Besom Magick Throughout history, the besom is traditionally linked to Witchcraft, and flying Witches. It is still widely used today in magick ritual, to sweep the psychic dirt away, cleanse the circle, or ritual area. There are many explanations for the idea that Witches can fly on broomsticks, one popular belief being that Witches often used the mandrake root for pain relief. And to be graphic, menstruation pain. (Mandrake contains scopalamine, which is (along with atropine) also found in thorn apple/belladonna. Both were commonly used in witches potions to induce out of body experiences. ) The root would be concocted into a paste which seeped through the skin when applied to relieve the pain. It was often rubbed in the armpit area, or for vaginally, applied with the handle of the broom. Being highly hallucinogenic, this may have given the feeling or flight or riding the broomstick. It is also said that in the times of the Witch hunts, that the Church wanted to spread fear surrounding Witches, and during those times, what better way that to accuse them of having the ability to fly. Whatever the reason, the broomstick, or besom is still a widely used tool in Pagan rite, and often used in blessings of fertility. Besom or Witches Broom Besom As A Fertility Symbol The old picture of the witch riding around on the brooms stick casting magic spells is believed to have come from a agricultural fertility rite, where the women rode around the fields(like on a hobby horse), with the broom between their legs, hoping to bring the farmers a good harvest. Jumping The Broom Many pagan traditions have the bridal couple, jump across the broom, a symbol of fertility (old bit of agricultural fertility magic), to signify the establishment of their new household. The brooms are usually decorated for the occasion and then kept in a place of honor in the home. In many Wicca handfasting( marriage) rituals, couples often jump over the broom if they want children. Historically, brooms made great gifts for weddings or handfastings. Just add a little ribbon, some flowers, and your are good to go. No wrapping needed. Every new home needs a new broom! The Ritual Broom Witches use brooms in magick and ritual. The pagan broom or besom is used in ritual for cleansing the general circle or ritual area. The besom is sweeping away the psychic dirt, getting the area purified for the ritual at hand. A Witch may begin a ritual by sweeping the area with the magick broom, visualising the psychic dirt being swept out of the ritual area. The sweeping also helps to get the mind ready for the ritual, quieting the mind and narrowing the focus for the witch. The besom is a purifier and is related to the element of Water. Finding Other Witches Besoms have been used by Witches to indicate to other occultists that they were resident, or at work, by placing a besom (broom) outside the door. This is NOT to say that anyone who has a kitchen broom sitting outside their door is a witch. Besoms, As A Symbol Of Protection Many Witches keep a besom by their door, or hanging from their door to protect the home from unwanted outside energies. Some folklore of the besom An old English Saying: Buy a broom in May, and you will sweep your friends away. An old Yorkshire belief: should a young girl inadvertently step over a broom handle she will become, a mother before she becomes a wife. Never sweep after the sunset, or fear chasing away happiness or hurting a wandering soul. Brooms laid across the doorways are believed to keep evil out. Never use a broom when there is a dead person in the house. Never bring old brooms into new houses as a broom becomes attached to houses so leave the old one behind. Making a Besom design & creation by: Edain McCoy Here are some easy to follow directions for handcrafting your own besom by Edain. If you would like a Besom of your own, they are fairly easy to find in craft stores, country markets, or folk art fairs. You can also invest your energies into making one, a good idea if you wish to use it in place of a Wand or other ritual tool. To make a Besom you will need a four-foot dowel one inch in diameter, a ball of twine, scissors, and straw or other long strands of pliable herbs. Take the straw, or another herb you have chosen for the bristles, and allow them to soak overnight in warm, lightly salted water. The water softens the straws to make them pliable, and the salt soaks out former energies. When you are ready to make your Besom, remove the straws from the water and allow them to dry a bit, but not so much that they lose the suppleness you will need to turn them into your Besom. Find a work area where you can lay out the length of your dowel, and begin lining the straws alongside the dowel. Starting about three inches from the bottom, lay the straws, moving backward, along the length of the dowel. Begin binding these to the dowel with the twine. You will need to tie them very securely. You can add as many layers of straw as you wish, depending on how full you would like your Besom to be. When the straw is secured, bend the top straws down over the twine ties. When they are all gently pulled over, tie off the straws again a few inches below the original tie. Leave the Besom overnight to allow the straw to dry. The dowel part of the Besom can be stained, painted, or decorated with Pagan symbols, your Craft name, or any other embellishments you choose. Dedicate your finished Besom in your Circle as you would any other ritual tool. ~From Edain McCoys book The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways (C) 1994. BESOM CHANTS Witches broom swift in flight Cast out darkness, bring in light Earth be hallow, air be clear fire bright, as water heals A sacred bridge this site shall be ~As my will, so mote it be~ or Sweep out evil, sweep out ill, Where I do the Ladys will. Besom, besom, Ladys Broom Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom. ~So Be It! Blessed Be~ or This Circle I sweep with besom of Heather; All harmful and evil must vanish and scatter. This Circle I sweep with besom of Heather; ~All peaceful and good are invited to enter~ Make a Traditional Besom (Witchs Broom) Besoms, or round-shaped brooms, are deeply linked to Witches and their magick, both in popular fantasy and in actual practice. Brooms were one of the safe tools of Witchcraft, meaning they were a necessary household object that could not be held up as evidence of Witchcraft in the clerical courts. Brooms are used as wands to focus and direct energy, to sweep areas clean of negativity, to ground a finished circle, and to protect hearths and kitchen magick. Two crossed brooms were used in medieval Ireland to prevent negativity from entering homes through the fireplace or front door. FIRST . . . you must obtain a 3 to 4 foot stick or dowel, 1 inch in diameter. This shaft can be painted or decorated. You will also need a small bundle of straw or broomcorn, approximately 16 to 20 inches long and some utility twine, about 2 to 3 feet. NEXT . . . Lay the broomcorn or straw up against the bottom shaft of the stick. Cut straw approximately 4 to 6 inches longer than desired finished length. NEXT . . . Approximately 2 inches above the end, tie twine tightly around straw and broom handle. You may wish to apply some craft glue to the lower 2 inches to help secure loose straw ends. AND THEN . . . Bend the straws backwards over the tie. Secure with twine close to where the broom handle sticks out. Besoms are great gifts for home decoration, magical protection, or both. askyewol fe/MakeABeso m.html To make a traditional besom, youll need: A four-foot ash limb for the broomstick Willow (the long strands to which the leaves are attached) for binding the broom end to the shaft Brush from a birch for the bristles Scissors Water and salt for soaking (Substitutions for the ash broomstick and birch bristles) Soak the herb youll be using for the bristles overnight in warm, lightly salted water (to make them pliable). Allow them to dry a bit before using. They should be damp and pliable when binding the broom. Should they get too dry, soak them some more. Line the straws alongside the limb, about 3 inches from the bottom. THE BOTTOM OF THE BRISTLES SHOULD POINT TOWARD THE TOP OF THE BROOM. Begin binding these around the broomstick with the pre-soaked willow binding. Tie them very securely. Add as many layers of bristle as you want, depending on how full you want the broom end to be. Bend the top of the bristles over the willow twine. When they are gently pulled over, tie the bristles again just below the fold. Leave the broom overnight to dry. Decorate the broomstick, if you wish, with your magickal name, magickal symbols or sigils. Consecrate the finished broom as you would any ritual object. Other materials are often used for the besom, including: Masculine trees suitable for the broomstick: Hazel, Oak, Rowan Feminine herbs suitable for bristles: Myrrh, Mugwort, Thyme, Willow branches Cotton or hemp twine can be substituted for willow strapping. Consecrate the finished broom as you would any ritual object. hocuspoc us13.net/ recipes.html
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:11:33 +0000
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