The Besom or Witches Broomstick.

Today when most think of a Witch they picture a haggard old woman riding on a Broomstick through the air to her Sabbats. The funny thing about the Besom, as it is properly called, is only a new addition to the Witches Tool list. Yes they did use to use the Besom, but it was called the Majik Staff or Riding Pole.

During the Burning Times, to protect oneself from the Inquisition, a Witch had to disguise everything she had, so as not to be discovered. The disguising of the Staff was simple, add a few branches at the base of it and bind it to the pole, and their you would have a Broomstick.

Now the story of Witches riding on their broomsticks, as you can imagine like everything else that gets exaggerated out of proportion. Yes the Riding Pole was used for fertility rituals especially for crops in the fields. The Witch would straddle the Broomstick, skyclad, and jump as high as she could whilst chanting to the Crops and to Mother Nature. She would jump as high as she could and the higher she jumped the higher the crop would grow and flourish.

When the Besom was placed at the front door with its brush down, it would mean that the house is open and safe to come in. When the brush was faced upwards, it meant that their was company in the house, who are unaware, so be careful and speak not of the Craft.

When the Besom was laying down in front of the door, it meant warning, danger, that either the inquisition or the likes were inside, so leave immediately and destroy what Majik items you have just in case they come to you.

The Besom today is used for exactly what it is, a Broomstick for sweeping and cleaning the Majik Circle. Now in this method it is usually used only by the Crone or Elder of the Circle.

She steps forward and holds it high in honor to deity she then slowly sweeps the circle perimeter going widdershins (anti-clockwise or Moon-wise) as she does this she imagines the Besom as a vacuum cleaner sucking up all the lazy energy in the Circle. This now makes the circle like a void, an empty space ready and prepared for the actual creating and casting of the Majik Circle.

When the Majik Circle is closed the Besom lays across the Portal entrance in the North/East, to keep all at bay from entering, and only those Consecrated and worthy may cross over it. Whenever we have any serious workings, we either lay the Sword or Besom across the entrance to the Portals of the Majik Circle to let all know not to enter or not to break it.©