There are some people that find a great deal of joy in cleaning their homes. I am not one of those people. I would much rather curl up in a hammock with a book than spend even half an hour doing basic upkeep that any child could master. That being said, I love a good broom.

Every Autumn, I go to the store and grab a seasonal broom. You probably know what I’m talking about. They come dusted with scents like cinnamon, apple cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. They act like pot-pourri, creating an environment that looks and smells like Fall. What you may not know is why we choose brooms for this purpose. The answer is very simple — it’s an established protection spell.

“A spell,” you ask, either feeling intrigued or troubled, depending on what kind of upbringing your parents provided and how you received it.

Yes, a spell. You’re could protect your home or accidentally curse yourself based on what you do with your brooms. So, listen up.

A broom is for sweeping.

That statement may seem exceedingly simplistic, but it’s the key to everything I’m about to say. A broom can help you keep your home tidy, ridding it of all the dust that contributes to its wear and tear and plagues its residents with allergies. But you must use it with care or else you risk losing small, precious items fallen to the floor like an earring or a coin. A broom reflects the careful pruning we must do every day of our lives. We rid ourselves of things that harm us and hold on to that which aids us. To paraphrase Marie Kondo, keep what sparks joy.

A broom placed correctly is a message to the universe that your home is your place of rest, growth, and joy and no negativity may stay within its walls. How lovely is that? So much better than a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign, right? Sorry, Karen.

Where should you place it? Where makes the most sense to put a sign that establishes what may enter and what may not trespass? The entrances to your home — your doors. Some people place them beside the door. Some dress them up and hang them on their door instead of a wreath. I personally hang them above my door parallel to the header. I enjoy the look of it and how it keeps entryways free of clutter and clatter.

But why do they scent them?

From the merchant’s perspective, because people like Autumn scents and they sell well. From a witch’s perspective, because the spices used in those scents are powerful. Cinnamon brings protection, prosperity, and a bit of the sun into your home. Ginger invokes healing, romance, and sexual potency. Nutmeg provides money, luck, fidelity, and rest (often replete with visions — don’t eat too much). Allspice will bring you energy, determination, and compassion. They say cloves increase your self-confidence, help with safe travels, and offer blessings. These are perfect ingredients for a happy home, which protects its residents from harm.

By the way, the next time you drink a pumpkin spice latté (if you don’t like them, you can skip this part), try out this spell.

As the world grows darker and colder, while we watch the sunlight dwindle and prepare for Winter, we invite these ingredients into our lives to fill our days with warmth, vigor, and sunlight.

What shouldn’t I do with my brooms?

You can folk wisdom about brooms from all over the world. Don’t sweep out the door. It invites ruin and bad luck. Instead, sweep into a dustpan and carry it outside. This is also good, practical advice, because it gives you a chance to see what you’re tossing out and prevents you from losing something precious. Don’t sweep under someone’s feet, unless you want to curse them (which any witch will tell you isn’t something you should do lightly, because karma is real). Don’t leave a broom on a bed. Whoever sleeps there will become infertile (probably tied to the broom’s dual gender shown with a phallic shaft and a feminine skirt of bristles).

You can find a running list of broom lore here.

Don’t witches ride brooms?

Yes, and no. Witches don’t actually fly on brooms. That would completely defy physics and honestly, that sounds quite uncomfortable. However, witches throughout history have danced with them between their legs ritualistically. When I explored why they did that, my jaw dropped and then I had a long, loud laughing spell. Women used to rub ointment on the shaft infused with ingredients like belladonna and henbane, which caused them to hallucinate. The membranes in and around the vagina and clitoris absorb more than if they rubbed that ointment anywhere else. Not to be indelicate, but our great-great-great-great (etc) grandmothers were masturbating and getting high. Read more on that here.

Try not to think about that the next time you read about or watch any scene involving broom riding, including quidditch.

Want to go a step further with your broom spell?

Try this Besom Cleansing Chant by Leandra Witchwood.

Besom. Besom.
My sacred broom,
sweep away darkness and gloom.
Thrice around negative energy bound.
Sweep, sweep out the door,
this energy shall bother me no more.

Did you like reading this? Then, you’ll love my book!

Struggling With the Current is the first book in The Telverin Trilogy, a story about an exiled princess who finds herself in a terrifying world with equally frightening powers.