The rune were set going from the grip to the tip in a specific order, and for the following reasons:

1. EOLH – Protection. When conducting a ritual, the first thing put in place is a sacred circle to protect the castor, so EOLH rune was put first to protect the caster during the ritual.
2. BEORC – The rune of the Great Mother.  After drawing a circle, you normally honor the Goddess (and also the God).So the 2nd rune up the rune for the Goddess.
3. URUZ.  This is the rune of change, or shaping power that brings about manifestation.  So we protect, honor the Goddess, then ask for the change we wish to initiate.
4. EIHAWZ – Very powerful rune of banishing and protection.  It also increases power, and helps to remove any obstacles.
5. THURISAZ – this is the directed cosmic power of defense.  It also directs the energies of the runes that come before, giving them an extra umph to get things off the ground.

Running from the grip to the top is a spiral that was cut into the birch bark.  This also helps to spiral the energy from the caster up to the point.  Finally, an Amethyst point is set on the end and hot glued, then wrapped with purple dyed leather wrapping.

You can see it at my store by clicking here.

I’ve had them since March or April, allowing them to season in my garage.  It is finally time to start making Wands again.

I’ve found two distinct uses for Birch Wands in my research.

1. Cleansing and banishing.  I’ve found references to use of Birch twigs to expel evil spirits.  Birch wands to cleanse sacred areas and sacred spaces.  Some use it to “drive out the old spirits” of last year.
2. Connecting with the Goddess. Birch was associated with the Goddess, and in Celtic lands, it was associated with Brigid.

There are many Goddess references to Birch in various cultures.  The Germanic people identified birth with Bertha, their “White Lady” who was the spirit of spring.

The Norse associated the birch with both Thor as well as Freya. According to their lore, the Lady of the Woods would be angry if her bark was peeled away.  To avoid her wrath, they would wait until the tree was marked by Thor’s lightening before gathering the Bark.

The Celtic saw Brigid in the white branches of birch.

The Native Americans used birch a lot.  As the first tree to seed after the Glaciers receded, its gum was used to glue arrowheads.  Pots were made out of birch, and maple syrup could be stored for a year in the pots. Canoes were made of it, and its wood, bark, fibers, and gum were used for a variety of everyday items.  And birch bark when burned produced an incredibly white light.  Their sweat lodges were made of birch, and when heated, the steam released the oils from the birch which was good for the lungs.

With this long and varied history across many cultures, it is a wonderful wand to use for many reasons.  Healing, as all parts of the tree were used for various healing remedies.  Banishing negativity, evil, and spirits as we saw the ancients believed it to be effective in that.  And finally to honor the Goddess, particularly Brigid and Freya.  I’m so glad that I had the access to some of this wonderful wood to create beautiful wands for my fellow Wiccans and Witches.

Sources:

Sapphiremoon.info Sacred Woods :: Birch
Witch in the Wood Celtic Lunar Calendar
Pagan-Heart – Magickal Uses of Wood
Dragon Oak – Magickal Wood Properties