The magic broomstick or, to use its proper name, the besom is an
important and largely misunderstood tool of the witch. Gaining its
notoriety from the witch finders manuals and woodcuts of mediaeval
Europe, it is a tool of a far more ancient origin. Evidence of besom
practice and use can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. Papyrus
drawings and carvings on the wall of temples show the Pharaoh
holding in his hand a long, narrow paddle-shaped instrument. A
symbol of sovereignty and mastery over matter, only the Pharaoh or
the high priest was allowed to use this: tool. But what was it used
for?
Travelers and scholars who have visited Egypt for thousands of years
have marveled at the construction of her pyramids and wonders that
even to this day have never been explained. Only recently has the
theory of levitation been posed again.
The ancient priest scholars of Egypt and the magical adepts knew
that the Pharaoh's paddle-shaped tool symbolized the power over air
and gravity. It possessed as well a spirit force called by the
Egyptians "Sekhem" that could be animated through the use of a
magical spell.
Many examples of these ancient besoms have been found in the tombs
of the Pharaohs, the most well preserved examples being from the
tomb of the boy king Tutankhamen.
The next evolution of the besom takes it from an elaborately gilded
wooden staff with a fan of feathers to the traditional form we know
today, that of the broomstick. Why it took such a common form is not
known but is thought to be for protection so that persecutors would
see it as an everyday household item and not the witch's tool that
it is. In this new form it began to take on the additional magical
qualities of purification and cleansing. The negative energies would
be swept out of a person's dwelling, leaving it clear. In the case
of spirit activity, salt would be sprinkled on the floor and the
magical besom, accompanied by words of art, would sweep the spirit
from the house in the form of an exorcism.
Witch doctors in African tribes use the besom in a handheld form
called a "Spirit Broom." With this they brush down the body of their
patients to remove bad luck, illness and the evil spirit associated
with them.
However, beneath the surface of this folksy, somewhat benign use of
the besom lies its higher magical purpose: that of a tool of flight.
The embodiment of air and spirit allowed the rider to travel forth
on other planes of existence to gather information and commune with
other spirit forms. And just how was this flight achieved?
Flight and the use of the besom could only be achieved by a trained
practitioner of magic. In some Witchcraft traditions the besom
itself as well as the crown and the sword were the tools of the High
Priestess or Priest. Only those who had trained in astral work could
hope to achieve flight. A certain level of discipline had to be
reached, for besom flight entailed the separation of ones astral
body from the physical.
Traditional methods of besom flight that have been documented as far
back as mediaeval times mention the use of a flying ointment. The
flying ointment is a mild hallucinogenic that when applied assists
the astral body to travel out onto the astral plane.
To achieve this a witch would lie in a relaxed state with his or her
besom at their side. The eyelids, nose, mouth, and pulse points
would be anointed by fellow coven members. The flying ointment,
while assisting in the separation of the astral body, would also act
as a seal so that negative entities could not enter the body while
it lay in stasis. Then, after magical words were spoken, the witch
would leave her body to fly the astral plane.
While flying around in her astral body, a witch could sometimes be
seen by a sensitive person, appearing much like a ghost or
apparition. This would explain the sighting of witches on their
broomsticks throughout history. Sightings occurred mostly in small
European villages and most probably after eating fermented grain, a
mild hallucinogenic itself!
So, as a final note before you get on your broomstick and fly, I
would like to give you my personal recipe for flying ointment and a
little word of advice: The care and use of the magical besom must
not be taken lightly, especially if you intend to fly; you must
learn first how to astral project properly and safely.