Wands, Rods, Staves..

[Michelle]

Hi Everyone, Hi Charlotte and Don!

It has been a LONG time since I was here. Life has been hectic and when I do have spare time to potter online.. I've had nothing much to say.

This will be a convoluted post. My mind rarely follows a tidy route to any destination. I had thought of titling it "Is Jesus the original Harry Potter?", but that is only a portion of the post so I decided to go with "Wands, Rods, Staves.."

This started recently when I went looking for information on the history of wands. I actually never found what I was looking for, but I found better stuff instead so I'm perfectly happy.

This was what I first found on en.wikipedia.org
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Religious Usage

In Pharanoic Egypt, toilet articles, weapons against possible enemies, amulets against serpents, were also left in the tomb, together with magic texts and a magic wand which enable the ka (soul) to use them. The rod of Moses was a hazel wand. In catacomb frescoes of the third and fourth centuries, Christ is frequently represented performing miracles by means of a wand.

In Wicca and Ceremonial Magic, practitioners use wands for the channeling of energy—they serve a similar purpose to the athame. Though traditionally made of wood, they can also consist of metal or crystal. Practitioners usually prune a branch from an Oak, Hazel, or other tree, or may even buy wood from a hardware store, and then carve it and add decorations to personalize it; however, one can also purchase ready-made wands. In Zoroastrianism, there is a similar ritual implement called a barsom.

There is some scholarly opinion that the magic wand may have its roots in the drumstick of a shaman, especially in Central Asia and Siberia, as when using it to bang on his drum or point, to perform religious, healing, and magical ceremonies.
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I have NEVER seen a picture of Jesus holding a wand, and although I knew the story of Moses I had never once thought of the rod he carried in a "magical" sense.

I probably would have left it there if I hadn't managed to bump into Don on the same day and, in reading his website updates, found a painting of jesus holding a wand or rod!! (Don, I can't find it now. I think it was one by Pousin, but my computer is oldish and can't cope with your graphics. It burps and hangs every time I try to search through your archives. If you know the picture I'd be obliged if you'd let me know the name of it and the artist.

Below is another link I found on the subject of Jesus using a "wand" to perform miracles:

www.bibleorigins.net/ChristBeardless.html

I found another one on the Bible archeology society, but for some reason I can't get the link to work for them.

Got a bit more, but no time to add it at the moment.

Nice being here!

regards
Michelle

[Don Barone]

Fascinating Michelle and welcome back. I will start digging for some images and wil let you know when I find it.

Hmmm, the staff of Moses ... a magic wand ? Yes absolutely fascianting !

And as you can see I have fixed your Avatar. Just had the wrong IP address so you are fully back now

Best
Don Barone

[Don Barone]

Hi again Michelle [et al]

I have not found any paintings with a wand yet but found a couple of sculptures though, all dated from the 3rd and 4th century as are these amazing images of Jesus without a beard or mustache. It would appear that the modern image and version of Christianity seems to have started with Constantine I should think. Wonder whose image was chosen ... ?

Jesus Beardless Images

Best regards
Don Barone

[Michelle]

Hi Don

Good news - I found it! ;D It was on your page on "Angles and Staves" which is a bit obvious comsidering I was looking at wands and staves? lol

"Christ among the Soldiers" by Pierre Mignard

24.57.236.148/The_Poussin_Angle.htm

I found the link in an email I'd sent my friend. He's been researching the Magi and their (believed) connections to the Druids. That led him to an interest in wands and other "tools" used in magical rituals. But he'd never thought of a Biblical link either.

From Wikipedia:
"A Magus (plural Magi, from Latin, via Greek μάγος ; Old English: Mage; from Old Persian maguš) was a member of the Magi tribe from ancient Media, (inhabitants of Persia)[1], who were responsible for the religious and funerary practices. Later they accepted the zoroastrian religion, however, not without changing the original message of its founder, Zarathustra. They became the guardians of religion under the three persian empires. The best known Magi are the "Wise Men from the East", in the Bible. And, of whom Marco Polo wrote that he had seen their graves in what is today the district of Saveh, in Tehran, Iran. In English, the term may refer to a shaman, sorcerer, or wizard; it is the origin of the English words magic and magician."

From here:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magus

Fascinating!

As to Jesus being clean shaven. There is a legend/gossip that the bearded images of Jesus started appearing after the Turin shroud was discovered.

Michelle