Making a Brough - "Bro-gh"

Before the dawn of a new year, mostly likely drawn in with joyous cheer and far too many glasses of wine I thought it best to capitalise on these moments of sobriety and type up a very over due blog post.

In my own spiritual practice I spend a lot of time and energy focusing on the practical applications and tools of everyday use. While the ceremonial rites and formal gatherings have there place and power it is within the mundane world which I truly feels the source of magic rests.

I really do hope to stay open to the more progressive arts but in my experiences I have always felt more in the awakening dawn and the dance of the silver moonlight, the stirring the still waters on a misty eve as well as the uplifting rush of a simple act made magical with intention and a sprinkle of preparation.

Although I started this blog for astrological musing I think that in all fairness it would be best to widen the scope of the topics within it, as although I do chart my life by the stars they are not the only points of reference I use.

A recent blog comment reminded me of why I choose to name the blog as I did, the title astro-revelations drips of an arrogant sense of superior insight that although has a resonance with my stubborn nature and all to often flawed internalised chatter, it is in itself a passing on of what has either being revealed to me in the kindness of others, the musing of a late morning spent sleeping in or the sheer hard work of magic woven in times of need.

I'm adding this post to my blog out of enjoyment of the tool used as well as the economic savviness in which it costs very little but time and heart felt intentions.

How to make a brough.

A brough is used among many things (though I have noticed not overly common) for the cleansing of energies, election of wards, weaving of spells and the spreading of incense.While the one I use has changed slowly over over the years and is far more crafted then this one, here is how to make a basic no frills brough minus a personal ritual of dedication and blessing.

You will need

*An intention

For the purpose of this post I'm using intention of spreading harmony and positivity.

*Cord of an appropriate colour

I've chosen pink for association.

*Feather(s)

I originally went for a short walk while playing with the thought of making this post, I happened to come across a swans feather which with the intentions of positivity and blessing I found to be a perfect match in symbolism.

*Crystal

I've chosen a clear quartz, for it's amplification properties.

*Wood for the handle.

I picked up a small sprig of elder wood, which although I stripped and cleaned I omitted inscribing (which personally if your making a brough I find to be a wonderful addition to intention and even basic aesthetic attraction).

How to

Gather, clean and dry feather(s), tie the stem of the feather to the wood, leaving enough string to include crystal, trim stem of feather and bless.

Simple, workable and with the right mind set and intention it can be deeply magikal.