Saw some Witchcraft in action

Every so often my husband and I like to go to a casino.
I was playing at a slot machine and noticed something very odd.
I saw workers using a broom and sweeping at peoples feet.
It made no sense at all because there was tons and tons of open space for them to clean and no need
for them to be anywhere near players.

I went home and looked it up.
Sure enough there are various superstions/witchcraft on sweeping feet. Some say it is to bring bad luck, others so
you won't get married etc. I knew what I saw was intentional. My husband and I talked about coolers, (people the Casinos hire to "cool off" lucky players). I totally believe some people are just more lucky than others and people do have hot streaks. I play only for fun and am not professional and don't know how to play most of the card games but I know there is a lot of things like this surrounding players.

So back to the broom story. I told my husband and of course he always gives me this look like...boy is she crazy.
UNTIL, we went there again, and he saw it with his own eyes! We both laughed and I told him if a broom comes near me someone is getting kicked! LOL

What also disturbs me about it is that casinos have the upper hand, why would they be doing this woo woo stuff in the first place?

a reply to: JAGStorm

I can't tell you about any local meanings, but the besom, besides for flying around, is traditionally* a symbol for cleansing the altar or workspace with light sweeping. That is, if you remove all other things that are said, this is the root usage in such practices, ritual cleansing.

*Depends how you define witchcraft, old Pagan / Celtic / Germanic or newer Wiccan, a more organized type that most refer to.


Add: If at all, it would cleanse them from any energies not intrinsic to them. For example good luck. Makes sense right? Don't bring something with them... like good luck.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

*Depends how you define witchcraft, old Pagan / Celtic / Germanic or newer Wiccan, a more organized type that most refer to.

Witchcraft might be the wrong word, it's an Indian casino and there are definitely some weird vibes in there.

a reply to: JAGStorm

When you detach yourself from any sayings you heard you can think like this:

If the besom is a cleaning tool and used on the feet, to brush them clean from dust physically for visitors... Then it's most likely, people associate cleaning unwanted attachments on a spiritual way with it, when it's done like that.

But.

It is not clear what the besom is made from. If it is made from special herbs, it might have a whole different meaning, kind of sneaky. You have to know, generally for witchcraft, everything's fair, only for some adhere to a codex like it is formulated in newer Wiccan "teachings" as I say, because it's fairly young and lends from Paganism too.

It's basically everything is allowed if it does not harm or unknowingly influence somebody. That is why just sending positive energy to someone, is a violation of that principle for some. The question is how powerful one is that dishes out curses (violation) or similar to other on a daily basis. And how much comes back to them.

That's what Thor's hammer means for some, that have a bit of a different view on that part of history, but I drift off.

Supposedly you can sweep away unholy influences, assuming that addiction is connected to supernatural forces and can be discouraged with the right tools. But if I was a believer in such practices, a casino would be the #1 spot to do some good.

originally posted by: TzarChasm
Supposedly you can sweep away unholy influences, assuming that addiction is connected to supernatural forces and can be discouraged with the right tools. But if I was a believer in such practices, a casino would be the #1 spot to do some good.

Would workers be doing that to patrons? Wouldn’t they want the opposite?

a reply to: JAGStorm

i know brooms are to be placed outside near your door upside down to keep bad away, so maybe upward and brushing would remove something as well

a reply to: ladybug121
Yes that has different reasons, myself I am not so sure. I read old Germanic texts and some poems / sayings handle this.

I can only speak for European region though, the myths and saga. These old besoms were often made out of birch branches. Birch is one of the holy woods and according to old myths and sayings, probably from early Christian / Pagan mixing together, not as a Church but in faith.

According to old texts, Birch is a symbol of fertility. This has different reasons. For one it's often the earliest tree that sprouts in springtime. It announces the arrival of the Maiden, after the Crone's winter time of death and rotting, it announces the renewal. It's sap, if fresh, tastes refreshing and is very healthy when it is taken in Spring. Old books tell about magical properties but for most that follow this path today, it's to appreciate and welcome the Maiden.

Now, initially one turns a besom around so it's dry and insects don't gather under it while it rests outside. Like in winter it's also to keep the branches dry. One does not take it inside because it would dry out too much from the dry air, from the fireplace.

Folks were superstitious though, there is another meaning. It's said that if wood tied together so it crosses, mostly with a red thin rope / yarn, it's a symbol of protection, the red tied cross. Notice the similarity to "the Red Cross", protecting / helping. A besom from birch branches, besoms like that in general, have a lot of crossing branches.

A besom might also be used as a wand for conducting energy, just saying. But it very much depends on one's believe, there is no "book of witchcraft" even though some of the more modern Wicca websites often provide lists and theory and recipes for potions and act like it's the absolute truth, it isn't.

Some websites even just take the physical properties of things like we know them and twist it to mythical. Like walnut oil essence from the outer green shell, it repels insects... and of course it will repel bad spirits because of that too (get it ).

Funny though you made this thread at this time now @ OP, since there is a full moon happening currently.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Did the players loose?

Could be, especially since these are slot machines, that they're sweeping in that area hoping to get coins that were accidently dropped or fell from the machine, or just because that's were debris would be from the players sitting there - cigarette butts etc

a reply to: JAGStorm

You know Midwest and Southwest Indians...opps I meant Native Americans use to often take peyote trips to the spirit world. Could be they still are.

check out the just before the very end

a reply to: vlawde

Could be, especially since these are slot machines, that they're sweeping in that area hoping to get coins that were accidently dropped or fell from the machine

Where we are coins are not used anymore, just cards.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Maybe I've been on Facebook groups too much but the price I pay for knowing how to read is very high

In other news, I'm just thinking it's lazy sweeping or maybe the opposite maybe the cleaning people are cleaning or maybe they're inebriated? Not saying it's not witchcraft but it was in a casino. To note, I've been to Potowatomi (a casino) once so I don't know anything about them at all but they make really good reuben sandwiches.

I love how you call it woo woo stuff. That was funny