🕯️ Occult Philosophy −16%

Swept Away: The Vanishing Art of Broom Making

✍️ Hobbs, Karen
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$24.99 $30.00 Save $5.01 (16%)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This paperback volume tracks American broomcorn production from its introduction in 1790 through modern artisan craft practices. Author Karen Hobbs pairs historical overview with practical instruction, guiding readers through growing, harvesting, and dyeing broomcorn. Step by step guides with illustrations cover seven distinct patterns, including hearth and whisk varieties. Additional sections provide care guidelines, a technical glossary, and folklore associated with household brooms.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy
🏛 Schiffer Craft 📅 2017 📖 112 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780764354458
Fun Fact
"Swept Away" masterfully bridges the gap between historical inquiry and hands-on creation, offering a rare glimpse into a cherished American craft. Its detailed instructions and stunning visual gallery make it indispensable for anyone drawn to traditional folk arts or seeking to infuse their domestic tools with personal significance. While not a grimoire of high magic, it provides a solid foundation for understanding the practical and symbolic power of the broom, making it a cornerstone for practitioners of folk craft and hearth magic.

📝 Description: Swept Away: The Vanishing Art of Broom Making

Ben Franklin introduced Egyptian broomcorn to America in 1790, launching an essential household industry. Karen Hobbs documents this heritage alongside practical instructions for crafting handmade brooms. The text details how broomcorn is cultivated, gathered, and dyed before leading into step by step guidance. Using detailed photographs and clear illustrations, readers learn to craft seven traditional designs: Kitchen, Hearth, Cobweb, Turkey Wing Whisk, and Angel Whisk patterns. The volume includes a gallery showcasing over 150 handmade brooms crafted by American artisans, displaying varied handle styles and stalk arrangements. Hobbs incorporates traditional broom lore, regional superstitions, proper maintenance techniques, a glossary of industry terms, and a recipe for Broomstick Cake. As an instructor who teaches broom making, gourding, and basketry at retreats across the United States, Hobbs brings direct hands-on teaching experience to the instructions. This title suits crafters, folk art collectors, and historians seeking practical construction methods alongside American broomcorn history. It does not suit readers looking for general woodworking guides, modern industrial manufacturing overviews, or broad surveys of non-American craft traditions.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Hobbs offers a charming and thorough guide that demystifies the art of broom making for the modern esotericist. The photographic instructions are clear, and the historical context adds significant weight to the ritualistic aspects of the craft. However, this book does not suit readers seeking purely theoretical occult philosophy or those uninterested in physical crafting. It is also less relevant for advanced practitioners who already possess extensive knowledge of folk herbalism and traditional tool-making techniques. The casual tone may feel too light for serious academic study, but it perfectly serves hobbyists and spiritual seekers looking to infuse their daily rituals with handmade authenticity and historical continuity.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is a treasure trove for the hands-on witch who wishes to deepen their practice through tangible creation. It appeals to those fascinated by the intersection of daily domestic life and magical ritual, offering more than just instructions; it provides context, history, and lore that enriches the act of making. Readers will gain practical skills in cultivating broomcorn and assembling seven distinct patterns, ensuring they possess tools that are both functional and spiritually resonant. The inclusion of care instructions and a delightful recipe for Broomstick Cake adds a layer of whimsy and sustainability to the craft. It is ideal for practitioners seeking to reconnect with ancestral methods while creating personal artifacts that honor the enduring presence of brooms in folk culture.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you're drawn to the intersection of history, craft, and folk magic, this volume is an essential addition to your collection. Aspiring artisans, historical enthusiasts, and those seeking to reconnect with traditional domestic arts will find both inspiration and practical guidance within its pages.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Hobbs offers a charming and thorough guide that demystifies the art of broom making for the modern esotericist. The photographic instructions are clear, and the historical context adds significant weight to the ritualistic aspects of the craft. However, this book does not suit readers seeking purely theoretical occult philosophy or those uninterested in physical crafting. It is also less relevant for advanced practitioners who already possess extensive knowledge of folk herbalism and traditional tool-making techniques. The casual tone may feel too light for serious academic study, but it perfectly serves hobbyists and spiritual seekers looking to infuse their daily rituals with handmade authenticity and historical continuity.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While rich in historical detail, "Swept Away" is fundamentally a practical guide. It provides comprehensive, step-by-step instructions and patterns for crafting seven different broom styles, allowing you to create your own functional implements.
Beyond traditional utility, the book celebrates the broom as an artistic medium. It features a stunning gallery showcasing over 150 diverse and vibrant creations by master broom makers, highlighting the potential for personal expression in this craft.

📖 Who should read this

If you're drawn to the intersection of history, craft, and folk magic, this volume is an essential addition to your collection. Aspiring artisans, historical enthusiasts, and those seeking to reconnect with traditional domestic arts will find both inspiration and practical guidance within its pages.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Ancestral Craft & Heritage

Trace the broom's lineage from its ancient Egyptian roots, through Ben Franklin's introduction of broomcorn to America, to its evolution as a staple of domestic and esoteric practices. Discover how this humble tool became imbued with cultural significance and craftsmanship over centuries.

Art of Sacred Crafting

Unlock the practical magic of broom making through detailed instructions covering broomcorn cultivation, preparation, and dyeing. Learn to construct seven distinct broom styles, from the practical Kitchen to the symbolic Hearth broom, transforming raw materials into personalized tools for home and ritual.

Folklore, Magic, & Symbolism

Immerse yourself in the mystical traditions surrounding brooms, exploring their deep-seated lore and the superstitions that have shaped their use across cultures. The gallery of artistic creations further illustrates the broom's potent symbolic power and its elevation from utility to art.

📜 Historical context

In a world increasingly disconnected from its material heritage, this work stands as a vital revival of a vanishing American craft. It joins a venerable tradition of books dedicated to preserving practical folk arts, emphasizing not just the utility but also the cultural and often magical significance of everyday objects. It reminds us of the profound connection between human hands and the natural world.

📚 Glossary

Broomcorn
Hearth Broom
Turkey Wing Whisk

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. What memories or superstitions do you associate with brooms from your own upbringing or cultural background?
  2. How might crafting your own broom, imbued with personal intent, change its significance for you compared to a mass-produced item?
  3. Beyond brooms, what other 'vanishing arts' do you feel are vital to preserve, and why is their continuation important?

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