Bad Luck: (See also Curse.) Unfortunate events that are connected to a supernatural force. Unseen energy, both positive and negative, can attach itself to a person and reproduce, giving some individuals a spell of misfortune. Many believe they were born with bad luck, and others think they are cursed in some way. A widespread theory is that if a person possesses a cynical disposition, this can attract further negativity.
Baltic Sea Anomaly: Discovered by sonar imagery in June 2011 by Swedish explorer Peter Lindberg and his team of marine explorers, OceanX. They were looking for shipwrecks and treasure in the vicinity of the Gulf of Bothnia (between Sweden and Finland) when they came across the twenty-six-foot-tall anomaly—which was one hundred meters wide—resting on the ocean floor. The object is purported to be seventy meters in length with an appearance similar to that of an alien craft. Conspiracy theorists claim that it is akin to the Millennium Falcon because of its steel grey hue. As with many cover-ups concerning UFO activity or alien ships, scientists at Stockholm University held very little faith with the public, and they claimed it was merely the remains of an ancient glacial deposit. Lindberg and his crew concluded that the construction was made of molded concrete. A year after the first discovery, OceanX went back to the site to get more information about the structure, but “mysterious electrical interference” prevented them from doing this. (Gaia, 2018.)
Banishment: Removing negative energies or spirits from people or places. This practice is performed to send the entity back to its level of consciousness where it can no longer cause any issues. Banishments or exorcisms of any kind can be spiritually and emotionally dangerous, so only an experienced and knowledgeable practitioner should perform them. The banishment of a person or group from a religion is called “excommunication”; excommunication disallows them from practicing that faith.
In witchcraft, spells are sometimes cast to remove an inappropriate person or opponent from a situation or environment. Care is needed to avoid incurring bad karma when affecting another’s future or free will.
Banshee: Originating from the ancient Irish tradition, the banshee is portrayed as an older woman with long grey hair and wearing a cloak. Her eyes are red and piercing from eternal weeping and mourning. She is believed to emit loud, haunting wails that foretell death. (Beltzer, 1986.)
Barney and Betty Hill: In September 1961, Barney and Betty Hill were the subjects of the first widely reported alien abduction event. Returning home after a holiday, the couple saw a craft with flashing lights crossing the face of the moon. The UFO descended and hovered above the road, forcing Barney to stop the car; he then saw ten humanoid figures. The next thing they were aware of was driving home, some thirty-five miles away from the incident with the craft. When they finally did arrive home, they found that their watches had stopped working, and Betty’s dress was covered in a strange red powder.
In the following days, Betty started having flashbacks of being abducted and having medical experiments performed on her. Later, they both underwent hypnosis to find out what happened in the missing time. Under separate hypnotic sessions, both recounted being taken aboard the craft and being subjected to medical inspections and experiments.
Basilisk: Greek mythology. A creature that is half rooster and half serpent, with the ability to cause death with a single look or breath. In Europe, a stoat or weasel was used as a deterrent, as the basilisk was thought to be repulsed by the scent. (New World Encyclopedia, 2019.)
Beast of Tenby: In Pembrokeshire in the UK, a man called Peter Bailey was exercising his dog on the beach when the dog became distressed and started acting out of character. When he went over to investigate, he found the body of a bloated creature washed up on the shore. It had the head of a horse, the body of a pig, and the claws of a bear. Experts suggested it could be a badger or dog. There are photographs of this beast on YouTube and social media. (BBC News, 2013.)
Bell: A bell is rung to summon people to mass, tolled for sadness, and rung to welcome the bride and groom for a happy marriage. In esoteric practices, the bell is used to summon help from another world. The sound will purify the space and drive away negativity. Tibetan bells, a handbell, or a string of tiny bells sewn together are also used to cleanse space. When conducting mediumistic work, such as a séance, tarot, or rune reading, the clairvoyant will often cleanse their space and ring a bell over the person. When the individual has left, the bell will be used once more to disinfect the atmosphere.
Beltane: (See also Sabbats.) The Gaelic word Beltane translates to the “bright fire.” Beltane is typically celebrated on May 1, referred to as “May Day,” or somewhere between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The Gaelic honored this fire festival by lighting campfires and driving their cattle around as a way of ensuring prosperity in the coming months. (Wigington, 2019.)
Bermuda Triangle: The Bermuda Triangle is an area in the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Bermuda to Florida and across to Puerto Rico. Over the years, there have been mysterious disappearances of some fifty ships and twenty aircraft. Probably the most famous account is that of Flight 19 (December 1945). Five US military aircraft were flying out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when several garbled radio messages indicating that the flight had become lost and the crew could not find their bearings were heard. When it became clear the flight was missing, a search was organized. Strangely, a Catalina flying boat, which was part of the search party, also vanished without a trace, with thirteen crew members on board. No evidence or traces of the wreckages have ever been found. For these and other disappearances, many justifications have been offered, such as human error, bad weather, and gas emissions from the seabed. Other theorists have suggested more paranormal explanations, such as alien abduction or the possibility of some interdimensional portal. (Andrews, 2019.)
Besom: A broom made from birch twigs or heather tied to a pole. The staff of the broom represents the male genitalia, and the brush symbolizes the female genitalia. Many images show witches using their besom to fly around the sky, particularly at night. Ancient texts tell of how the witches would smear hallucinogenic oils, such as belladonna, henbane, and mandrake, on the staff before straddling it. The mind-altering compounds found in the plants were absorbed through the sweat glands of the armpits, anal passage, and vagina and entered the bloodstream much quicker, giving the witches a sensation of floating. These drugs were said to induce sleep and give the person dreams of flying. (Kroll, 2019.)
Bifrost: Part of Norse mythology. A rainbow bridge linking the earth to the heavens. This bridge is used by spirit guides to cross over and support and counsel those on the earth plane. (History of Bridges, 2019.)
Bigfoot: A large, hairy, apelike creature. Although it has been seen in many countries throughout the world, it is reported to live predominantly in the forests of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Its name comes from giant footprints found in this area. Typically, Bigfoot is very tall—sometimes said to be ten feet—and emits a foul smell. Accounts have come from hikers and loggers in more remote places of America, and occasionally campsites have been turned over and trashed. There have also been reports of rocks being thrown at those straying into Bigfoot’s territory. Theories range from it being a creature who is a throwback to ancient prehistoric humans to an interdimensional being brought to earth by UFOs. (Redfern, 2015.)
Birds: (See also Robin.) Since ancient times, birds are believed to possess higher knowledge and to be messengers. They will often present themselves oddly or mysteriously when an event of significance is taking place in a person’s life.
Birth: Independent accounts from people who have undergone hypnotic regression and been taken back to a time just before they were born mysteriously tell a similar story. It is believed that when a woman is pregnant, the soul of an unborn child can wander in and out of the fetus for the entire length of the gestation period until the moment of birth. This flitting back and forth is an adjustment period when the soul gradually gets used to its earthly body. Every soul has a choice as to whether it reincarnates or not. Once born, it has up to two earthly years to decide if it wants to proceed with life or not. This might explain the unfortunate cot death syndrome of children up until the age of two. If the soul of the baby changes its mind while in the womb, the mother might suffer a miscarriage or give birth to a stillborn baby. (Newton, 1994.)
Blood Witch: Hereditary. A person who is born into a family of people who practice witchery. They will study the craft and learn from family members before passing their knowledge down the family line.
Blue Men of the Minch: Also called “storm kelpies.” Mythological creatures suspected to live in the sea around the Outer Hebrides of the British Isles. These humanlike creatures are blue in color and have the ability to create storms. One theory suggests that when the blue men approach a boat, a shipmate must shout two lines of poetry to the captain of the vessel and challenge him to complete the verse. If he fails to do so, the blue men attempt to capsize the ship. (McQueen, 2016.)
Body Control: Used to alter the functions of specific body parts and avoid involuntary movements as an extension of mind control. Whether done for short or long periods, body control uses intense mental focus on the essential elements of the body to enable mental activity. Often breathing techniques are used to accomplish this level of management. A popular technique is 4-7-8, where the subject will sit or lie down and start slow, steady, deep breaths in through the nose for a count of four, hold the breath for a count of seven, and slowly exhale through the mouth for a count of eight.
Body Scanning: There are certain psychics, healers, and mediums who have the gift of body scanning. When first meeting a person, they can instantly read the aura of the individual and decipher their personality. Some ordinary people have this ability, too, and will take an immediate dislike or mistrust to someone at first sight. Healers, when scanning, can see dark shadows or areas on the body of someone who is not well. They can detect precisely where any healing power will be needed.
Bone Reading: Also called “bone throwing.” Although this practice originated in South Africa, it is also present in ancient Chinese text and was done as a way of foretelling the future. The reader would pass the querent a bag of small animal bones before asking them to throw the bones in the air. The psychic would then interpret the positioning of the bones and give a forecast to the querent. This custom is still widespread today, especially in Voodoo.
Book of Shadows: A journal, jotter, or diary that witches use to record documentation regarding moon cycles and herbal significances. The book also registers spells and whether or not they are successful. Often, the witch will note down their psychic experiences, dreams they had, or which color candles to use in their ceremonies. The book of shadows will sometimes house inspirational poetry, drawings, and uplifting words.
Boomerang Curse: Psychic attack. Sometimes a psychic receives unwanted messages or illness from another individual who possesses similar gifts. These can be emotions of anger, resentment, and even projected thoughts of disease and misery. The receiver will have the ability to transfer these unwelcome vibes back to the sender by reciting affirmations, such as, “Send this evil back to its sender.” In many cultures, people regard a thought as a living thing. That mental energy, good or bad, can be coordinated toward individuals with the power of the mind. (Spirit Daily, 2018.)
Borrowers: Tiny, invisible people who dwell in human houses. They squeeze into very small places, such as under the floorboards or inside drawers, walls, and pipes. They are adept at stealing or borrowing from human beings and are known to take food, jewelry, toys, and clothes. They feel no guilt and have no compulsion to give back what is stolen. Sometimes the item is returned if they are in a good mood, but often it disappears forever.
Botanomancy: Legend says the art of botanomancy dates as far back as the third century BCE with the ancient Druids. It was also recorded in the bible. The Druids worship nature and burn trees, bushes, and shrubs; later, when the ashes are cool, priests or psychics scatter them on the ground for divination purposes. Vervain is often used, and sometimes small branches are cast into the air. When they land, the patterns of the plant are deciphered before the reader offers a prediction.
Bowls: Tibetan singing bowls are used by many psychics, especially Shamans, to assist in healing and meditation. Any vibrational block in the body can cause illness, as the flow of energy is restricted. Each organ vibrates at its own frequency, and if an organ is weakened, the singing bowl is used to retune its frequency for the renewal of the person’s health.
Place the bowl on the palm of the left hand. With a small wooden stick or mallet, strike the bowl five or six times to create the correct energy. Take the mallet, and using a smooth, clockwise movement around the rim of the container, keep a steady rhythm until the right frequency is met. (Wong, 2019.)
Boys from Topside: Ufology. Knowledgeable alien beings from space whose whole purpose is to raise the consciousness of earth. (Beckley and Smith, 1969.)
Brownies: A goblin or earthling spirit from Wales and the Scottish Highlands of Great Britain. The creature is purported to have dark, leathery, wrinkled skin and can be as small as two feet tall. It is attracted to farmland and countryside. In folklore, the brownie is exceptionally hardworking and conscientious and will assist humans by doing chores at night, taking gifts of food as their reward. It is not malevolent in any way and is extremely loyal to the family it chooses. Psychics and mediums have reported seeing these beings near hedgerows and fields. (Alexander, 2002.)
Buddha: (See also Nirvana.) Sanskrit meaning: “to awaken.” In southern Nepal around 520 BCE, Siddartha Gautama was born to King Suffhodana and Queen Maya Devi. After leading a sheltered life, twenty-nine-year-old Siddartha fled the palace and spent years studying with famous gurus in the hope of finding a way to achieve enlightenment. Over the next forty-five years, he developed a huge following and eventually was given the name “Buddha,” meaning, “He who is awake.” Today, he is recognized as a higher being or avatar who has nothing more to learn from this world but will dispense great wisdom to help humans grow in their consciousness to reach the state of nirvana. (Shaw, 2016.)
Built-in Alarm: A deep intuitive feeling that something is wrong. An example would be a person having a sense of dread before getting into the car, only for the car to later crash—or, when meeting a person for the first time, feeling an instant dislike for the individual, only to be proven right when the person shows their true personality. (Keen, 2019.)
Burning Imprints: (See also Shroud of Turin.) An impression or stain of a person’s hand or face on paper or a piece of cloth. The marks often look burned in to the fabrics. It is believed that these imprints are somehow created by the deceased when they have unfinished business on earth or if they have a strong pull toward a family member. One theory is that the burning marks represent a burning desire to be in contact. (Wilkes, 2011.)
Butterflies: Butterflies have long been steeped in superstition and mystery. One Chinese theory is that a person is being visited by a relative or pet who has died if a white butterfly lands directly on them. Other cultures believe that the butterfly represents liberation, freedom, and transformation and is a lucky omen. (Sedgwick, 2019.)