The Broom or Besom in Wiccan Practice

Of all the tools of the Craft, the broom is probably the most well known. For better or for worse, it has been the image of Wicca and Witchcraft for generations. The picture of a powerful Witch riding through the air, though far from accurate, is something almost every has seen before. But the true nature of the broom in Wicca is more complex.

The broom, in one form or another, has been in use magickally and mundanely for thousands of years. In ancient times, it was used during ritual as women would straddle a broom and jump, showing the crops how high they should grow. Today it is used primarily for cleansing, and the broom is still found in most households today. However, it also has more symbolic purpose.

The Symbolism of the Broom

Typically, the broom is thought of as a masculine tool due to its phallic nature. However, it may also be considered a balanced tool. The handle (or stave) is certainly phallic, and so is masculine. The bristles, on the other hand, receive the stave much as the female receives the male. In this way, the broom can be said to embody both the male and the female.

Ritual Uses of the Broom

The broom can be used for a variety of purposes. It can serve as a decoration, especially in the winter month. More commonly, Wiccans will use the broom to cleanse a ritual area. This is done by sweeping your ritual space, often the Magick Circle itself, in a clockwise motion, visualizing the negative energy leaving the Circle. Some Wiccans will chant as they do this, perhaps saying something like: “As I gently sweep this place, I cast out negativity from this space.” It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Brooms are also laid across the entrance to a coven circle or hung on doors for protection. They can also be used during a wedding, in some traditions. In this case, the broom is laid before the newly-wedded couple, who proceed to ‘Jump the Broom’ to seal their commitment to each other.

How to Make Your Own Broom

The traditional broom of the Witch is a besom, a broom that is rounded instead of flat. These are very easy to make at home. First you’ll need a stave, traditionally made of ash. However, you may use any wood you choose. You’ll also need twigs, straw, or herbs for the bristles. If you are making a traditional besom, you’ll want birch twigs for your bristles, but really you can use anything that works for you.

The twigs should be gathered to the stave and tied together tightly. You can use rope or twine or even a leather thong to bind to the twigs. Keep the bristles as even as possible, and bind them only tight enough to secure them to the stave. If you bind them too tightly, they could break.

The broom is a common tool of Wiccan practice. Though surrounded by much myth and legend, the modern use of the broom is for ceremonial cleansing and protection.

Wiccan Sabbat Ritual Recipes — Spring Eggnog Recipe

Any good celebration needs a festive beverage. In Wiccan and Pagan practice, eggnog is not just for Yule, but is a great addition to your annual Ostara celebration. The word ‘nog’ really just means ‘strong ale’ and is not connected to a particular season. Eggs, however, are connected to spring, and so eggnog is very appropriate for spring gatherings.

Ingredients for Spring Eggnog

Have the following close at hand:

• 12 eggs, preferably medium in size
• 1 ¾ cups confectioner’s sugar (sometimes called powdered sugar or icing sugar)
• 1 ¾ liter cream of rich milk
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tsp powdered nutmeg
• 1 tsp powdered cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Traditional eggnog often calls for the addition of rum. You may or may not decide to add rum to your own eggnog, depending on your personal preference and those with whom you will be sharing your eggnog. Regardless, to make preparing your eggnog easier, gather all necessary ingredients beforehand.
 
Preparing Spring Eggnog
 
Begin by separating the white and the yolks of the eggs. There are devices you can purchase to do this, or you can simply pass the yolk from one half of the eggshell to the other. Do this over a bowl to catch the whites as they drain. If you have never done this before, you might need some practice, to have a few extra eggs, just in case.
 
Beat the egg yolks in a large saucepan until they are smooth. Mix in the sugar, cream, and salt. Heat on low until barely simmering, stirring frequently. Keep an eye on the mixture, because the cream will curdle if it gets too hot.
 
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, but just barely. Fold the egg whites into the cream mixture. Add the spices and the vanilla extract. Simmer the entire mixture for several minutes, stirring constantly to kill any bacteria.
 
Cool the eggnog completely, then refrigerate for at least six hours before serving. Overnight is better, as it will allow the flavors to develop. If you’d like to add rum, do so immediately before consuming your eggnog. If you have not consumed all the eggnog in three or four days, discard unused portion.
 
This recipe makes approximately two liters of eggnog. Spring Eggnog is a favorite of many Wiccans and Pagans around the time of the Vernal Equinox. It will make a wonderful addition to any Ostara feast table, especially when paired with Baked Sandwiches or Ostara Egg and Artichoke Pie.

Wiccan Sabbat Ritual Recipes — Baked Sandwiches Recipe

Eggs are a traditional food in the spring and summer, and they are associated with the Sabbat of Ostara. There are many different ways to use eggs to create a meal, but if you’re serving a large group, such as a coven, Baked Sandwiches are a simple way to feed everyone a delicious bunch or lunch.

Ingredients for Baked Sandwiches

Have the following ingredients close at hand:

• 12 slices of bread without crusts;
• 2 cups of milk;
• 4 medium eggs;
• 1 cup of grated Cheddar cheese;
• 1 cup of grated Monterey Jack cheese; and
• 2 cups of diced ham.

To make preparing the sandwiches a little easier, ensure you have gathered all ingredients beforehand. If you like more of a bite to your food, the Monterey Jack cheese can be substituted with Swiss cheese. Also, instead of ham, you could use pork, chicken, turkey, tofu, or even alfalfa sprouts. It is also possible to use regular sandwich meat to create this dish.
 
Preparing Baked Sandwiches
 
Take a 9”x13” cake pan, preferably glass, and grease it well. Line this greased pan with six slices of bread. You can use your favourite bread, such as white, whole wheat, French, Italian, or rye bread. Consider who will be eating your sandwiches when making your selection.
 
On top of the bread, evenly distribute the diced harm (or other filling, if you choose). Add ½ cup each of the grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on top of the filling. Cover all of this with the remaining six slices of bread.
 
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs gently with a fork. Add the milk and blend well. Pour this mixture over the sandwiches, being careful not to splash the milk and egg mixture outside of the pan. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and bake the sandwiches for approximately one hour, or until the top of the sandwiches are golden brown. Be careful not to over bake your sandwiches.
 
For those people who’d like to use less bread, line the pan with your six slices of bread and add filling as describes. However, instead of topping with additional bread, simply pour the milk and egg mixture on top and bake as directed.
 
This recipe makes eight to ten servings. Baked Sandwiches are a favorite of many Wiccans and Pagans around the time of the Spring Equinox. Though you can serve this dish all year round, it is especially appropriate in the spring, as it is light and delicious. It will make a pleasing addition to any table, especially when paired with baked white fish or gammon ham.

The Sabbat of Ostara — Eggs as Amulets and Talismans

The magick of eggs has a long and varied history. From being used for spells and rituals to being decorated as gifts for the Goddess, the archetypal symbolism of the egg is powerful indeed. However, egg magick doesn’t have to be as complicated as a structured ritual or spell. There are many ways in which a simple egg can be used as an amulet or talisman.

Egg Talismans to Promote the Growth of Crops

In eras past, both the Teutons and the Anglo-Saxons would bury eggs near gardens and fields in the hope that this practice would bless gardens and farmland with abundance. The idea of using eggs to encourage crops to grow quickly spread across Europe and Asia. This is still practiced by many Wiccans and Pagans today.

If you wish to follow this tradition, take a raw or hard-boiled egg and draw upon it symbols of fertility and growth. This can be done with a brown or green crayon, as both are colors of the earth. Dig a small hole near or in your garden using your bare hands. Place the egg in the hole while visualizing your garden as lush and healthy. Cover the egg and continue tending your garden as normal.

Eggs as Fertility Talismans

The Teutons often used eggs as talismans. They would bury eggs under animal dwellings to encourage the livestock housed there to breed. To encourage human fertility, eggs were sometimes placed beneath beds.

Some modern Wiccans and Pagans will use crushed eggshells to create a fertility amulet. This can be done by making or purchasing a small green drawstring bag. Into this bag can be placed the crush eggshells, fertility stones such as geodes or holey stones, and two or three fertility herbs or other natural items. Consider:

• Honeysuckle;
• Juniper;
• Rice;
• Acorns;
• Pine cones;
• Cedar;
• Barley; or
• Lemongrass.

Place these all inside the bag and pull it closed, visualizing your end goal; in this case, you probably would focus on a baby. Ensure that the bag is closed well enough that the contents cannot fall out. Wear this amulet as often as possible.
 
Other Egg Magick
 
There are many other ways to use eggs for magick that do not involve spells or rituals. To bring abundance and fertility into your home, use a broom to sweep a hard-boiled egg from outside your home to inside. You could also decorate a plastic or wooden egg as a fertility talisman.
 
Brown eggs are particularly associated with animals. Brown eggshells can be added to protective or healing magick for your pets or livestock. Traditionally, brown eggs were placed around an animal in labor, as these were thought to help ease the birthing process. This is still occasionally done today.
 
In times of old, when food could quickly become scarce in the winter, eggs were sometimes used to keep everyone safe and ensure an adequate supply of food. This was done by burying one egg at each of the cardinal points of a property. The cardinal points are: north, east, south, and west. Some Pagans still follow this practice, and it has seen a resurgence in recent years.
 
Eggs are often used for magick around the time of the Spring Equinox. They can be decorated, buried, eaten, or crushed (only the shells, of course!) to invoke their ancient power.