The symbolic meaning of a witch's broom is deeply rooted in folklore and mythology. Throughout history, the broom has been associated with witches and magic, becoming an iconic image of witchcraft. In folklore, witches were believed to have the ability to fly on brooms, using them as a mode of transportation to travel to their gatherings or perform their magical rituals. The broom was seen as both a practical tool and a symbol of power and control. It represented the ability of the witch to leave behind her mundane existence and soar into the spiritual realm. The broom also held strong sexual symbolism.
The broom also held strong sexual symbolism. In ancient times, brooms were associated with fertility and the act of sweeping was seen as a ritualistic gesture to enhance fertility and childbirth. The broom's phallic shape and its connection to female reproductive power reinforced the association between witches and sexuality.
Review: The Excalibur Curse
Guinevere has been captured. The moment she thought she’d finally be able to face Merlin, and confront him to find out the truth about her identity and who she is, she is taken from Camelot, and by none other than Mordred, who has joined the Dark Queen in her quest to defeat Arthur and take over the land. Guinevere is no stranger to being captured, but it’s never been by someone she had trusted, someone she had feelings for. Her feelings for Mordred might be complicated, and they only serve to make everything harder.
What is also complicating matters is the fact that Guinevere has no clue who she truly is. So many parts of her identity seem to conflict with each other, from the fact that she was recognized by Guinevere’s sister, to the eerie dreams she suffers at night. Who is she really, and why doesn’t she remember? The answers to her questions might make her regret ever asking them.
The Excalibur Curse is a young adult fantasy novel by Kiersten White. It’s also the third and final novel in the Camelot Rising series, a series I started reading literal years ago, and am only now finishing. It took me a while to get to the finale, but I’m glad I’ve finally completed it.
The Excalibur Curse immediately starts out with some high stakes. Camelot is in danger now that Arthur has been lured away, Lancelot has been forced to stay in the city to protect it, and Guinevere has been kidnapped by none other than Mordred, who is apparently now supporting his grandmother, the Dark Queen. The book, however, does take the necessary time to develop the characters, and Guinevere, who has no clue who she is.
So much of The Excalibur Curse is caught up in discovering Guinevere’s true identity, and that was what I was most excited to see. We’ve been teased with this since the first few chapters of the very first book, where Guinevere burns her true name away in the fire before anyone, including the reader, can learn it. It’s been so much of what kept me reading these books, and now, we finally get to find out who she is. And, who is she? Of course I can’t tell you, since that would be an absolutely massive spoiler, but I was actually really satisfied to find out the truth, since I thought it made a lot of sense. I was surprised, though, to find that it happened earlier in the book than I would have guessed.
But that actually makes sense, if you think about it. Guinevere learns this important truth about herself, but then she needs time to make peace with it, and realize what she’s going to do with this information. Discovering so much about yourself doesn’t mean you immediately know who you are, right? You need time to digest, to truly understand. And I appreciated that we got to see Guinevere grappling with the truth for so much of this book, even when it hurt her so much to do so.
But even when she’s really struggling, she has so many people there to help her. Arthur, Lancelot (of course), Brangien, and even Mordred. Their connections are brought up, and so is the love that these characters have for Guinevere. The book also did something very clever in giving us more insight into them, showing off their talents, and more importantly, their flaws. Again, I can’t really go into how this is done, for fear of spoiling everything, but I did really like how much we learned about them.
I think my only complaint about this book is that Morgana switches very suddenly from whom we saw in the previous novel, but otherwise, so much of this really grew the characters, amidst a pretty exciting plot and stakes that were really kept up high for most of the story.
But you guys know that I’m a sucker for characters and relationships. And I thought The Excalibur Curse did a great job of showing just how complex and flawed those relationships can be. I was especially excited about one relationship that is showed off here, and again, I can’t tell you because spoilers, but if you know anything about Arthurian stories and how they usually go, I’m sure you can guess. I was surprised by this twist, since I hadn’t thought White would be going in that direction, but I was so wonderfully pleased when it happened. Honestly, I just couldn’t stop smiling.
The Excalibur Curse was the perfect ending to the Camelot Rising series. I am so glad I picked up this series, and I’m so glad I finally finished it. I love Arthurian-inspired retellings, and being able to see something so focused on the usually tragic Queen Guinevere was absolutely wonderful. Also, now that I’m mentioning it, this is also very women-centric, which is great for Arthurian retellings. So many Arthurian stories are about male knights and Arthur going on adventures, and the women are often sidelined into characters that need saving. No, not here. These women are strong, and they refuse to be the side characters of the story.
I’d recommend the Camelot Rising series to fans of Arthurian retellings, or just to fantasy lovers in general. It was a fun series, and a generally good time.
Have you read The Excalibur Curse? How about the rest of the Camelot Rising series? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
But even when she’s really struggling, she has so many people there to help her. Arthur, Lancelot (of course), Brangien, and even Mordred. Their connections are brought up, and so is the love that these characters have for Guinevere. The book also did something very clever in giving us more insight into them, showing off their talents, and more importantly, their flaws. Again, I can’t really go into how this is done, for fear of spoiling everything, but I did really like how much we learned about them.
Moreover, the broom became a symbol of transformation and spiritual cleansing. Just as a broom sweeps away dirt and debris, witches were believed to use their brooms to sweep away negative energy, evil spirits, and bad luck. It represented their ability to cleanse and purify both physical and spiritual spaces. In modern times, the image of the witch's broom has been commodified and commercialized, often losing its deep symbolic meaning. It has become associated with Halloween decorations and costumes, reducing its significance to a mere prop. However, the symbolic meaning of the witch's broom still resonates in contemporary witchcraft and spiritual practices. It serves as a reminder of the power of transformation, the connection to the supernatural, and the ability to manifest one's desires. The broom continues to be a potent symbol of the witch's craft, embodying the mysticism and enchantment associated with the world of magic..
Reviews for "The Enigmatic Symbolism of Witches Broom in Witchcraft"
1. John - 2 stars - While I appreciate the effort put into "Symbolic Meaning of Witches Broom," I found it to be lacking in depth and substance. The author barely scratched the surface when it came to exploring the symbolism behind witches brooms, and I was left wanting more. Additionally, the writing style was rather dry and repetitive, making it a bit of a chore to read. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others seeking a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Symbolic Meaning of Witches Broom" to be a complete waste of my time. The author seemed more interested in providing a history lesson on brooms than actually delving into their symbolic meaning. The book lacked any sort of coherent structure, jumping from one random fact to another without any clear connection. Furthermore, the author's writing style was disjointed and confusing, making it difficult to follow their train of thought. Overall, I found this book to be incredibly unsatisfying and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive exploration of the symbolic meaning behind witches brooms.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Symbolic Meaning of Witches Broom" left me underwhelmed and wanting more. The book touched on various symbolic interpretations of witches brooms but failed to provide in-depth analysis or evidence to support these claims. I was left feeling unsatisfied and somewhat confused about the true meaning behind these fascinating objects. The writing style was also quite lackluster, lacking the ability to captivate and engage the reader. Overall, I found this book to be lacking substance and would not recommend it to others seeking a comprehensive exploration of symbolic meanings.
4. Emily - 1 star - I was incredibly disappointed with "Symbolic Meaning of Witches Broom." The author's analysis of the topic was superficial at best, failing to provide any meaningful insights or revelations. It felt more like a regurgitation of well-known facts rather than an exploration of the deeper meanings associated with witches brooms. The writing was also incredibly dry and boring, making it a struggle to get through the book. Overall, I found this book to be completely underwhelming and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful exploration of the symbolic significance of witches brooms.