Besoms & Brews

A besom, or Witches’ Broom, is made by the Witch, not purchased. The same is true of the Athame and all other implements of the Blessed Chamber.

Purchasing items such as a broom deprive one of the most basic rights due a Pagan; to develop the inner world by working in the outer world.

The disciplines of manufacture of altar items is very important, and forms the Learning Curve necessary for the True Sight and Wisdom sought after by all serious seekers on this Path.

We firmly believe that the Wiccan should make his or her own gear, particularly the broom, the Athame and the Cape. All other items are negotiable, but those are the most vital and the closest to the Inner Sight Being.

We live in an age of instant enlightenment and fast foods, but real Wisdom comes from development of good work habits and high discipline.

Even candlemaking is not outside the realm of the real Wiccan’s inner work, and we could well include the bookmaking process when constructing a Book of Shadows. Many individuals do buy this item, but it can be well included in the discipline of a young Wiccan’s training.

In sorcery, this rule of “Make it Yourself” is even more vital, and we strongly recommend that one at least TRY to make these items before purchasing them.

Altars and figurines and furnishings are quite another matter, but in the realm of incense, oils, herbology, clothing and altar weapons, there is really no substitute for “Do It Yourself”.

If you are a serious Wiccan, you roared with laughter throughout the Harry Potter films, but especially hilarious is the scene where he goes into a Wand Shop.

Wands should be made of wood, not metal, not semiprecious stones, not plastic. Which woods, you ask? Well, Hazel is the wood of choice for some, but Elder and Oak and Thistle are still other good choices. How to choose? Follow the Druid Woodcraft and you can’t go wrong.

Make your own rune stones. They are easy to make out of clay, which can then be high-fired to Cone 10. Stoneware runes should last a lifetime or several, if you care to come back after what they’re doing to the planet nowadays.

Another fine item to make for yourself is the sword. Daunting? Not really; there are several excellent books on the subject and making a sword for ritual is quite different from making one for combat. You might consider re-wrapping the hilt of a pre-made sword if you can’t get it together to do a little metallurgy.

Remember that the earliest Wiccans used what they had on hand; they were in danger of being arrested for heresy and therefore tended to use ordinary kitchenware and things found commonly around the house during Medieval Times. Today, we tend to think that we must follow them exactly, but that’s like nuns wearing habits — clothes that were worn commonly in the 12th – 14th centuries. Why CAN’T you use a kitchen knife as an Athame? What’s wrong with using a stainless steel pot as a cauldron? If they’d had those things then, that’s what they would have used, and you can, too.

Remember that things tend to get rigid when humans are involved; ritual can be a plastic thing, changeable with the times. One need not speak in Medieval Tongues unless one wisheth it so and wouldst remain on live within materes ancienne. Whan that Aprille with her shoures sote hath batheyd evrye veyne in swich liquoure, of swich engender’d be the floure…. In short, if you’re going to speak only Middle English, why not go whole hog and get into Old English, with something along the lines of “Hwaet, we gar-dena in geardagum….ellan fremedon qot ta thininga”, and so forth???