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| Badbh - Ireland, Gaul. In Gaul known as Cauth Bodva. War Goddess. Part of the triple Goddess aspect with Anu and Macha. Asscoaited with cauldrons, ravens, life and wisdom.
Balefire - An old word for bonfire. The original word was Bels fire, referring to the sun god Bel. This fire is lit for magickal purposes, usually outdoors. They are traditional on Yule, Beltane, and Midsummer. Bane - A sources of harm, poison, dangerous or destruction; a curse. Anything which causes harm, pain, illness, or destruction. Banes can be caused by hexes or curses. They can also be caused by hauntings and possessions through angry or evil spirits. That which destroys life. Banish/Banishing - To drive someone or something away with Magick. To magickally end something or exorcise unwanted entities. To rid the presence of. 1) Repelling an unwelcome psychic entity or negative spirits; 2) Short for 'banishing the Circle', dispelling as Magick Circle after it has served its purpose; 3) Expelling a witch from a coven for an offence. Bast - Egyptian; Goddess of Protection and Cats. Bast is great for vehicle travel as well as walking down a dark alley. Call on her essence in the form of a giant panther to see you through to your destination. B.C.E - Before Common Era. Synonymous with B.C. without religious bias. Baubo - Greek Goddess of mirth, jests, and bawdy humor. Bel/Bile/Belenus - Ireland. Sun and fire God. Associated with fire, sun, purification, success, crops, fertility and cattle. Seen in the festival of Beltane. Bell - Often used as ritual tools. They can be used to invoke directional energies, to ring in the sunrise on a Sabbat, or to frighten away faeries and baneful spirits. Belomancy - Divination by use of feathers. Besom - A straw broom used by Witches in certain Wiccan ceremonies such as Handfasting and the Sabbat of Candlemas. Although the broom has always been associated with Witches, it was never actually used for flying as the legends of olden times claim. Instead, according to one theory, Witches practicing sympathetic magick (which works on the basic principle that like produces like) would straddle the broom and jump up and down in order to show their crops how high to grow. The majority of modern Witches who own besoms use them as altar decorations and as magickal tools to symbolize fertility and to sweep the magick circle clean of any traces of negative magickal, spiritual, or psychic energy. The besom is also used in various spells and weather workings. Beltane/Beltaine - One of the Wiccan eight holy days; celebrated on May 1st of each year. Biddy A doll made from the last sheaf of the last harvest. Also called Corn Dolls or Corn Dolly. Bi-Location - A phrase used to describe seeing a physical person in one place, while others see the astral body (which appears physical) of that person in another place. The act of being in two places at once. Bind - To restrain someone or something with Magick. The use of Magick to restrict the power and movement of people, entities, and energies. This primarily used Witches when they are attacked. Black Witch - One who practices negative Magick. A "Black Witch" does not live by the Wiccan Rede and laws, and may be found "harming" another. These are people you should stay away from. Blasting - Placing a curse on someone. Blessed Be - Blessed Be is the best known Pagan expression. Witches use it as both a greeting and a farewell and as a general expression of blessed during ritual. It means, roughly, "Be Blessed and Whole" or "The Blessings of the Gods be upon you." Blessing - The act of conferring positive energy upon a person, place, or ting. It's a spiritual or religious practice. Blodwin/ Blanchflor - Wales,Gaul. Goddess of the earth in bloom. Associated with flowers,owls and ceremonies. Goddess of initiation ceremonies. Blood of the Moon - A woman's menstrual cycle. If this cycle occurs over a Full or New Moon (and you can arrange that) she is far more powerful than during any other time of the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength within herself. For too many years women have been told that they must regard their cycle with an unkind eye, calling it a curse when actually it is a boon. Society has so dictated this to them that many feel weak, tired and disoriented because they are supposed to. Wrong. If you can rearrange your thinking on this matter, the Blood of the Moon can pack a powerful wallop for you. if you feel spacy, try grounding. Blue Moon - The second Full Moon in one calendar month. Bodhran - Ireland. "Cow-song"; A single-head frame drum. Bolline/Boleen - The white-handled knife, used in magic and Wiccan ritual for practical purposes such as cutting herbs. Book of Shadows - Also known as a BOS (for short). The name is used to refer to the Witch hunt days and the need for secrecy of the religion, and thus made to practicing within the shadows. A witch's book of spells, rituals, magickal lore, and any other information she has learned. Although some Witches believe this can only be a black, bound book, others choose notebooks or 3 ring binders in colorful designs. Some Witches also believe that this book can only be handwritten, and some say this is the Millennium use your computer printer, especially if you have bad handwriting. Boomerang Effect - The occult principle that a psychic attack which comes up against a stronger defense rebounds on the attacker-traditionally *threefold* though this is metaphorical. Boon A favor, a blessing, something fervently wished for. Botonomancy Divination through the use of herbs. Boquet A blend of natural or man made scents which reproduces a specific scent. Bran - Wales. The giant. God of prophecy,the arts,leaders,war,music and writing. Associated with ravens. Brigantia - Britain. Goddess of pastures and rivers. Associated with Imbolc. Brighid - Celtic; Warrior Goddess and Protectress and Preserver. Brigid is also a Triple Goddess. She is strong and wise. Call on her to help protect your children in a tough situation. Invocation to Brigid. Brigidmas Another term for Candlemas, derived from the Celtic goddess Bridid. Brightest Blessings - A term of parting or farewell meaning "a wish of blessing from the Goddess". British Traditional Witch - 1.The Wiccan family who can trace their lineage to Gerald Gardner or Alex and Maxine Sanders. 2.Refers to those whose practicce is based on or derives from the above but without having initiatory lineage back to Gardner or Sanders. The term is used in the U.S. more than elsewhere. Broom Closet - Not meant literally, this is a term used to describe someone who is "in the broom closet", or in other words, who is not public with their pagan practices. Buddhism - Buddhism is a major world religion, it was founded in north-eastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, or the Enlightened One. Burning Times - Reference to a historical time from around 1000 C.E. through the 17th century when it is said that up to nine million people were tortured and burned by church and public officials on the assumption that they were the Christian version of Witches. This turned into an extremely profitable venture, as all land and property was seized from the accused individual and portions given to the accuser (in reward fashion) and the remainder seized by the church officials. Historians indicate that the majority of people tortured and murdered were women and children |
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