
Why cut branches off a living tree when you're going to be in a woods? Why not use branches that have already fallen from the trees, instead of risking damage to a healthy living tree? Just curious.
Well, in taking the branch we are also making a commitment to the tree to work with it (well, it's species) for a year. In a tree lore sort of way. So part of find the wand is finding the right tree to create a relationship with.
If it were just making a wand for the sake of making a wand, then I would just find a dropped branch. Heck, I've got a whole maple tree lying in my backyard, I could make a 100 wands.