He makes magic wands to cast spells and heal.

Richard Carter may sound like a character out of a Harry Potter book, but his curious real-life skill is gaining nationwide fans amongst those with a spiritualist leaning.

A few years ago Richard, who sells his wands at newly-opened Mystical Moments in Slaithwaite, began producing an array of the objects, which he says he is able to make not through previous wood carving knowledge but with the help of mysterious spirit guides.

They are some of the intriguing objects on sale at the Britannia Road store, which his partner Jackie Restall opened in April to spread word about spiritualism - the practice of making supposed communication with the spirits of the dead through various mediums - and using objects to cleanse the soul.

“Jackie bought me a lathe as a present and it just felt natural when I began making them,” said Richard, 57.

He had to give up work two years ago following a heart attack and a diagnosis of energy-sapping and rheumatic pain syndrome fibromyalgia.

Magic wands made by Richard Carter at Mystical Moments, Britannia Road, Slaithwaite.

He said: “I make them with second hand wood such as oak, cherry, mahogany and yew.

“I had never done woodwork prior to this. I just asked my spirit guides to show me what to do.

“I find the guides by going into a meditative state and no one can come in to my workshop in my garden when I’m making them.

“I don’t know what each will turn out like until it’s complete.

“I finish them with tung oil and do one a day as I don’t like to rush.”

Richard explained the wands’ uses, saying: “You can make spells with them and they’re also very good for healing.

“Each type has its own properties. Oak is for strength and when you’re feeling down you can meditate with it and feel the vibrations from it.

“But just having one in your home shows that you’re open to spirituality – for some people they mark the beginning of their spiritual journey.

“You either believe in it or you don’t, it’s each to their own. But are they not just nice pieces of woodwork at least?

“We’ve had enquiries about them and buyers coming up from all over England.”

Richard Carter with his magic wands at Mystical Moments, Britannia Road, Slaithwaite.

Every buyer must cleanse their wand themselves.

“As the wands have been handled by me they’ve been impregnated with my energy.

“The best way to cleanse one is by running it over incense then putting it in each hand, putting your other over it until you can feel the energy.

“Then place it in the hand you write with to feel the magic energy coming into the wand.”

Jackie’s shop includes dozens of other spiritual objects and she plans to open a spiritual therapy room on the same road soon.

She explained the origin of the pair’s interest in spiritualism.

“I’ve been interested in spirituality since I was 15,” said Jackie, who is also a part time administrator at a nursery.

Mystical Moments, Britannia Road, Slaithwaite.

“I lost my brother when he was seven in a car accident and since then I’ve always strived to see if he could communicate with me.

“Richard began his when he started going to a spiritualist church to learn how to communicate with spirits.

“We started making spiritual items to sell and toured around Wiccan, Pagan and other spiritual events.

“We’re eclectic spiritualists – we have lots of interests and don’t subscribe to being one type like a pagan.”

One of her main interests are crystals.

“The crystals work by giving out a vibrational energy which is created when you hold them.

“Each type of crystal has its own healing properties - I sleep with some under my pillow and I think they work.

“The response to us has been really positive so far.

Jackie Restall at Mystical Moments, Britannia Road, Slaithwaite.

“We’ve had a lot of curious people come and ask questions and we’ve got repeat customers who come from places as far out as Bradford and Oldham.

“We can’t make anyone believe in this but it is our belief system and if anyone wants to take it up they can.”

Some of the therapies on offer:

• Sound therapy (done with tuning forks)

• Chakra balancing (placing crystals on the client’s body to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing)

• Three types of reiki (a Japanese stress-reducing technique of placing hands on someone’s body)

• Hopi ear candle treatment (a practice of placing special candles in ears to remove ear wax and impurities)