Besom the Witch's Broom

The Besom (pronounced Beh-sum) also called the "faery horse" is essentially a witch's broom that is round instead of flat at the end (although that varies). They are important tools which once lost a lot of popularity; however that has changed in recent years. Some traditions still use them extensively although they are not necessarily considered one of the "required" tools. Some covens actually use them in rituals, dance with them instead of partners and even use them as often as they would chalices, athames, wands and other tools.

Besoms have a rich and intricate history that originated in Egyptian times and is still used. They are traditional symbols of cleansing and protection from negativity. These brooms were potent wards against evil. They used to be popular because they were brooms, you couldn't be accused of witchcraft by having one. Almost everyone had a broom and these household items could easily be left in view without risk of accusations. Even bundles of broom or birch were used to "beat the bounds" in springtime. They are likely what inspired the idea that witches rode brooms.

Often booms were suspended above doors and thresholds to prevent negativity from entering. Just as brooms can sweep away physical debris they can also be used to sweep away negative energy. They are best stored hanging and off the ground. You can store them near fireplaces or around herbs. It is said to increase the luck of the room you store it in and to prevent negativity in those rooms.

In ancient Egypt, they were wooden staves with feathers on the end. Today, they can be wooden staves with leafy branches of almost any time bound to it. If you research the value of different trees and their leaves, branches and more, you should be able to determine what is suitable for you. Traditionally, they are made of ash (masculine, strength, fire, weapons) with birch (feminine, fertile) bristles bound with willow (feminine, sacred to the goddess), but that is certainly not the case anymore. Oak is a good wood too, since it draws in ancestral knowledge.

You can anoint them with essential or anointing oils. You can carve runes, your name, personal symbols, engrave devotions to your deity or deities into it and more. You can decorate it to your needs. If you feel crafty, you can even make your own. There are plenty of places to find directions on how to make them online. I actually got mine at a Halloween store and modified it for my personal use. If you choose to make you own, you should research the different types of wood and keep those in mind when you are constructing your besom. There are different woods you can make it out of, branches for the sweeping part and you can hang beads, dig out space for insetting and gluing in metal decorative pieces and more.