Quick Specs
- Size: 6 inches
- Type: Ritual Besom Broom, Altar Tool
- Materials: Natural straw bristles, wooden handle with copper wire wrapping
- Embellishment: Pentagram at handle center, colorful gem pendant
- Best For: Space cleansing, pre-ritual purification, altar decoration, protection work
The Besom in Practice: Symbol and Tool
The besom has been a fixture in folk magic traditions across Europe for centuries. In British and American Wiccan practice, the broom isn’t a cleaning tool in the mundane sense. It’s used to sweep a space energetically before ritual, clearing residual energy so that the work you’re about to do starts on clean ground. Straw was the traditional material because it was abundant, dry, and stiff enough to direct intention. The form has barely changed, and for good reason.
The pentagram worked into the center of this broom’s handle isn’t decorative noise. In Western esoteric tradition, the five-pointed star represents earth, air, fire, water, and spirit held in balance. Pairing that symbol with a besom makes clear what this piece is: a tool for protection and energetic clearing, not ambiguity. The copper wire wrapping and gem pendant add a tactile quality that reminds you you’re holding something intentional. I stock pieces like this because the form and the symbolism actually line up. Browse my besom brooms and magical wands to see the full range I carry, or explore my pentagram and pentacle collection if you’re building out a protection-focused altar.
At 6 inches, this besom works well on a dedicated shelf altar, a reading table, or as a secondary tool alongside a full-sized broom. It’s compact enough to display but functional enough to use in real practice. Some practitioners keep one at their workspace for clearing before tarot readings or journaling, using it the same way you’d clear a physical desk before sitting down to think.
How to Use a 6-Inch Pentagram Besom for Space Cleansing
A simple three-step method for using a small besom to clear a room or altar space before ritual work.
- Sweep the perimeter of the space
Hold the broom handle so the bristle end faces downward. Starting at the entrance of the room, walk a slow clockwise path along the walls, sweeping low above the floor without touching it, moving any stagnant energy toward the center.
- Direct energy out of the space
Once you’ve swept the energy to the center of the room, open a window or door. Make one final sweeping motion from the center outward toward the exit, visualizing the unwanted energy leaving the space as you guide it out.
- Store the broom properly after use
After each use, gently dust any debris from the bristles. Keep the broom hanging with bristles up when storing it, which most practitioners treat as a way to preserve the broom’s energy and extend the life of the straw fibers.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I carry this besom because the supplier has consistent quality control on their altar tool line. The straw bristles are uniform and well-bound, the copper wire wrapping is tight without being brittle, and the gem pendant hangs cleanly without excess play. I’ve handled loose or poorly finished besoms before and they’re not worth the shelf space. This one is finished to a standard I’ll put my name on.
One honest note: the straw bristles are natural and will respond to humidity over time. If you live in a very dry climate, an occasional light misting of the bristles (not the handle) helps keep them from becoming brittle. If you’re displaying it as an altar piece rather than actively using it, this usually isn’t a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
A besom is a traditional broom used in Wiccan and witchcraft practice to cleanse a space energetically before ritual. Unlike everyday brooms, it isn’t meant to touch the floor. You’re sweeping energy, not physical dust.
The pentagram at the center of the handle marks this as a ritual tool. In Western esoteric tradition, the five-pointed star represents the four elements plus spirit. It reinforces the broom’s purpose as a protective and cleansing instrument.
Store it hanging with bristles upward, away from direct sunlight, which can dry out and weaken natural straw over time. Most practitioners treat the upward position as energetically intentional, keeping the broom ready for use.
Yes. The 6-inch size is compact enough for a shelf altar, a desk, or a small dedicated corner. You can use it for sweeping energy across a workspace, a nightstand, or a reading table before setting up for a reading or ritual.
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