The phrase “bune wand” comes from old Scottish tradition and refers to any tool a witch used for flying. This idea is deeply connected to European folklore and magical practices.
Many people think of witches flying on broomsticks, but early stories often mention a forked wand or a simple staff instead. These were the first tools described as helping witches fly.
These items were more than just practical objects. They carried important symbolic meanings. For example, a forked wand was sometimes given to a witch during initiation, along with a special ointment called the witches’ unguent. This ointment, made from psychoactive herbs and animal fats, was believed to help witches leave the physical world and go on spiritual journeys.
The roots of these beliefs go back to ancient shamanic traditions. In those practices, ritual flight—whether real or imagined—was a way to reach hidden realms and gain spiritual knowledge. The staff or wand, especially if it was forked, symbolized the crossroads, which is a powerful image in magical stories.
Ulrich Molitor, a professor at the University of Constance, was one of the first to write about these traditions. In 1489, he published a book called De Lamiis, or Of Witches, which included six woodcut illustrations that show early images of witchcraft.
One of these woodcuts is the oldest known printed picture of witches flying. It shows three witches, each wearing animal masks, flying together on a forked staff above the countryside.
The forked staff is especially interesting when we think about the worship of moon goddesses like Diana and Hecate. In ancient times, both were linked to the moon, magic, and places where different worlds meet. They were called Trivia, meaning “of the three ways,” and their statues were often placed at crossroads—places seen as powerful and full of change.
The two prongs of the forked staff may represent these crossroads, making it a magical tool for moving between different realms. Its shape also looks like the horns of the Horned God, another important figure in witchcraft, who stands for nature, fertility, and the wild.
Later on, the broomstick, or besom, became the most famous symbol of witch flight. This may be because it was a common household item and was believed to sweep away negative energy. Before broomsticks, people also thought that long-stemmed wild plants could be used for flying. Plants that grew in wild, untouched places were believed to have special power.
One example is the yellow ragwort. In British folklore, witches were said to ride ragwort stalks as magical steeds. On the Isle of Man, there is even a saying: “As arrant a witch as ever rode a ragwort.”
The witches’ unguent itself has been the subject of much historical curiosity. Recipes were different, but often included plants like belladonna, henbane, and mandrake, which are known for their hallucinogenic effects. When rubbed on the skin, the unguent was believed to cause visions of flying, changing shape, and meeting spirits.
Through these symbols and rituals, the story of witch flight brings together ancient religion, folk magic, and the human wish to go beyond ordinary life. The forked wand, the staff, the broomstick, and magical plants all act as doorways to the mysteries of the unseen world.
