Sweeping Between Worlds
In the quiet hush of twilight, when the veil between seen and unseen thins, the humble broom reveals its hidden power. Far more than a household tool, the witch’s broom—known also as a besom—has long been a symbol of sacred space, sweeping sorcery, and the balance between worlds.
Let us journey into the whorled wood and bristled whispers of the besom, where folklore meets spellcraft and the mundane meets the mystical.
Origins & Folklore
The word besom dates back to Old English, describing a bundle of twigs bound to a handle. While brooms of all kinds have existed across cultures, the archetype of the witch’s broom took root in medieval Europe, where it was said that witches flew through the skies upon their brooms, dancing with moonlight and stirring winds.
This myth likely stems from deeper truths—of spiritual flight, astral travel, and the ceremonial use of flying ointments made from hallucinogenic herbs. The besom, as a tool straddling the practical and the magical, became a perfect symbol of a witch’s ability to traverse both physical and spiritual realms.
Symbolism of the Besom
- Balance – The besom embodies duality: masculine (handle) and feminine (bristles), air and earth, physical and spiritual.
- Threshold Keeper – Hung above doors or placed across entryways, besoms guard the home, deflecting negative energy and unwanted spirits.
- Sacred Tool – Like the wand or athame, the besom is part of the witch’s toolkit—used not to clean dirt, but to cleanse energy.
Uses in Magick & Witchcraft
1. Energetic Cleansing
Before ritual, a witch may sweep the area with a besom—not touching the floor, but gently stirring the energy. This act clears away stagnant vibrations, creating a purified space for magic to unfold.
2. Ritual Circles
Some witches use the besom to cast a circle, sweeping in a sunwise motion while invoking protection and sacredness.
3. Handfastings & Weddings
In Pagan traditions, couples leap over a besom during their vows, symbolizing a leap into new life, unity, and shared purpose.
4. Seasonal Magic
Besoms are closely tied to Samhain and Beltane—gateways of death and life. A besom placed by the hearth or threshold during these seasons invites blessing and banishes harmful spirits.
5. Personal Practice
A small altar broom may be used daily or weekly to cleanse a personal sacred space. Some witches create miniature besoms to carry as talismans of protection and intention.
How to Craft Your Own Besom
A handmade besom becomes a living ally in your magical practice. It can be as grand or as simple as you wish, crafted with sacred intention.
Basic Elements:
- Handle: Ash, birch, willow, or oak are traditional. Choose wood that speaks to you.
- Bristles: Broomcorn, herbs, straw, or twigs. Mugwort, lavender, rosemary, or cedar add magical resonance.
- Binding: Natural twine, ribbon, or cord—often tied with knots of intention or adorned with charms.
You might also whisper your purpose as you bind it: “With each sweep, I clear the way; protection here shall ever stay.”
A Living Symbol of Magic
Whether standing at your doorway, lying across your altar, or quietly tucked behind the curtain, the besom is a sentinel of the sacred. It reminds us that magic lives in motion—in the sweeping away of what no longer serves and the invocation of what is to come.
Let your broom be more than a tool. Let it be a wand, a threshold, a guide. Let it sweep not just your floor, but your spirit, your path, your practice.
Blessed be