by other broom is a car *

the broom is a very important tool.  keeps the floor clean, gets rid of ooky cob webs, clearing energy... and lets face it, what tool other than the cauldron is more synonymous with witches?  so of course i'm all over the broom! 

who doesn't remember the scene in Practical Magic... the one with the midnight margaritas...  when the broom falls...  "company's coming".  ohhhhh, shiver!

there's a lot of lore surrounding the broom.  here's just a sampling from Crimsonwolf

 *In Sicily, on Midsummer's Eve, people often put a broom outside their homes to ward off any wickedness that might come knocking.
*It is said that a new broom should sweep dirt out of a house only after it has swept something in.
*Placing a broom across any doorway allows your departed friends and family to speak to you if they so choose. As long as the broom remains in place, they can communicate freely.

(and before you get in an uproar, yes, i copied and pasted.  not the whole thing.  and i gave credit and a link.  i did not write this.  Crimsonwolf did. credit where credit is due.)
 
i can honestly say that i use my broom almost every day.  sometimes twice.  when im really stressed, or frustrated, and nothing is going right, the best thing for me to do is to pick up the broom and sweep all that negative energy out the door.  and if you think about it, it works on a couple of different levels.  1. i'm DOING SOMETHING MINDLESS, thus allowing my body to be busy, but letting my mind wander and work out what ever it is that's bugging me at the time.  2.  i'm actually getting all those bad vibes out of the house, wither real or imagined.  once there out of the house, there gone, no longer impact my life.  3. if it's been a really bad day, yes, im imaging the people i'm sweeping out of my life.  quite cathartic. 

so when the time came to upgrade the broom, i but a lot of thought into it.  did i want another $4 walmart broom, or did i want something that was made with intention?  something that was slapped together in some sweatshop somewhere, or something that was handmade?  i knew i was going to pay more for a good broom.  not just a good broom, a great broom.  a FRACKING PHENOMENAL BROOM FOR ALL THE AGES!!!!  but if etsy has taught me anything, it's that something made by hand will cost more, but it will be better made. 

So at the Kansas City Renaissance Faire, i picked up this beauty.

it's totally awesome, hand made, dyed straw....  awesome.  it sweeps better than any walmart broom ever could. 

they also made this flying broom that i got a couple of years ago.

i really REALLY need to learn how to make my own brooms.  sigh.  that's just what i need, one more hobby.


*totally stole the title of the article, but i can't remember where, so please, if you know, tell me.