Lore of the Wandmakers
Wandmaking is an ancient art. However, during the last two millennia it has been an art carried on in private and by magical practitioners themselves rather than professional wandmakers. While not a "lost" art, it is one which has had to be reconstructed from many sources, not least from individual Imbas or inspiration.
This section of the Bard Woodcrafts Cyber-Shop brings together lore from many sources -- the lore of wood, tree, dryad, stone, and the mythical beasts of the imaginal Otherworlds who provide the materials used in wand cores. There is a FAQ with frequently asked questions provided for our visitors' convenience, and this will tell you a good deal about the way we make our wands. Additionally, there are some articles on wizardry and the Alferic tradition that informs our work.
The Alferic tradition should not be confused with all the scores of other "trads" which have formed out of Wicca. It is not a group or an order, but rather is the traditional lore of the Elves, as they have revealed it to me. I should not wish anyone to misunderstand this statement to mean that I have some monopoly on Elf lore. By no means. Nor should one imagine that such lore comes out of orthodox scholarly sources or academic folkloristics. It is simply what I have learned from the Elves of my acquaintance and my teachers in the art of wandmaking. You, dear reader, are not obliged to believe it unless you wish to do so. Explore the links at the left and use your own wits.
©2006 The Bardic Institute
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