What is a Witch without their Besom???

Every time I enter my bedroom, something always catches

my eye. When you enter my room, if you look to the right

you will see my big round table; my al

tar, on which I keep all

my magical tools and such for my craft, but if you look straight ahead on my wall you will find my Besom hanging there. My besom is probably one of my most treasured tools that I have in my room. Its a very magical object and I made it myself, so it is full of my own energies and those of the God and Goddess.

Brooms/Besoms have been s

ymbolic to the Witch for hundreds and even thousands of years. Today, when you hear the word Witch you probably think of the green faced Witch of the West, in her Tall Pointy hat flying around on her broom. Sadly this is what Hollywood has portrayed him/her as. But that is so not the case.

Brooms have a very rich deep history, and they are very interesting.

One of the earliest forms of the broom is known as the Besom Broom. They were made of twigs tied to a handle. The bristles can be made of various materials such as straw, herbs, or twigs. The shaft is round to represent the branch of a tree. This associates the broom with the Tree of Life which was an important symbol in ancient pagan Europe. Traditionally a Besom broom is made from hazel wood and the bristles are birch twigs.

These brooms were often found just inside a dwelling hanging with bristles up to ward off evil spirits, negative energies and to protect the home and all who dwell within it. It could also be found hanging over a door with the bristles facing in the direction of opening of the door.

They were relatively inefficient as a cleaning implement and needed constant repair or recreation. Today Besom Brooms are still crafted and sold at garden centers as an outdoor broom. You can also find decorated and scented versions (ie: cinnamon besom brooms) in craft stores for indoor decorations.

The brooms relation to sweeping away negative energies and use for protection makes it a wonderful tool for magikal practices and rituals. Consequently it wasn't a big leap for European pagans to use the broom as a tool.

The Witches Broom

The traditional Witch's Broom is made of an ash handle and bristles from birch twigs. The twigs are tied onto the handle with thin pieces of willow wood. There have been a few written accounts of early Witch's decorating their brooms with flowers of the season tied on with some type of decorative string or later using colored ribbon. A practice that is continued today by modern Witches.

Early Celtic pagans associated the broom with Faeries, possibly because of it's relation to the wood and a common belief in forest sprites. Some stories tell of a Witch entering a forest and asking the Faeries to lead her way to the perfect tree where she can collect a staff for a broom. The idea is to enlist the help of the magikal folk and ensure the enchantment of the broom once it has been fashioned.

The Witch's broom is one of the few tools that is seen as a balance of Divine forces. It is both part of masculine energies (the phallic handle) and female energies (the bristles). Because of this, the broom was and still is commonly used in handfasting rituals (marriage ceremonies). It is also used as a gate or door before a ritual space. A witch would draw a magikal circle, enter the circle and then place the broom over the doorway to keep out unwante

d energies or people as an example.

While being used for clearing an area for ritual work was the earliest use for a broom, it became an important tool for Witch's during The Burning Times of Europe. During this era Witches would use a broom to hide one of their most important tools, the wand. It is also a tradition that brooms have been used by some as receptacles to harbor a particular spirit temporarily. This could be done to remove an unwanted spirit from one area and then release it far away in another place. Or it could be used to utilize the energy of a spirit for a specific spell when the broom is used as a wand.

A few ancient brooms have been discovered to have hidden compartments in the handle. These small hidden places held combinations of herbs, oils, feathers and a variety of other things thought to be part of a ritualistic spell. The hidden concoctions added to the energy of the intent that the broom was to be used for.

The Flying Broom

This early association of broom to tree also associates it with the element of air and therefore has power over spirits. Thus it's common use as a tool for flying. In both historical and modern images a female witch can be found on a broom silhouetted by the full moon behind her.

Although most associate being a witch with women, it's a label that applies to both sexes. The first 'official' record that documents the claim of flying on a broom stick was recorded in 1453. The claim was made in a confession by a male witch named Guillaume Edelin.

There have been earlier documents recanting stories of Witches flying on a variety of sticks. Such as decorated walking sticks, limbs from a tree complete with it's leaves, or just a stick alone. These stories include details of magikal flying ointments being applied to these tools in order to give them flight.

In both ancient Witchcraft and Shamanistic practices the use of these ointments was most probably what gave the impression of Witch flight. Ointments and potions for flying were most likely a variety of hallucinagenics that assisted a Witch in visualizing a flight upon the broom. This is not uncommon for early spiritual journeys. Using peyote and other hallucinagenics is well documented and utilized by Native American cultures for spiritual travels.

These special 'trips' were controlled methods to quickly reach a state of altered awareness. From there a Witch could astral project with the image of flying on a broom to anywhere within their known Universe. The use by witches of flying ointments was first described, according to known sources, by Johannes Hartlieb in 1456. It was also described by the Spanish theologist Alfonso Tostado in Super Genesis Commentaria (Venetia, 1507), whose commentary tended to accredit the thesis of the reality of the Witches' Sabbath.

Today using these types of potions and ointments are not recommended or encouraged. Flying journeys instead are suggested through deep meditation and astral projection. These methods are not just safer, but they also provide the practitioner with more control and the ability to remember more of the journey itself.

The Witches Creed

Hear now the word of the Witches, the secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway, That now we bring forth into the light.

Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide-ranging Air,
By hidden Quintessence we know them, and will keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all Nature, the passing of Winter and Spring,
We share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat returns, and the Witches are seen,
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing, on May Eve and old Hallowe'en

When day time and night time are equal, when sun is at greatest and least,
The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are, thirteen is the Coven's array,
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day.

The power was passed down the ages, each time between woman and man
Each century unto the other, ere times and the ages began.

When drawn is the magical circle, by sword or athame of power,
Its compass between the two worlds lies, in the land of shades that hour.

This world has no right to know it, and the world beyond will tell naught,
The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magic is wrought.

For two are the mystical pillars, that stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces of the divine.

The dark and the light in succession, The opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess, This did our ancestors teach.

By night he's the wild wind's rider, The Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades.
By day he's the King of the Woodland, The dweller in green forest glades.

She is youthful or old as she pleases, She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight, The crone who weaves spells in the dark.

The master and mistress of magic, They dwell in the deeps of the main,
Immortal and ever-renewing, With power to free or to bind.

So drink the good wine to the Old Gods, And dance and make love in their praise,
Till Elphames's fair land shall receive us, In peace at the end of our days.

And do what thou wilt shall be the challenge, so be it in love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done.

Eight words the Witches Creed fulfil:
If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will!

The Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must,
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Live and let Live,
Fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about,
To keep the evil spirits out.

To bind the spell every time,
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak little and listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing moon,
Chanting out the witches rune.

Widershins go by the waning moon,
Chanting out the baleful rune.

When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her, times two.

When the moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale,
Lock the door and drop the sail.

When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not, or cursed you'll be.

When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltaine fires burn.

When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log and the Horned One rules.

Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree,
By the Lady, Blessed Be.

Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you will know.

When ye have a true need,
Hearken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend,
Lest ye be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.

When Misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.

True in Love ever be,
Lest thy lover's false to thee.

Eight Word the Wiccan Rede fulfil:
An it harm none, do what ye will.

The Charge of The Goddess

Whenever ye have need of anything,

once in the month and better it be when the moon is full,

then shall ye assemble in some secret place,

and adore the spirit of me,

who am Queen of all witches.

There shall ye assemble,

ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,

yet have not won its deepest secrets;

to these will I teach all things that are as yet unknown.

And ye shall be free from slavery;

and as a sign that ye be truly free,

you shall be naked in your rites;

and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love,

all in my praise.

For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,

and mine also is joy on earth;

for my law is love unto all beings.

Keep pure your highest ideals;

strive ever towards them,

let nothing stop you or turn you aside.

For mine is the secret door which

opens upon the Land of Youth,

and mine is the cup of the wine of life,

and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,

which is the Holy Vessel of Immortality.

I am the gracious Goddess,

who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.

Upon earth,

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal;

and beyond death,

I give peace, and freedom,

and reunion with those who have gone before.

Nor do I demand sacrifice;

for behold, I am the Mother of all living,

and my love is poured out upon the Earth.

I am the beauty of the green earth,

and the white moon among the stars,

and the mystery of the waters,

and the desire of the heart of man.

Call unto thy soul, arise, and come unto me.

For I am the soul of Nature,

who gives life to the Universe.

From me all things proceed,

and unto me all things must return;

and before my face, beloved of gods and of men,

let thine innermost divine self be enfolded,

in the rapture of the infinite.

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoicest,

for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Therefore, let there be beauty and strength,

power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you.

And thou who thinketh to seek for me,

know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not,

unless thou knoweth the mystery;

that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee,

thou wilt never find it without thee.

For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning;

and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

My Man

Right now I have nothing to post about so im going to take a little time out to talk about my man :)

He is the most wonderful person iv had the opportunity to meet, and I know everyone say's that about their loved one; but I am so blessed to have him come into my life.

I have to say, I am the older one in this relationship and that's really new to me. And another thing that's new to me is how fast I fell for him. I have been in plenty of relationships to realize that it takes time before you can say "I love you" to someone and actually mean the words. And now aday's that phrase is not taken seriously enough. But I can honestly say that I love this man. He is the most mature person I have ever been with, he is so amazing.

Im love-stuck. Its fun when we talk on the phone together because he live's in Iowa and I live in Georgia, so when our accents collide it can be a challenge to understand each other. He say's when I move up north that he is going to teach me to talk, apparently my southern drawl is worse than I had thought. But he say's its cute so :)

I guess that's all for today, I just wanted to get on here and brag about my man!

Full Moon Scrying Water

The full moon has long been considered a symbol of wisdom and intuition. We feel its connection every month, when it lights the night sky. Many of us feel more energetic and alert during the full phase of the moon. This is partly because our bodies and mind are intricately connected to the lunar cycles. Like our selves, water is also linked to the changing face of the moon -- just ask anyone who lives on the coast about the phenomenon of "lunar tide"!

Using a reflective surface as a tool for scrying is hardly new -- the ancient Romans did it in their religious rituals, and the Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains references to Hathor's magic mirror, used to see the future. Pre-Christian Celtic seers were believed to have visions when they looked upon dark stones such as beryl or other crystals, according to Pliny. Even in the 1500s, Nostradamus made notes about staring into a bowl of water by candlelight to gain inspiration.

This divination is one of the simplest. It's best to do it outside if at all possible, because, after all, you are relying on the moon to illuminate the water for you! If you can't perform this ritual on the night of the full moon, the night immediately before or immediately after is just as acceptable.

In addition to a clear sky and a full moon, you'll need the following items:

• A table or some sort of flat work space
• A dark bowl
• A pitcher containing enough water to fill the bowl
• A journal or notepad to write in, as well as a pen
• Optional: your favorite meditative music

If your tradition normally requires you to cast a circle, do so now. If you'd like to play some music, go ahead and start your cd player. Sit or stand comfortably at your workspace. Begin by closing your eyes, and attuning your mind to the energy around you. Feel the soft earth under your feet. Hear the rustling of the wind in the trees. Breathe in the scent of grass and earth that lingers in the air. Raise your arms out to your sides, palms facing up, and feel the energy of the moon above you.

Take some time to gather that energy. It's a pull, a palpable sensation that we can feel, if we just take the time to look for it. Feel that silvery power above you, and recognize your connection to it, and to the Divine.

When you are ready to begin scrying, open your eyes. Notice the night all around you. You may feel an unusual sense of clarity and alertness - don't be alarmed, it's just that lunar energy at work. Raise the pitcher in one hand, holding it over the bowl. As you do, visualize wisdom and guidance within the water. As you pour the water into the bowl, from the pitcher, see the energy of the moon charging that water. Recognize that this water can show you the mysteries of the moon.

When the bowl is full, position yourself so that you can see the moon's light reflected directly into the water. Stare into the water, looking for patterns, symbols or pictures. You may see images moving, or perhaps even words forming. You may have thoughts pop spontaneously into your head, that seem to have nothing at all to do with anything. Use your journal, and writeeverything down. Spend as much time as you like gazing into the water -- it may be just a few minutes, or even an hour. Stop when you begin to feel restless, or if you're getting distracted by mundane things.

When you are finished gazing into the water, make sure you have recorded everything you saw, thought and felt during your scrying session. Messages often come to us from other realms and yet we frequently don't recognize them. If a bit of information doesn't make sense, don't worry -- sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will make sense eventually. It's also possible that you could recieve a message that's meant for someone else -- if something doesn't seem to apply to you, think about your circle of friends, and who it might be meant for.

Afterwards, you can leave your water out overnight to charge it even more, or you can pour it away into your garden as an offering.

** Note: If you live near a natural body of water such as a pond or lake, you can perform water scrying with these larger "bowls" instead!

Full Moon Water

Because tonight is the full moon, I always try to make a batch of Moon Water.

Here are some of the things you will need...

Gather:

• 1 glass bowl or jar, or a chalice
• 1 small round mirror
• 1 moonstone or similar stone associated with lunar energies
• Piece of white cloth large enough to cover the opening of the container
• Spring water

On the night before the actual full moon, place the mirror in the bottom of the container and place the stone on top of the mirror. Fill the container with spring water, cover the opening with a white, permeable cloth such as cheesecloth and place it outside under the light of the moon. Bring the container inside in the morning and put it in a place where it will be shielded from sunlight.

Place it outside again on the night of the full moon. Remove it to a shielded place once again in the morning. On the third night, place it outside again and bring it inside at dawn, when the moon will be setting and moving into the waning gibbous phase.

To use full moon water, add it to rituals that require full moon energy but must be conducted during other phases of the moon. It may also be brewed into tea using lunar herbs or used to consecrate receptive ritual tools or to bless a space/individual or object with lunar energy.

Should it rain on the night of the full moon, set up the container, mirror and stone as above, but leave out the water and the covering cloth. Allow the rain water to accumulate in the container and remove it to inside in the morning.

While this seems simple, remember that action without intent is useless. Create a rite, chant or simple gestures around the preparations and actions. If you work with herbs, you may also like to add fresh lunar herbs to the water. Perform each step with the intent firmly in mind. When the container is placed outside, spend time in meditation under the moon, feeling the lunar energies washing over the planet and being absorbed by the water and all that falls under its light.

*This procedure may also be performed during the dark moon, substituting an onyx or other black/dark stone for the white moonstone. Water collected during this phase will carry the energies associated with the dark moon and may be used for rituals that require such energy but for some reason cannot be conducted during the actual phase.