The Alstonia Scholaris, known in Thai as the พญาสัตบรรณ, is considered to be an auspicious tree. Its Thai name is composed of the word meaning adult, grand or king, and the word meaning good, virtuous or admirable. Which is why, when I was young, my parents planted the tree in our garden so that it could bring virtue to our house.
In other cultures, however, its reputation is grimmer. In India, it is known as the Chatian Tree, the Devil’s Tree.
"Shaitan [language] and the English name Devil’s Tree refer to the malefic magic properties that folklore endows the tree with.The tree is protected by its evil reputation. Tribals of the Western Ghats are unwilling to even pass under this tree for fear of its resident evil spirits. To fall asleep under it is considered a certain way to invite death from the tree’s guardians". -Maneka Gandhi, "On the Mythology of Indian Plants".
In a folk tale from Madhya Pradesh, a shepherd sat under a Chatian tree. The tree’s fierce spirit was angered and about to strike the boy down until the boy began playing flute music so melodious, the tree spirit took a liking to him. As the shepherd played music to the tree every day, they became friends. However, one day the king’s son heard the shepherd’s music and promised to make the shepherd a minister once he becomes king if the shepherd plays music for him everyday. The tree warned the shepherd, but eventually, the king’s son became a king and broke his promise to the shepherd. When the boy came back crying, the tree punished the king by giving him horns and long front teeth. Only when the boy begged the tree and threatened to not play any more music for the tree did the tree relent, and showed a way to break the curse.
In my observations, the tree has a strong Saturine quality to it. Its roots are massive, to the point where in the past, my parents were considering cutting down the tree due to how its roots may potentially interfere with the plumbing system beneath our house, or even disrupt the house’s structure itself.
Every part of the tree, despite having been used medicinally, is also poisonous. “Studies shows that at high doses, A. scholaris exhibited marked damage to all the major organs of the body”. Still, the tree‘s versatility and lightness of the wood meant that it is used to make everything from coffins to blackboards, writing tables and slates. Thus, it is also known as the blackboard tree, and has great cultural significance within education as its leaves are awarded to scholars and teachers during convocation ceremonies.
I chose this tree to craft my first wand from, both from my familiarity with it - having grown up alongside this tree - and because of the kinship I feel with the tree after reading up its folklore. I have also found the tree to be incredibly protective, and willing to teach, which is perhaps why I felt an affinity to learn from it and it wanted me to take its branch.
In Western Traditional Witchcraft, it is common for a wand to be harvested with a ritual knife. Yet, in my case, the branch was dying. The tip of that particular branch was dried and cracked, and soon its base connecting it to the tree trunk will wither too. Usually our gardener would cut it off so that a new branch could grow but I was urged to snap it with my hands.
Do not use metal. Let it be by your flesh that my branch is killed, not by iron or steel. Kill me, so I can kill you.
The bark came off easily, revealing a mostly white wood underneath. Scraping off the bark felt like peeling off a snake’s shedded skin. Sanding the wood until it is soft and smooth made me appreciate all of its nooks and cranny, how some grains in the wood should be left as it is, how other spots should be smoothened away so no blemish remains.
I still need to meditate more on how to next work on my wand: my blasting rod, my tool to command and direct. The wand’s surface is perfect for carving into- I just need to find out the exact symbols to engrave.
I received an ask about how to make a blasting rod a while back, and through a series of events, I delayed answering so I could gather some additional information because this tool has a very powerful mystique, coupled with a relatively simple premise.
I’ll start off with some possible ways to make a Blasting Rod aka Black Rod before I delve deeper into some of the references and my ramblings. One thing that seems clear to me, but seems obvious is that to make a blasting rod, that must be your intent. It isn’t simply a wand made of blackthorn (powerful enough on its own) but one made with the intent to utilize it for both beneficial and malefic magic. In European/Celtic tradition it is made of Blackthorn, though other sources do not specify the wood needed. Designate it as a blasting rod, include iron, thorn, or bone, and connect to it as an extension of yourself. It is called a blasting rod, because of its use as blasting the witch’s power in the direction it is aimed, alternatively named a blasting rod for the fact that it will blast or destroy if that is the witch’s intent. Aside from that, I believe the further fabrication of it should be personal to the one creating it. If that is including an inscription, a symbols or sigil of power, or a glyph that represents the witch or the possible workings. The blasting rod should mirror the witch as an inanimate representation of how the witch works, how they view themselves, and the endless possibilities that encompass the witch’s work.
There are of course specific rituals one can do to make the rod, but their validity is again an issue that one must sort through to find what is someone’s idea of how it was done traditionally, someone’s own creation, or a remnant come to light from times gone by. I’m not going to police you and tell you that it must be done one ritual is more valid than another, especially because I’m not going to share my own ritual for crafting a blasting rod. My goal is to provide some context, food for thought, and to show that it’s not as simple as spouting some universal truth in the matter of crafting it.
Top: Blackthorn and bone blasting rod. Middle: Bone and rosewood wand. Bottom: Bone and rosewood want with fossilized belemnite tip by traditional witch Gemma Gary.
Another blasting rod from the Museum of Witchcraft (Cornwall) Braided blackthorn.
More Below the Break!
The blasting rod is a tool used in witchcraft that can vary greatly depending on the creator. It has a history of being used for multiple purposes, but it is eclipsed by the possible malefic usages. It is known to be able to purify, banish, protect of course, but it also used to wither crops and wombs, cause illness, accident, break up storms and divert lightning. Absorbing clouds and controlling spirits and demons alike, as well as being a tool that can intimidate or offend the Fae.
Most times when it’s described, it’s made of blackthorn. Prunus spinosa, or the blackthorn tree, sloe berry etc is a perennial plant that grows in Europe, notably in Ireland, Scotland, and England, though it is also found in the United States near the coasts. It’s a relative of Rowan and Hawthorn, but unlike the other two, has a notable penchant for more “aggressive” magics. All accounts can agree that whether or not you have a sensitivity to energies, or spirits, care must be taken when working with the plant because on the mundane front, black, vicious thorns sprout from the branches. Left untreated, the wounds have been known to fester and grow septic. For this, and the history of burning witch’s with their rods, canes and walking sticks, as well as tossing additional blackthorn wood, the reasoning that it is a purifying wood may come from that.
I’ve spoken at length with several other witches about the ins and outs of blasting rods and changed my opinion on their creation more than once. The conclusion, I have trouble deciding to this day. While mentioned in traditional witchcraft based on European, especially Celtic traditions, it is almost inexplicably tied with blackthorn. It’s possible that it has that connection because of the common practice of having blackthorn staffs, canes, and shillelagh, but in another famous text (although the origin is a bit dubios), blackthorn is not mentioned.
According to the French text “The Grand Grimoire”, it is described as a hand wand that has two forks, capped with magnetized steel. This text, supposedly written in 1522, but researches place the text as written most likely in the 17th and 18th centuries, also claims that the blasting rod is an ancient tool that harkens back to the Garden of Eden, being the tool that God gave to the Angel when Adam and Eve were driven from paradise. Further account says that the blasting rod was used to smite the rebellious angels and condemn them to the pit.
Whether through this text, other folklore, or individual’s experiences with their own rods, it is known as a tool with an affinity for banishment and control of spirits and demons through intimidation. One could assume that, similar to lore of vampires being afraid of the sign of the cross, demons and spirits fear the replica of the tool originally used to seal their fate…again, simply an extrapolation if you go off The Grand Grimoire.
There is another story that I read ages ago that, apologies, I know I’m missing some details, but included a man who had business to attend with The Good Neighbors, or the Fae. He had a blackthorn cane as many did, but to conclude his business, he had to lessen his terrible weapon, by removing the iron tip. Only then, by lessening the fatal nature of the blasting rod, was he allowed entry under the hill to ask his favor.
From this story, and common practice of having metal at the tip of the cane for stability, another aspect of the blasting rod is revealed that mirrors that of the Grand Grimiore. Rather than a forked wand with magnetized caps, it is a simple cane of blackthorn with an iron tip.
Another supposed traditions from an article, claims that to make a blackthorn anything into a blasting rod or black rod, the rune Thurisaz is inscribed or burned into it. This may be some holdover from viking or Norse interactions with Ireland and the British isles. Speaking with some traditional witches I know of various backgrounds, an iron blade is attached to the rod, preferably from a knife that the witch had used previously. Some say that it is in the harvesting of the plant that the rod gains its power. By communicating with the plant spirits, either an agreement is formed where witch and wielded work together, or by infuriating the plant enough to lend its power to the witch through the gift of a branch. Either are valid depending on your tradition, and this is where I get stuck myself on the creation.
The Blasting rod in Celtic tradition is always made of blackthorn, though in other texts, the blackthorn is not listed specifically. Does that mean that this powerful tool gains its power through any baneful plant, or that blackthorn is the catalyst? Does that make it a blasting rod if you use any thorned plant, or do you follow the tradition of utilizing metal and forked branches. I’m not quite sure, to be honest. It could be a case of creating a powerful tool that has those usages, but referring to it as a “Blasting Rod” is a misnomer. Similar to referring to the magistellus flora of a plant as an “Alraune” when it’s not made of mandrake.
What I can surmise from wand lore, folklore, tradition and locale, is that a branch with some marking, whether metal or burned into it, is ritually consecrated to connect to the witch. It is from a woody plant that has import and history, connected to power, purification, and a connection to the land. If a metal is included, it is of iron, or a metal that is magnetized, and it must be treated with care. Of course, there are variances, as there is with any tool crafted by the witch. Some examples keep the thorns, an outward symbol of its offensive power, others are disguised as simple walking sticks, what is agreed is that it is a powerful tool if it is in fact a blasting rod and not just a wand. If made with the proper intent, it can be your greatest ally, or worst enemy. And after seeing more than one post about someone’s pet being found eating their “blasting rod” I urge you to refrain from trying to make one if you can’t be responsible.
The last thing I will say is that I believe that a tool like this is crafted once, and not created again until broken. Let me clarify, I think that you can have multiple blasting rods of various sizes, and possibly purposes if one seems to meld better to a specific type of magic. I’ve seen people talk about making wands of 12 different woods, and some with crystals, and some with wire, and some with feathers. Don’t make it if you aren’t going to use it. Spend time getting it right the first time, instead of abandoning it as soon as you find a “better” piece of wood. But who am I to tell you what to do? You do you, but this is my answer to a question I received and my rambling opinions.
🦋Cheers, Barberwitch
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Iron is a formidable metal and steeped in history and magic deeper than the ground the ore is plumbed out of. These were iron nails, and now they’ll be blades after a little work. One for a rod, one for a wildcrafting knife, and one to be determined.
OK everyone here is the real blasting rod, it's carved, stained to look like oak, currently drying. Next I will use green sharpe to fill in the carved runes so it is infused with power. What do you all think?
I know it's hard to see with my pictures. Not the best lighting as I lay in bed working on this. But here is the start to my blasting rod. It's half the size of Dresden's rod but it's my practice rod. I searched the Internet for celtic symbols, Norse runes and arcane sigils. And for fun I signed my name in Norse runes at the bottom of one side. Any advice on what I can do to add to this let me know. I got till April 27 to finish this up. I will also stain the dowel, drill a hole for the leather strap he has so it can hang in his duster. When all that is done after I will take a green Sharpe and fill in the carved slots to mimic putting will into the rod. I choose green because of the later books.
