Bane: That which is harmful, destructive or evil. Another word for bad, evil, destructive.

Banish: To magically end something or exorcise entities. To rid or remove the presence of.

Banishing: Three meanings: banishing the Circle is the formal dismantling of a Magic Circle when the ritual is over. Banishing an individual means expelling him of her from the coven for an unforgivable offense, or from Wicca itself, though some regard the latter as impossible. Banishing an entity means disabling a harmful non-material entity.

B.C.E: Before Common Era. Synonymous with B.C. without religious bias.

Beltane: Pronounced "Bal-tene". The Irish festival of May 1. Called Bealtiunn in Scotland, Shenn da Boaldyn in the Isle of Man, and Galan-Mai in Wales. A Major Sabbat, also known as May Eve.

Besom: A bundle of twigs attached to a handle used to cleanse and purify sacred space. Essentially a witch's broomstick.

BI-Location: A type of astral projection during which you maintain awareness of your present surroundings.

Bind: To prevent or limit. In the magical context the act of limiting a spell (ie: to ensure it will harm none) or person (ie: to prevent them from harming others). Some consider it unethical to bind people other than yourself or spells you did not cast.

Binding: Using magic to restrain someone or something, or to 'bind' them to you.

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.

Blood of the Moon: A woman's menstrual cycle, considered important and a crucial time for magic to be performed, especially when it crosses the new or full moon.

Bodhran: Irish for "Cow-song"; A single-head frame drum.

Bolline; Boleen: A Wiccan ritual knife used for more practical purposes, such as cutting herbs, etc. *never* to draw blood. Generally white handled with a curved blade. Compare: Athame.

Book of Shadows: A term coined by Aleister Crowley, to replace the word Grimoire, for a book of rituals, recipes, journal entries, laws/rules, chants/poems to gods and goddesses, magick, advice, and coven laws (if a coven B.O.S.) among other things. Much akin to a magical cookbook. A B.O.S can be a coven book, detailing that coven's craft, or owned by an individual wiccan with a more personal style.

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.

Botanica: A Santerian shop that sells herbs, charms, candles, religious statues, etc.

Broom: See Besom.

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.

Bruja;Brujo: Spanish for witch. (j is pronounced like h)

Burning Times: This is a word used to describe the execution of the witches during their persecution from the Middle Ages onwards. Most executions were in fact by hanging, not burning. While it is claimed that thousands and even millions were killed, a small fraction were actually witches. Many were heretics or Christians accused of witchcraft by those who disliked them, from circa 1000 CE through the 17th century. 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.