Brooms for Ritual

Broom Lore
(Collected from various sources, including Scott Cunningham’s books)

The broom has long been associated with magick due to its shape, use in purification rituals and its kinship with magical wands and staffs. The common household tool is so sacred that in some parts of the world, broom deities exist.

In China, the broom goddess is Sao Ch’ing Niang or Sao Ch’ing Niang-Niang. Known as the Lady with the Broom, she lives on the Broom Star, and presides over good weather. When rain continues too long, threatening crops, farmers cut out paper images of brooms and paste them on their doors and fences to bring clear weather and sunshine.

In pre-Colombian Mexico, the Aztecs worshiped the Witch-Goddess Tiazolteotl, who was usually depicted carrying or riding a broom. In her rites, priests burned black incense and laid brooms made from rushes across the fire. Owls, snakes, and the Moon were also dedicated to her. She was invoked to sweep away worshipers’ transgressions.

In the old days, several different types of brooms were specially prepared for magic. For other than normal sweeping spells, you should have one broom in your house reserved for magic that isn’t used for anything else.

There are many associations made between brooms and witches, some of them off-color and confused. Witches didn’t fly on their broomsticks (too bad!) but like their accusers, they did use them to clean their cottages. Reports that witches galloped around on broomsticks during their ritual dances may hold some truth, as they were blessing the fertility of their crops. Even today, the jumping of the broom is still performed at some weddings!

BROOM MAGIC
When using a broom for the first time, make a wish and it will come true.

Anyone who desires to be married merely has to jump over a broom nine times; within a year, he or she will be married.

Placing a broom across a doorway allows your departed friends and family to speak to you if they so choose. As long as the broom remains, they can communicate freely.

You can grow broom corn in any pot or garden. Sorghum vulgere, the variety we call broom corn, has the longest tassels. It is this variety that is used in the making of brooms.

I found this source for broom corn seeds:
http://growers.harrisseeds.com/cart/detail.asp?subcat=30&product_id=01151%2D00%2D02

All you need to make a broom is a large pile of broom corn tassels and a closet pole, strong adhesive such as Liquid Nails, plus enough strong cotton twine to tie securely. Make sure the tassels are pliable enough to bend without breaking.

Cut your pole to a comfortable height for you to hold in your hands. About four feet will work.

Take your time. Lay your tassels at the bottom, against the pole and going up the pole, opposite of their final direction down. Loop the twine around the tassels, securing them to the pole. Use a generous amount of the Liquid Nails to further secure the tassels to the pole. Allow to dry thoroughly before continuing.

Once dry, now turn your tassels to face downward and again loop the twine around as many times as it takes to hold them all down securely. Use the Liquid Nails as needed to further secure the twine and tassels permanently in place. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Now you are free to paint, add ribbons, silk flowers, or even charms if your ritual broom needs decoration.

Always store your broom with the tassels up, or with your broom on hooks resting horizontally. Do not allow the broom to rest on the tassels where they’ll bend or break.

Bless your broom over your next balefire and sweep away negativity to cleanse your circle and covenstead of ill magicks.

Bright Blessings!