Document

BA: The Egyptian concept of the soul had three parts ba

(incarnation), akh (transitional) and ka (immortal). Upon death

the soul would split into ba and akh. The akh would fly to the

Afterworld and transform into the ka. The ba would remain with

the mummy.

BABALAWO: The highest order of priest in Santería, a religion

centering on the worship of the ancient African Gods who have

been assimilated as Catholic saints. The babalawo has the power

to heal the sick, punish the unjust and to divine the future

through the Table of Ifá.

BABAU: A species of ogre in Central France.

BABIAGORA: Lakes of a gloomy nature used for divination in Slavic

traditions.

BACOTI: Common name for Mediums in Tonquin.

BAKOR: A Vodoun priest (houngan) more involved in harmful magick

than healing. The term means “one who serves the loa (Gods and

ancestral spirits) with both hands.” Also known as Boko, Bokor.

BALE:

· Harm or disaster;

· Sorrow, woe;

· Something which is harmful

BALEFIRE: Ritual fire symbolizing the banishing of ill by the

power and presence of the divine. Balefires are usually lit for

Fire Festival Sabbats such as Beltane.

BALSAM: A resinous or waxy semi-solid compound that captures the

essence of a liquid medicine or perfume.

BALSAM OF THE ALCHEMISTS, BALSAM OF THE SOUL: In Alchemy, Liquor

Hepatis (associated with the soul) mixed with fat or wax.

BAN:

· To banish;

· To curse;

· To forbid.

BANE:

· Deadly harm, ruin, death;

· Something which causes harm, ruin, or death;

· A poison.

BANISH:

· To magickally end something;

· To exorcise unwanted entities;

· To demand removal of (or physically remove) a presence.

BANSHEE (Irish, bean: "woman", sidhe: "fairy"):

· A female fairy attached to a specific clan or family in

Ireland who keens when there is an impending death in the

family. Over time the banshee have been associated with

malice because they are an omen of death;

· A malicious fairy or otherworldly entity corrupted by

power;

· An adept who has decided to use power for selfish gain;

· Also known as Beansidhe.

BAPTISM: The rite of consecration by Water. Primarily connected

with Christianity. Baptismal rites exist in a number of cultures

and differs from ablution (ritual bathing) in that it connotes

the initial dedication to a religious faith.

BAPTISM OF THE LINE: A Rite of Passage for persons crossing the

equator for the first time. Sailors continue to practice the

elaborate initiation ritual to this day.

BARDIC WICCA: A mix of Celtic Wicca and Celtic Druidry.

BARGUEST: Mischievous goblins that are visible in the daytime and

are distinguished by their preference to sit on bars or gates.

Also known as Bo-Guest.

BAR-LGURA: Semitic demons who leap on people from rooftops.

People afflicted by Bar-Lgura are called d'baregara.

BARROW: A burial mound, like those found in Celtic or Native

American archeological sites.

BARU: A caste of Semitic priest.

BASILIDEAN: A Gnostic sect founded by Basilides of Alexandria,

who claimed to have received his esoteric doctrines from Glaucus,

a disciple of the Apostle Peter. The system had three grades:

material, intellectual, and spiritual and it possessed two

allegorical statues, male and female. The doctrine had many

points of resemblance to that of the Ophites and Cabala.

BASILISK: A mythological creature with the head (and sometimes

wings) of a rooster and the body of a dragon. The serpentine

animal was hatched from a hermaphroditic cock's egg by a toad and

nursed by a serpent. Also known as Cockatrice.

BCE (Before Common Era): The non-religious term for the BC

(Before Christ).

BEALTAINE, BEALETEINE, BEALLTUINN: The May 1st Greater Sabbat

that celebrates the beginning of the Light Half of the Year. Also

known as Belltaine, Beltain, Beltaine, Beltane, Beltine, Bel-tine,

Boaldyn, Cala' Me,Calan Mai, Calan Me, Cétshamain, Cyntefin, Dydd

Calan Mai, Feast of Bíle, Kala-Mae, Kala-Hañv, Lady Day, May Day,

May Eve, Walpurgisnacht.

BEANSÍDHE (Irish, bean: "woman", sidhe: "fairy"):

· A female fairy attached to a specific clan or family in

Ireland who keens when there is an impending death in the

family. Over time the beansidhe have been associated with

malice because they are an omen of death;

· A malicious fairy or otherworldly entity corrupted by

power;

· An adept who has decided to use power for selfish gain;

· Also known as Banshee (which is also the oral

pronunciation of Beansidhe).

BEFORE COMMON ERA (BCE): The non-religious term for the BC

(Before Christ).

BELL: A hollow object, usually cuplike in shape, that will make a

ringing sound when struck. The bell is a sacred tool in most

religions, and is most frequently used to ward off negative

energies and/or summon deities or positive energy.

BELLTAINE: The May 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates the

beginning of the Light Half of the Year. Also known as Bealtaine,

BealeTeine, Bealltuinn, Beltain, Beltaine, Beltane, Beltine, Bel-

tine, Boaldyn, Cala' Me,Calan Mai, Calan Me, Cétshamain, Cyntefin,

Dydd Calan Mai, Feast of Bíle, Kala-Mae, Kala-Hañv, Lady Day,

May Day, May Eve, Walpurgisnacht.

BELOMANCY: Divination through interpreting arrows. This type of

divination is expressly forbidden in the Koran. Also known as

Bolomancy.

BELTAIN, BELTAINE, BELTANE, BELTINE, BEL-TINE ("bright fire" or

"Bel's fire"): The May 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates the

beginning of the Light Half of the Year. Also known as Bealtaine,

BealeTeine, Bealltuinn, Belltaine, Boaldyn, Cala' Me,Calan Mai,

Calan Me, Cétshamain, Cyntefin, Dydd Calan Mai, Feast of Bíle,

Kala-Mae, Kala-Hañv, Lady Day, May Day, May Eve, Walpurgisnacht.

BENNU: A mythological bird that consumed itself by fire every

500 years and recreated itself from the ashes as a newborn. Also

known as Fung-hwang, Fum-hwang, Ho-Ho, Kerkes, Phoenix.

BESOM: A bundle of twigs attached to a handle that is used to

cleanse and purify sacred space. A ritual broom.

BETA STATE: The conscious state of being awake, alert and engaged

in physical activity where the brain waves register at 14-30

cycles per second. Alpha State, at 7-14 cycles per second, is the

altered state of consciousness associated with relaxation,

meditation and dreaming. Theta State, at 4-7 cycles per second,

is the semi-conscious state associated with drowsiness, euphoria,

and deep tranquility. Delta state, at 1-3 cycles per second, is

the unconscious state of deep, dreamless sleep.

BEZOAR (Persian, pad: "expelling"; zahr: "poison"): A hard mass

deposited around a foreign substance (e.g.; hair) in the stomach

or intestines of some animals. Bezoar were thought to be a remedy

for poison by ancient physicians and alchemists. Egyptian priests

discovered bezoars during the preparation of mummies and believed

the hard balls were magical pills formed by the large serpent in

man (the intestines). Some evidence suggests that the Egyptians

also looked for a similar pill in the small serpent in man (the

brain) and found it there in the form of the pineal gland. This

pine-shaped gland is imbedded with tiny crystals of dark melanin,

and could explain the Egyptian pinecone emblems and the origin of

the caduceus itself. Gold was considered a mineral bezoar by

alchemists.

BHUVAR (Vedic): The plane, or level of energy and existence,

between the Mental and the Physical Planes. Also known as Astral

Plane, Antariksha or Antariksa (Sanskrit).

BIBLE: Holy scriptures of the Christian religion, containing the

Old and New Testaments.

BIBLIOMANCY: Originally, the divination used to assess the guilt

or innocence of a person accused of sorcery. The person was

weighed against the great Bible in the Church and if the person

weighed less than the bible they were deemed innocent. Today,

bibliomancy refers to divination interpreting randomly chosen

passages in books and is also called stichomancy. The most common

form is opening a book to a random page to answer a question. The

Bible is still the most frequently used book, although any book

may be used. Using books by Virgil and Homer specifically is

called stoichemancy. The variant of using a book of poetry is

called rhapsodomancy.

BIDDY: A figure created by plaiting the last sheaf of a harvest.

In some communities the biddy was made by each farmer, those

pulling off their harvest first calling theirs the "corn maiden"

and the last one made was the Cailleach or Harvest Old Wife. In

other traditions only one biddy was made and the figure passed

from farmer to farmer until the last harvest was pulled. Although

possessing the true biddy could be viewed as a reproach for

laziness, the figure represents the fertility of the Earth and

the Goddess and is used in the spring in a variety of ways to

ensure a good harvest. Also known as Corn Dolly, Corn Maiden,

Cailleach, Caillech, Cailliach, Callach, Harvest Old Wife.

BILBERRY SUNDAY: The August 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates

the first harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are cut and

stored for dark winter months. The sabbat also marks the

weakening of the God as the days grow shorter. Also known

as August Eve, Fraughan Sunday, Crom Dubh Sunday, Death of the

God-King, Domhnach Chrom Dubh, Feast of Bread, Feast of Lug

(Lugh), Festival of the First Fruits of Harvest, Festival of the

Sacrifice and Death of the God-King, Garland Sunday, Laa

Luanistyn, Laa Luanys, Lammas, Lammas Day, Lughnasa, Lughnasadh,

Lugnasad, Lúnasa, Lúnasdain, Lúnasdal, Lúnasduinn, Martinmas, St.

Martin's Eve.

BI-LOCATION, BILOCATION: To be consciously aware of both the

physical environment and the astral environment during astral

projection. Also known as Mind-Travel, Over-Looking.

BINAH: In the supreme triangle of the Cabala the threes sides are

reason, Kether, necessity, Chochmah, and liberty, Binah.

BIND:

· To tie together;

· To tie down, hold, or restrain; to obligate or compel, as

by an oath;

· To prevent from a specific action;

· To magickally restrain something or someone.

BINDING, A: A spell constructed and implemented to restrain

someone or something, or to ‘bind’ them to the practitioner. In

most pagan traditions bindings are done to prevent a person from

harming themselves or others and is used as a last resort when

all other possibilities have been exhausted.

BIRRAARK: Australian necromancers.

BIRTH NUMBER: The number calculated in numerology by your date

of birth (eg: February 14, 1954 = 2+1+4+1+9+5+4=26=2+6=8). A

person's birth number is unchangeable and reveals basic

personality and innate characteristics. It is also known as the

Number of Personality.

BISCLAVERT: A were-beast in Brittany.

BLACK MAGICK: A term used to identify some traditions where

Magick is used for destructive purposes. Also known as the Left

Hand Path, Path of Shadows.

BLACK PHASE, The: The first stage in alchemy that takes place

during Calcination (oxidation). Also known as Melanosis.

BLESSED BE: A term derived from the ritual of the Five-fold Kiss,

it is simple a blessing commonly used by wiccans and pagans as a

greeting or a goodbye. Abbreviated as BB or B*B.

BLESSING: A word or words in the form of a spell designed to

benefit and/or protect.

BLIGHT: A word or words in the form of a spell designed to cause

harm or destruction. A popular form of a blight is the simplistic

"a down mouth be yours". Other blights can be more complex in

form and delivery. Similar to Taboo, a word of that prohibits

and restricts. Also known as Curse.

BLOOD OF THE MOON: A woman's menstrual cycle. Many traditions

believe that a woman is far more powerful at this time than

during any other time of the month, especially if this cycle

occurs over a Full or New Moon.

BOALDYN: The May 1st Greater Sabbat that celebrates the beginning

of the Light Half of the Year. Also known as Bealtaine,

BealeTeine, Bealltuinn, Belltaine, Beltain, Beltaine, Beltane,

Beltine, Bel-tine, Cala' Me, Calan Mai, Calan Me, Cétshamain,

Cyntefin, Dydd Calan Mai, Feast of Bíle, Kala-Mae, Kala-Hañv,

Lady Day, May Day, May Eve, Walpurgisnacht.

BOCK: An ancient sprite, spectre or goblin. Also known as

Bogey(man), Boggart, Boggle, Bogle, Bole, Boman, Bug-A-Boo.

BODDHISATTVA: An adept who leaves Nirvana and reincarnates in

order to help mankind, usually through founding and teaching a

religion.

BOGEY (MAN), BOGGART, BOGGLE, BOGLE: An ancient sprite, spectre

or goblin. Also known as Bug-A-Boo, Bole, Boman, Bock.

BO-GUEST: Mischevious goblins that are visible in the daytime and

are distinguished by their preference to sit on bars or gates.

Also known as Barguest.

BOKO, BOKOR: A Vodoun priest (houngan) more involved in harmful

magick than healing. The term means “one who serves the loa (Gods

and ancestral spirits) with both hands.” Also known as Bakor.

BOLE: An ancient sprite, spectre or goblin. Also known as Bock,

Bogey(man), Boggart, Boggle, Bogle, Boman, Bug-A-Boo.

BOLEEN/BOLLINE:

· A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal

purposes such as cutting, as distinct from the Athame. For

instance, the knife can be used to harvest herbs, cut a

branch for a wand, inscribe candles, etc.;

· Bolline is sometimes used to refer to a sickle-shaped

Athame in traditions which allow it to have that shape;

· Also known as White-Handled Knife.

BOLOMANCY: Divination through interpreting arrows. This type of

divination is expressly forbidden in the Koran. Also known as

Belomancy.

BOLT-HEAD: A round-bottomed flask with a very long neck used in

alchemy. Also known as Matrass.

BOMAN: An ancient sprite, spectre or goblin. Also known as Bock,

Bogey(man), Boggart, Boggle, Bogle, Bole, Bug-A-Boo.

BON: The native Tibetan religion that was later merged with

Buddhism and Tantrism.

BOOK OF CHANGES, The: An ancient Chinese system of oracular

divination that reveals patterns of subtle forces. The questioner

is required to interpret the information provided through deep

introspection and intuitive thought. The Book of Changes dates

back to about 2852 B.C. Also known as I Ching.

BOOK OF THE DEAD: The Egyptian funerary work called pert em hru,

properly translated as "coming forth by day" or "manifested in

the light". There are several versions of the work including

those of Heliopolis, Thebes, and Sais. Many papyri of it have

been discovered and the full work contains almost 200 chapters.

BOOK OF SHADOWS, BOS:

· The collection of liturgical and canonical material that

is passed down through many pagan traditions like

Gardnerian Wicca;

· A personal book of rituals, recipes, journal entries,

laws/rules, and other documents important to a witch or

pagan. Unlike the Traditional Book of Shadows each Personal

BOS is different as the individual decides what is

necessary for their book. More commonly called a Grimoire.

BOOK OF THOTH: Tarot Cards.

BOTANICA: A shop specializing in the sale of magickal materials

for Voudoun, Macumba and Santeria.

BOTANOMANCY: A form of pyromancy, interpreting burned or burning

tree branches and leaves. Originally the branches of brier and

vervain were used and the question was carved into the branch.

Often used today to refer to divination by the interpretation of

plants.

BOTTLE IMPS: A class of German spirits similar to the fairy.

BRIAH: The third of three stages of spirit classes in the

Cabala.

BRIDGE OF SOULS: The concept of a bridge being the means of

passage from this world to the Afterworld is a common premise in

many religions. The most common physical manifestation attributed

to the Bridge is the rainbow.

BRIGIDMAS, BRIGIT'S DAY: The February 1st Greater Sabbat marking

the midpoint of the Dark Half of the year and a time of

purification and sharing. This sabbat celebrates the Return of

the Goddess from the Underworld, bearing in Her arms the Infant

Sun, and the beginning of Spring as the slumbering seeds begin to

stir within the womb of the Earth. Also known as Candlemas, Feast

of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Waxing Light, Festival of

the Lactating Ewes, Gouel Varia ar Gouloù, Gwyl Ffraed, Gwyl

Mair Dechrau'r Fwanwyn, Imbolc, Imbolg, Laa'l Breeshey, Lá Fheile

Bride, Lupercalia, Oimealg, Oímealg, Oimelc, Óimelc, Oímelg.

BRIMSTONE: Sulfur.

BRITISH TRADITIONAL WICCA: The groups of Wiccan Traditions who

can trace their lineage to Gerald Gardner, and/or to Alex and

Maxine Sanders. Some British Traditional Wiccans practice the

arts of Traditional Witchcraft from ancestors in ancient Europe,

that have been preserved and passed on by the Ordo Anno Mundi, a

magical order of Initiates dedicated to the training of its

members in the arcane sciences of nature. British Traditional

Wiccans experience the same Mysteries, using substantially the

same rituals and techniques. Variations may exist between

individual Covens, Lineages and Traditions but it is the same

Initiatory Mystery Path. The British Traditional groups view

Wicca as an Initiatory, Oathbound, Magick-using, Pagan Mystery

Priesthood celebrating the Mysteries contained in the Legend of

the Descent of the Goddess and in the Charge of the Goddess.

BRITISH TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT: Those Traditions tracing descent

from a Hereditary, or Traditional, British source, including the

Gardnerian and the Alexandrian Traditions and their branches and

offshoots and several others derived from British sources such as

Sybil Leek's Horsa Coven, Plant Bran, and the Clan of Tubal Cain.

Some British Traditional Witches consider the term Wicca a

synonym for British Traditional Witchcraft, while others reserve

the term Wicca for the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions and

their offshoots and consider Wicca to be a wholly-contained

subset within British Traditional Witchcraft.

BROCELIANDE:

· The forest in Brittany where Merlin was imprisoned;

· A term to describe the vague unreality of legendary

scenery.

BROOM CLOSET, The: Slang term used to describe the state of

hiding pagan practices and affiliations. Being "in the broom

closet" means that a practitioner does not declare their religion

to others. It is a common and accepted practice for practitioners,

especially solitaries, to avoid persecution.

BROWNIE: A good-natured elf or goblin, known for doing housework

at night. Also known as Kobold.

BUDDHISM: The religion based on the doctrine of Gautama Buddha

that asserts suffering is inseparable from existence and that

enlightenment is achieved by the inward extinction of the self

and of the senses. Buddhism is the predominant religion of

eastern and central Asia, and is represented by many different

sects.

BUG-A-BOO: An ancient sprite, specter or goblin. Also known as

Bock, Bogey(man), Boggart, Boggle, Bogle, Bole, Boman.

BRUHO NATURALEZA: A practitioner of Hechiceria, the pre-Columbian

magickal tradition in Mexico. Also known as Nugual, Hechicero.

BRUJA: Female practitioners of Brujeria, a Mexican shamanistic

magickal system that is an integration of Roman Catholicism and

Native American lore. The term is sometimes used in Mexico, Meso-

America and Hispanic communities in the US to refer to any female

witch. Bruja (female) and Brujo (male) are sought for remedies

for physical illness primarily and the Curandera (female) and

Cureandero (male) are sought for spells and charms to remedy

emotional, romantic, and social problems. Both disciplines use

herbal and folk remedies. The Bruja and the Curandera (females)

are considered to be more powerful than their male counterparts.