Newsgroups: alt.lucky.w,alt.mythology,alt.religion.orisha,alt.religion.wicca,alt.pagan Path: kudonet.com!news.scruz.net!miwok!news1.best.com!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!ix.netcom.com!marjorie From: marjorie@netcom.com (Marjorie Rosen) Subject: Re: the broom in myth and magic Message-ID: Followup-To: alt.lucky.w,alt.mythology,alt.religion.orisha,alt.religion.wicca,alt.pagan Organization: The Rosen Home X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] References: <32FBD9C6.6693@luckymojo.com> Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 05:44:27 GMT Lines: 24 Sender: marjorie@netcom13.netcom.com Xref: kudonet.com alt.lucky.w:23 alt.mythology:27323 alt.religion.orisha:257 alt.religion.wicca:37347 alt.pagan:162664 catherine yronwode (cat@luckymojo.com) wrote: : Can anyone add anything to this? In particular, does the hoodoo use of : the broom as an image and as a ritual sweeping tool have a parallel in : Africa or in other African-derived practices such as Candomble, : Santeria, and Vodoun? : catherine yronwode This is what I have been taught/have absorbed/referenced over the years/figured out (IOW, don't ask me for references, I can't give them to you): The broom is a female version of the staff. Now, a man could legitimately carry a staff while he traveled wherever. A woman could legitimately have a broom nearby, as well (Just being a tidy housewife!) So, it stands to reason that many magickal uses for a tool like this would be developed. Practical magicks, such as sweeping away bad energies, cleansing an area, or whatever, would fit right in with this disguised tool. BB Marjorie HPs, Our Lady of the Sycamores