Willow Wand Traditional Length

Known as the tree of immortality because of its ability to regrow from a fallen branch in moist ground, willow is believed to be one of the only woods perfectly aligned for magical use. Willow wood is the very essence of magic, not just the mere making a tool into a magical one, willow makes the tool magical, which is useful for charm work.  In magic, the willow encourages the expression of deeply buried emotions, helping to ease sadness through tears or grieving, it also encourages us to learn the consequences of love and other matters of the heart. Willow’s “weeping” stance reflects its association with changing emotions, especially grief.  It is the tree of dreaming, intuition and deep emotions. Symbolically, it belongs to the beginning of spring, when all of life is stirring in the depths, and begins to shoot outwards once again.

The willow draws power from the moon and is associated with new moon magic, which is why it is so good for drawing down the moon, a ritual done in traditional witch circles. Willow has been known since ancient times as a Witch’s tree, or tree of enchantment.

The willow is the tree most associated with the moon, water, the Goddess and all that is feminine, lunar and tide activity will affect it. Willow helps honor and soothe the female right of passage into womanhood.

Willow has flexible branches, but deep roots, one of the lessons of willow is to hold fast to the earth, but to bend with the breeze. Willow reminds us to let go and surrender completely to the world of emotions and our subconscious. When we reach a level of deeper understanding of our innermost thoughts and feelings, and that of our fears and desires, the world opens up in ways of new opportunities and lessons.

Willow branches are said to be the best for divining water, channeling earth energy, and to find lost objects. Some say that burning willow can soothe and guide the souls of the recently deceased.

Many traditional tools are made of willow, The Besom, the Witches Broom, is traditionally made from three trees. The stave is made from ash, for protection. Birch twigs are used for the broom itself to expel evil spirits. The Besom is bound with willow to honor Hecate.

Willow is held close by poets, as the sound of its rustling branches was said to inspire song and verse.

Willow is a sacred tree of Celtic astrology from 15th of April to 12th of May, fifth month of the Celtic Tree calendar, and is the fifth consonant of the ogham alphabet, Saille being its alphabetical name. The willow tree is one of the seven sacred Irish trees and is a sacred tree to druids. In the ogham alphabet, the willow is Saille which became anglicized to "sally" which means a sudden outburst of emotions, action or expression (to "sally forth"). The old French "saille" also means to rush out suddenly and the Latin "salire" means to leap. This is the underlying energy of the willow, and the key to understanding the powerful spirit of this beautiful tree.

Orpheus, the poet, was said to have received his gift by touching the willows in a grove sacred to Persephone. Groves have been used by many types of artisans to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and the gift of prophecy. Cranes are also known to nest near a grove of willows, nesting cranes is a symbol of extremely happy domesticity.

The druids associated this tree with the hare. Diana, Hecate, Astarte, Ceridwen, Arianrhod, Rhiannon, and Omulan all consider this to be a very sacred tree.

Deities: Persephone,  Artemis, Selene, Luna, Brigit.

This tree is held sacred also to Minerva, the ancient Great Goddess whose bird, the Wryneck, nests only in the willow.

Magical properties: divination, change, rebirth, healing, enchantments, enlightenment, love, spirituality, divine masculine support, death, directing energy, lunar alignment, pain relief, personal empowerment, increase psychic sensitivity, love spells and rituals involving emotion, New Moon magic, creativity, fertility, female rights of passage, inspiration, emotion, binding, love, love divination, protection, and healing. 

A willow wand is an ideal choice for poets, bards, healers, and seers. Willow wands are strong in the cycles of life, death and rebirth, change, and will.

Willow will align itself to the inner will of the one that shares its energy. The stronger the will, the more effective the wood. It reacts to the will of the one who is utilizing it, enhancing their energy accordingly.

A wand made from Willow wood has many uses: sleep with it to have more vivid dreams, use it to draw down the moon, and protection for underworld journeying.