Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Folk Names: Banal, Basam, Besom, Bisom, Bizzon, Bloddeuwedd, Breeam, Broom, Broom Tops, Brum, Genista, Green Broom, Hayweed, Irish Broom, Irish Tops, Link, Scotch Broom
Description: Broom is a member of the pea family. It grows as an evergreen or deciduous shrub in Europe and the United States, especially in rural areas of the western states. It prefers sandy coastal areas, roads, and barrens. The angular, slender stiff stems and branch up to ten feet. The small leaves grow up to a half-inch in length. Lower leaves are usually compound, tri-pinnate, downy leaflets. The solitary or paired, axillary flowers appear from April to June. They are bright yellow and pea-like, reaching about three-fourth inches across. From July to September, brownish-black shaggy pods form looking very much like bean pods. These containing twelve to eighteen seeds two to three inches long.
Effects: strong
Planet: Mars Zodiac: Aries
Element: air
Associated Deities:
Traditions:
Broom is said to bring misfortune if used in full bloom:
"If you sweep the house with blossomed broom in May,
you are sure to sweep the head of the house away."
Geoffrey, count of Anjou (1129-1149), used the broom as his badge and affixed it to his helmet. Later in the 1200s, Louis IX chose it as an emblem of humility for his new order of knighthood.
Obviously by its names, Broom or Besom, broom is traditionally used to make the brush of brooms. A broom made from the broom plant was used in handfastings. New couples would leap over it to new beginnings.
Magic:
Broom is used in purification and protection spells. If broom grows nearby any outdoor rituals, use it to sweep the area of you circle before beginning. It may be hung in the home or put in the pillow to keep evil and bad witches away. An infusion of broom in saltwater sprinkled through house dispels poltergeists and evil.
Carry broom to increase psychic power. To invoke the spirits of the air or call the wind, throw broom into the air (preferably from a mountain top). Burn it and burry the ashes to calm the wind.
The flowers are symbolic of good fortune and plenty. Add them to any such magicks.
Known Combinations:
none noted
Medical Indications: (Caution: juice may cause dermatitis in some people.) Parts used: young flowering twigs, seeds
Broom is cathartic and speeds up the heart rate. The fresh green tops were used in the 16th century as a purgative and diuretic. Equal parts seeds and twigs to dandelion have been used as a diuretic. The seeds are also emetic.
The flowering tops are said to be hallucinogenic if smoked, but I’ve read nothing to confirm or deny this.
Nutrition:
Roasting the seeds presumably removes their emetic qualities, as they were often used as a coffee substitute.
Mercantile Uses:
Broom contains fibers useful for weaving. The flowers and flowering branches make a light green dye with alum, yellow with alum and chrome, and make green if dyed over indigo.