spiritualists believed that wands could be used to help facilitate these communications and they often incorporated wands into their seances and other rituals.