Sweeping

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

Sweeping is a rite in which one ritually sweeps an area clean with a Besom or a feather sweeper to rid of any unwanted spirits and such. This is normally done by sweeping in the direction of the sun, east-west.

West country witches delight in sweeping magic in principle, this consists of either sweeping bad or good luck away from one to another place or person, or vice-versa or just simply sweeping away unwanted spirits. Witch's sweepers are normally a besom or a broom, which are formed from a wide range of natural materials such as birch for the broom, hazel for the staff and willow to bind it.

Another kind of witches sweeping tool is an hand held fan like sweeper made from goose feathers to ritually sweep the air or incense smoke to cleanse an area or room.