A Besom or as you may know it A Broom!!

The broom is a tool of magick and ritual that is still used by Witches 

today. The traditional Witch's Broom is made of ash, birch and willow 

because of the attributes of those woods, but it can be made of just about 

any wood available. Although not employed for flying purposes, the broom 

does have many uses. It is used for protection. It is also and most 

commonly used for physically and magickally cleaning an area that will be 

used for sacred space. The broom does not have to touch the ground to sweep 

away the psychic clutter that often collects in well used spaces. Brooms 

are also often used in handfasting rituals (broom leap). 

The broom is associated with Water and is sacred to both the God and Goddess. 

THE BROOM

According to Barbara Walker

The broom has been associated with female magic and the social contributions of the wise woman ever since ancient Rome, where sacred midwives used special broomsticks to sweep the threshold of the house after childbirth to repel negative influences from mothers and their babies.

The broom was also associated with the ceremony of marriage as conducted by priestesses. Among Gypsies, whose marriages continued to be performed by wise women, jumping over the broomstick was an essential part of the rite.

(The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects Barbara G. Walker Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1988)

For us today, the new broom ritual is an invitation to return to beginners mind where the world is once again fresh and filled with wonder.

Those of us of European heritage may have had Grandmothers who shared the New Broom ritual with us. For some of us, particularly from the Scandinavian countries, the New Broom ritual was a way of ritualizing the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, our Grandmothers swept the house with vigor and intention. They swept each room, clearing it of any negative energies or memories that had accumulated there during the past year. All of the disharmony and emotional clutter was swept over the threshold and out into the winter wind to be blown to the far corners of the earth.

But just in case, the old broom was left outside by the door to discourage old negative energies from returning.

The new broom was blessed with hopes and intentions for the new year-for health and happiness and prosperity and meaning and hope and generativity, and all those things that we bless one another with as we gather in the Wisdom Circle. Then the new broom was used to sweep in the positive energies and hopes and dreams and prayers for the new year.

TODAY WE SWEEP AWAY DESPAIR AND SWEEP IN GENERATIVITY.

SWEEP AWAY SEPARATION AND SWEEP IN CONNECTEDNESS.

SWEEP AWAY PERFECTIONISM AND SWEEP IN WHOLENESS.

SWEEP AWAY COMPARISONS AND COMPETITION AND SWEEP IN

KINDNESS AND COMMONALITY.

SWEEP AWAY EXPECTATIONS AND SWEEP IN WONDER.

SWEEP AWAY THE SEEKING AFTER APPROVAL AND SWEEP IN THE

CAPACITY TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE LOVE.

SWEEP AWAY INFLEXIBILITY AND SWEEP IN GOING WITH THE

FLOW.

You are invited to take this ritual of the new broom home with you and to give brooms for weddings and new births and housewarmings and new years.

Give a broom to someone you wish to mend a relationship with; a mother or father, daughter, son, or an estranged friend.

With our broom we can fly into a future that we know will be transformed by our collective gestures of conscious aging.

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THE BROOM

The broom has been associated with female magic and

the social contributions of the wise woman ever since

ancient Rome, where sacred midwives used special

broomsticks to sweep the threshold of the house after

childbirth to repel negative influences from mothers

and their babies.

The broom was also associated with the ceremony of

marriage as conducted by priestesses. Among Gypsies,

whose marriages continued to be performed by wise women,

jumping over the broomstick was an essential part of the

rite.

(The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects

Barbara G. Walker

Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1988)

For us today, the new broom ritual is an invitation to

return to beginners mind where the world is once again

fresh and filled with wonder.

Those of us of European heritage may have had Grandmothers

who shared the New Broom ritual with us. For some of us,

particularly from the Scandinavian countries, the New Broom

ritual was a way of ritualizing the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, our Grandmothers swept the house with

vigor and intention. They swept each room, clearing it of

any negative energies or memories that had accumulated there

during the past year. All of the disharmony and emotional

clutter was swept over the threshold and out into the winter

wind to be blown to the far corners of the earth.

But just in case, the old broom was left outside by the door

to discourage old negative energies from returning.

The new broom was blessed with hopes and intentions for the

new year-for health and happiness and prosperity and meaning

and hope and generativity, and all those things that we bless

one another with as we gather in the Wisdom Circle. Then the

new broom was used to sweep in the positive energies and hopes

and dreams and prayers for the new year.

TODAY WE SWEEP AWAY DESPAIR AND SWEEP IN GENERATIVITY.

SWEEP AWAY SEPARATION AND SWEEP IN CONNECTEDNESS.

SWEEP AWAY PERFECTIONISM AND SWEEP IN WHOLENESS.

SWEEP AWAY COMPARISONS AND COMPETITION AND SWEEP IN

KINDNESS AND COMMONALITY.

SWEEP AWAY EXPECTATIONS AND SWEEP IN WONDER.

SWEEP AWAY THE SEEKING AFTER APPROVAL AND SWEEP IN THE

CAPACITY TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE LOVE.

SWEEP AWAY INFLEXIBILITY AND SWEEP IN GOING WITH THE

FLOW.

You are invited to take this ritual of the new broom

home with you and to give brooms for weddings and new

births and housewarmings and new years.

Give a broom to someone you wish to mend a relationship

with; a mother or father, daughter, son, or an estranged friend. 

***************************************

Broom Blessing

I consecrate this broom

Not only as a tool of my craft,

But as a symbol of my faith.

Sprinkle salt on the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Earth,

of rocks and trees,

of comfort and security.

Brush broom with a feather

I bless this broom with the spirit of Air,

of bells and feathers,

of spirit and mind.

Touch candle flame (very quickly *g*) to broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Fire,

of spice and flame,

of courage and energy.

Sprinkle water on the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Water,

of pearls and shells,

of emotion and cleansing.

Blow your breath across the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Life,

that together we may honor the Lord and Lady.

***************************************************

THE BROOM PURIFICATION 

Before dawn, take a branch from any tree. Thank the tree for its gift and 

leave a coin or semiprecious stone at its base in payment. 

Next, obtain several brightly colored flowers on long stalks. Tie these 

flowers to the branch to fashion a sort of broom, then sweep the floor 

in every room of the house, visualizing the flowers of the broom 

absorbing negativity and "evil" as you work. Then, still before sunrise, 

leave the broom at the crossroads'. Traditionally in the Southwest 

United States and Mexico, this ritual is repeated at the first of each 

month. 

From "The Magical Household" by S. Cunningham & David Harrington 

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Ashlynn's Grove Crafty Crafter ~ Besom Making (broom)

Items needed:

  Stick for the handle; diameter one inch (1") or less 

       Nine to eleven (9-11) stalks of broomcorn 

       Four to five yards (4-5 yds.) strong twine 

       One long, large eyed needle or wire 

       One three quarter inch (3/4") nail (or drill) 

       Eighteen inch (18") piece of twine tied to form tie-off loop 

       Six feet (6') of twine, cut into two foot lengths 

       Hammer, Tying block, Sharp knife 

The Method:

  Gather your materials. Make a 'tying block' by 

  whittling the middle of a foot long, (12")

  (very straight and smooth) limb. This should

  look rather like an hour glass, when finished.

  Start by preparing the handle. Drive the nail or drill 

  a three quarter inch (3/4") hole through the handle, 

  some three inches (3") from where the broomcorn will 

  be attached to the handle. Fasten the twine to this 

  nail or hole. Wrap the other end of the twine around

  the center of the tying block, leaving a few feet of

  twine stretched between the block and the handle.

  Traditional besoms had a 'knob' on the broomcorn end.

  

  Broomcorn has three sections: stalks, brush and knurl.

  (The knurl is the junction between the stalk and brush.)

  

  Trim the stalks to six inch (6") lengths. Place the 

  broomcorn, (stalk down) into hot water, covering 

  both the stalks and knurls. Let soak for ten minutes. 

  (10 min.) Remove the broomcorn from the water, drain

  off the water. Place the tying block on the floor.

  Place your feet on the tying block and pull the twine

  taut. (Use both hands on the handle.) 

  Place a stalk of broomcorn next to the handle, next to

  the nail or drilled hole. (Have the knurl directly under

  the twine.) Twist the handle so that the twine binds the 

  broomcorn to the handle. Pull rather hard, so that the

  twine forms a V-shaped depression in the stalk of the 

  broomcorn.

  Roll the handle back slightly. Place a second stalk of 

  broomcorn next to the first one. Twist to bind both stalks

  with the twine. Pull to for a V-shaped depression. Continue

  with the broomcorns, until you have covered the handle.

  Be sure to use an odd number of stalks, so that the weaving

  will come out properly.

  After all of the stalks are bound to the handle, pull and

  wrap the twine around the stalks five times.

  Begin the weaving of the stalks by placing your thumb on the

  twine and releasing pressure on the tying block. Raise one

  stalk, run the twine under it. Skip the next stalk and run 

  the twine under the stalk after that. Remember to pull the

  twine taut. Continue all the way around, and as far up the 

  stalks as you desire. (Leave an inch or so, to turn under.)

  With the eighteen inch (18") long piece of twine, fashion

  a 'tie-off loop'. Do this by tying the ends together. 

  If you are going to turn under the stalk ends, do it now.

  To tie off the twine, place the tie-off loop next to the

  last stalk that the twine went under. Turn and wrap the 

  stalks five more times, being sure to go over the loop,

  leaving the loop end free, Use your thumb to maintain

  pressure on the twine. Cut the twine loose from the 

  tie-off block, about six inches (6") from the broom.

  Thread the cut twine through the tie-off loop. Pull

  the loop to bring the twine end under wraps on the 

  broom, and to pull the tie-off loop free.

  If you did not turn under the stalk ends, take the knife

  and trim the stalks to about a quarter inch above the 

  twine.

  To make the 'spread', wrap twine, about midway around the

  brush, four times. Do not pull too taut. Do this again, 

  about an inch above, and then a third one, an inch above

  that.    

  Thread the large eyed needle with a length of twine. 

  (You can make a 'needle' out of a length of wire, looped 

  at one end.)

  Knot the free end to the top 'spread'. Thread the needle

  through the brush (about an inch from the edge, pass it 

  over the front spreader twine, go over the broom three 

  quarters of an inch, and thread the needle back through.

  Do it on both sides. At the end, reverse and do the same

  going the opposite direction. (Forming X stitches.)

  Tie off. Do the other two spreaders the same way.

The broom is a tool of magick and ritual that is still used by Witches

today. The traditional Witch's Broom is made of ash, birch and willow

because of the attributes of those woods, but it can be made of just about

any wood available. Although not employed for flying purposes, the broom

does have many uses. It is used for protection. It is also and most

commonly used for physically and magickally cleaning an area that will be

used for sacred space. The broom does not have to touch the ground to sweep

away the psychic clutter that often collects in well used spaces. Brooms

are also often used in handfasting rituals (broom leap).

The broom is associated with Water and is sacred to both the God and Goddess.

***************************************************

TO MAKE A BESOM

Formulae #1- You will need a straight branch, approximately 12 to 18 inches

long and 1/2 inch in diameter (if you can't find a branch, a dowel will do),

scissors, raffia and a bowl of salt water.

You will also need bunches of any of the following plants:

cedar, fennel, lavender, rosemary, or broom.  Ideally, these plants should

come from your magickal garden.

Assemble your tools and materials and create a sacred space to work in.

Charge the branch and plant materials by taking each in turn in your hands

and sending purifying energies into them.  Visualize a white cleansing light

emanating from your hands and being absorbed by the branch and plants.  Take

the raffia and tie three circles on one end of the branch while you say:

"I bind you in purification."

Now take several stalks of the plant materials, leafy ends down, and place

them around the end of the branch with the three loops of raffia (to form a

round broom shape).  Visualize the white light, and tie three loops around

the branch and plants.  Place another layer of plant material around the

branch, tie three more loops while you visualize.  Do this until your broom

is as full as you want.  Tie the end of the raffia three times around the

branch and plants, pull the end through some of the loops and tie three

knots.  Snip off the excess raffia.  Thank the branch and plant materials

for

their sacrifice.

Sprinkle some of the salt water on the broom sweeps and visualize all

negative forces melting away.  Now walk to your door, open it and vigorously

sweep close to the floor (you don't actually have to sweep the floor).

Visualize all negativity being swept out the door.  Now moving clockwise

around the house, sweep each door and window and at the upper and lower

corners of each room.  When you've made your way back to the door, open it

again, sweep out, then shake your broom vigorously three times to shake away

anything that stuck to it.  Leave it outside your door, do not bring it in

again.  At your first opportunity, take it apart and bury all the materials.

Formulae #2-

Materials needed: A straight branch, approximately 4 to 4-1/2 ft.  long and

at least 1 inch in diameter raffia salt water Bunches of any (or all) of the

following plants: Lavender, Rosemary, or Broom.

Take the raffia and tie three circles on one end of the branch while you

say:

"I bind you in the name of the Art."  Now take several stalks of the plant

materials, leafy ends down, and place them around the end of the branch with

the three loops of raffia (to form a round broom shape).  Visualize the

purpose of your besom, and tie three loops around the branch and plants.

Place another layer of plant material around the branch, tie three more

loops

while you visualize.  Do this until your broom is as full as you want.  Tie

the end of the raffia three times around the branch and plants, pull the end

through some of the loops and tie three knots.  Snip off the excess raffia.

To charge first thank the branch and plant materials for their sacrifice,

ask

whichever Goddess/God seems appropriate to your work, and then sprinkle some

of the salt water on the broom sweeps.  Use your new besom immediately and

store next to your altar when you are finished.

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Broom Magic - Making A Besom

by Silver Thym

While tools are not always necessary or even sometimes desirable they

are fun, and making those tools that you can for your own use, and

for others is even more fun. You tend to invest more of your energy

and creative essence in any tool that you have taken the time and

patience to create. So with that in mind I am going to share with you

how I made my Besom.

Making a Besom or witch's broom is not difficult and there are many

good ideas around to borrow from and improve on. In choosing the wood

you want to use wood that has protective properties and most

important what feels right to you.

Good choices for Wood:

Ash (protection, prosperity, health)

Birch (protection, binding, purification) - the traditional broom of

the Witches was made of birch twigs

Dogwood (wishes, protection); Elder

(binding, protection, healing) - though this is more often used for

wands

Oak (protection, health, money, healing) and a tree scared to the

Druid's

Pine (healing, protection, binding, money)

Rowan (psychic powers,healing, power, success, protection).

The wood of my Besom is unknown, I found it on our then new property

and loved the shape and feel, it had been lying waiting for me to

find it for years and looked akin to driftwood, which would also be a

good wood to use.

After leaving it natural for a long time I decided to sand it, it

turned out with a dark, finely grained and satiny pattern. If you

decide to finish your wood than strip it first and let it dry and

then do any sanding necessary.

After you find the wood that you want to use as the handle taking in

account the size and length best suited to you, properly thanking the

Goddess, cut very carefully, you don't want to kill the tree, only

take what you need, and use a saw as your bolline will not work.

The next step is gathering the materials for the "broomstraws" the

binding and any decorative touches. I suggest Straw as it can be

easily obtained and attracts fairies. Wheat can also be used, but

might shed more than you wish.

The traditional binding for a magical, or Witch's broom is a Willow

branch, it is very flexible and easy to work with. Straw can be dyed

using herbal dyes, for black use alder, black walnut or yarrow. For

blues, elder, indigo, woad, oregon grape. For brown use comfrey,

fennel, hops, onion, pokeweed.

For Golds use dock, goldenrod, safflower. For greens use barberry,

bayberry, sage. Binding the straw: I use a double binding method for

this. Before cutting the straw the length you wish add about two

inches. I have found that it is easier to work with the straw if it

has been soaked and then just left damp. Gather the straw with the

ends even and pointing towards the top of the handle and distributed

around the handle, bind the added two inches with strong twine, fold

the straw down pointing in the right direction and bind with the

Willow branch.

Personal touches. Now come the most fun making your Besom uniquely

your own. If using pine you can add small pine cones strung with

twine and attached to the binding, if using oak do the same with

acorns. Slip lavender under the binding or heather, add dried

flowers...this is your Besom to play with it.

You can also decorate the handle anyway you wish, and if you can

whittle or carve you can create a beautiful one of kind Besom.

My husband and I are currently working on a Besom that will be used by

friends in the handfasting ceremony. We have a piece of wood that had

honeysuckle growing around it and when removed left a grooved spiral

running down the wood. For handfasting Hawthorn is an excellent

choice and has long been used in weddings. Again use your imagination

and most of all have fun creating your Besom for whatever purpose.

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herb's is an excellent reference

on Herb's and woods.

******************************************

Making a Besom 

bobbieed

(47/F/Newark, Nottinghamshire) 10/1/01 6:23 am 

Broomstick

Choose a wood for your handle 

that has protective properties

Ash (protection, prosperity, health),

Birch(traditional) (protection, binding, purification),

Elder (binding, protection, healing), 

Dogwood (wishes, protection).

After you have gathered your wood, determine the length of handle that would best serve your needs. 

Next, gather straw, as it is easily obtained, and attracts fairies. The straw can be dyed (using herbal dyes) at this point if desired. If you decide not to dye the straw, dampen it, as this will make it much easier to work with.

The traditional binding for a magickal or Witch's broom is a Willow branch, so you may need a few branches. Prior to cutting the straw, gather it so the ends are even, and pointing towards the top of the handle, and evenly distributed around the handle. Begin binding with the willow branch.

You can add personal touches such as carving the handle, or tucking lavender in binding.

Making a Herb Broom 

How to make an herb broom... 

Author Unknown 

Collect handfuls of plants to use in a magic broom, 

such as.. 

Yarrow 

Cedar 

Juniper 

Fruit tree sprigs 

Oak tree sprigs 

Birch or ash sprigs 

Bundle plants together and tie cut ends together. 

The bundle may be  tied to a branch if a longer handle is desired. Use 

the broom to sweep away negativity and to sweep your magic circle 

clean. 

**********************************

The broom is ritual tool used for a variety of purposes. In wedding ceremonies, it is often used where the wedded couple jumps over the broom. This act is meant to ensure fertility, domestic harmony, and longevity. A broom can seal a "doorway" into a ritual circle by laying it across the threshold of the doorway. The area where the circle is to be cast may be prepared by sweeping with a broom.

 

The Witches' broom is made traditionally from three woods, ash for the handle, birch twigs for the brush, and willow for the binding string (in honor of Hecate). The three parts of a broom are symbolic of the three faces of the Goddess. In ancient herbal lore of Witches, ash had command over the four elements, birch drew in spirits to one's service, and willow connected one to the most ancient form of thee Witches' Goddess in Western culture. 

 

Also, the association of the Witch and the broom is linked to ancient tree worship, connecting the worshipper with the deity dwelling within the tree.

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Broom Blessing

I consecrate this broom

Not only as a tool of my craft,

But as a symbol of my faith.

Sprinkle salt on the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Earth,

of rocks and trees,

of comfort and security.

Brush broom with a feather

I bless this broom with the spirit of Air,

of bells and feathers,

of spirit and mind.

Touch candle flame (very quickly *g*) to broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Fire,

of spice and flame,

of courage and energy.

Sprinkle water on the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Water,

of pearls and shells,

of emotion and cleansing.

Blow your breath across the broom

I bless this broom with the spirit of Life,

that together we may honor the Lord and Lady.

***************************************************

THE BROOM PURIFICATION 

Before dawn, take a brach from any tree. Thank the tree for its gift and 

leave a coin or semiprecious stone at its base in payment. 

Next, obtain several brightly colored flowers on long stalks. Tie these 

flowers to the branch to fashion a sort of broom, then sweep the floor 

in every room of the house, visualizing the flowers of the broom 

absorbing negativity and "evil" as you work. Then, still before sunrise, 

leave the broom at the crossroads'. Traditionally in the Southwest 

United States and Mexico, this ritual is repeated at the first of each 

month. 

From "The Magical Household" by S. Cunningham & David Harrington 

****************************************************

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE WITCH BROOM

 

1- Never leave home for long periods of time without telling your broom.

 

2- Treat your broom as you would any other member of your family, with honor, reverence and respect.

 

3- Magickal Brooms are not regular cleaning brooms and should not be used for such mundane tasks.

 

4- Never leave your Magickal Broom outside your cast circle.

 

5- Speak with your broom as you would speak to other members of your family or coven.

 

6- Never leave your Magickal Broom outside in the weather unless you ask the Broom.

 

7- Oil your broomstick with every turn of the wheel.