Wand Lore & More

 

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I am opening the askbox again for reasons of why not. HOWEVER: I make no promises that I will answer every ask I get sent. I may simply redirect you to existing posts on the blog. I may point you to canon information so you can figure things out yourselves. I may just delete your ask. The questions I answer will be those that interest me. If you really want to discuss an idea in private there's an associated email mentioned somewhere on this blog and on themonsterblogofmonsters.

As before:

If you want a wand analysed please focus on the wand. Do not tell me whose wand it is, or even if it is yours. Do not tell me Hogwarts houses, or Ilvermorny, or zodiac or Myers-Brigg or anything else. I will delete asks with additional information.

If you want a wand suggestion focus on the person it is for. Tell me of their character, not their likes or dislikes or their quirks but who they are as a person.

Before you send an ask please check over the posts on this blog (I link and cross-reference as much as I can to make this easy for you). If your question has been answered elsewhere the ask will be deleted.

Wands containing materials not covered on this blog will also be deleted. If you cannot find the wand or core listed on the relevant pages (Wands Analysed, Wand Woods, Wand Cores) you will have to have the materials analysed first.

Have fun, be polite, no promises on responses.

Edit 21/Mar/2021: As of this edit I will not accept asks from tumblr-standard-icon blogs. Have an icon of your own before sending asks. If you have an empty just-set-up blog, expect your ask to be deleted going forwards.

Edit 28/Mar/2021: A reminder that if I do not have a listed analysis for a non-canon wood or core you will have to request the wood or core be analysed before sending in a wand using such a part. If you are sending in a wood to be analysed you will need to send in the specific Latin name. For a core, please specify the creature you want a core from; I will state what the core would be if indeed there is one.

Edit 11/Jun/21: A reminder of what I have said many times before to not send in any details aside from the wand to analyse! Additional details skew the reading. If you want your wand analysed then send wand details only please!

Edit 2022: The ask box is closed for a reason. Don't leave replies on this post to try to get around that, I'm not going to answer. This blog is on hiatus for the forseeable future.

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Too bad you’re closed. Your blog is essential info source for my HP RPG session in preparation :(

I wished to request analyze of my players wands.

I wonder if you understand how guilt-trippy and entitled this comes off. "Too bad you're closed" ignoring that I'm making that choice for personal reasons which help me - so good, actually - and instead prioritising what you want out of this.

"Your blog is essential info source for my HP RPG session in preparation" - telling me what you wanted to do in the hope of pressuring me to reopen asks so you could get what you wanted out of it, and tying it to hypothetical others to bring that pressure to bear.

"I wished to request analyze of my players wands" - once again reiterating what you wanted - ignoring what I'd already made clear about why the blog was on hiatus and my own boundaries because it's about what you want - and again bringing up the idea of various others who'll be let down by the lack.

I'm gonna be generous and assume you didn't mean to come off as such an entitled dickwad. Emglish seems to be your second language so there may be nuances you don't grok and of course tone is hard to parse across the internet. But in future? Don't try to fucking guilt me.

If you want to analyse your players' wands, the resources are still up. You can look at the wood and core and what is said regarding length and flexibility and do. It. Your. Self.

Okay?

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Right. You two randos who’ve reblogged two posts in a row asking me in the new text to analyse your wands: No.

The ask box is closed. The pinned notice explains this. Fuck off asking or I will just block you and have done. The blog is on hiatus and if I do return to this I’ll still have to clear my drafts and inbox before I ever get to annoying, pestering people who ignore the clearly stated boundaries I lay out.

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Notice

Takin’ a break for a few days to catch up on asks. If you could all pause sending asks in, I’d appreciate it.

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I’d love to have a wand analysis, please.

“Apple wood with a Phoenix feather core, 10 3/4” and supple flexibility”.

Hope you’re doing alright in these trying times, dear :]

Apple and Phoenix Feather, 10 3/4″, supple

Apple wands tend to seek those with high aims, ideals and goals, and rarely tend towards Dark magic, even with a so-inclined master. Likewise, Apple wands tend to find themselves in the hands of those who are socially able; many bearers of Apple wands are well-liked, even if they don’t know it, and skilled at navigating social situations. The Phoenix Feather core of this wand almost seconds this, indicating a natural versatility, while the length here suggests someone not yet entirely sure of their capabilities. Nonetheless, this wand’s flexibility indicates that eventually they will find what they want to be, with their continued adaptability helping them forwards.

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Beech wood with a unicorn hair core, 10 ¾" and unbending flexibility

Beech and Unicorn Hair, 10 3/4″, unbending

Beech wands those with experience or with wisdom beyond their years and tend to be found in the hands of those who are more open-minded. Of course, open-mindedness is not always a good thing: one’s mind can be open to ideas and proceed to take in toxic and unconstructive ideas, but in general, Beech wands tend to find more accepting individuals. Coupled to Unicorn Hair I think would only further this, though it could push towards empathy and understanding of opponents or a more militant hatred of malevolent and bigoted individuals depending on the source of the Hair. The length here indicates a slight lack of confidence, but the flexibility speaks to stubbornness. This is someone who’s likely seen some of the more terrible sides of people but responds to that by stubbornly sticking to their guns rather than backing down.

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Hey! Could you please analyse my wand for me? Its a "Black Walnut wood with a unicorn hair core, 10 ¾" and hard flexibility". Thank you very very much in advance.

Black Walnut and Unicorn Hair, 10 ¾", hard

I’ve done a wand much like this before! Black Walnut wands require a person who is honest with themselves, and usually with others - though this does not always mean that they are nice. Sincerity and self-awareness can be found amongst the terrible as well, after all. However, the core here indicates something a bit more positive: this individual is likely not terribly malicious and this wand is likely very loyal. The length and flexibility here indicate someone both stubborn and lacking in confidence, perhaps because their honesty, insightfulness and awareness mean they see more clearly than most the terrible aspects of themselves and of others, meaning they are stubborn in the face of it but also fully aware that they could as easily do evil as any other.

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Alder wood, Unicorn hair, 10 3/4, brittle flexibility

Alder and Unicorn Hair, 10 3/4″, brittle

For all that Alder wands can be quite unyielding by nature, their masters are not always annoyingly obstinate, but more often helpful and considerate; Alder tends to seek it’s opposite, or at least the notably different. Matched to Unicorn you have a stubborn wood with a helpful core. The length here indicates perhaps a lack of confidence, and the flexibility likewise - a hardness more prone to breaking than to flexing. Perhaps that is part of where the lack of confidence here comes from: perhaps this is a person who has been stubborn before, to ill effect, and is now markedly different and wary of what will happen if they are too stubborn again. 

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Just wanted a wand description: "English Oak Wood, Dragon Heartstring, 12 & 1/2 inches, surprisingly swishy flexibility". I know the wand wood and core are really common but I wanted to know the meaning of the Length and Flexibility. Thank you ❤

English Oak and Dragon Heartstring, 12 1/2″, surprisingly swishy

English Oak wands require masters who are strong-willed, loyal and courageous, as well as likely to have a good instinct and a knack for nature. Matched to Dragon Heartstring you have a very powerful wand seeking a powerful person, which could go badly if the person in question is malicious or stubborn in their ideas. However, this wand is swishy, indicating someone well able to change their mind - not necessarily an absolute promise that they won’t do harm, however, as changeable people can be dangerous in their own way - while the length is thoroughly average indicating no great measure of arrogance or overwhelming anxiety.

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Can you do my wand?

Elder Wood with Unicorn Hair core 12 1/4 inch’s hard flexibility.

Elder and Unicorn Hair, 12 1/4″, hard

Elder is a wood that is hard to match with a preference for those it deems superior to those around them. What the wand deems, however, may be different to what people deem. Nonetheless, Elder most usually ends up in the hands of the unusual and those likely to get caught up in unexpected happenings. Coupled here to Unicorn Hair, this is likely a person a bit calmer and more thoughtful than the usual way, and who not as malicious as some. The length here indicates a thoroughly average level of confidence, while the flexibility indicates that, even if this is a person who is mostly pleasant to be around, they are stubborn and likely not one to change their mind - which can certainly be troublesome.

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Hi ! I’d really appreciate it if you could analyze my wand too ^^ It’s Larch wood with a unicorn hair core, 14 ¼" and supple flexibility 💛

Larch and Unicorn Hair, 14 1/4″, supple

Larch can be a tricky wand to match to people, seeking those with courage and confidence that’s often yet to be revealed. It likes those with hidden talents and as such often helps to reveal all a person can be, by being a strong and useful helpmate. In this instance, coupled to Unicorn Hair, you have a stable wand and one which tends towards charms and non-malicious acts. However, one thing here throws me off. That length is very much at the upper end, where it can easily indicate arrogance; I have to wonder if this person was not already courageous and confident, and that their hidden talents may be something they prefer to keep hidden. The flexibility suggests that too, at least to me, marking someone who can and will adapt, but has a certain core to return to. While I do not think this person would turn Dark or malicious - Unicorn Cores are notoriously difficult to do that with and the wand reflects it’s master - I do wonder what this person seeks to achieve that they do not openly tell others.

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Hello, I have another wand for analysis. Red Oak, Dragon Heartstring (Chinese Fireball), 13 and 1/4 inches, Slightly Yielding.

Red Oak and Dragon Heartstring (Chinese Fireball), 13 3/4″, slightly yielding

Red Oak wands are sometimes thought of as the wand of the rash, which is almost certainly only made worse here, given the strength of a Dragon core as well as the flamboyance of a Chinese Fireball heartstring in specific. They are also the wand of those with quick reflexes, who’re adaptable and often creative. Coupled to Dragon Heartstring the length here makes sense - this is someone who’s been given little cause to doubt themselves and a lot of opportunities to gain confidence. However, I’d hesitate to call them arrogant, even given the wand length here. Their wand can yield, suggesting that though self-confident, this person knows when to yield to better judgement, calmer judgement, or the authority and advice of someone they trust.

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hi, love your i was wondering if u can do a analysis for my wand. “black walnut wood with a unicorn hair core 11 and unyielding flexibility”.

Black Walnut and Unicorn Hair, 11″, unyielding

Surprisingly, I’ve done a wand very like this one before. Only a very slight difference in wand length. Generally speaking Black Walnut requires honesty with oneself, which matches well to the purity of a Unicorn Hair; this is likely a wand of clear purpose and little malice, though the bearer may well be otherwise - one can be honest with oneself and still cruel or violent. The length here indicates a very slight lack of confidence, while the flexibility indicates stubbornness, overall this is the wand of someone likely thoughtful, introspective, honest to themselves and others and perhaps lacking confidence due to a few more-honest-than-was-tactful remarks that cost them friends.

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Yew wood with a unicorn hair core, 10 ¾" and slightly springy flexibility

Yew and Unicorn Hair, 10 3/4″, slightly springy

Oh now that’s a fun contrast. I feel like I’ve done a few Yew and Unicorn wands before, but it’s always a contrast that strikes me. A tree of death paired to a core which is very much life and brightness and healing. Anyway.

A Yew wand tends to select for the unusual, especially those who are powerful. Regardless of whether they tend towards malice or kindness, yew wands often end up in the hands of fighters, be they protectors or aggressors. They are rarely timid or retiring, suggesting that this wand’s shorter length may be indicative of it’s bearer’s belief about themselves, but not how they express themselves. The Unicorn core here also indicates a generally kindlier nature - Unicorn cores are especially hard to turn towards the Dark and can have a tendency towards charms. The length here indicates someone perhaps lacking in self confidence, but who nonetheless does not let this deter them, likely pushing forwards and doing as they think best. The flexibility here does indicate an ability to change and adapt - to perhaps even sometimes be pushed aside - but I am inclined to read it more as adaptability than anything else. I think, with time and practice and opportunity, this is the wand of someone who will prove themselves to both themselves and others and become surer of themselves as they grow.

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Hi I was wondering if you could do a wood analysis of Arctostaphylos Glauca(Bigberry Manzanita)? Your blog is amazing by the way.

Given that Manzanita is the name for most of the genus here (where it isn’t it’s bearberries which makes sense given the genus name is literally “bear” Arctos and “bunch of berries” staphulḗ. Man, I love Ancient Greek. Doesn’t mess around). Anyway. Point is that because this is specific species of a genus with some broad overlapping characteristics, this means that Manzanita is probably a wand wood as a whole genus. As you asked for Bigberry in specific you’ll get it, but I’m gonna do the whole genus as well, because I think that most of the time it’d be any Manzanita and also that any species of the genus would have some overlapping traits. 

Manzanita, Bearberries.

Latin Name: Genus Arctostaphylos Alternate Names: Manzanita, Bearbearry

Generally speaking, manzanitas and bearberries are quite a versatile group of plants, being used in food, medicine, ecological, decorative and other. Perhaps unsurprisingly wands made of this wood take after that, though they can be hard to obtain at times, as the wood is prone to cracking as it is dried and cured. However, a well-made Manzanita wand can be incredibly sturdy, even casting quite well underwater (even casting better than most wands, depending on its core). While capable of casting with force, especially if given a draconic core, Manzanita wood wands are generally better known for their preference for individuals of deft practicality and generally do not tend to be terribly showy. Nonetheless, wands of Manzanita can end up anywhere, as their masters tend to end up in as diverse occupations as the wood itself can.

Uncommon Wix: Practical, deft at casting. Magical Skills: Can cast with force, prefers practical applications. Associated Dates: N/A Notes: N/A

Bigberry Manzanita

Latin Name: Arctostaphylos glauca Alternate Names: Bigberry Manzanita

Similar to its genus kin, Bigberry Manzanita seeks a wix of deft practicality and the drive to get where they want to go. Though they can be prone to blockages - where magic gets caught in the grain of the wood only to explode in the next casting with unexpected force - this can be readily dealt with by way of daily care and varied spellcasting. Interestingly of all Manzanitas, Bigberry Manzanita seeds can require exposure to fire before they can germinate. Likewise, most wands of this wood require some arduous trial that reveals it’s master’s true nature before they’re fully bonded - but after that point, both wand and master usually flourish as they might not have otherwise.

Uncommon Wix: Practical, deft at casting. Flourishes best after a trial. Magical Skills: As with most Manzanitas, can cast with force but prefers practical applications. Associated Dates: N/A Notes: Prone to blockages; careful and varied spellcasting can help to avoid this.

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Hello! my wands yew wood, Phoenix core, 14 1/2 inches, and had reasonable supple flexibility, but I was hoping you can analyze this if it had an occamy core (I’m not sure what part of the occamy would be best). And if it’s not too much to ask the appearance to please? Thanks so much!

Yew and Phoenix Feather, 14 1/2″, reasonably supple

Yew is traditionally a wood of death - deeply poisonous, grown in churchyards and used in making longbows, it is linked threefold, and three is a powerful number of magic. Matched to a Phoenix Feather you’re mirroring something dangerous already - the wand of the terrorist Tom Riddle - but that need not be a condemnation. Yew picks people who are unusual and Phoenix is versatile. Together you have a wand base that is potentially incredibly variable in who it might pick. Yew still has a predilection for duellers, though whether they are antagonists or defenders one can never easily say. 

However, this wand does nonetheless trouble me. In this instance, the length indicates someone with a great deal more confidence, to the point of outright arrogance. The only saving grace here is the flexibility, granting some degree of give, some chance to change their mind. In the best case circumstances this is the wand of someone who’ll readily get into fights for what they believe in, but do so protecting others, changing their mind when challenged and allowing their confidence to encourage others to stand up in support and change their minds as well. However, in the worst case scenario you have someone who changes only as benefits them, who’s strength and confidence means they push to do what they want, and who only changes to find the path of least resistance.

I don’t have any particular ideas for how such a wand would look, I’m afraid. It depends too much on which of the two paths this wand’s bearer ends up taking.

Yew and Occamy Feather, 14 1/2″, reasonably supple

Occamy Feather is not a core I think is terribly common, not least because while Occamies may have sufficient magic to be adequate cores (if at the lower end, like Unicorn and Kelpie hair) their ability to change size as they will can make it hard to gauge which Occamies are older and more powerful, and which are new hatched. Consequently, one would hope this core had been well-vetted before being used, elsewise you might end up with a rather useless wand.

However, assuming the core is correctly selected, I feel that the predilection of Occamy cores towards charms and transfiguration would somewhat twist Yews own predilection for duelling and even curses. Instead of martial applications I feel that this wand would instead seek someone who always seeks something to do, who takes each new challenge as an opportunity. Not martial in magic, perhaps, but still someone who seeks a challenge and something that makes them push themselves. In this situation, the surprising length of this wand is much less concerning: it indicates someone who’s much proven themselves in the challenges they’ve thus far faced and who has a self-confidence that has far more likely been genuinely earned. Matched to the flexibility here you end up with someone who’s adaptable because they know just how useful it can be, and who is confident because they’ve earned it - and who nonetheless knows when to listen.

In this case I see the pale wood of yew turned almost silvery with some kind of stain or varnish, carefully etched lines stained darker that mark the handle and a little of the shaft in a pattern almost reminiscent of overlapping feathers.

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Hey! I had a general question about wandlore which I could not find anywhere and I was wondering if you could enlighten me on the subject. The current Wizarding World wand quiz contains these two questions in it: one is about your eye color and the second one is about your birth day (an odd or an even number), I was wondering if those parameters really affect the wand that is chosen for you, and if so- How?

No idea about the eye colour, that may well just be random because they're doing a quiz cos they can't match you in real life to an actual magic wand because you know, no magic.

Birthday could actually in theory be used, because JKR used the Celtic Tree calendar for the wands of Harry, Hermione, Ron and (accidentally) Draco. But I don't know about odd or even number and would guess that that is again just because magic isn't real so when we play at it we've gotta find weird shorthands like quizzes.

I mean, personally I think that Ollivander measuring limb lengths etc. on customers is partially a distraction from him selecting wands and partially him seeing how they react and using that to gauge what wands to offer them - but also using it to get an idea of their present height and what height they may end up. If you give a short person a 15" wand that's 100% a wand indicating arrogance, but if you give someone of, say, Hagrid's height a 15" wand you're actually indicating low self-esteem. I imagine his chatter was also to gauge personality and thus what wands to suggest and from those early wands he narrowed his idea of the personality of an individual until he matched them.

Which means Harry was tricky in part because he's a bit of a complicated, messy, hard-to-match person but also because Ollivander was, intentionally or not, going off some assumptions about Harry that weren't true - which I've discussed before on this blog, analysing some of the wands Ollivander gave Harry - Ollivander's a very good wandmaker and good at matching people, but he's still a person and as flawed as anyone else.

Anyway, tl;dr: no I don't think that all of the quiz's questions necessarily matter and that some of them may be just to make it seem more substantial and personal (aspects of the physical self and the body one lives in, rather than the actual person one is, but when you're young that line can often seem hard to judge) because we don't have an Ollivander or magical wands.