Magical Tools: Besome or Broom

The Besome or magical broom is an item used to cleanse sacred space before beginning any form of ritual. One takes their broom, sweeps, either literally or physically (going through sweeping motions), to cleanse away influential energies that may hinder the magical process of the ritual.

The broom is another simple item that need not be elaborate in its creation. One may take a simple straw broom obtained from any department or craft store and decorate it with ribbons, feathers, beads, shells, stones, etc to make it one's own.

To make your own Besome, you may need
-Thin branches or straw (for the bristles)
-A thicker branch (for the handle)
-Ribbons
-Other items you wish to use to decorate your broom (beads, feathers, other ribbons, etc)

Gather branches in a bunch and try to make them as uniform in length as you can (trim the ends if you wish). Take your thicker branch (to be used as the handle) and surround one end with your bunched branches. Secure them with either twine, or to be authentic, willow branches. Wrap tightly from the top and wind down about a quarter of the way down the branches, and tie it secure (BE SURE the willow is fresh before wrapping, otherwise it may break).

Next, simply wrap ribbons around the broom and tie them securely in place. Thread ribbons through beads and affix feathers to the beads to make a fanciful broom.

Consecrate the broom for use, and begin sweeping sacred space.

Above is a picture of my broom I made for Samhain. It's five reed fans I obtained from my local dollar store and bound together with orange and black ribbons.