How to Make a Besom (Witch's Broom) for Your Home: Protection & Cleansing Tool

Sweep Away the Old, Welcome the New

The besom—the traditional witch's broom—is one of the most iconic symbols of witchcraft. But it's far more than a symbol; it's a powerful magical tool with practical and spiritual purposes. A besom isn't used to sweep physical dirt (though it can be); it's used to sweep away negative energy, cleanse sacred space, protect the home, and mark transitions. When you sweep your threshold with a besom, you're not just cleaning—you're creating a boundary, clearing stagnant energy, and declaring your home a sacred space.

Traditionally, besoms were handmade from natural materials gathered locally—a wooden handle, natural bristles (often birch twigs), and cord to bind them together. The act of making your own besom is itself magical: you're choosing materials with intention, binding them with purpose, and creating a tool that will serve your home and practice for years. A handmade besom carries your energy, your intention, and your connection to the natural world. It becomes more than a tool—it becomes a guardian of your threshold, a protector of your home, a partner in your practice.

This tutorial will teach you how to make a traditional besom from natural materials, how to consecrate it, and how to use it for protection, cleansing, and ritual work.

Why Make Your Own Besom?

Personal power: Handmade tools carry your energy and intention.

Natural materials: Connect with nature and local plants.

Traditional: Continue ancient craft traditions.

Customizable: Choose size, materials, and decorations.

Affordable: Much cheaper than buying decorative besoms.

Meaningful: The making is part of the magic.

Functional: Actually works for energy cleansing.

Beautiful: Decorative and practical.

Traditional Besom Lore

Symbolism

• Handle: Masculine energy, phallic symbol
• Bristles: Feminine energy, yonic symbol
• Together: Union of masculine and feminine, balance
• Sweeping: Clearing away old, making space for new

Traditional Uses

• Sweeping threshold to protect home
• Cleansing sacred space before ritual
• Handfasting ceremonies (jumping the broom)
• Fertility magic (bristles = fertility)
• Weather magic (stirring clouds)
• Astral travel (riding the broom)

Placement

• Bristles up: Protection, repelling negativity
• Bristles down: Welcoming, drawing in positive energy
• Over doorway: Protection of home
• By hearth: Traditional placement, home protection

Materials & Supplies

Handle

• Wooden dowel or branch - $5-15
• 3-5 feet long, 1-1.5 inches diameter
• Ash (traditional), oak, willow, or any sturdy wood
• Straight and smooth

Bristles

• Birch twigs (traditional) - Free-$10
• Or broom corn - $10-20
• Or straw - $5-15
• Or other flexible twigs/branches
• Need enough to go around handle (large bundle)

Binding

• Strong cord or twine - $5-12
• Natural fiber (hemp, jute, cotton)
• Wire (for extra security) - $3-8

Decoration (Optional)

• Ribbons - $3-10
• Bells - $3-8
• Crystals or charms - $5-20
• Paint or stain - $8-20

Tools

• Pruning shears or scissors - $8-20
• Knife (for trimming) - $10-25
• Bucket of water (for soaking) - Free

Gathering Materials

Ethical Foraging

For handle:

• Fallen branches (best option)
• Or prune from your own trees
• Ask permission from tree
• Leave offering (water, compost, prayer)
• Never take more than 1/3 of plant

For bristles:

• Birch twigs from pruning or fallen branches
• Gather in spring or early summer (most flexible)
• Need 50-100 twigs depending on size
• All roughly same length

Best times to gather:

• Waxing moon (for growth and protection)
• Spring or summer (plants are vital)
• Dry day (wet materials harder to work with)

Method 1: Traditional Birch Besom (Intermediate)

Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 2-4 hours | Cost: $10-30

Classic design using natural birch twigs—authentic and beautiful.

Instructions:

1. Prepare handle:
2. Choose straight branch or dowel
3. Remove bark if desired (or leave natural)
4. Sand smooth
5. Cut to desired length (3-5 feet)
6. Gather and prepare bristles:
7. Collect birch twigs (50-100)
8. All roughly same length (12-18 inches)
9. Remove leaves and small side branches
10. Soak in water for 1-2 hours (makes flexible)
11. Arrange bristles around handle:
12. Start 6-8 inches from bottom of handle
13. Place twigs around handle in layers
14. Overlap slightly
15. Keep adding until handle is surrounded
16. Should be thick and full
17. Bind bristles temporarily:
18. Use wire or strong cord
19. Wrap tightly around bristles and handle
20. This holds everything while you do final binding
21. Final binding:
22. Starting at top of bristles (near handle)
23. Wrap cord tightly around and around
24. Work down 3-4 inches
25. Crisscross pattern or spiral
26. Tie off very securely
27. Add second binding:
28. 2-3 inches below first
29. Provides extra security
30. Trim bristles:
31. Cut bottom of bristles even
32. Angle or leave flat
33. Let dry completely (24-48 hours)
34. Remove temporary wire if used
35. Optional: Decorate
36. Consecrate besom

Method 2: Broom Corn Besom (Beginner-Friendly)

Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate | Time: 1.5-3 hours | Cost: $15-35

Use purchased broom corn—easier and more uniform.

Instructions:

1. Purchase broom corn:
2. Available at craft stores or online
3. Already dried and ready to use
4. Prepare handle
5. Soak broom corn briefly (30 min) to make pliable
6. Arrange around handle as in Method 1
7. Bind securely
8. Trim and finish

Method 3: Decorative Altar Besom (Small)

Difficulty: Beginner | Time: 1-2 hours | Cost: $8-25

Miniature besom for altar—symbolic and beautiful.

Instructions:

1. Use smaller materials:
2. Handle: 12-18 inches (dowel or stick)
3. Bristles: Smaller twigs or straw
4. Follow same process as full-size besom
5. Decorate elaborately:
6. Ribbons, bells, charms
7. Paint handle
8. Add crystals
9. Display on altar or hang on wall

Decoration & Personalization

Handle Decoration

• Carve symbols or runes
• Wood burn designs
• Paint or stain
• Wrap with colored cord
• Add crystals or charms

Bristle Decoration

• Tie ribbons around binding
• Add bells (ring when sweeping)
• Weave in dried flowers or herbs
• Attach protective charms

Symbolic Additions

• Pentacle charm
• Moon symbol
• Protective herbs tied in
• Crystals wired to handle
• Personal symbols

Consecrating Your Besom

1. Cleanse besom: Pass through smoke
2. Charge with elements:
3. Pass through incense smoke (Air)
4. Pass near candle flame (Fire)
5. Sprinkle with water (Water)
6. Touch to salt or earth (Earth)
7. Hold besom and state intention:
8. "I consecrate this besom as a tool for cleansing and protection."
9. "May it sweep away negativity and guard my home."
10. First use:
11. Sweep your threshold
12. Sweep your sacred space
13. Establish its purpose
14. Bless and thank besom

Consecration prayer:

"Besom, besom, long and lithe, made from willow [or birch], wand and withe. Sweep negativity from my space, guard my home and sacred place. By air and fire, water and earth, I consecrate you and give you worth. So mote it be."

Using Your Besom

Sweeping the Threshold

1. Stand at doorway
2. Sweep from inside out (pushing negativity away)
3. Don't let bristles touch ground (energy sweeping, not physical)
4. Visualize negative energy being swept away
5. Speak intention: "Only love and light may enter here"
6. Do regularly (weekly or as needed)

Cleansing Sacred Space

1. Before ritual or ceremony
2. Sweep circle area (deosil/clockwise)
3. Visualize space being cleared
4. Creates clean energetic slate

Handfasting/Wedding

• Traditional "jumping the broom" ceremony
• Couple jumps over besom together
• Symbolizes sweeping away old life, entering new together
• Crossing threshold into marriage

Seasonal Cleaning

• Spring cleaning (Ostara)
• Samhain (sweeping away old year)
• Before sabbats
• New moon (clearing for new cycle)

Care & Maintenance

Physical Care

• Store bristles up (traditional) or down
• Keep dry
• Check bindings periodically
• Tighten if loosening
• Replace if bristles break or fall out

Energetic Maintenance

• Cleanse after heavy use (smoke or sound)
• Recharge in full moon
• Re-consecrate annually
• If besom feels heavy or negative, deep cleanse

The Broom as Guardian

In folk magic traditions worldwide, brooms are guardians of the threshold—that liminal space between outside and inside, between mundane and sacred, between the world and the home. The threshold is a place of power, a boundary that must be protected. When you place a besom by your door or sweep your threshold with it, you're activating this ancient protective magic.

Your besom becomes more than a tool—it becomes a guardian, a protector, a keeper of boundaries. It stands watch at your door, sweeping away negativity before it can enter. It cleanses your space, making room for positive energy. It marks your home as sacred, protected, intentional space.

Every witch needs a besom. Every home deserves a guardian. Your besom is both.

Create Your Threshold Guardian

You now have everything you need to make a besom that will protect your home and cleanse your sacred space.

Gather your materials with intention. Bind them with purpose. As you create your besom, infuse it with your will to protect, to cleanse, to guard. When you sweep your threshold for the first time, feel the power of this ancient tool, this guardian of boundaries, this keeper of sacred space.

Your besom awaits. Let's create your threshold guardian.

May your threshold be protected, your space be cleansed, and your besom serve you well. Happy creating! 🧹✨