Witches and Pagans: Does the Egyptian sistrum take the place of a besom?

Question

Or can both be used for entirely different purposes?

Are they both exclusive tools to be used in specific pantheons?

This question is for witches and pagans. Feel free to answer even if you are not, however if you have come here to bash, you will be reported.

Richard K: Both the besom and the sistrum (of which I have both) can be used to cleanse an area of negativity. However the sistrum was traditionally used in Egyptian worship, whereas the besom was primarily used in European paganism.

Wonderful answers--thank you so much for weighing in.Since I call myself Kemetic, I will start using the sistrum to clear negativity, especially since Isis is my Goddess, and Bast is my matron Goddess--I am sure they will appreciate this. However, I will still keep the besom around.

Kaplah: Interesting point about raising energy with the sistrum---I'd not thought of that. Thank you.

Richard, did you edit your response? It makes more sense now, lol. If you've found that one doesn't "offend" the Gods with the eclectic use of instruments/tools, then that is more reason to keep the besom around. Thank you.

Thank you so much for checking in, Pabs.

Answer 1

When it comes to tool I’m of the opinion that how one connects with them dictates how they are best used. For many years I used a besom as my primary tool for ritual cleansing. However when I moved back to Colorado a number of years ago the only box that was lost in the move was the box that contained nearly all my alter tools and decorations. The only things that were spared were two statues (Bes and Aset). As I began to rebuild my tool collection I never got around to making a new besom. I can’t tell you why it just never felt right but I did make a sistrum.

I have used the sistrum at some drumming circles that I have attended but for cleansing the circle my favorite tool is a plain old sage smudge stick made from sage that I harvest from my garden. It is what appeals to me so that is what I use.

To my way of thinking it is the energy that you invest in the tool that makes it effective and not the tool itself. The tool accesses the young self and that is where the power is.

Blessed Be,
Pabs

Answer 2

I understand the question -- I found this question through Epona Willow's 360 blog....

Many know that sound can be used to banish negativity and clear a space of harmful energies and entities. Besoms are used to do this (although they do not emit sound, just the sweeping motion is said to chase away the harmful energies).

I don't think they are exclusive tools, I believe you can use either for whatever ritual or pantheon you like, although using them with their appropriate pantheons may help to put you into a better frame of mind and consciousness for the ritual itself.

I believe that they CAN be used for the same purpose, but I don't believe that they replace each other, per say. As mentioned earlier, you can use one in rituals that have a more European twist on it, and the sistrum for rituals using the Egyptian pantheon. The choice is up to you, of course!

However, I am a lot more... eclectic and informal with my personal practice and I am sure there are some staunch traditionalists out there who will tell you that they are exclusive to their respective pantheons and to use them with the wrong pantheons would be insulting and disrespectiful to the gods. I, personally, don't believe the Creator gives a rat's patooey if you want to shake a rattle or sweep with a broom to rid the space of harmful energy.

It's a very personal thing and only you can decide for sure what you believe!

I hope this has helped!

Blessings and Light

~RW

Answer 3

A sistrum is a rattle... a besom is a broom...
Yes, they are both used to clear away negativity, but a sistrum can be used to raise energy, a besom usually isn't. A besom can be used to direct energy, a sistrum generally isn't.

So ah. Um no, I don't think so. I believe Egyptians used staves or wands to direct energy raised by the sistrum and witches may use a sistrum, or other instrument to raise energy which may be directed by the besom, but not usually.

So while they probably aren't exclusive tools (Traditional Chinese and other asian folklore also use brooms to remove negativity, while I cannot say for certain, I would not be surprised if Egyptians did as well.) (And witches use rattles and other noisemaking instruments all the time) they also aren't interchangable by any means.

Answer 4

You have gotten really good answers, because I was asked, I will weigh in with a copy and paste answer as to not offend anyone.


The sistrum was used primarily in the worship of the Goddesses Isis, Hathor, and Bast. According to the historian Plutarch, the noise of the sistrum was used to keep Typhon, the god of chaos, at bay through its constant movement.

A besom is one of the tools used in Wicca. A traditional Wiccan besom is an ash stave handle with bristles made from birch twigs. These twigs are tied on using thin pieces of willow wood. It is used to cleanse the ritual area before circle casting.


On a personal note, I do not use a sistrum, as I do not work with an Egyptian pantheon. (strange because it is part of my heritage)
I do use a besom when conducting High ritual, I also use one when performing handfastings, then it is gifted to the couple that "jump the broom".

I know this doesn't answer all of your questions, but traditionalist and purist will tell you not to mix systems and more open minded practitioners and eclectics will tell you to go for it.
I say, do what you are comfortable with and utilize what works for you.

Blessings )O(

Answer 5

This question confused me, a Besom is a broom traditionally used in Wicca for cleansing the ritual space, a Sistrum is an Egyptian musical instrument consisting of a u-shaped frame with movable cross bars on which are hanging metal rings or loops. You play it by shaking it like a rattle with both hands. How could a rattle take the place of a broom, or vice versa? Neither brooms nor musical instruments are Pantheon Specific; although some purists insist they must be of a style native to the area the pantheon is from, it has not been my personal experience that this makes a difference.

Answer 6

I agree with Rogue and Epona, I don't think it would matter which one was used as long as one was to get rid of negativity. I suppose it would depend on which tradition, if you are Kemetic, would that not mean you would use the sistrum? I am eclectic, so I'm not to familiar if that would be right. I don't think the Gods will mind either way.

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