Crafting Your Own Besom: A Step by Step Guide

When most people think of a witch, they think of a witch flying on a broomstick. I would love to fly on a broomstick. However I will have to keep that for meditation time :).

For witches a besom is more than a broom,  it’s a symbol of protection, cleansing, and sacred space. Traditionally used in folk magick and seasonal rituals, the besom represents the union of masculine and feminine energies:

The handle (often wood)

The bristles (traditionally birch twigs)

Making your own allows you to weave your intention directly into the tool.

What You’ll Need

A sturdy wooden stick (ash, oak, or hazel are traditional)

Flexible twigs (birch is classic, but broomcorn, willow, or other bendable branches work)

Natural twine, jute, or leather cord

Pruning shears

Optional: herbs, ribbon, charms, crystals

Step 1: Choose Your Wood Intentionally

Traditionally:

Ash – protection and spiritual power

Oak – strength and endurance

Hazel – wisdom and intuition

Gather wood respectfully and with permission. Thank the tree before cutting, intention matters. Show gratitude by gifting the tree, some wine, mead, honey, oats or one of your hairs. Another way you can thank the tree and nature, is by giving back to nature and our coastlines. Pick up litter, feed the birds, grow plants that attract bees and butterflies.

Step 2: Prepare the Bristles

Trim your twigs to a similar length.

Remove excess leaves.

Soak them in warm water for a few hours if they’re stiff, this makes them easier to bind.

As you prepare them, focus on what you want this besom to do, cleanse negativity? guard your doorway? mark ritual space?

Step 3: Bind the Besom

Lay the bristles around the bottom of your handle.

Wrap tightly with twine about 1–2 inches from the base.

Continue wrapping downward to secure everything firmly.

For extra durability, add a second binding lower down.

Traditionally, bindings are wrapped clockwise to draw in protection and positive energy.

Step 4: Personalise It

This is where your besom becomes uniquely yours:

Tuck in protective herbs (like rosemary or lavender).

Add ribbons in colours that match your intention.

Tie charms or small bells for doorway protection.

Carve symbols or runes into the handle.

Add crystals

Step 5: Cleanse & Consecrate

Before its first use, you may wish to cleanse and consecrate your besom.

Pass it through incense smoke

Leave it under the full moon

Speak a blessing over it

Example blessing:

“With twig and twine, wood and will,
Sweep away harm, let peace now fill.”

Ways to Use Your Besom

Sweep ritual space (without touching the ground — symbolically sweeping energy)

Hang above your door for protection

Jump over it in handfasting ceremonies

Cleanse a new home before moving in

A tip on an easier way to create your Besom.

If you can create your besom compeletly from scratch its energy will be a lot stronger. However it takes a long time to create a besom from scratch. So you can buy a broom on line then decorate it using the techniques above.

Seasonal besoms.

You can also create seasonal brooms to bring in the energy of Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. Or for one of the wheel of the year celebrations. Above is my Winter besom. As you can see I have used colours that remind me of wintertime to bring in some colour magick.

Happy creating magickal ones,

Hugs,

Nicola xxxx