Physician's Strenth ~ October 28th – November 24th. Broom is a glory of golden yellow flowers with a sweet vanilla scent from late spring to early summer.

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Product Code: 00000306

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Physician's Strenth ~ October 28th – November 24th

Celtic Summer’s End, Beginning of Winter
 
Celebration Days, October 31st- Halloween, Samhain. 
November 22nd –St Cecilia’s Day, Patroness of Music and the arts.
Broom is the emblem of the Royal dynasty – The Plantagenets.
 
Cytisus is a genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs found in Europe. West Asia and North Africa and together are known as broom.  They all have fragrant pea-like flowers.

Broom prefers acid soil but will survive almost anywhere. It is a sheltering plant offering protection from the elements. Although it appears delicate it can bend with the wind and of course as its name suggests it makes an excellent broom.
Brooms golden vanilla scented flowers appear for a couple of months from late spring to early summer. It is a delicate and elegant plant and to see its beautiful yellow flowers in stark contrast to the rough windswept places where it is found growing most prolifically.

It has long been associated with royalty. It was favoured as an emblem of nobility by the lords of Brittany and thence became the emblem of the Plantagenets who ruled England for more than 300 years. A carving of broom with open pods is to be found on the robes of King Richard 11 on his tomb in Westminster Abbey.

Broom is a medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of all diseases associated with excessive revelry. Ancient Celtic texts which discuss the deeper meanings behind the ogham alphabet underline this link between broom and the healing arts. In the Ogham of Cuchulain it is the beginning of heroic deeds and healing, and in that of Aonghus it is called the robe of physicians. All parts of broom have healing potential and have close links with Mercury and all deities who preside over the healing arts.

The main medicinal component is sparteine, in very large doses it can create hallucinations. It is sometimes thought to be the reason behind the link between broom and witches, and the notion that witches ride on broomsticks. It is also associated with Bacchus and other gods of wine and revelry. Broom was used magically in spells of purification and protection. It is said to useful for dealing with poltergeists! A symbol of astral travel it has long associations with healers and magicians.

Falling at the end of the Celtic year broom reminds us to take stock, the importance of our, physical, mental emotional and spiritual well being. A time to start afresh with a new year ahead for us all.
  
Colour Blue,  Planet The Moon,  Stone Opal,   Polarity Masculine,  Element Water
  
Deities Mercury, Morpheus, Bacchus.
  
Royalty, Cleansing, Healing, Psychic Protection, Astral Travel