Besom

Besom

Description: A witches broom, the besom was traditionally made from birch, willow, and ash. Many brooms were also made from broom corn, as you can see if you attend country fairs where homemade brooms are still being made in the same manner. Be sure to store your broom upright, as it keeps the bristles in good shape, and also keeps the "good fortune" from being grounded and lost. The besom is a symbol of the Goddess.

Element: None

Uses: Used to cleanse the circle area astrally before casting sacred space, the besom doesn't touch the floor, but is held just a bit above. It is also used for protection of the hearth and home, and stored upright near the front door, will protect your home from negative forces. It is used to protect the newlywed couple, and to promote fertility also, when the couple "jumps the broom" after the ceremony. The decorated broom that was used at the handfasting, now adorns the main room or the main doorway of many Wiccan couples' homes. It is speculated that the besom was also the hiding place of the wand, by using it as the handle on the broom - hidden in plain sight! To truly symbolize the union of the Goddess and the God, a besom can have a phallic symbol carved into the end of the handle that is inside the "skirt" at the bottom.