The broom, or besom, has been associated with witchcraft and magic. The broomstick is the most common item mentioned for astral flying by witches. The broom of past times had little resemblance of the broom of today. It had a stout central pole, around one end of which were tied bunches of broom (planta genista or genet), birch twigs, or heather. The broom (bossume, bossom or besom) was an ordinary everyday implement.

 

In the old traditions, the broomstick symbolized the sacred sexual unions between the Pagan God and Goddess. The mystic and sexual magic of the broomstick has come down to us today in the form of nursery rhymes. Fortunately, the sexually repressed have no idea what the original meaning was.

 

Brooms do have a place in magical workings if the magician knows how to use them. Although it might be nice to have a broom made in the old way, it really isn't neccesary. I have a small flat, soft hearth type broom with a longer handle that I use to sweep my ritual area before working there. However, I also have a regular stiff broom with a wooden handle that I use for more aggressive magical working. This particular broom has proved to be especially effective in cleaning out unwanted and uninvited negative energies that are occasionally left by visitors. It's ok to bend over when sweeping a small room, but it is a real pain in the back to try and do the whole house with a very small, short handeled broom, hence the long handled one.

 

To cleanse a ritual area in preparation for spellcasting, move about the area in a clockwise direction and sweep outward as you go. Chant out loud or silently: all negatives out, all positives in. If someone has wandered into your ritual room uninvited (snooping is a good word for this kind of activity), really put your energy into giving the room a good ritual sweeping to remove their unwanted vibrations.

 

From time to time, magicians have to deal with negative thoughtforms and energies in their homes, either deliberately sent or unconciously left by visitors. Sometimes these negatives are created by us when we had a bad day at the office, the kids have left another mess in the kitchen, or the spouse has left a wet towel on the bed again. It really doesn't matter why the negatives are there, or who left them. Before they get a firm hold and start creating trouble, you need to expell them.

 

Starting at the eastern point in each room, ritually "sweep" outward while moving in a clockwise direction around the room. Chant "All negatives out, all positives in" as you move around the room. Repeat this for every room in the house.

 

Sometimes you can have a certain person who visits often and has a bad habit of dragging with them negative vibrations. Often these people can't take a hint or even a direct suggestion that you would rather not be friends.

 

There are two ways to discourage such visitors. One way is to lean the broom directly against the door, then don't answer the knock or bell. The broom will repell any negatives.

 

The second method is more direct. Simply lay the broom down near the door in such a way that all visitors must step over it to enter the house. Again, the broom will prevent negatives from entering. If asked why the broom is there, answer that you have your reasons ans don't move it! Most people who constantly carry around such undesirable vibrations have come to enjoy this state of their aura. They become restless and soon leave when their negatives are forced to remain outside the door.

 

 

By D J Conway as published in Llewellyn's Magical Almanac 1996