chapter
8

Brooms in Ritual Use

If you’re a witch, your magickal tools probably get used predominantly during ritual, and that holds true for brooms as well. Some people only use their ceremonial brooms for the basics: sweeping away negativity before casting a circle inside sacred space or placing the broom across the entrance to the circle for protection. But this ancient tool can be used for so much more. If you want to expand your practice, here are a few rituals designed especially with the magickal broom in mind.

You can, of course, use any ceremonial broom for these rituals, but you might also choose to create a special broom for each one (you’re not likely to do them all, so you probably won’t end up with a closet full of brooms). Instructions are included for doing that, and, in many cases, the creation of a broom dedicated to a particular task can lend it special magickal strength.

If you already have a broom you want to use (or if you are repeating the ritual and have already made the broom for it), simply skip the broom-creating step and do the rest of the ritual without it.

These rituals are designed to be performed by one witch, but there is no reason they won’t work for covens as well. Just alter the instructions as needed and take turns doing any necessary tasks, as you usually would.

Feel free to substitute any ingredients or actions that feel right to you. If you don’t have sea salt, you can always use table salt. If you don’t have an amethyst crystal, use a tumbled stone, a piece of jewelry with amethyst in it, or some other stone that feels as if it would be suitable—or skip the stone altogether.

These rituals are suggestions and guidelines, not rules. If you don’t like the smell of sage, for instance, you are always free to use any cleansing incense instead (rosemary is good, or lavender). If you can’t light candles, substitute some other symbols for the quarters. If you only worship the goddess and not both goddess and god, simply leave out the section for the god. Busy on the night of the full moon? The ritual will still be fine. Either way, follow your heart and listen to the inner voice of your spirit, and just go for it.

Let’s begin with a simple ritual to bless and consecrate your magickal broom, dedicating it to sacred work. This step can be added to any of the broom rituals where you are creating a new broom that hasn’t previously been used for magick.

Note: If you are using the old besom-style broom with birch twigs or herbs instead of broomcorn, you can substitute the word “besom” for “broom” during the rituals if you like.

Consecrating and Blessing Your Broom

You will need:

• a broom (this can be already decorated in any manner you desire or you can decorate it during the rite, after invoking the god and goddess but before you begin the consecration)
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick with a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a white candle
• a white ribbon (optional)
• a permanent marker
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one that is either cleansing or protective or both, or it can be a simple mixture of a natural oil such as olive oil or beeswax with a few herbs or a drop or two of lemon juice or lemon oil added)
• a white cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best) large enough to lay the broom down on (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do, and if you don’t have white, you can substitute the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

If possible, perform this ritual on the night of a full moon.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the white cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom, and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently. You’ll be using it again later in the ritual.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air. Come to my circle with your cleansing breezes and blow away all negativity and worry so I might perform this rite with a clear mind. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire. Come to my circle with your bright warmth and burn away all fear and doubt so I might perform this rite with an open heart. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water. Come to my circle with your cool waves and wash away all the cares of the day so I might be fully present in mind and spirit as I perform this rite. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth. Come to my circle with your rock-solid strength and help me to be grounded and centered as I perform this rite. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Blessed Lady of the Moon, who watches over all with grace and beauty, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, Lord of the Animals and Guardian of the Earth, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

Take a moment to look at your broom. Admire its sturdy construction, knowing that it will work well for you. Feel the energy simmering inside it, waiting to be used and attuned to your own particular form of magick. Run your hand lightly over it, from the top of the handle down to the bottom of the bristles, and send it thanks for coming to you.

Take the salt and sprinkle a few grains over the broom from top to bottom, saying:

I consecrate you with the power of earth.

Sprinkle a few drops of water over the broom from top to bottom, saying:

I consecrate you with the power of water.

Waft the smoke from the smudge stick over the broom from top to bottom, saying:

I consecrate you with the power of air.

Light the white candle and move it over the broom from top to bottom, saying:

I consecrate you with the power of fire.

Gesture towards the god and goddess candles and say:

I ask the blessings of the god and goddess on this broom, a sacred tool that I now claim. I promise to use it wisely and well, and wield it only as I work my Craft.

Optional: Take the white ribbon and write your name on it (this can be your magickal or mundane name), along with any symbols that seem appropriate to you. You can also give the broom a name, if you wish, and write that on the ribbon instead. Tie the ribbon around the broom handle where it meets the bristles, saying:

And so we are bound, my broom and I.

Take a few drops of the anointing oil, if using, and rub it into the broom handle, starting at the top. If you want, you can also sprinkle a few drops over the bristles.

Pick up the broom in both hands and hold it up to the sky at shoulder height, saying:

See my magickal broom, consecrated and blessed for me and me alone. May I use it well and wisely. So mote it be.

Place the broom back down on the cloth gently.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for
your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for
your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for
your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for
your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

Blow out the remaining white candle and place your broom wherever you will be keeping it when it’s not in use.

Protection Ritual

Brooms have always been used for protection magick, perhaps because of their strong ties to the hearth, which was the core of the home. (Or, more subtly, their ties to the woman—also the core of the home!) This broom is perfect as a housewarming gift or as the first tool dedicated to your own new home. It can also be created during times of difficulty, if you are feeling vulnerable and in need of an extra bit of protection magick.

You can use any broom for this ritual, but because the task is so important and so vital, I recommend that you create a special protection broom. Once you have used it for the ritual, you can hang it in one of the traditional places for protection—over the doorway used as the main entrance to the home or hung on the wall next to it. (Even if you’re not out of the closet, this broom will look merely decorative to those who don’t know better, so there is no reason you can’t have it out in place sight.)

If not using a broom that you have already consecrated, you may wish to add the steps of the consecration ritual prior to this one, after you have assembled the broom’s protective components but before you say the spell.

Keep in mind that you can use as many or as few of these items as you wish—you don’t need them all.

You will need:

• a broom (undecorated, unless you plan to buy one already adorned with protective items or are using a pre-existing broom that already has magickal decorations on it)
• (to represent earth) sea salt in a small drawstring bag (velvet, silk, or cotton are best, but even the small muslin bags meant for holding tea will work) or you can make your own sachet by sewing a piece of cloth or tying up a square of cloth with a ribbon or piece of yarn

and/or a small drawstring bag in which you have placed one or more of the following tumbled stones or crystals: black onyx, agate, red jasper, crystal quartz, garnet, tiger’s-eye, malachite, carnelian, amethyst, or turquoise (you don’t need all of these—pick one larger stone or three to five smaller ones in any variety that appeals to you or feels right)

• (to represent water) water in a small glass vial or decorative small ceramic bottle with a cork

and/or a large shell (preferably one with a hole in it to make it easier to string) or a string of smaller shell chips

• (to represent air) fresh or dried herbs, or essential oil from at least one of these plants (as many as you want, but one kind is fine; if you use the garlic, you may want to put that into another bag to keep the smell contained): rosemary, sage, basil, dill, juniper, bay leaves, garlic cloves (represents both earth—because they grow out of the ground—and air, because some of their power is carried in their scent)

and/or a few sticks of any protective incense, including those herbs listed above

and/or a feather or bunch of feathers (either one you have found or you can buy one)

• (to represent fire) a bright red ribbon or ribbons

and/or one or more tiny unlit candles, especially in black if you can find them (birthday candle size is good, or small, hand-dipped beeswax candles if you can find them)

• runes for protection (if you can find metal or pottery rune signs that can be hung from a string or wire, that would be perfect; if not, you can simply draw the rune symbols on the broom handle itself or on a piece of paper that you can either wrap around the handle and tie with a string or ribbon or tuck into the bag with your salt or stones); the best rune signs for protection include Thurisaz, Eihwaz, Eolh, and Kenaz, but you can use any others that appeal to you (see appendix for rune signs)
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, and preferably one that contains one or more of the protective herbs listed above; optional)
• glue, ribbons, wire, or string to attach your items to the broom securely (you may also need scissors)
• a white cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on; in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do (and if you don’t have white, you can substitute the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

If possible, perform this ritual on the night of a full moon or on the night of a dark moon (so the moon will be waxing larger for the days after your ritual). Some witches prefer to do protection magick on Sundays or Tuesdays, but if you have an immediate need, you can do the ritual at any time. It can also be repeated later (without re-creating the broom, of course); simply take the broom down from where you keep it and refresh the magick as needed by saying the spell again.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the white cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom, and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently. You’ll be using it again later in the ritual.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air. Come to my circle with your cleansing winds and blow away all that might harm me or wish me ill. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire. Come to my circle with your heat and passion and burn away negativity and fear. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water. Come to my circle with your clear waters and wash clean my body, spirit, and mind. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth. Come to my circle with the solid strength of the timeless land, and let it ground me and add its strength to my own so I might create this tool of protection. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Blessed Lady of the Moon, who is both beauty and power, the sweet gentleness and fierce fury of a guardian mother, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, who is mighty and strong in the pursuit of justice, protective father to animals and humans alike, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

Gather together all the items you have to represent the earth and attach them to your broom as attractively as possible, since this will be hanging out in the open (but don’t worry if it isn’t a work of art). As you do so, visualize the strength of the ground beneath you and feel it holding you safe. (It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment—the ground is still down there somewhere.)

Gather together all the items you have to represent the water and attach them to your broom. As you do so, visualize a moat surrounding your home (or the home of the person you intend to give the broom to) and keeping you safe.

Gather together all the items you have to represent air and attach them to your broom. Visualize the air as a hurricane, with yourself and all you love safe in the eye of the storm and anything that could harm you stuck on the outside.

Gather together the items you have to represent fire and attach them to your broom. Visualize a wall of fire enclosing you and keeping you safe, preventing anything negative from coming in. (You may wish make a mental note that any who do not intend you harm may come inside.)

Once the broom is assembled, make sure that everything looks and feels right. Add, subtract, or move things as necessary.

When the broom is completed, you may wish to waft the sage stick over it to cleanse and purify it, or do the entire consecration ritual at the beginning of the chapter. Then hold it up to show it to the gods, and say the following spell:8

God and Goddess

I call on you for protection from any dangers

Man-made or natural, intentional or accidental

From within or without

East, power of air

I call on you to blow danger away

And protect me from harm

South, power of fire

I call on you to guard me with a wall of flame

And protect me from all harm

West, power of water

I call on you to circle me with a river of safety

And protect me from all harm

North, power of earth

I call on you to ground me with the strength of stone

And protect me from all harm

This broom is the symbol of your protection

Anyplace in which it hangs is protected and safe

By the strength and might of god and goddess

And the power of the four elements

So mote it be

Place the broom back down on the cloth gently.

If desired, you can do the main section of the consecration ritual (earlier in the chapter) to further bless and dedicate your new broom.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your strength and assistance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your strength and assistance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for your strength and assistance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for your strength and assistance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

Remove Negativity Ritual

Negativity is a tricky thing. Sometimes it is big and obvious, like an important person in your life who constantly cuts you down or a job that eats away at your soul. But it can also be the little things: looking at the world as a half-empty glass instead of a half-full glass or everyday habits that undermine your progress toward goals or damage your health.

The best way to deal with negativity—whether it comes from the outside or from someplace inside ourselves—is to look at it straight on, figure out what doesn’t work for you, and fix it. But that’s a lot easier than it sounds, and there are some things that either we’re not ready to deal with or we don’t feel we have any power to control. Even when we’re doing everything we can do, the process sometimes takes time. And let’s face it: sometimes life just throws crap at us!

Whether you’re overwhelmed by circumstances or simply doing the best you can to get by while you wait for your hard work to create positive changes in your life, it never hurts to give negativity a little magickal push out the door.

You can do this ritual whenever you need to—once a year or once a week. You only need to make the broom once, and, of course, as with the rest of these rituals, you can skip the broom-making part altogether and just do the rest of the ritual if that’s what feels right to you.

You will need:

• a broom
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a white or black ribbon (optional)
• a permanent marker (optional)
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one that is either cleansing and protective, or it can be a simple mixture of a natural oil such as olive oil or beeswax with a few herbs or a drop or two of lemon juice or lemon oil added)
• A black cloth (silk or cotton or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on. In a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do. (If you don’t have black, white will do.)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

Whenever needed.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom, and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Note: This broom is very plain in appearance, in part so you can leave it out in plain sight if necessary, even if you are not out of the broom closet. Also, it doesn’t need to be fancy to do this kind of work. If you wish to adorn it with additional decorations, that’s fine.

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently. You’ll be using it again later in the ritual.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air, to protect this circle from all that is unseen and from negative energy of any kind. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire, to guard this circle with the warmth of love past, present, and future. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water, to wash away the sorrows of the past and clear the way for a positive new beginning. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth, to ground and center me and lend me strength for the task ahead. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Blessed Lady of the Moon, who watches over all with grace and beauty, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence and help me as I sweep away negativity. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, Lord of the Animals and Guardian of the Earth, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence and help me as I sweep away negativity. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

To create your anti-negativity broom, first take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it along the length of the broom, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. Say out loud:

With the power of earth, I create this broom to banish negativity and all that does not work for my benefit. Let the bristles of this broom be grounded with the strength and energy of the land beneath my feet, and let the handle imbue me with the strength of the mighty tree from which it came.

Next, sprinkle a little bit of water with the tips of your fingers, starting at the top of the broom and working your way to the bottom. Say:

With the power of water, I create this broom to banish negativity and all that does not work for my benefit. Let it sweep away pain and sorrow, fear and doubt, bad habits and bad energy, as the waves sweep away the grains of sand from the ocean’s shores.

Take the smudge stick (relighting it if necessary) and waft the smoke over the broom, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. Say:

With the power of air and fire, I create this broom to banish negativity and all that does not work for my benefit. Let it sweep away the invisible and the obvious alike, as the wind blows away the smoke from the campfire, leaving behind gently glowing coals that warm the summer’s night.

If you want, you can write down anything in particular that is troubling you on the ribbon. You won’t be able to see what you’ve written if you put it on the black ribbon, but you will still know it is there. Sometimes this is a good way to handle negative situations you’re not quite ready to face yet. Or you can use the white ribbon if you need the reminder when you look at it, so you keep firmly in mind those things you are trying to let go of. Tie the ribbon around the broom either at the top of the handle or where the handle joins the bristles.

If using the anointing oil, smooth a bit down the handle and put a drop or two on the bristles, and say:

This broom is now consecrated for the purpose of ridding me and my home of negativity. So mote it be.

Stand up if you’ve been sitting, and hold the broom as if you were going to sweep the floor but keep the bristles from touching the ground. (It’s okay if they do—this is a personal preference. Some folks like the feeling of actually sweeping as they do this. As with all other magickal work, do what feels right to you.)

Walking widdershins (counterclockwise) around your circle, or turning in place in a counterclockwise way (depending on how much room you have), make sweeping motions with the broom while saying:

With the sweeping of my broom

I banish sadness, fear, and gloom

Clearing air and clearing space

With magick’s power and magick’s grace

Negativity I sweep away

Leaving good to have its sway

Sweeping all the bad things out

As my broom sweeps round about

Repeat three times if you feel an extra boost is necessary—it’s okay to write the spell on a slip of paper or carry this book with you as you walk if you aren’t good at memorizing.

Place the broom gently back down on the cloth and smudge it with the sage stick one more time to remove any lingering negative energy. You may also want to smudge yourself.

If desired, you can do the main section of the consecration ritual (earlier in the chapter) to further bless and dedicate your new broom.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire,
for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air,
for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

broom lore
a new broom should only be used to sweep dirt out of a house after something else has been swept in

Magickal Spring Cleaning Ritual

Spring cleaning isn’t just limited to spring. I tend to do mine twice a year—once in the spring, to get rid of all the lingering winter cobwebs (both literally and metaphorically), and once in the fall, to clear away any negativity before I spend the winter stuck in the house, unable to open windows or go outside much. But really, a good magickal spring cleaning can be done anytime you feel as though the place you live in has stagnant or unpleasant energy, or when you’ve been feeling stuck or blue and there is no obvious reason for it.

Magickal cleansing is also a great way to clear away any negative energy left after a major upheaval in your life, a big fight, or just the day-to-day psychic debris that gets left behind when you have a few people living in the same space. If you share your space with others and they’re willing to take part, this is a good ritual to do together. Otherwise, you can just do it yourself when no one else is home to bother you.

Unlike most of the rituals, which take place entirely within a cast circle inside sacred space, this one will cover the entire area of your home. You can handle this in one of two ways: either cast the circle as you normally would but visualize it spreading out to enclose your whole house or apartment, or do the first part of the ritual in circle as usual, then cut a doorway to let yourself out to do the actual cleansing, then cut another doorway to let yourself back in at the end.

(In case you’ve never done this, it is easy. Using an athame or your finger, draw a doorway, starting at the floor on your left, going up and over, then down again on your right; step out and close it behind you in reverse to keep the energy in your circle from dissipating. To go back in, just do the same thing.)

Neither way is better or worse, so use whichever technique you prefer. I find it easier to simply visualize my entire house as sacred space, but there has been so much magickal work done here over the years that I rarely even bother to cast a formal circle except during group rituals with Blue Moon Circle, when there is more than just my energy to contend with. As with all magick, do whatever feels right to you. If you want to skip the circle casting altogether, that’s okay too.

This is the one time when you may want to use a magickal broom for actual sweeping, especially if you keep one particular broom for this purpose alone. I like the forceful feeling that moving the broom across the floors gives me (and I have all wood floors, so it makes sweeping easier…with carpets, you probably won’t want to actually run the broom across the floors). I use mine not only to sweep the floors but also to pull down cobwebs and sweep dust off the tops of the heating registers, getting into the nooks and crannies I don’t always bother with during my weekly cleanings (ahem).

But you also just use the broom symbolically, the way we do in most of these rituals, especially if you use the same broom for all of your magickal work or if you have decorated it so nicely that you want to make sure not to ruin it.

The important thing to remember is that the broom is the tool, but your focus and will are what are really doing the work. The broom just helps to guide and boost your energy. So as you move through the house, be careful to focus on your intention of clearing and cleansing the physical, emotional, and spiritual energy of your home as you sweep away the psychic dust and dirt.

You will need:

• a broom
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small pitcher
• a large shallow bowl large enough to fit the ends of the broom’s bristles in (use a throwaway aluminum baking pan for this if you want—you can get them cheap at the dollar store if you don’t have something nicer to use) or a spray bottle
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a few sprigs of rosemary (fresh is preferable, but dried will do if that is all you have, or use a couple drops of rosemary essential oil)—this is for protection
• a piece of fresh lemon or some lemon essential oil
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one that is either cleansing and protective, or it can be a simple mixture of a natural oil such as olive oil or beeswax with a few herbs or a drop or two of lemon juice or lemon oil added)
• a white cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best) to protect the floor as you sprinkle things on the broom (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do; if you don’t have white, substitute the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• athame or wand (optional)
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

Whenever needed. Spring equinox and fall equinox are prefect times for this, or any full moon. Otherwise, simply do as needed.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the white cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently. You’ll be using it again later in the ritual.)

Turn to the east and say:

I look to the east and invoke the power of air: cold breezes that chill the body, yet blow away the cobwebs of the year behind me, bringing in clarity and creativity. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I look to the south and invoke the power of fire: the warmth of hearth and home that shelters me and brings light to my life no matter the season. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I look to the west and invoke the power of water: changeable in form but always cleansing and purifying. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I look to the north and invoke the power of earth: what grounds and empowers me, the solid bedrock upon which my home is placed. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Queen of Moon and Stars, who watches over all our homes and lives, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, Lord of the Animals and Guardian of the Earth and the Forest, who watches over all of our homes and lives, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

In your shallow bowl or pitcher, mix some water, a few pinches of salt, the lemon juice or a few drops of essential oil, and the rosemary essential oil (if using). Stir together with the sprig of rosemary or use an athame, wand, or your fingers, and say:

Cleansing, cleaning, washing clear
Let this elixir cleanse all that’s dear.
Water, earth, and herbal grace
Help me cleanse my sacred space.

If you’re using the spray bottle, pour your water mixture into the bottle and spray the bristles of your broom with it. Otherwise, dip the bottom of your broom into the shallow bowl to wet the bristles slightly (you don’t want to be dripping water all over your home, so it is okay to shake off most of the water or use sparingly, unless you are actually using the broom to clean, in which case you might want the ends a bit damp).

Light the sage again and waft it over the entire broom, especially the bristles, saying:

Air and fire, empower me
Clean and cleansed my home will be!

Anoint the broom with your cleansing or protection magickal oil (if using).

Holding the broom upright with both hands, close your eyes, and visualize it glowing with a powerful cleansing light, capable of sweeping away any negative or blocked energy with the slightest swish.

When you’re ready, cut yourself out of your circle if necessary and move through your home, starting at the bottom (if you have more than one story) or the back (if you are on one floor). Or wherever feels right to you—this may vary depending on the set-up of your residence, and there is really no wrong way to do it. The point is to go through every room in as orderly a fashion as possible.

Note: If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your candles burning when you move through the house, either because they are not safely on an altar table or because animals might get to them, skip to the end of the ritual, put out the candles, and then clean. This will work just fine. Better safe than sorry, especially when dealing with fire!

Touching the floor (or not), move the broom across all doorways and windows (fireplaces too—anyplace that things can come in and out of) and around the boundaries of each room, moving around the furniture as needed. Move through the entire house or apartment, visualizing that glowing white light clearing and cleansing as you go.

When you’re done, return to your circle, cutting yourself a doorway back in if necessary. Place the broom down on the cloth and thank it for its service. If you feel that it might have picked up any negativity, feel free to smudge it again or sprinkle it with a little more of your cleansing mixture.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth,
for grounding me during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water,
for washing away negativity during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire,
for warming my spirit during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air,
for blowing clear the air of my home
during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

broom lore
never sweep after sunset, since to do so will chase away happiness or hurt a wandering soul

Ritual to Remove Obstacles

Life is full of obstacles that get in the way of our achieving the things that we want. Sometimes it is the lack of money or time or support. Sometimes we need more education or a different boss or just to be given a chance to prove ourselves.

The truth is, while some obstacles are insurmountable, most can be conquered if you want the goal badly enough. (Look at Helen Keller, for instance, or any athlete who competes in the Paralympics.) You have to set your goals clearly, figure out the steps it would take to achieve them, and start working on the first step. If what you want is truly important to you, I have faith that you will get there eventually.

But in the meantime, sometimes it can seem as though the universe is throwing roadblocks in your path. If you need a boost to help remove them so you can get on with your plans and work toward your future, here is a simple broom ritual that might help.

You don’t need a special broom for this ritual—any ceremonial broom will do. In a pinch, you can use your everyday broom, although it is always preferable to have one that is set aside for magickal work. Still, we’re not going to let the little things stand in the way of our goals, are we?

Note: Sometimes the universe really is putting up roadblocks. If you keep getting the message that a particular path is not for you, you might want to stop and consider whether the difficulties are a challenge you need to learn from and overcome, or perhaps you are being told to try a different way. It can be hard to tell the difference, but I don’t advise doing this ritual unless you are certain you want to remove the blockages.

You will need:

• a broom (this can be already decorated in any manner you desire or you can use a plain one)
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• incense (sandalwood is a good one, or anything associated with your goal) or you can use the sage
• a white candle
• a piece of paper (preferably a nice one)
• a pen or marker
• a ribbon or string to tie the paper onto the broom
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one for success or that is somehow connected with your goal—prosperity, health, love, etc.; optional)
• a white cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do, and if you don’t have white, you can substitute the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

Perform this ritual on the night of the full moon, the new moon, or as needed.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the white cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air. Help me to keep my mind clear and open and aid me in seeking positive change. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire. Element of passion and transformation, help me to make the choices that will lead to greater health and success in the days ahead. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water. Open my heart to love, my body to healing, and my mind to wisdom from within and without. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth. Nourish and ground me and help me to connect to the hidden strength inside myself. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Blessed Lady of the Moon, who brings abundance and joy to those who worship her, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, who lends his strength and wisdom to those who worship him, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

Write down your goal on the pen and paper. Be as clear and precise as possible. For instance, don’t say “I want to make money,” say “I want the perfect job for me” or “I want to find a new path to prosperity that will still allow me to spend time with my children.” If you are working on health issues, don’t say “I want to be healthy,” say “I want to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit,” or “I want to lose weight and exercise and form healthy habits to support my body.” Take as long as you need to get this part right.

Keeping your goal firmly in mind, hold the paper out and sprinkle it with a few grains of salt. Say:

With the power of earth…

Continuing to concentrate on your goal, sprinkle a few drops of water on the paper. Say:

With the power of water…

Repeating your goal silently to yourself, light the incense or sage and let the smoke waft over the paper. Say:

With the power of air…

Light the white candle and hold the paper carefully over the flame. Say:

With the power of fire…

Wrap the paper around the handle of the broomstick with the ribbon or string and hold the entire thing carefully over the god and goddess candles. Say:

And with the help of the god and the goddess, for the good of all and according to the free will of all, may all the obstacles that stand in the way of this goal be swept away.

Stand up and hold the broom so the bristles are right above floor level. Slowly move around your circle (or simply stand in place and turn around if you don’t have enough room) in a widdershins (counterclockwise) motion, sweeping the broom as you go. Visualize the obstacles in your path being swept away in the most positive way possible. You can do this three times if that feels right to you.

When you’re done, turn the broom upside down and thump the end of the handle against the floor, saying firmly:

As I will it, so mote it be.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for sweeping away whatever blocks my way. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for sweeping away my own inner hesitation. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for sweeping away negative energies that hold me back. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for sweeping away the past and opening a path to a better future. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for help and guidance.
Stay if you will, go if you must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your love and assistance. Stay if you will, go if you must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

Note: Once you have done this initial ritual, you can repeat the sweeping part daily if needed, simply picking up the broom and turning counterclockwise while saying “I sweep away all obstacles that stand in my way.” (Repeat three times, then put the broom away until next time.) Remember to start by visualizing your goal as strongly as possible. Once you are done with that particular goal, you can take the piece of paper off the broom and either tuck it away somewhere on your altar, burn it, or dispose of it in whatever way feels right to you.

Nightmare Prevention Ritual

Nightmares are any unpleasant dream that leaves you feeling disturbed or upset. Sometimes they are minor things that reflect a bad day, a source of worry, or our secret fears. Lots of people have the same kinds of nightmares: showing up someplace naked or unprepared, driving a car that suddenly loses its brakes, falling from a height. Almost all of these dreams have to do with feeling like our lives are out of control or worrying about being inadequate in some way.

I’ve had nightmares since I was a child, and for many years they were a common (and sleep-disrupting) occurrence. Thankfully, I don’t get them as much anymore, but when I do, they can throw me off for hours, sometimes days. And as a parent, it is frustrating to watch your child struggle with nightmares and not be able to do much more than cuddle them when they wake in tears.

You don’t necessarily want to simply ignore a nightmare, especially one that is repeated more than once. Nightmares can be clues to our own inner landscape and help us to figure out things that are bothering us during our waking lives but not being dealt with well. And for psychics, nightmares are sometimes messages they need to heed in order to help themselves or someone else.

On the other hand, there are plenty of times when nightmares serve no purpose at all except to ruin our nights, deprive us of much-needed sleep, and start our days off on the wrong foot. If you or a loved one is having regular nightmares, you might want to try this broomstick remedy.

Nightmare prevention and safety during sleep are traditional uses for brooms. This ritual is aimed at creating a broom that you can hang over the bed of the person having nightmares, or you can place it underneath, if that works better for you. Feel free to decorate the broom in any way that will make it fit into the bedroom décor or make the user more comfortable.

You will need:

• a broom (if the bedroom is small, feel free to use a whiskbroom size)
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a black candle
• dried or fresh lavender (the whole plant is nice; if you can get it with the lavender flowers still on the stems, then you can tie the entire stem to the broom; otherwise, you can put some lavender flowers in a small drawstring bag or sachet; the lavender is for peaceful, calm sleep)
• dried or fresh rosemary (the whole plant is preferable, but you can use the loose herb and put it into the bag or sachet with the lavender; rosemary is for protection)
• string, ribbon, wire, or yarn
• anointing oil (a magickal oil for protection or an essential oil like rosemary or sage, or lavender for peaceful sleep; optional)
• decorations as desired (you can hang ribbons or other dried flowers from the broom, or even attach a tiny teddy bear or other toys if making the broom for a child; a small dreamcatcher might be nice, too)
• a black cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do, and if you don’t have black, you can substitute white or the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

Perform this ritual on the night of the dark moon or as needed.

Note

If you are doing this ritual for a child, you might want to consider letting him or her help prepare the broom. Working on it might give the child a feeling of power and control over the problem, as well as a sense of hope.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the white cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air, to protect this circle and all within it from unseen and unwanted negative energy. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire, to protect this circle and all within it from anger and anxiety. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water, to protect this circle and all those within it from sorrow and despair. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth, to come to my circle with your rock-solid strength and help me to be grounded and centered as I perform this rite. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, Blessed Lady of the Moon, who watches over all with grace and beauty, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence, sending your love and protection for the work ahead. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, Lord of the Animals and Guardian of the Earth, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence, sending your love and protection for the work ahead. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

With the broom on the cloth in front of you, tie the rosemary and lavender neatly to the front so they hang down over the bristles (you can use wire, string, yarn, or ribbon to tie the stems to the handle, just above where it joins the bristles). If you are using a drawstring bag or a piece of cloth with the loose herbs inside, tie that on instead.

Add any other herbs, flowers or decorations you want, making sure the broom looks the way you want it to.

Anoint the broom with the magickal oil (if using).

Take a minute to close your eyes and visualize yourself (or the person you are making the broom for) lying in bed, sleeping peacefully. You can envision a protective dome of white light over the space, a guardian spirit, or anything else that symbolizes a safe and protected space to you. Put both hands on the broom and send that image of a peaceful night’s sleep into the broom. Stay that way for as long as it feels right to do so.

Now you are going to bless and consecrate the broom, much as in the original consecration ritual earlier in the chapter. But in this case, you are consecrating it for a particular purpose.

Sprinkle the broom with salt and say:

I bless and consecrate this broom for the purpose of preventing nightmares and encouraging a peaceful night’s sleep.

Sprinkle the broom with water and say:

I bless and consecrate this broom for the purpose of preventing nightmares and encouraging a peaceful night’s sleep.

Waft the sage stick over the broom and say:

I bless and consecrate this broom for the purpose of preventing nightmares and encouraging a peaceful night’s sleep.

Light the black candle, carefully hold the broom over it, and say:

I bless and consecrate this broom for the purpose of preventing nightmares and encouraging a peaceful night’s sleep. So I will it and so mote it be.

If desired, you can add another dab of the anointing oil and spread it over the broom handle and down the bristles. Your anti-nightmare broom is now ready to be hung up or placed under the bed. Remember to occasionally recharge it by repeating the consecration part of the ritual.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

Ritual for Sweeping In Love

If you have ever read any of my other books (and you have, haven’t you?), you will already know that I am not a big fan of love magick. Don’t get me wrong—I’m a fan of love itself. All for it. Sign me up. But I think there are too many ways for love magick to go wrong, even when the one wielding it has the best of intentions.

For one thing, I adhere to the “no interference with free will” rule. Not everyone does, I realize, but I’ve seen magick backfire too many times when one person tried to exert his or her will over another. This is especially true with love magick, and by its very nature it is hard to do this type of magick without involving someone else.

Still, we all want love, and magick is a powerful tool—so there must be a way to safely use ritual to draw more love into our lives, right? Well, sure.

The trick, I think, is to be very careful not to ask for something or someone specific. I realize that many love spells will tell you the exact opposite; they say to write down the name of the person you want to fall in love with you or a list of all the specific traits you want in a significant other. But think about that for a minute. What if you don’t know who the right person for you is? You might think you do, but how many times have we all thought we picked the perfect mate, only to discover that he or she was anything but? And how many people do you know who ended up with someone who was nothing like what they thought they were looking for, but turned out to be perfect for them anyway?

My suggestion is to leave all that tough stuff up to the gods. Instead, this ritual is intended to prepare you to welcome love into your life by sweeping away anything that might stand in the way of your receiving it with open arms and an open heart. Whether this means sweeping away bad attitudes, old patterns that have destroyed previous relationships, a poor self-image or idea of your own worth…all sorts of things can be keeping love from finding you, without you even being aware of them.

More than that, remember that there are many different kinds of love. At the time I write this book, I don’t have the love of a significant other. But I do have the love of family, friends, coven, cats…and, I’m pretty sure, some of my readers. So it might be wise not to limit yourself to simply asking for romantic love, as wonderful as it can be; try to sweep in all the love the universe has to offer. You never know what might show up when you sweep in the potential for love to find you.

You will need:

• a broom
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a small bunch of flowers—roses, carnations, lavender, or whatever appeals to you (if you are using fresh flowers, you may want to use something that will still look nice once it dries, unless you want to replace them periodically; you can also substitute a small bag or cloth filled with rose petals)
• something to tie the flowers on the broom
• a pink or red candle (pink tends to be more for friendship and romance, red for passion—you can also use both if you want, or if you don’t have a colored candle, simply tie a pink or red ribbon around a white one)
• a pink or red ribbon, or both
• a permanent marker
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one for love or happiness—lavender or rose essential oil will also do; optional)
• a white or pink cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do, and if you don’t have white or pink, you can substitute the color of your choice)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

If possible, perform this ritual on the night of the full moon or on a Friday (the night for love magick in some traditions). If that isn’t convenient, any night will do.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air. Come to my circle with your cleansing breezes and blow away all negativity and worry, and waft in love and the sound of laughter. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire. Come to my circle with your bright heat and burn away all fear and doubt, and bring in the warm glow of love and the heat of passion. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water. Come to my circle with your cool waves and wash away all the cares of the day, and carry in love and flexibility. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth. Come to my circle with your strength and help me to be grounded and centered, ready to receive the love that awaits me. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, she who is called Aphrodite and Venus, Inanna and Isis, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, consort to the Lady, Lover and Healer, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

Look at your broom. See in it the warmth and comfort of hearth and home, and think of all the love that might fill your own home if you could share it with the right person or people. Put your hands on the broom and send all your longing for love into its wood and bristles.

Slowly and lovingly attach the flowers and herbs to the broom, treating them with all the care you would give to someone you loved.

On the ribbon, write the kind of love you want. For instance, you could write “romantic love” or “family love” or even “whatever I truly need at this time.” (You can write more than one kind of love, too.) Feel free to add “self-love” if this is an issue for you, as it is for many of us. Tie the ribbon onto the broom.

If using oil, anoint the broom, rubbing the oil in as lovingly as you can. Say:

This broom is consecrated for the purpose of sweeping in love in the best way possible, with harm to none.

Light the red or pink candle and stand up, saying:

I sweep away all that limits love

And holds me back from loving true.

I sweep inside the love I need

And my own loving heart renew.

Sweep first widdershins (counterclockwise) around yourself and visualize the past and anything that holds you back being swept away. Then hold the broom up to your heart for a minute and sweep deosil (clockwise) around yourself as you visualizing love entering your life. You can do each step once or three times, whichever feels right to you.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

Ritual for Sweeping Away Illness

Very few people are lucky enough to make it through their lives without dealing with some type of illness or another. Some things are brief and just annoying, like the common cold, while others are physical disabilities that can’t be cured and must simply be coped with the best you can.

And then there are the long-term physical issues that modern medicine doesn’t have much success in treating (or the treatments have so many side effects, they are almost worse than the original illness). In these cases, the mind-body connection can be extremely important. Even doctors are starting to admit this, and many studies have proven it.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not telling anyone that they should be able to cure everything that is wrong with them or suggesting that they give up on their doctors and stop taking their medicine. (do not do that kind of thing without talking to your medical professional first, please.) Nor am I saying that a chronic illness is “all in your head.” Believe me, after years of dealing with such things myself, that is that last thing I’d say.

However, I can say that I have had serious, real success in treating illness using a combination of traditional (what we call modern, or allopathic, medicine) and nontraditional approaches, including energy healing (such as Reiki), hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and the like. I’ve also been able to make improvements in my health using positive affirmations, self-hypnosis, guided meditation, and focused imagery—all well-established mind-body techniques.

After all, the mind is a very powerful tool. And so is magick, of course. So if you have some form of chronic illness, why not make yourself a magickal broom to sweep it away?

This broom is one that should be made for this purpose and this purpose only. If it is being made for someone other than yourself, that person should take part in its creation if possible.

Note: I don’t advise making a healing tool or casting a healing spell for anyone without asking for their permission first. I know this seems like a nice thing to do, but non-Pagans may not appreciate having magickal work done for them, regardless of how benevolent the intentions of the person doing it. And sometimes an illness is there for a reason: to teach us something or guide us in a certain direction. If you do healing work for someone before they are ready—before the lesson is learned or before they have figured out that a change in direction is needed, for instance—you could actually be doing more harm than good. And some people need to be sick, for reasons that are too complicated to go into. So make a healing broom for yourself or for a friend who wants one or for your own child, but don’t make one for someone else without his or her permission.

This broom can be crafted during ritual and then hung on a wall in the bedroom or some other place in the home where you spend a lot of time (next to the couch, for instance). You may want to refresh it by doing the end part of the ritual every full moon, or you can use it when you do other healing magick. You can also create a daily healing ritual of your own and incorporate the broom into it. For instance, if you are going to lie down and do visualization work, you might want to put the broom under the bed or next to the couch to give that practice an extra boost. Let’s face it—when you’re sick, you need all the help you can get!

You will need:

• a broom
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a few sprigs of rosemary (cleansing, purification, healing), a few sprigs of lavender (purification, healing, happiness, peace), a few carnations (healing, protection, strength—white would be best, but any color will do), a rose or some rosehips strung on a bit of wire or string, a piece of dried apple (cut crossways so that the pentacle inside is visible), a few cinnamon sticks, lemon balm, eucalyptus, an elder branch or two, mint, thyme, willow branches, or a few dried violets (all of these herbs, flowers, and trees are useful for healing; use as many as you want and can find, or use just a few; if you can’t find any fresh or dried branches or sprigs of plants to hang down in a decorative fashion, it is fine to substitute smaller amounts of dried loose herbs and place them all into a drawstring sachet or a piece of cloth tied with ribbon or string; make sure that everything you use smells good to you, since some of these can be quite potent)
• something to tie them on the broom—wire, string, yarn, or ribbon (you can use black for banishing and protection, blue for healing, or both)
• a black or blue candle (black for banishing and protection, blue for healing, or both if you want;
  if you don’t have a colored candle, simply tie a black or blue ribbon around a white candle)
• a permanent marker (if you have a wood-burning tool and are good with it, you can carve or burn instead of writing)
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one for healing—lavender or rosemary essential oil will also do; optional)
• a white, blue, or black cloth (silk, cotton, or some other natural material is best), large enough to lay the broom down on (in a pinch, a sheet or tablecloth will do, as will any color you have)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

If possible, perform this ritual on the night of the new moon or on a Sunday or Monday (the days for healing magick in some traditions). If that isn’t convenient, any night will do.

Preparation

Place the broom in the middle of the cloth, in the center of your sacred space. If you are using an altar in the center, you can lay the broom in front of the altar and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else near the broom, where you can easily reach the items. The god and goddess candles can be placed on either end of the broom (being careful not to get the bristles too close to the open flames) or behind the broom (so that you are on one side of the broom and the god and goddess candles are on the far side of the broom). If the healing work is for yourself, you may want to prepare with a cleansing bath or shower, using healing herbs or sea salt (a salt scrub will work well if you only have a shower).

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently.)

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air. Come to my circle with your cleansing breezes and blow away all negativity and depression. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire. Come to my circle with your bright heat and burn away all fear and doubt. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water. Come to my circle with your cool waves and wash away pain and fatigue. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth. Come to my circle with your rock-solid strength and help me to be grounded and centered, ready to receive the healing that awaits me. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Goddess, she who is healing and loving and mother to us all, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great God, he who is healing and loving and full of strength, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

With your broom lying in front of you, pick up each plant you will be using, hold it up to the sky (toward the gods), and say:

With this herb/flower/tree, I call in healing, protection, and purification.

If using a plant with slightly different powers, name whatever they are. Place the plant where you will be attaching it to the broom. It is fine to shift things around to make them fit together well.

Optional: If you are using a sachet or charm bag instead, say this for each herb as you place it in the bag.

Once you have everything where you want it, tie the herbs or charm bag onto the broom (hanging down over the bristles is usual for this, although you can do it any way you wish).

If you want, use the pen to draw any or all of the following rune symbols, all of which are associated with health and healing: Uruz (strength, good health), Kenaz (strength, energy, good powers of recuperation), Sigel (victory, success, power, health and vitality), Tir (success, strength of will), and Lagaz (intuitive knowledge); see the appendix for a list of rune symbols. You can also draw any other symbols you associate with healing, a picture of a particular part of your body that you want healed, your name, or the names of any gods or goddesses you particularly want to call on for healing. Apollo, for instance, is known for healing, as is his son Asclepius and his sister Artemis. Healing herbs are said to have originated with the Celtic goddess Airmed, and the goddesses Brigid and Sirona are also associated with healing. If you follow a particular pantheon—Celtic, Greek, Norse, etc.—do a little research to see which gods in that particular culture are healers. Otherwise, just pick one or more that appeal to you.

If using anointing oil, dab some onto the broom and say:

I consecrate this broom for the work of sweeping away illness and sweeping in health and healing.

Sprinkle the broom with salt and say:

I consecrate this broom for the work of sweeping away illness and sweeping in health and healing.

Sprinkle the broom with salt and say:

I consecrate this broom for the work of sweeping away illness and sweeping in health and healing.

Light the sage and waft it over the broom, saying:

I consecrate this broom for the work of sweeping away illness and sweeping in health and healing.

Light the black or blue candle and stare into its flame for a moment. Visualize yourself letting go of ill health, negativity, and anything that holds you back from healing. If it helps, see it as a black cloud lifting and floating away. Then see yourself standing strong and healthy, surrounded with a bright, vibrant aura. Take a few minutes to close your eyes and fix this image of a strong, healthy self into your head and heart.

Stand up (if you can—if necessary, you can do this while sitting) and grasp the broom firmly in your hands, the bristles pointing at but not touching the floor. Sweeping the broom in a widdershins (counterclockwise) direction, say:

Gods of healing, protective spirits, universal energy, lend me your strength as I sweep away illness.

Then turn in the opposite direction and sweep deosil, or clockwise, and say:

Goddesses of healing, powers of earth, air, fire, and water, send me your love and compassion as I sweep in health.

Turn counterclockwise again and say:

I sweep away all those things that no longer work for my benefit and anything that prevents me from moving in the direction of health and healing.

Turn clockwise one last time and say:

I sweep in a new and healthy me;
so I will it, and so mote it be!

Kiss the broom and place it back down on the cloth. Blow out the candle.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for your help and guidance during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

broom lore
if a man is struck by a broom,
he should grab it and hit the broomstick seven times or he will become impotent

Samhain (Halloween) Ritual

You can integrate broom magick into your regular esbat and sabbat rituals in any number of ways. Using a ceremonial broom, you can cleanse the circle space before starting the ritual or lay the broom across the entrance to the circle as protection. Or you can make the broom a part of the ritual itself, as in the following Samhain ritual.

Samhain is the witches’ New Year, which celebrates both the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. It is also the day of the year when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, so if you wish to use the broom in its traditional role of opening the doorway to speak to the spirits of those gone before, you can do so during this ritual. (Please feel free to skip this part if you have no one you wish to speak to or are in any way uncomfortable communing with the dead.)

There are a number of holidays that lend themselves to sweeping things in or out—Blue Moon Circle just did an Imbolc rite that utilized a broom to sweep out winter’s funk and open us up to new energy. Hopefully this Samhain ritual will give you all sorts of ideas for adding broom magick to the new moon, full moon, or holiday rituals you do.

Note: I tend to call on Hecate and Herne at Samhain, but you should feel free to substitute whichever god and goddess you wish or just say “Great Goddess” and “Great God.” Also, this ritual is designed for the solitary witch, but there is no reason you couldn’t do it with a group.

You will need:

• a broom (if you made the ceremonial broom discussed earlier in the book, this is the perfect time to use it; otherwise, any magickal broom will do)
• sea salt in a small container
• water in a small dish
• a sage smudge stick and a fire-safe dish or small iron cauldron
• a white candle
• a black candle
• a white ribbon
• a black ribbon
• a permanent marker in a color that can be seen on both the black and white ribbons (at least on the white one)
• a sprig of fresh rosemary (you can find this in the herb/vegetable section of most grocery stores)—the rosemary is both for protection and cleansing, and will also help with communication if you are doing that part of the ritual
• anointing oil (this can be a magickal oil you have bought or made, preferably one that is either cleansing, protective, and empowering, or all three)
• a table to use as an altar (or you can use an altar that stays on your wall, if you have one, or put the items on the ground if you are doing this outside)
• god and goddess candles (or just goddess, if you prefer)—these can be gold/silver, cream/white, or both white—in fire-safe holders
• 4 quarter candles: green (north), yellow (east), red (south), and blue (west), or you can use four white, in fire-safe holders
• matches
• candle snuffer (optional)

Time

Samhain, October 31 (anytime after the sun sets).

Preparation

Lay the broom in front of the altar (or lean it against the wall if you are using a wall altar) and place all the other items on top of the altar. Otherwise, you can place the quarter candles around the edges of the circle and put everything else on the altar.

Light the sage and walk around the outside of your sacred space, visualizing a circle of pure white light springing up in its path, cleansing the area. When you have closed the circle, move the sage over your body and let its purifying smoke waft away all the cares you have brought in with you from the mundane world. Feel the strength of the earth under your feet and the wisdom from the sky above, and know that you are now in sacred space, ready to do your magickal work. (You can put out the smudge stick by rubbing it against the dish or simply let it continue to smoke gently.)

Mix the salt and water together in a small dish. Say:

Salt into water, water into salt. Purify and cleanse me and this sacred space, washing away all that is negative and leaving only what is positive and pure.

Dab a bit of the mixture on your third eye (in the middle of your forehead), lips, heart, and core. Then walk around the circle and sprinkle a little bit of the salt/water using your fingertips or the sprig of rosemary. Visualize your circle being cleansed and purified.

Turn to the east and say:

I call to the guardians of the east, the powers of air, to protect my circle, blowing out the old year and welcoming in the new. So mote it be. (Light the yellow candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I call to the guardians of the south, the powers of fire, to protect my circle, bringing the warmth and light of an autumn bonfire. So mote it be. (Light the red candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I call to the guardians of the west, the powers of water, to protect my circle and wash away sorrow and regret. So mote it be. (Light the blue candle.)

Turn to the north and say:

I call the guardians of the north, the powers of earth, to protect my circle and keep me grounded on this powerful magickal night. So mote it be. (Light the green candle.)

Hold your arms up at waist or shoulder height, palms turned up to the sky, and say:

Great Hecate, Blessed Lady of the Crossroads, who guides us as we walk our paths, O Queen of Witches, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the goddess candle.)

Hold your arms up, with the three middle fingers of both hands bent in toward your palms so that the thumb and pinky make the sign of the Horned God (or simply hold up your hands), and say:

Great Herne, Lord of the Animals and Guardian of the Earth, who shelters all beneath his great trees, I call to you now and ask that you honor my circle with your presence. Welcome and blessed be. (Light the god candle.)

Take a moment and think about the year behind you. What went right? What went wrong? What things in your life is it time to let go of so you might move on into the new year free and unencumbered? Take the marker and write those things on the black ribbon. (It’s okay if you can’t see the writing well—you’re letting go of this stuff.)

Light the black candle and place the ribbon in front of it.

Now think about the year that lies ahead. What dreams, wishes, and goals do you have for the new year? What do you plan to work hard on to make those dreams come true? Take the marker and write those things down on the white ribbon.

Light the white candle and place the white ribbon in front of it.

Pick up the broom and think about the way witches have used brooms for centuries to help them with their magickal work. Feel yourself connected through the years to generation after generation of men and women who wove enchantment out of the night.

Take the black ribbon and tie one end to the broomstick, right above the bristles, and say:

All time is connected. The past creates the future, and the future comes from the past.

Take the white ribbon and tie one end to the broomstick, over the black ribbon, and say:

My future is born from the experiences of my past, and I value all I have learned. But on this Samhain night, I choose to let go of all those things from the past that no longer work for me so I might move into the future light and clear.

If using anointing oil, dab a little bit on the ribbons where they meet. Tuck the sprig of rosemary under the ribbon so it hangs down over the bristles.

Braid the black and white ribbons together, winding them over and under a piece of the broom bristle. You can let the ends hang loose when you’re done or tuck them into the bristles.

Hold the broom carefully over (or in front of) the black and white candles. Say:

It is the old year; it is the new year. It is the ending and the beginning. I give thanks for the gifts of the year passing away and look forward to the possibilities of the new year ahead, and so I sweep away all that stands in my way.

Move around the circle widdershins (counterclockwise), making sweeping motions as you go. As you sweep, visualize anything you want to let go of being swept away into the night.

Come back to stand before the altar and hold the broom over the candles again. Say:

It is the new year; the old year is done. Now is the beginning, and so I sweep in all the potential for joy, growth, and prosperity the new year holds.

Move around the circle clockwise (deosil), making sweeping motions as you go. As you sweep, visualize all that you want to come to pass in the year ahead. See it happening like a movie playing out before your inner eye.

Come back to the altar and say:

So mote it be.

Take a moment to feel the new balance settle in to your body and spirit.

Optional: Lay the broom at the entrance to your circle to create a doorway for the spirit or spirits you wish to contact. Speak whatever is in your heart to those you have lost— either in the past year or earlier or to your ancestors—and then wait quietly to see if you get a response. This may not be anything obvious; it could simply be the feeling of a presence in the space with you or a sensation of love being given and received. When you are ready, pick up the broom and take it back to the altar. Thank anyone who visited you and say goodbye, then take the sprig of rosemary out of the broom and go around the circle with the salt/water mix once more.

Turn to the north and say:

I thank you, powers of earth, for your help and protection during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the west and say:

I thank you, powers of water, for your help and protection during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the south and say:

I thank you, powers of fire, for your help and protection during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn to the east and say:

I thank you, powers of air, for your help and protection during this rite. Blessed be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, fingers forming the god sign, and say:

Great God, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Open your arms and hold your hands up to the sky, palms up, and say:

Great Goddess, I thank you for your presence here in this sacred circle and in my life. Stay if you will, go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. So mote it be. (Snuff out candle.)

Turn widdershins (counterclockwise) and visualize the circle of light slowly falling away until you have returned to the mundane world and your circle is open again.

broom lore
if you feel like you are being haunted or followed by unfriendly ghosts, step over a broom to prevent them from disturbing you

real witches,
real brooms:

Michelle Skye

my besom is actually very small, more of a wall decoration than the traditional, long-handled broom. It is made of wheat and has a braided handle. The rich, golden color and the plaiting remind me of the hair of the Norse goddess Sif, the goddess of abundance. She offers much more than simple good fortune, however.

Due to the color and texture of her hair, Sif’s abundance is often connected to the grain harvest. When a breeze blows through a field of ripe corn or wheat, it resembles the rippling of long, fair hair. In fact, the word “sif” was used as another word for “earth” by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda. However, her bounty is not merely that of an agricultural goddess. Her hair is another term for the word “gold” in Norse writings and is a symbol for the divinity and spark of the gods.

In Sif’s most well-known story (told in the “Skaldskaparmal,” written by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda), her hair is stolen by the Norse trickster giant-god Loki while she is sleeping. Presumably, her husband, Thor, is away on one of his many adventures, because when he returns home, he is furious and demands that Loki replace her hair. Loki, ever cunning, offers to get a new set of hair for Sif—better hair, hair of gold that would grow like any other hair. And he does! However, in the process of attaining Sif’s golden hair, he manages to trick five dwarves, master craftsmen from the land of Svartalheim, into creating five powerful magical objects for the gods of Asgard and Vanaheim.

The story of Sif’s hair characterizes another aspect of her abundant nature. Sif’s hair brings wealth to her entire clan. Not only does she receive a golden head of hair that looks, feels, and grows like other hair, but she is able to gift powerful magic to her kin. While Loki’s actions were the impetus for the gifts, he needed Sif’s innate power to begin the process. Her hair grants Thor, Odin (her father-in-law), and Frey (her friend) the tools they need to grow and reach their greatest potential. Sif’s abundance spills out beyond herself to encompass her family and friends, binding them together in a closer bond and community.

With this greater understanding of Sif, you can understand that my besom is utilized in drawing magic to bring positive and beneficial aspects into my life. I also tap into its power for abundance, love spells, and family understanding and concord. It is especially powerful during the growing times of the year, from Ostara through Mabon, and at the waxing and full moons. My besom helps me to realize my own innate gifts and power, reminding me to honor them and celebrate them. All too often we value the power of others while languishing in our own mental gloom. My besom grants me the fortitude to remember the importance of the self as evidenced through Sif’s stories and example.

Michelle Skye

author of Goddess Alive and Goddess Afoot

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8. A variation on a spell from my book Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook.