wandwork Meaning & Definition

Wandwork Definition (Noun)

1. The use of a wand (or sometimes a similar instrument or tool, even an extended finger) in practicing magic, casting spells, or performing a mystical or religious ritual or ceremony (e.g. drawing symbols such as pentagrams in the air, as in Wicca).

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2. The use of a wand in a stage-magic performance.
3. The use of a long wand (stick) in training horses.
4. The use of a long thick wand (stick) in calisthenic exercises.
5. A thing or things made of woven wands; wickerwork.
6. ↑ E.g., the athame (double-edged straight knife): Buckland, Raymond (1986), “Erecting the Temple”, in Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft ‎, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN, page 92: “The covener closest to the east turns outward and moves to stand facing the east candle, with her or his athame raised. She or he draws an invoking pentagram (see diagram) […]”
7. ↑ Tyson, Donald (2001), “Projecting the Pentagram”, in The Magician's Workbook: Practicing the Rituals of the Western Tradition ‎, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN, page 141: “Raise your right arm and extend your right index finger. […] Cause spritual energy to flow out of […] the tip of your right index finger as a stream of bright […] astral fire.”
8. ↑ Cf. Skeat, Walter William (1882), “Wand”, in Etymological Dictionary of the English Language ‎, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 695: “It is named from its pliancy and use in wicker-work, the orig. sense being a lithe twig, that could be wound  into wicker-work.”