Traditional British Witchcraft
Ritual Tools

Besom

The besom, or ritual broom, has a history in witchcraft and ancient paganism. In witchcraft, there seems to have always been myths about witches flying. Enough said about that.

The Greeks and Romans associated the broom with the goddess Hecate. In the days of the Roman Empire, Hecate's Priestesses would use a besom to sweep the threshold of a house after the birth of a child. It was believed this would remove evil spirits that might harm the newborn.

Hecate is popular in some Pagan and Wicca traditions as she is associated with magic and divination. Hecate can be invoked to boost spellwork. Her broom is therefore used in ritual and magic.

Since Mediaeval times, wedding couples have "jumped the broom" as part of their handfasting ceremony. The besom protects the newlywed couple and promotes fertility. Often, the besom is decorated after the handfasting, and is placed on the living room wall or near the front door in many British Pagan couples' homes.

Storage:
Besoms should always be stored with bristles upright (opposit to the picture above) so as to keep "good fortune from falling out and becoming lost." It is a Pagan and witchcraft tradition to ritually purify a besom and to keep it by the front door, to protect hearth and home from negative energy.

Magic & Ritual:
Some Trad Witches use a besom to sweep away negativity in a room, an area indoors or out-of-doors, or in a compass round. It is one of several tools that can be used for this purpose.

When sweeping, the besom does not touch the floor but is held several inches above it. The area is not meant to be physically cleaned, that is done ahead of time. The ritual sweeping is to clean on the astral or spiritual plane, which is where negativity may be located.

Ritual Tools