hello everyone,
so i was wondering if anyone could give me general info on besoms or aka witches brooms, i know that in fairy tales witchs would fly on them but thats not possible right? ok so i have a few questions about besom's if somone wouldn't mind ansering...
- What are besom's used for?
- how do I make one?
And to make one by hand, I would take a branch that has fallen to the ground, and gather up some long grass or hay. You could then use multiple ways to attached the two together.
In traditional craft brooms, or besoms, are symbolic of witches' night flight to the sabbat. They are sometimes used alongside or in place of the stang, which is a staff with a forked head. Traditionally a witch would smear him or herself with flying ointment (a psychoactive substance used in a shamanic context, not something that actually allows one to physically fly), and use the besom as a focus to cross into the Otherworld (astral travel). In this context the besom is seen like a World Tree, an axis mundi, used for accessing other planes of existence.
To make a traditional besom take a forked staff of ash wood and tie a small basalt stone between the forked branches. Use lengths of broom (Cytisus scoparius) for the brush and tie them on with lengths of thin, supple willow.
Re: I need help with Besom's By: WhiteRav3n / Knowledgeable
Post # 7 Feb 27, 2012
The besom is a symbol of the phallus. I read that some witches would carve the bottom to look like a phallus and covered them with straw to hide it.
The besom is used to direct energy away from the holder, so it is commonly used to banish negative energy by the action of "sweeping" it or merely holding it outward and using it to push the energy away. I have a ceremonial besom which is never used to physically sweep but to direct energy away and use an ordinary house broom made of coarse natural brissels to physically sweep outside (always sweeping toward my gate/away from my home).
When I clean inside my home I always consider that I am ridding my home of negative energy along with physical dirt when cleaning it in any way.
Likewise it can be used to draw in/sweep in good energy. I don't do this though, as I see my besom as only a tool to push away unwanted energy/spirits and like the singular purpose (feeling it strengthens the force of this action within the tool).
It is also used as protection. I hang my ceremonial besom at my front door to keep out negative energy/spirits.
Since it is a phallus symbol it can be used in fertility rites (this could include desiring a child or desiring crops to grow).
Besom's are used to clear negativity. Also used for protection by hanging above the door. I would suggest looking up how to make one on google. I am planning to as well. I "googled it" and lots of instructions come up.
I say this all the time, if you want to learn anything about magic Google it! I started my magical journey almost ten years ago.Google has always been the first place I turn for anything.
Also as for flying; I think the other word for it is astral projection. but no brooms needed. Good luck!
