The mystic wand is a wand massager designed for powerful external stimulation. Its vibrations can create their own little party on the clitoris, perineum, anus... or pretty much where ever else you think really strong vibrations would turn you on. On a purely theoretical level, vaginal penetration is possible if that's what floats your boat. Should this be your preferred way to get freaky, however, do so with caution. The bulbous head is large and ample lubricant is recommended.

Because of the wide range of vibration intensity settings, this toy is suitable for both beginners and advanced users. In fact, this is one of those toys that can actually grow with you as you explore your sexuality. If you already know what you like, you can 'Rock the Casbah' with well-recognized vibration patterns. If you are checking things out, the variety provides ample room for growth and change.

The Mystic wand is made from a combination of plastic and silicone: the mechanical heart of the toy is made of plastic while the external bits and pieces are silicone. With the exception of the control panel, anything that comes in contact with skin is silicone.

In terms of texture, the Mystic Wand's designers clearly thought through the needs of their customers. The texture of the silicone on the handle is slightly different from the texture on the head of the massager. The black base is soft and velvety - perfect for creating a surer grip when using the toy. The head is made from a smoother, less textured silicone - perfect for serving as the base for lubricants.

Five bands wrap around the head and can provide some additional stimulation during use. The sensation they impart is not particularly noticeable, but the ridges do offer additional surface area for lubricant. A little goes a long way with the Mystic Wand and that is, in part, due to those bands.

Silicone is hypoallergenic and non-porous, making it an ideal choice for those who are looking for a toy to share or who have allergies or other sensitivities towards other materials.

The Mystic Wand's design mimics the king of the hand-held vibrating massagers - the Hitachi Magic Wand. Unlike it's much, much bigger cousin, the Mystic Wand is small, portable and lightweight. Because it runs on 4 AA batteries, there are no cords or cables to deal with. There's only one nook and cranny (underneath the silicone covering on the head) for the goopy aftermath of sex play to get into.

It's a massager that has almost all of the benefits of the Hitachi Magic Wand, but with none of the drawbacks that come from the Hitachi's size and design.

Speaking of size... it really does make a difference. The Mystic Wand's more diminutive scale allows a surprisingly useful maneuverability. Under the covers, the size makes it easy to apply stimulation to the clitoris without getting the toy all caught up in a blanket. On top of the covers, the size means it's both easy and comfortable to lie on top of the Mystic Wand, to rotate it to apply at different angles, and to use it for really long periods of time with no hand or arm fatigue.

The size and absence of any cords makes the Mystic Wand discreet and ideal for travel. I have long mourned the fact that I can't take my Hitachi Magic Wand on the road and no other vibrator has ever packed enough punch to warrant packing it in my carry-on. Problem solved!

It takes me quite a while to achieve orgasm with clitoral stimulation - fifteen minutes wouldn't be at all unusual for me. I also usually need powerful vibrations to find that happy place. After years with the Hitachi Magic Wand, smaller vibrators can almost never do the job. What can I say? I've got my comfort zone and I love it!

Given that the power of the Mystic Wand's vibrations are comparable to those of the Hitachi Magic Wand, I anticipated going through a full set of batteries before achieving orgasm. Not the case! Four AA batteries fresh from the box were more than sufficient to run the Mystic Wand on its most powerful setting for 20 minutes without any loss in power. Your mileage may vary depending on the batteries you use, but the Mystic Wand itself is definitely not a battery hog.

The range of vibration strength is considerable. On its lowest setting, the Mystic Wand is comparable to most traditional vibrators or vibrating bullets. On its highest setting, the Mystic Wand packs the punch of the Hitachi Magic Wand on its lowest setting.

The Mystic Wand's controls are located on a flat panel on the Wand's handle. The control panel is made of plastic and is easy to access, easy to clean and easy to adjust. The power button does nothing but turn the device on and off. A blue light located between the control panel and the top of the Wand's base shines when the toy is on.

Once on, the F (which I'm guessing stands for "function") button allows users to cycle through the Mystic Wand's six different vibration strengths/patterns. A small light above the F button indicates the strength of the vibrations. Green is the lightest setting. Orange tells users that the vibrations are getting a bit stronger. Red says, "Hold on to your hats, partner! We're going for a ride!"

Despite the power, the Mystic Wand isn't noisier than most other massagers or traditional vibrators. Were someone to be standing outside your bedroom door and listening closely, chances are they would be able to guess that a vibrator were being used - note that they would guess "vibrator" and not "blender" or any other small kitchen appliance.

The Mystic Wand is not waterproof and should not be used in the water.

Although the Mystic Wand is not waterproof, it does seem to be splash-proof and easily withstood a quick bath with soap and water for cleaning. The manufacturer recommends the use of toy cleaner or a warm wet cloth combined with mild soap and water.

Be sure to keep the battery case and controls dry!

It is compatible with all water-based lubricants. Do not combine the Mystic Wand with silicone-based lubricants as silicone on silicone degrades the toy's silicone coating.

The Mystic Wand comes with a velvet pouch designed for storage.

Packaging fetishists (like myself) won't view the Mystic Wand's clear plastic packaging as an object of lust in its own right. It's not terribly elegant, but very functional. The container fits the massager perfectly and provides a clear view of the toy.

If choosing this as a gift, you may consider the audience and the timing of opening as, once the gift wrap is off, there's absolutely no doubt as to what is in the package.