Sinukuan

In 2013, after my third Haring Bakal initiation in Santander, Cebu, I brought home three sinukuan wands. I kept one to craft into an actual wand. We cut the other two to produce several clean pieces.

While sinukuan wood originates north of Metro Manila in Luzon, where there is actually a place called Sinukuan, it can be found anywhere in the Philippines, and mainly from mystical places. It is alleged that, when a mage hunts for it in forests, he comes upon a tree around which the other trees and plants bend toward it, as though kowtowing in obeisance. The mage must ask permission from the tree to take one or more of its branches.

Sinukuan is characterized by its natural, cross-section design, typically a flower in the center of which is a cross (sometimes perceived as a cross with a petaled halo). It is believed that whoever has a piece of this wood will overcome all obstacles, particularly those generated by other men. When a sliver is kept in one's wallet, it assures the owner that he will never run out of money. It is also possible to place a piece in a bottle of extra virgin coconut oil to be used for potency (sexual and otherwise) and empowerment (literally and figuratively, that others bow down to your will).

I think that sinukuan is akin to "Saint John The Conqueror" in the West, because, while SJTC is a root, it could very well be the root of a sinukuan tree.

I gave the pieces to the members of the Spirit Questors (the real Spirit Questors, i.e. students who were trained by myself and by no other persons), The 36 Wands, and Haring Bakal Cubao.

In this photo the pieces are quite dark, because the wood generated sap during cutting. It exudes a peculiar, fairy-like scent.

Close-up of a cut piece

Close-up of a dry piece