The concept of witches' brooms has long been associated with witchcraft and magic. Traditionally, a witches' broom was believed to be the tool used by witches to fly through the night sky. However, the hidden meanings of witches' brooms go deeper than just a mode of transportation for witches. In many cultures, the broom is seen as a symbol of domesticity and housekeeping. The act of sweeping is seen as a way to cleanse and purify a space, both physically and spiritually. In this context, the broom represents the power to cleanse and remove negative energy from one's life.
A dense cluster of twigs, in medieval times, the mysterious "witches' broom" an unexplainable occurrences was often blamed on witchcraft. Brooms during this time were made of bundles of twigs and called a besom. The term witches' broom comes from the German word Hexenbesen, which means to bewitch (hex) a bundle of twigs (besom).
Witches brooms occur on many different woody plant species, including deciduous trees such as hackberry, maple, and willow, and conifers such as pine and spruce. These brooms are also used in handfasting ceremonies where the couple will jump the broom as a symbol of entering a new stage of life and leaving behind the old.
In this context, the broom represents the power to cleanse and remove negative energy from one's life. This hidden meaning of witches' brooms suggests that witches have the ability to bring order and cleanliness to chaotic situations. Furthermore, the broom has also been associated with fertility and agriculture.
A Celestial Witch’s Broom?
The Pencil Nebula is pictured in a new image from ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. This peculiar cloud of glowing gas is part of a huge ring of wreckage left over after a supernova explosion that took place about 11 000 years ago. This detailed view was produced by the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope.
Despite the tranquil and apparently unchanging beauty of a starry night, the Universe is far from being a quiet place. Stars are being born and dying in an endless cycle, and sometimes the death of a star can create a vista of unequalled beauty as material is blasted out into space to form strange structures in the sky.
This new image from the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile shows the Pencil Nebula [1] against a rich starry background. This oddly shaped cloud, which is also known as NGC 2736, is a small part of a supernova remnant [2] in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sails). These glowing filaments were created by the violent death of a star that took place about 11 000 years ago. The brightest part resembles a pencil; hence the name, but the whole structure looks rather more like a traditional witch’s broom.
The Vela supernova remnant is an expanding shell of gas that originated from the supernova explosion. Initially the shock wave was moving at millions of kilometres per hour, but as it expanded through space it ploughed through the gas between the stars, which has slowed it considerably and created strangely shaped folds of nebulosity. The Pencil Nebula is the brightest part of this huge shell.
This new image shows large, wispy filamentary structures, smaller bright knots of gas and patches of diffuse gas. The nebula's luminous appearance comes from dense gas regions that have been struck by the supernova shock wave. As the shock wave travels through space, it rams into the interstellar material. At first, the gas was heated to millions of degrees, but it then subsequently cooled down and is still giving off the faint glow that was captured in the new image.
By looking at the different colours of the nebula, astronomers have been able to map the temperature of the gas. Some regions are still so hot that the emission is dominated by ionised oxygen atoms, which glow blue in the picture. Other cooler regions are seen glowing red, due to emission from hydrogen.
The Pencil Nebula measures about 0.75 light-years across and is moving through the interstellar medium at about 650 000 kilometres per hour. Remarkably, even at its distance of approximately 800 light-years from Earth, this means that it will noticeably change its position relative to the background stars within a human lifetime. Even after 11 000 years the supernova explosion is still changing the face of the night sky.
Notes
[1] The Pencil Nebula, also known as NGC 2736 and sometimes nicknamed Herschel’s Ray, was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel back in 1835 while he was in South Africa. He described it as “an extraordinary long narrow ray of excessively feeble light”.
[2] A supernova is a violent stellar explosion, resulting from the death of either a high-mass star or a white dwarf in a close double star system. The structure resulting from the explosion is called the supernova remnant. This consists of ejected material expanding at supersonic velocities into the surrounding interstellar medium. Supernovae are the main source of the heavier chemical elements in the interstellar medium, which in turn leads to the chemical enrichment of a new generation of stars and planets.
More information
The year 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. ESO is currently planning the 39-metre European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.
Links
- Photos of the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
- Other photos taken with the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
- Photos of La Silla
Contacts
Richard Hook
ESO, La Silla, Paranal, E-ELT & Survey Telescopes Press Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: [email protected]
The broom that Broom Hilda is riding, is a rare find and was harvested right here in the Catskill Mountains.
In ancient times, brooms were used to sweep the ground before planting crops, symbolizing the preparation of the earth for new growth and abundance. This symbolism suggests that witches possess the power to bring forth new life and abundance in all areas of life, not just in the physical realm but also in matters of the heart and mind. Moreover, the broom is often depicted as an ordinary household object, blending seamlessly into the environment. This hidden meaning of witches' brooms suggests that witches have the ability to blend in and go unnoticed, allowing them to observe and gather information without arousing suspicion. It highlights their ability to adapt, appear ordinary, and remain hidden in plain sight. In modern times, the hidden meanings of witches' brooms have transcended their traditional associations with witchcraft. Many people now see witches' brooms as a symbol of empowerment and independence. The broom represents a tool that allows individuals to take control of their lives, sweep away negativity, and take flight towards their goals and aspirations. It serves as a reminder that each person possesses the power to create their own path and destiny. In summary, the hidden meanings of witches' brooms extend beyond their association with witchcraft. They symbolize the power to cleanse and remove negative energy, the ability to bring forth new life and abundance, the power to blend in and go unnoticed, and the representation of empowerment and independence. The witches' broom serves as a reminder that we all have the potential to harness our inner power and create our own destinies..
Reviews for "Witches Broom: A Metaphor for Female Liberation and Witchcraft"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Hidden Meanings of Witches Broom." The plot was predictable and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and there was no real connection between them. Additionally, the writing style was bland and uninspiring. Overall, I found the book to be boring and wasn't able to fully engage with the story. It's definitely not a book I would recommend.
2. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Hidden Meanings of Witches Broom" because it felt like a poorly written fanfiction. The dialogue was awkward and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The pacing was also off, with unnecessary filler scenes that didn't add anything to the story. It's a shame because the concept had potential, but the execution was sorely lacking. I would advise others to skip this book and find something more captivating to read.
3. Emily - 2 stars - While the cover art and synopsis of "Hidden Meanings of Witches Broom" intrigued me, I was ultimately let down by the actual story. The world-building was shallow, leaving many unanswered questions. The magic system felt underdeveloped and inconsistent. Moreover, the main character's choices were often illogical and didn't make sense within the established plot. I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief and fully immerse myself in the narrative. Overall, it was a forgettable read for me.
4. David - 2.5 stars - "Hidden Meanings of Witches Broom" started off promising, but quickly became a confusing mess. The plot twists felt forced and the story lacked coherence. There were too many subplots that weren't properly resolved, leaving loose ends that left me unsatisfied. Additionally, the writing was filled with clichés and overused tropes, making it difficult to take the story seriously. While there were some interesting ideas, they were overshadowed by the overall execution, which fell short of my expectations.