Broom/Reed

The Reed (Cytisus scoparius) is more of a shrub plant than a tree, which in England is better known by its folk name “Scotch Broom”. The Reed or Broom was revered by the ancient Druids, and is one of the sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft. According to the Celtic Tree calendar, the Reed dates from the 28th October to the 24th November, which includes the Celtic New Year of 31st October (better known today as Samhain or Halloween). In folklore, Reeds or Brooms symbolize purification, protection and fertility; they also represent established power, for wands, rods and scepters made from their wood were often carried as symbols of authority.

The Broom is a densely growing shrub plant indigenous to England and the temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It can be being found in abundance on sandy heaths and pastures were it commonly grows wild. In the sandy soils of America due to its proliferation, Broom has been regulated as a “class b” noxious weed under state law, and is designated for control in most counties of Washington and Oregon where Local, County and State weed control boards have regulations controlling its movement and harvest.

Broom is a member of the “Leguminosae” family, which includes beans, peas, clover, vetch, locust, lupine, acacia and alfalfa. Broom plants convert nitrogen from air that is used for growth, making them hardy and able to invade and flourish in harsh areas. The Broom is also the only native medicinal plant used as an official drug. The Latinized name “Scoparius” is derived from the Latin “scopa”, meaning “besom” (hence the common folk name broom), and “Cytisus“ is said to be a corruption of the name of the Greek island Cythnus, where the Broom once grew in abundance.

As a young plant the Broom will often spend 2 to 4 years in a grass-like state until it grows an extensive root system. Once established, it can grow from 12 to 30 inches a year and attain heights of over 8 feet. Most Broom plants have a single base with many upwardly spreading stems or branches. The stems are bright green, long, straight and slender, but are tough and very flexible. Many of stems are almost leafless, but those that do develop leaves, do so by late April. Its leaves are mostly dark green in colur and spiral up the plant’s stem from its base. The leaves are hairy when young and the lower ones are shortly stalked with small oblong trifoliolate leaflets. The upper leaves near the tips of the stem are sessile, smaller and often reduced to a single leaflet, many of which will fall off after a frost or during a severe drought.

Ritual wands made from Broom are used in purification and protection spells, and if working outdoors (the best place to perform magic) sweeping the ground with a brush of Broom (if it grows nearby) will clear the area of unwanted influences. To raise the winds, throw some Broom into the air while invoking the spirits of the Air, and to calm the winds burn some Broom and bury the ashes.

Of old, Broom was hung up in the house to keep all evil influences out, and an infusion of Broom sprinkled throughout the house was used to exorcise poltergeist activity. An infusion of Broom was also drunk to increase psychic powers and awareness through its intoxication properties, but this is no longer recommended as the plant can also be poisonous.

The Broom deity associations are with: Pan, Hermes, Apollo and Dionysus/Bacchus.