The broom, commonly known as a besom, holds significant importance in Wicca. Beyond its appearances, it serves multiple functions. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t a mode of transportation for witches! Instead, the besom symbolizes banishing, fertility, and purification.
Historically, it was primarily utilized in the fertility rites of Western Europe. These rituals have led to the common image of witches riding their besoms. The process involved them straddling the besoms and leaping around crops to promote healthy growth and abundance.
As a contemporary witch, the besom can be put to various uses, which we will explore here:
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Banishing at Birth
When anticipating a baby’s arrival in any area of your home, you can position a besom nearby. After childbirth, use the besom to sweep around the delivery space. The besom represents fertility and utilizing it will also dispel negative energies surrounding the mother and infant. This banishing practice as early as your child’s birth can have significant positive impacts on them.
Protection Against Malicious Spells
If you suspect someone may be casting a hex on you, position a besom by your front door. This will help shield your home from black magic entering and affecting you. The besom acts as a formidable talisman against malevolent magic. Even in the absence of any active black magic, having a besom by your door can safeguard you and your home from harmful spirits. It’s important to place it with the bristles facing up and the handle touching the ground.
To Guard Against Nightmares
Placing a besom under your bed while you sleep can promote peaceful rest, free from disturbing dreams.
To Safeguard Your Bed When You’re Away
If you’re traveling and will be gone for an extended period, place the besom with its bristles pointing up on your bed to shield it from evil spirits during your absence.
Purifying and Cleansing Before Spell Work
Employ the besom to clear your ritual area before engaging in magic. The power of the besom lies in its ability to cleanse not only physical spaces but also mental and metaphysical realms. It helps eliminate accumulations of negative energy and astral debris. In covens, it’s standard for a Priest or Priestess to walk in a clockwise direction while holding a besom just above the ground, using sweeping motions before forming a circle.
Channeling Your Spells
Positioning a besom on your altar can greatly assist in your spell work, particularly in channeling and directing energy.
Communicating With the Departed
If you lay a besom across the entrance, it will enable you to converse with those who have passed on. As long as the besom remains there, they will be open to communicating with you. Thus, if you wish to reach out to a loved one who has passed, the besom will facilitate that connection.
To Induce Rain
Swinging a besom over your head outdoors can help summon rain for your crops.
Here are some guidelines on purchasing and using your besom:
- Avoid purchasing a besom in May; there’s a saying, “Buy a besom in May, and you will sweep your friends away.”
- Avoid sweeping after sunset; it’s believed this will drive away happiness.
- Never burn a besom.
- Refrain from stepping over or on a besom.
- Avoid using the besom to sweep outside your home.
- Do not take old besoms to new residences; leave the besom behind if you move.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this with us. I have learned new things about the besom. I was only familiar with the jumping for the crops.
Good article …..
I have a question. I recently bought a besom broom, and as my parents are strictly Christian, I left everything I bought (including it) at the house of a friend who is openly Wiccan. When I leave for college I plan on bringing my besom broom and other items along with me. I haven’t used the broom at all and don’t plan on using it in my parents’ house before I leave, but I’m technically still moving. Should I get a new one?
old wives tales , tells us if we must bring an old besom or broom to the new house , it must enter through a window
What if someone is moving and they give you their besom brooms?