Harrowen

Harrowen is a 16-inch wand of polished gnarled oak, featuring a 17x24mm carnelian cabochon and a small orange citrine gemstone. The original branch was found near the roots of a tall oak in the shade of a shallow river valley in the Texas Hill Country.

The twisted lowest branches of the oak reached out over a rocks and weeds at its feet, and I found this torn segment as I rushed past. The air was thick and humid as I made my way through a carpet of thick weeds, my eyes open for wand-making material and for snakes.

Further up the valley, following a dry creek bed, the trees gathered closer together, choking out the weeds.

I collected a handful of potential wands from among the thin trucks and wild branches.

An even larger handful of branches were collected during the trip. The torn and gnarled oak branch stood out as the most unusual.

I started working on it soon after arriving home. First step was exhaustive documentation of the oak's strong character.

After a bit of consideration, I trimmed away the dirt, the smaller branches and the top of layer of bark without losing the base shape of the rough branch.

I sanded away the last of the bark and polished the resulting wand until the wood was smooth and ... a little less twisted.

I matched the wand's slight honey color with a deep orange carnelian cabochon large enough to fill the hole left behind by the branch's largest node. The stone fit exactly in the gap. I added a small, 4mm faceted citrine near the tip of the wand, on the opposite side.

Harrowen in one of my favorites. Her twisted shape is well balanced, and the carnelian's energy at the top of the grip adds extra umph to your spellcasting. Carnelian, as a gemstone, is said to enhance physical and creative energies, and paired with the creative nature of the citrine, the wand hums with confidence and vision.

See a couple more pictures of Harrowen at her Etsy listing.