Ancient Egyptian concept of a person’s essence, believed to be immortal. Cf. Ka. See also Soul. The Egyptian conception of the soul, which; in the form of a man-headed bird, left the body after death and winged its flight to the gods. It returned at intervals to the mummy for the purpose of comforting it and reassuring it concerning immortality. Sometimes carved on the lid of mummy cases, it might be depicted grasping the ankh and the nif; occasionally it was represented as flying down the tomb shaft to the deceased or perched on the breast of the mummy.

In the Book of the Dead, a chapter promises abundance of food to the ba. The ba, or soul, should not be confused with the ka, the human double. In Egypt the human had both. After death, the ba left the body. The ka remained in the tomb and ventured forth in the likeness of the deceased to haunt family and friends

A marvelous plant known to the Arabs as the “Golden plant,” which is supposed to grow on Mount Libanus, under-neath the road that leads to Damascus. It is said to flower in the month of may, after the melting of the snow. At night it can be seen by torchlight, but through the day it is invisible. It was believed to be of great assistance to alchemists in the transmutation of metals. It is alluded to by the historian Josephus (Lib. 8, Chap. 25.)

Certain lakes of a gloomy nature between Hungary and Poland that have figured in various stories of witchcraft. Pools such as these were often used for purposes of divination, as by gazing down into clear water the mind is disposed to contemplation, often of a melancholy character. This form of divination is termed hydromancy and is similar to crystal gazing

A common name for the augurs and sorcerers of Tonkin, in Indochina. They were often consulted by the friends of deceased persons for the purpose of holding communication with the dead.

A town in ancient Italy northwest of Naples, was the site of a famous oracle of the dead, accounts of which appear in Virgil’s Aenead and in the writings of Strabo (63 B.C.E.-24 C.E.). It was located close to another oracle famous for its prophecies located at Cuma. Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.) resided close by and noted that Aenead had once visited the site where he contacted the spirit or shade of his father. The oracle site was an elaborate underground structure carved out of the ground rock. The inquirer would pay heavily for the privilege of seeking contact with someone who had died, and would become involved in a complex process.

The ordeal would begin with a three-day waiting period in a room decorated with various images of the afterlife. The person would then be led before an altar where a ewe would be sacrificed and its entrails used for divination (a practice termed extispicy), the purpose being the discernment of whether the continuance of the process would bring success. Once success appeared assured, the inquirer would be led deeper into the underground complex that was made to recreate the Under-world as understood in Greek/Roman mythology.

“Banana-tree ghost”, (Chinese Folklore) a female ghost which dwells in a banana tree, often haunting under the tree by appearing at night and wailing sadly, sometimes while carrying a baby. Folk tales in Singapore and Malaysia tell stories of greedy people asking for lottery numbers from this ghost by tying a red string around the tree trunk and sticking sharp needles into it, then tie the other end of the string to his/her bed. At night, the ghost will appear at the bed of the person asking for mercy and granting the person lottery numbers. After winning the lottery prize money, if the person did not fulfill the promise to set the ghost free, he/she will meet with a tragic death.

A Haitian term used to describe a ghostly creature not unlike a “ghoul”. The spirit is said to have been a member of a secret society of magic practitioners in life, which initiates them into the mysteries of the afterlife to grant mystical powers. After death, the spirit of the initiate is brought back in the form of a baka to eat human flesh, spread disease and misery, and to seek revenge for insults borne in life..

Japanese term for spirits or monsters with supernatural (and often frightening) powers. Bakemono can be a blessing or a curse for humans, depending on their natural disposition, moods, or the conditions under which they are encountered. Skilled and often mischievous deceivers, a good number of them are also known to eat humans.

(Philippine mythology) A deity that is often represented as a gigantic sea serpent. It is believed to be the god of the underworld and is often considered to be the cause of eclipses. It appears as a giant sea serpent with a mouth the size of a lake, a red tongue, whiskers, gills, small wires at its sides, and two sets of wings, one is large and ash-gray while the other is small and is found further down its body. During ancient times, Filipinos believe that there are seven moons created by Bathala to light up the sky.

The Bakunawa, amazed by their beauty, would rise from the ocean and swallow the moons whole, angering Bathala and causing them to be mortal enemies. To keep the Bakunawa moons from completely being swallowed, ancient Filipinos would go out of their homes with pans and pots, and would make noise in order to scare the Bakonawa into spitting out the moon back into the sky. Some of the people in the villages would play soothing sounds with their musical instruments, in hopes that the dragon would fall into a deep sleep. Thus, the brave men of the village hoped that while the dragon was hypnotized by the musical sounds they could somehow slay the dragon. Although the dragon was known as a “moon eater” it was also known as a “man eater”.

The Bakunawa had a sister in the form of a sea turtle. The sea turtle would visit a certain island in the Philippines in order to lay its eggs. However, locals soon discovered that every time the sea turtle went to shore, the water seemed to follow her, thus reducing the island’s size. Worried that their island would eventually disappear, the locals killed the sea turtle.

When the Bakunawa found out about this, it arose from the sea and ate the moon. The people were afraid so they prayed to Bathala to punish the creature. Bathala refused but instead told them to bang some pots and pans in order to disturb the serpent. The moon is then regurgitated while the Bakunawa disappeared, never to be seen again. The island where the sea turtle lays its eggs is said to exist today. Some sources say that the island might just be one of the turtle islands. (Also, known as; Bakonawa, Baconaua, or Bakonaua).

A precious stone with occult virtues. According to Camillus Leonardus (sixteenth century), it is “of a purple or rosy color, and by some is called the placidus or pleasant. Some think it is the carbuncle diminished in its color and virtue; just as the virtue of the female differs from that of the male. It is often found that the external part of one and the same stone appears a balasius and the internal a carbuncle, from whence comes the saying that the balasius is the carbuncle’s house.

The virtue of the balasius is to overcome and repress vain thoughts and luxury; to reconcile quarrels among friends; and it befriends the human body with a good habit of health. Being Bruised and drunk with water, it relieves infirmities in the eyes, and gives help in disorders of the liver; and what is still more surprising, if you touch the four corners of a house, garden or vineyard, with the balasius, it will preserve them from lightning, tempest, and worms.”

(Philippine mythology) A monster that steals corpses, whether they are in a funeral or grave and it feeds on them. It has a strong sense for dead human bodies find them to be very fragrant objects. It also has very sharp claws and teeth to rip the clothing of the dead. Since it eats nothing but corpse, it has a foul breath. Once this monster spotted and snatched a corpse, it will leave the trunk of a banana tree in the coffin creating an illusion of the deceased to trick people.

Bal-Bal was also associated to Aswang, Amalanhig, and even to Busaw, which are all flesh eaters. They were classified as one of the most fearful creatures in the Philippines because of their appearance. They are even compared to the vampire of the western continents.

A rare and controversial phenomenon in which a small sphere of light is witnessed for a short period of time. Some researchers have claimed that they were able to duplicate this in a lab environment.

(Irish Folklore) the mighty king of the Formorians who lived on Tory island, usually called “Balor of the evil eye.” it was believed that this king of the Fomorians, a race of giants, was able to destroy by means of an angry glance. The son of Buarainech and Cethlenn, According to legend, gained this power as a child when watching his father’s druids preparing poisonous spells; the fumes of which rose into his eye.

When his eyelid became heavy with years, it is said that he had it raised by four men using a handle fitted to his eyelid, or, in some versions, by means of ropes and pulleys so that he might continue to make use of his magic gift. He was eventually killed by his grandson, Lugh, the sun god and son of his daughter Birog, who crept near him one day when his eyelid had drooped momentarily

Formal, ceremonial, procedure effected to cast an invisible presence or influence out from an area. This term can refer either to a spiritual cleansing, or the closing of a magical rite, when the invoked powers are dismissed.

A spirit from Irish mythology who’s appearance foretell the death of the person who sees her of someone close to them. She most commonly either appears as a woman walking loudly outside the window or an old woman washing funeral shrouds by the river.

In Tibetan Buddhism, an intermediate state of existence, usually referring to the state between life and rebirth.

Term used in card guessing tests of clairvoyance, in which the top card of the deck is place to one side after each guess.

An ordinance that is performed by the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints and perhaps, some Other churches. Many believe that baptism for the dead is not a true Christian concept because they believe God himself said in the Bible that the dead will no longer have anything to do with anything under the sun. Others argue that I Corinthians 15:29 clearly shows that baptisms were performed for the dead in the first century Christian Church and therefore should be practiced today. Most who practice baptism for the dead do so because they believe that only the baptized may enter heaven, and they want all to have the opportunity to enter heaven, even if they did not have the opportunity to during mortality.

It was said that at the witches’ Sabbat children and toads were baptized with certain horrible rites. This was called “the baptism of the devil.”

A curious rite performed on persons crossing the equator for the first time. The sailors dressed themselves in quaint costumes. The “father of the line” arrived in a cask, accompanied by a courier, a devil, a hairdresser, and a miller. The unfortunate passenger had his hair curled, was liberally sprinkled with flour, and then had water showered upon him, if he was not dunked. The origin of this custom is not known, nor is it quite clear what part the devil played in it. The custom is reminiscent of the traditional initiatory rites of apprentices in trade guilds such as printing, and it may also be a precursor of initiations in college fraternities.

(A Cebuano term taken to mean all forms of malign magic or sorcery). In Tagalog, the word is used to refer to small insects and Beetles, especially the fungus beetle. At least one source identifies the specific species of this beetle as Alphitobius laevigatus. These beetles, the size of a common house fly, or other similar insects are said to be employed by Filipino shamans to perform sorcery or witchcraft in order to inflict pain or disease upon a victim.

A runic Alphabet system developed by; Iolo Morganwg. In Welsh it is spelt: “Coelbren y Beirdd”, (“the Bardic Alphabet”). It was said to be the alphabetic system of the ancient druids. It consisted of 20 main letters, and 20 others “to represent elongated vowels and mutations.” these symbols were to be represented in a wooden frame, known as peithynen.

In Tibetan Buddhism, an intermediate state of existence, usually referring to the state between life and rebirth.

(German) A goblin or phantom of mischievous character traditionally reported in the north of england and also in Wales. The meaning of the term is disputed, some believing it to be “town ghost” (burhghest), others suggesting it derive from the German berggeist (“mountain demon”). The goblin often appears in the form of a monstrous dog with huge teeth and claws. Another tradition suggests that the phantom is named from his habit of sitting on bars or gates. A writer in the mid-nineteenth-century encyclopedia Metropolitana relates a story of a woman he knew who had been brought up in the country. As a child, she had been passing through the fields one morning and saw someone sitting on a stile; as she drew near, however, the figure vanished.

(English) in northern England this monstrous dog with huge teeth and claws appeared only at night. It was believed that anyone who saw such a dog clearly would die soon after. In Wales, the dog was the red-eyed Gwyllgi, the dog of darkness. On the isle of man it was called Mauthe Doog. (this fearsome apparition may well have provided the inspiration for the sherlock Holmes detective story “the hound of the Baskervilles,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.)

Ancient semitic demon said to sit on the roofs of houses and leap on the inhabitants. People so afflicted were called d’baregara

Psychological term for the tendency of individuals to accept a very general or vague characterization of themselves and take them to be accurate. A good example of this can be seen when people believe what is said about them in psychometric tests, personality profiles, astrological predictions, and so on. This phenomenon is named after P. T. Barnum, who believed that a good circus had “a little something for everybody.”

An entity channeled through Mary-Margaret Moore, has emerged through the several books of his teachings as one of the more popular entities in the New Age world. Described as an “energy vortex” or alternatively as “the higher and wiser level of energy,” “Bartholomew” made his initial appearance in the mid-1970s. Moore was visiting with her friends John and Louise Aiken. John Aiken hypnotized Moore in an attempt to relieve her back pains, and “Bartholomew” began to speak. Hesitantly Moore accepted “Bartholomew’s” presence and allowed him to speak through her, but she also initially tested him. Noting the possibility that she was simply involved in a massive self-delusion, she monitored the information from “Bartholomew” and gauged it according to its helpful effects. Her acceptance of “Bartholomew” was also helped by consulting the I Ching, a Chinese divination method that involves the throwing of sticks that can create one of 64 hexagram patterns. She got the fiftieth, which refers to the “hollow” ruler who is receptive to the wisdom of a sage; and the first, which refers to the creative power of the deity. She decided that she was the ruler and “Bartholomew” the sage and thus that the channeling was a valid experience. Equally important, she observed that she and others who began to act out of Bartholomew’s wisdom were benefiting from it. For herself, Moore discovered a balance between the use of her rational thinking abilities when appropriate and her intuitive self at other suitable moments. The channeling activity itself seemed to bring a sense of peace, gratitude, and love. The first volume of selected materials from the channeling sessions with “Bartholomew” was published in 1984 as I come as a Brother: A remembrance of illusions. As many people became aware of “Bartholomew,” Moore attained some celebrity status within the new Age community Moore soon produced a second volume, From the heart of a Gentle Brother (1987). “Bartholomew” argues for the importance of relating to a higher reality. He calls upon people to turn within and discover the place of knowingness inside the self, assures people that they are not alone in the universe and that they need to open themselves to the energies that permeate it, allowing those energies to transform the self. Self-love and self-acceptance are additional important components of the transforming personality.

According to legend, the demon that holds the secret of the philosophers’ stone.

(plural: basajaunak, fem: basajere) an ancient human race of stout, hairy giants who were megalith builders and became known as rural genies. Basajaun means “Lord of the Woods” in Basque. The basajaun also exists in Aragonese mythology in the valleys of Tena, Ansó, and Broto under the names Basajarau, Bonjarau, or Bosnerau. The Basajaun was heavily built and about 2 to 3 meters tall. He is represented at times as being horrific, gifted with colossal strength and extraordinary agility. He has a tall body, of human form, which is covered in dark reddish hair. His long mane falls before him to his knees, covering his face, chest and stomach. They once dwelled in the mountains of the Basque Pyrenees of northern Spain and southern France. The Basajaun is usually the spirit that inhabits the deepest forests or caves situated in prominent places. The Basajaun is the protective spirit of forests and all most animals including wild creatures and flocks. He gives shouts in the mountains, when a storm approaches, so that the shepherds may withdraw their sheep. By lurking around a pen or its surroundings, he keeps the wolves from approaching. His presence is announced by the sheep who, shaking, and ring the bells around their necks. Thus the shepherds can go to sleep in peace, knowing that during that night or that day the Wolves, great enemies of the flocks, will not come to bother them. They are the first to have cultivated the earth. Human beings obtained the right to cultivate the earth when a man won a bet with a Basajaun. In other popular stories, he is known as the first farmer from whom man learned about the cultivation of cereals and as the first blacksmith and the first miller, from whom man stole the secret of making the saw, the axis of the mill and how to weld the metals. He is also a powerful magician. Given the arrival of the first Basques (circa 40,000 b.c.) and the overlap of the then-indigenous people, the Neanderthals (circa 200,000 to 40,000), some spelculation has been given whether the Basajuanak stories originated out of proto-Basque interaction with the soon-to-be extinct Nean­ derthals, particularly given the close similarity in Neanderthal /Basajuanak physical characteristics.

(Serbian) Apowerful and very evil winged man whose soul is not held by his body and can be subdued only by causing him to suffer dehydration.

An aromatic herb of the mint family, (genus Ocimum) with a pungent clove like flavor, mainly used in soups and other recipes. Many traditions and superstitions are connected with basil. There are two suggested derivations of its popular name. It was once thought to be an antidote for the poi­ son of the fabulous basilisk or cockatrice. Another tradition cites an early Greek name, basilikon, im­ plying that theherb was used in a royal ceremony. Some traditions believed it sacred, others that it wasdedicated to the devil. Greeks believed it was an emblem of hatred, Italians that it wasappropriate to lovers.

In both Greece and Rome there were ancient rit­ uals involving cursing when the herb wasplanted, which werebelieved to assist growth. In Moldavia it was a folk superstition that asprig of basil flowers handed by a girl to a wayward lover would ensure the boy’s fidelity and love. Basil is much prized in India, where it is known as tulsi(or tulasi) and re­ garded as sacred to the god vishnu and the goddess Lakshmi. It is grown in pots near Hindu homes and temples. It is used in cooking and is also believed to help secure children.

A mythological reptilian creature from medieval legend that isdescribed as a serpent, lizard or a dragon and is said to kill with its breath or glance. From the Greek basileus meaning; “little king”. Said to be a creature hatched from a cock’s egg by a serpent or a toad in a dunghill, and is said to be the incarnation of the death god.

Accounts of this monster vary, but it was generally said to have either the face of a cock or a distorted human face, with the wings and feet of a fowl and the tail of a serpent. It was represented this way in heraldry. It was reputed to be a deadly creature with adestructive power similar to that of the fabulous Gorgons of Greek legend. A human being could survive its deadly glare only by viewing it in a mirror; however, if anyone saw the basilisk before it saw that person, the creature would die.

It was even believed to kill itself if it saw its own image in a mirror. Even its breath was poisonous to plants and Animals, as well as to humans, and was believed to have the power to split rocks.

It is possible that this fearsome creature really evolved from exaggerated travelers’ tales of the homed adder or the hooded cobra, confused with such awesome reptiles as the Gila monster. Basilisk has also been applied to a group of iguana like lizards (Basiliscus), found on the banks of rivers and streams in Central America and Mexico.

(Also: Bathym, Mathim, Marthim, Bathin) According to Johan Weyer, Bathym is a duke of the infernal regions, also known as Marthin. He has the appearance of a robust man, but his body endsin a serpent’s tail. He rides a steed of livid color and is able to transport menfrom one place to another with wondrous speed. He is well versed in the virtues of herbs and precious stones. Thirty legions obey his behests.

In de­monology, Bathym is a Duke (Great duke according to Pseudomonarchia Daemonum) of hell, who has under his command thirty legions of demons. He knows the virtues of precious stones and herbs, and can bring men suddenly from one country to another. He helps one attain astral projection, and takes you where ever you want to go. Heis depicted as a strong man with the tail of a serpent, riding a pale horse. He is mentioned in the lesser Key of Solomon. Additional traits: element – Air, metal-lead, plant – mistletoe, Candle Color – pur­ple, tarot Card- 10 of swords.

(Also Bangungot) (Ilocano folklore) A vengeful demon blamed as the cause of the fatal nocturnal disease called “bangungot”. A batibat takes the form of a huge, old,fat woman that re­ sides in trees. They usually come in contact with humans when the tree that they reside in is felled and made into a support post for a house. This causes them to migrate into holes found in the post. The batibat forbids humans from sleeping near its post. When a person does sleep near it, the batibat transforms to its true form and attacks that person. It sits upon the chest of its victim until he suffocates. To ward off the batibat, one should bite one’s thumb or wiggle one’s toes. In this way, the person will awaken from the night­ mare induced by the batibat. (See also:”Old Nag, The”)

is a bat winged humanoid and a phe­ nomenon that comes from the Russian Far East around the Primorskiy Kray Territory. Ahunter called A.I. Kurentsov spotted the beast several years agoin the immense taiga forest as it flew over his fire. The bat man or letayuschiy chelovek, which translates, as ‘flying human’ is also famed for its eerie cry, likened to a woman’s scream but ending in a ‘lugubrious howl’.

An unexplained phenomena in which fully charged batteries will suddenly be­ come devoid of all charge without any warning or other effects. This often accompanies other forms of paranormal activity. Frequently reported by paranormal investigators when on an investiga­tion. (See also: “Jinx Effect”).

(Ancient Irish Mythology) Daughter of the wizard Calatin who figures in the famous Irish legend the Cattle raid of Quelgny. By taking the form of one of Niam’s handmaids, she succeeded in enticing Niam away from Cuchulain and led her forth towander in the woods.

Named in the grimoire of Honorius as a powerful demon and monarch of the western parts of the infernal regions. To him the foilowing invocation is addressed: “O King Bayemon, most mighty, who reigneth towards the western parts, I call upon thee and invoke thy name in the name of the Divinity. I command thee in the name of the most high to present thyself before this circle, thee and the other spirits who are thy subjects, in the name of Passiel and Rosus, for the purpose of replying to all that which I demand of thee. If thou dost not come I will torment thee with a sword of heavenly fire. I will augment thy pains and burn thee. Obey, “OKing Bayemon”. Although ascribed to pope Honorius III and supported by what is claimed as a papal bull authorizing ordained priests to invoke spirits and control demons, thisgrimoire is denounced by Roman Catholic writers asa forgery. The grimoire be­ came popular among seventeenth-century occult magicians.

(Chippewa Folklore) An evil spirit which is said to dwell in the forests of the Great Lakes region. The Baykokis one of the Undead, a spirit that exists beyond the grave through the sheer force of its supernatural will. The word bakaak in the Anishinaabe language means “skeleton” in the senseof “bones drapedin skin” rather than “bare-bones”, such that it lends itself to words like bakaakadozo, meaning “to be thin/skinny/poor”, and bakaakadwengwe, meaning “to have a lean/thinface”. The name Bakaak occasionally appears as Bakaak (reflected in English as “Baykok”), which may be a shortening of bekaakadwaabewizid, meaning “an extremely thinbeing”. Also pau’guk, paguk, baguck; bakaak in the Ojibwa language and pakak in the Algonquin language) The Baykok appears as a skeletal being, covered in a translu­ cent layer of desiccated skin, as well as having a horrifying skull-like countenance. The creature’s eyes usually glow an unholy red, although some legends have claimed that therevenant’s eye sock­ ets are empty black pits, soulless and wholly evil. The cries of Baykok are also described as being shrill.

The spirit doctor of Hulham House, near Exmouth, England, working through the medium Miss Rose. “Dr. Beale” is credited with the healing of many hopeless cases, as narrated in One Thing I Know (1919), Dr. Beale (1921), and The House of Wonder (1928), by E. M. S. (E. M. Storr), a lady patient, whom he cured. According to his own claims, “Dr. Beale” had been a physi­ cian on Earth. He performed no operations, and his treatment mostly consisted of diet, bath, and massages. Hulham House was acquired in 1921 and was run on humanitarian principles.

Patients who were unable to come to the home were often treated at a distance if they sent some articles of apparel to establish the link. Miss Rose, as a rule, went intotrance when “Dr. Beale” possessed her body and made the diagnosis. This was often preceded by another possession when “Madeleine,” a spirit nurse, came through and prepared everything for the doctor as miss rose herself did not understand nursing. Another worker in “Dr. Beale’s” band was”Dr. Nova,” who worked through Sister Mercia, a fully trained nurse in asmall town in Devon. Miss Rose often visited patients, and this waythe healing was su­ perintended by “Dr. Beale.”

Title of a book by major Edward moore, F.R.S. That was published in 1841 onthe mysterious bell ringing in his house at Great Bealings, and Suffolk, england, which began February 2, 1834, and lasted for 53 days. Every attempt to discover the cause of the mysterious ringing was fruitless, and by no effort could the same clam­ orous, rapid ringing be normally produced. After three days of the strange experience, Major Moore concluded, “I am thoroughly convinced that the ringing is by no human agency.” the psychic re­ searcher Frank Podmore, in modern spiritualism (1902), believed the conviction too hastily formed and pointed out that the major, the sole witness, did not describe a single occasion on which every member of the household was accounted for when the bell ringing occurred. However, no com­ ment waspassed by him on the sequel to Major Moore’s story astold in the Ipswich Journal.

Readers of the paper sent 14 communications of similar happenings in different parts of Eng­ land, some of them recurring and having an ancestry of 100 years. In My Life (1901), Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace quoted the testimony of professor Anstead: “A neighbor and friend of mine at Great Bealings has had the most wonderful things happen in his house, which no one has ever been able to find a cause for. He has often told me about the bells ringing when no one wasin the house.

He was a very clever man, and I am sure what he says is true, and many people in the neighborhood were witnesses of it.”

[Old English beo; Old Irish bech; Modern Irish beach, seillean; Scottish Gaelic beach; Manx shellan; Welsh gwenynen; Cornish gwenenen; Breton gwenanenn] the honey-making insect with distinctive black and yellow coloring (order Hymenoptera) has attracted a small body of lore in Celtic languages. In both Ireland and Wales, bees are thought to hail from heaven and bring secret wisdom with them. Honey is listed among the attributes of Munster.

It was maintained by some demonologists that if a sorceress ate a queen bee before being captured, she would be able to sustain her trial and tortures without making a confession. In some parts of Brittany it was claimed that these insects were very sensitive to the fortunes and misfortunes of their master, and would not thrive unless he was careful to tie a piece of black cloth to the hive when a death occurred in the family, and a piece of red cloth when there wasanyocca­ sion of rejoicing.

The Latin grammarian Gaius Julius Solinus (third centuryC.E.) wrote that there arenobees in Ireland, and even if a little Irish earth betaken to another country and spread about the hives, the bees would abandon the place, so fatal to them is the earth of Ireland. The same story is found in the Origins of Isadora. “Must we Seek,” says Pierre Lebrun, author of Critical history of superstitious practices (1702), “the source of this calumny of Irish earth? No; for it is sufficient to say that it is afable, and that many bees are to be found in Ireland.” There are many ancient superstitions about bees. In biblical times they were thought to originate in the bodies of dead cattle, hence the riddle by Samson in Judges 14:8, “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” In fact, the skeletonized rib cage skeleton of dead cattle provided a natural beehive.

In Egyptian mythology, bees arose from the tears of the sun god Ra, while a Breton supersti­tion said they came from the tears of Christ on the cross. In Hindu mythology, bees formed the bow­ string of Kama, the Indian Cupid. Popular folk­ lore claimed that bee stings aided arthritis and rheumatism sufferers and recently bee venom has been revived as a possible treatment for multiple sclerosis. In rural districts all over the world, the old custom of “telling the bees” persisted when there was a death in the family or someone left home.

In Ireland, the bees also told secrets or advised on new projects. In ancient European folklore, bees were regarded as messengers to the gods, and the custom of “telling the bees” might have been a remnant of the idea of keeping the gods advised of human affairs.

To exist in actuality, have life or reality, the state or quality of having existence, a living entity.

A former secret society of Liberia, Africa, the cult of which consisted in a description of brotherhood with departed spirits. The sev­enteenth-century author Olfert dapper, writing of this society, stated: “they have also another custom which they call Belli Paaro of which they say it is a death, a new birth and incorporation in the community of spirits or soul with whom the common folk associate in the bush, and help to eat the offerings prepared for the spirits.” This description is far from clear, but apparently those who joined the society wished to be regarded as spiritualized, or as having died and having been brought to life again; and that their society was a confraternity of all those who had passed through this training in common.

A poltergeist legend from Southern United States folklore, involving the Bell family of Adams, Tennessee. According to the legend, the first manifestation of the haunt­ing occurred in 1817 when John William Bell, Sr. encountered a strange animal in a cornfield on his large farm in Rrobertson County, on the Red River, near Adams, Tennessee. The animal, described as having the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, vanished when Bell shot at it. This incident was quickly followed by a series of strange beating and gnawing noises manifesting outside and eventually inside the Bell residence. Betsy Bell, the family’s younger daughter and the only daughter still living at home (Bell’s oldest daughter Esther married Alexander Bennett Porter July 24, 1817), claimed to have been assaulted by an invisible force.

Bell Sr., later in life, suffered frequent facial seizures, often rendering him speechless. He died on December 20, 1820. A small vial containing an unidentified liquid he allegedly ingested was found near his body. When some of the contents were force-fed to the family cat, the animal died. The vial was then disposed of in the fireplace. Pat Fitzhugh’s retelling of the Bell Witch legend con­cludes with a statement to the effect that some people believe that the spirit returned in 1935, the year when the witch claimed it would return (“one hundred years and seven” past 1828), and took up residence on the former Bell property. Other sources say that 1935brought nothing out of the ordinary to the Bell descendants or the sur­rounding community.

Strange pictures that appeared on the stone hearth in the kitchen of Juan Pereira Sanchez in the village of Belmez de la Moraleda, Spain, during 1971. The Sanchez family was puz­zled and frightened when the first face gradually manifested on the hearth, and eventually the son of the family hacked out the face with a pick axe and filled in the hole with cement and sand.

Soon afterward, however, a second face appeared near the site of the first one. As the news spread, neighbors and later sightseers visited to see this phenomenon. The second face was hacked out and placed on a kitchen wall under glass.

On the advice of the village mayor, the hearth was excavated and a shaft over six feet dug out. Bones were discovered, and it was later learned that the house was built on the site of an old cemetery. The second face had an agonized expression and resembled a Byzantine sketch. Other faces continued to appear. The case was investigated in 1972 by German de Argumosa, who reported on some 18 “Belmez faces” that had”grown” beyond the cemented hearth on the tiled kitchen floor. Even when the professor covered and sealed the floor with plastic, new faces appeared under the plastic, although the seals were not tampered with. Tape recordings were also made of voices associated with the face phenomena.

[Welsh, mothers’ blessings] A Glamorganshire euphemism for the fairies, known more often in Wales as; “tylwythteg.” Eu­phemism is preferred to avoid kidnapping or fairy mischief.

A method of divination by arrows that dates as far back as ancient Chaldea. It ex­isted among the Greeks, and still later among the Arabians, although its use was forbidden by the Quran. One popular method was to throw a certain number of arrows into the air, and the direction in which the arrow inclined as it fell pointed out the course to be taken by the en­quirer. The arrows were typically marked with occult symbols and had to have feathers for every method. In one method, different possible an­swers to a given question were written and tied to each arrow.

For example, three arrows would be marked with the phrases, God orders it me, God forbids it me, and the third would be blank. The arrow that flew the furthest indicated the answer. Another method involves the same thing, but without shooting the arrows. They would simply be shuffled in the quiver, worn preferably on the back, and the first arrow to be drawn indicated the answer. If a blank arrow was drawn, they would redraw. This was an ancient practice, and probably that mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel 21:21, below is the English translation in the new American Standard Bible, “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver.”

St. Jerome agrees with this understanding of the verse, and observes that the practice was frequent among the Assyrians and Babylonians. Something like it is also mentioned in Hosea 4:12, although a staff or rod is used instead of arrows, which is rather rhabdomancy than Belomancy. Grotius, as well as Jerome, confounds the two to­gether, and shows that it prevailed much among the Magi, Chaldean, and Scythians, from which it passed to the Slovenians, and then to the Germans, whom Tacitus observes to make use of it. A lost traveler might also use Belomancy to find his way, by tossing the arrow into the air, and letting its angle show him the way. The Book of Mormon describes an oracle known as the Liahona which consisted of two spindles in a brass ball. One of the spindles would point the direction of travel.

Writings would also appear on this device. Div­ination by arrows is related to rhabdomancy. The arrows are labeled, and the advice or ora­cle tied to the arrow which travels the furthest is taken to be valid. “For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the end of the two ways, to use divination; he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.”

According to ancient Hebrew belief, Benemmerinen are witches who haunt women in childbirth for the purpose of stealing newborn infants. Not to be confused with Lilith who ceased to be a human upon leaving Adam in the Garden and doesn’t seek to steel children but, to kill them.

A spirit that is not harmful.

(Also: “Briyah”) [From Hebrew “Olam Briyah”, literally “World of Creation”) The second of the four celestial worlds in the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, intermediate between the World of Emanation (Atziluth) and the World of Formation (Yetzirah), the third world, that of the angels. It is, accordingly, of the purest essence and without admixture of matter. It is known as the World of Cre­ation. In western occultism, each of the Sephiroth in this world is associated with a Holy Archangel, and it is associated with the suit of Cups in the Tarot. The Biblical Archangels dwell in the realm of Beri’ah.

Group of precious stones that include emerald and aqua-marine. Colorless beryl is known as goshenite; rose beryl is called verobyerite or morganite; golden beryl is called heliodor; and there are also pale blue stones(aqua­ marine) and blue-green stones. Beryl was tradi­tionally recommended for curing throat or liver disorders. It was also said to preserve wedded love and to be a good medium for magical vision.

A red precious stone that was supposed to possess magical properties and was found in the bodies of certain animals. At one time these stones fetched ten times their weight in gold as a remedy against poison and contagion; and for this purpose they were taken both internally and worn round the neck. There were said to be nine varieties of bezoar that differed greatly in compo­sition but were generally divided into those com­ posed mainly from minerals and those composed of organic matter.

A strange origin was assigned to this stone by some of the early naturalists. It is said that aging Oriental stags fed upon serpents, which renewed their youth. In order to counteract the poison which was absorbed into their system
they plunged into a running stream, keeping their heads only above water. This caused a viscous fluid to be distilled from their eyes, which was indurated by the heat of the sun and formed the bezoar.

(Pl: bhutas) (Bengalese Folklore) Atype of evil spirit. The word Bhut is still used in Hindi to categorize a ghost. The Bhuta or pret is the evil ghost of a man who died an untimely death like execution, accident, or suicide or leaded an un­holy or immoral life. This kind of reincarnation does not arise out of birth from a womb, etc., but is achieved directly, and such evil spirits’ fate is pre-determined as to how they shall achieve lib­eration from that yoni, and re-enter the world of mortal flesh through next incarnation.

Bhutas appear as flickering lights or misty apparitions that cast no shadows and linger above the ground. Bhutas haunt forests and empty dwellings by day and night. Bhutas usually wander around animating dead bodies at night and may attack the living like a ghoul, ultimately reaping its victim’s flesh. They can be detected by nasal twangs, fear of burning turmeric and lack of shadow. They mostly plague those who do not performer the proper funerary rites for the dead. Bhutas are considered responsible for: accidents, bad crops, calamities, both natural and domestic, diseased livestock, illness, insanity and plagues.
They are also said to enter a human body and make sicken it until death.

People protect themselves by lying on the ground, because the bhutas never rest on earth. In the Bhagvad Gita, Krishna the Avatar declares that the humans who worship bhutas become bhutas themselves; this is part of a larger dis­ course wherein the Avatar tells Prince Arjuna that the worshipper and the worshipped ultimately become one.

Bengalese word for; “Ghost”. Ghosts are an important part of folklore in Bengal. Fairy tales, both old and new often use the concept of ghosts. In modern day Bengali literature as well, refer­ences to ghosts may be often found. It is believed that the spirits of those who cannot find peace in the afterlife or die unnatural deaths remain on earth. The common word for ghosts in Bengali is bhut (Bengali:6,_’v ). There are different and distinct types of ghosts in Bengal. Some of the more prom­inent are:

1) Shankchunni: Female ghost.

2)Petni: Female ghost.

3)Chorachunni: thief ghost, very mischievous and usually the souls of dead thieves.

4)Penchapechi: ghosts that look like owl and follow people in the woods at night and eventually eats them.

5) Nishi: An evil spirit that calls people out by name from their home at night, never to be returned again.

6) Mamdo bhut: Ghosts of Muslims.

7) Brahmadaitto or Brahmodatti: Ghosts of Brahmin or Brahmo people.

8) Aleya: Marsh gas apparitions that confuse fishermen, make them lose their bearings and eventually drown.

9)Skondhokata or Kondhokata: A headless ghost.

These ghosts are often shown to be fond of fish and are attracted to the smell of fish. A curious aspect of female ghosts, Petnis, is that their feet are said to be backwards.

A divination wherein a book, especially the Bible is opened at random to a verse or passage, and the chosen passage is then inter­preted. Another method of divination used to dis­ cover if a person is innocent or guilty of sorcery.
The accused is weighed against the great Bible at a local church, and if the person weighs less than the Bible, they are presumed innocent.

(Filipino Folklore) (sometimes confused with the AUX-AUX in some areas by the Filipinos) Sometimes called Penanggalan and Manananggal in Malay folklore is a mythical creature of the Philippines. The Bihing resembles a Western vampire, in being an evil, human-de­vouring monster or witch. The myth of the Bihing is popular in the visayan region of the Philippines, especially in the western provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, and Antique.

There are varying accounts of the features of a Bihing. Like vampires, Visayan folklore crea­tures, and aswangs, manananggals are also said
to abhor garlic and salt. They were also known to avoid daggers, light, vinegar, spices and the tail of a sting ray which can be fashioned as a whip.

Folklore of similar creatures can be found in the neighboring nations of Indonesia and Malaysia. The bihing is described as being an older, beau­tiful woman (as opposed to an aswang), capable of severing its upper torso in order to fly into the night with huge bat-like wings to prey on unsus­pecting, pregnant women in their homes; using an elongated proboscis-like tongue, it sucks the hearts of fetuses or blood of an unsuspecting, sleeping victim.

The severed lower torso is left standing and it is said to be the more vulnerable of the two halves. Sprinkling salt or smearing crushed garlic or ash on top of the standing torso is fatal to the creature. The upper torso then would not be able to rejoin and will die at daybreak. The name of the creature originates from an expression used for a severed torso: manananggal comes from the Tagalog, tanggal (cognate of Malay tanggal) which
means to “remove or to separate”. Manananggal then means the one who separates itself (in this case, sep­arates itself from its lower body).

Ghosts which allegedly appear to be solid, real people and are said to hitch lifts with unsuspecting motorbike riders. It is somewhat unclear whether or not this truly is a genuinely reported phenomenon or simply an urban myth.
Regardless of which is correct the accounts of biker ghosts usually follow in a similar vein. Simi­lar to the; “Vanishing hitchhiker” stories.

Being or appearing; to be in two different places at the same time.

Procedure in which a question is secretly written on a piece of paper which is folded or sealed in an envelope, and handed to the psychic who attempts to answer the question.
Various trickery can be employed by fraudulent psychics and mentalists.

A general term for technique that involves giving a person’s information about their current physiological state; e.g., heart rate, EEG’s etc. Bio-Feedback is used to enable people to con­trol consciously their physiological processes.

Term used to refer to psychokinetic effects brought about on living systems; examples of such effects would be the paranormal speeding up or slowing down of the sprouting of seeds or of the growth of bacteria, the resuscitation of anesthetized mice, and so on; may also include psychosomatic effects; symbolized “PKLT” (“Psy­ chokinesis on living targets”) by J. B. Rhine; modern researchers refer to it as DMILS, or direct mental influence on living systems.

A spell, ritual, prayer, or other ceremony by which a spirit or demon is bound for certain actions such as doing harm. They are then con­sidered imprisoned in or permanently barred from or attaching to a place, structure, object, or animal.

[Arabic, in the name of God!] An adjuration or exclamation, common among the Mohammedans. [Written also in Bizmillah.]

A conjuring technique of concealing objects using black covers against a black back­ ground. Also used by fraudulent mediums.

(British Folklore) Term used to refer to apparitions of creatures which resemble black dogs though it is also often used as a generic term for canine apparitions of other colors and types.

Often described as being the size of a calf; moving in silence except for the clicking of their claws. Most black dogs either vanish or fade from sight. Descriptions differ from each other: the black dog appear to either being swallowed into earth or disappearing with a flash or blast. Some sightings report the apparitions of black dogs walking on their hind-legs.

There are also descriptions of dogs which increase or decrease in size as well as some of them may be seen shape shifting into another form, human or animal. Black Dogs have often been reported as walking through solid objects.

The Black Dogs may be associated with a particular place, often where violent crimes hap­pened. As they are likely to appear next to water and Great Britain, being the place where they are mostly reported, presents few areas far from
water. They are usually reported at night, though there are exceptions to this statement as few sightings happened in daylight. Black Dogs are usually sighted outdoors, mostly in rural settings, though encounters inside dwellings have been reported as well. They seem to be attracted to churches. Sometimes Black Dogs appear silently, other times the sound of their claws ticking will be heard. Very few times they have been reported barking or growling; still less the Black Dogs that laugh or speak or those whose appearance is linked to the sound of chains.

Author Theo Brown defines three types of black dogs, but she also states that obviously these three divisions exist for our convenience merely; there are many overlaps.

1) Generally known as the Barguest, Shuck, Black Shag, Trash, Skriker, Padfoot, Hooter, and other names. These are not individual names but are attributed to a creature living in certain areas. This type, more commonly known as the Barguest type,changes its shape, something a true black dog is not capable of doing;

2) The one more often related to as the Black Dog, which is always black, and always appear as a dog and doesn’t have shape shifters’ capability. This one too is linked with a specific place or part of a road, though it might be associated with a per­ son, a family or with a Witch;

3) The last variety is uncommon and is about dogs appearing in a specific place according to a calendar cycle.

Otherwise seemingly normal children who seem to have black irises or the whole of their eyes are totally black. They are generally unfamiliar to, and cause a feeling of uneasiness in witnesses they often demand to be allowed to enter one’s home or vehicle. Most witnesses claim to have felt strongly influenced by the Black eyed Children and report feeling subconsciously coerced to grant their requests.
They are relatively new phenomena in the paranormal sciences. (Another definition): According to some witnesses, they are strange, young children, usually in their teens or preteens, who insist on coming inside somebody’s home or car. Not only are they intimidating and pushy, they also have extremely strange eyes-fully black as if the pupil stretches out covering the iris and sclera.

Magical spells or rituals practiced with the intention of harming other.

The mass said in honor of Satan at the black witches Sabbath and by Satanist.

A large spectral death omen demon dog in British folklore, especially in Norfolk and other parts of East Anglia. Black Shuck, also called “Old Shuck”, derives its name from the Anglo­ Saxon term scucca or sceocca, old Anglo-Saxon terms for “demon” or “Satan”.

A medieval mystery in which, science has recently revisited. According to legend, during a 13th century mass at Bolsena in Italy, some bright red blood is said to have man­ifested on the sacramental wafer. This event later went on to inspire Pope Urban IV to inaugurate the Annual Feast of Corpus Christi. However, this ‘miracle’ has recently been recreated in a petri dish in 1994. Dr. Johanna Cullen from George Mason University in Virginia found that by incu­bating the Serratia marcescens bacteria, a similar effect produced by the Bolsena bread could be achieved. The bacteria thrive on starch and within three days of her experiment several blood red spots appeared on a wafer. It could be that a simple case of contamination may be one expla­nation for this miracle.

An identical procedure to open matching except, that the key cards are unseen by the subject.

1. A ghost or witch featured in Western folklore. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times (or sometimes more, depending upon the version of the story), often as part of a game at slumber parties. Other very similar tales use different names for the character including Mary Worth, Mary Worthington, and Hell Mary among others.

2. A game in which, a ghost of the same name (or sometimes other names, such as “Mary Worth”) is said to appear in a mirror when summoned. One of the more common ways participants attempt to make her appear is to stand before a mirror in the dark (most commonly in a bathroom) and re­peat her name three times, though there are many variations.

Some include chanting a hundred times, chanting at midnight, spinning around, rubbing one’s eyes, running the water, or chanting her name thirteen times with a lit candle. In some versions of the legend, the summoner must say, “Bloody Mary, I killed your son!” or “I killed your baby.” In these variants, Bloody Mary is often be­lieved to be the spirit of a mother (often a widow) who murdered her children, or a young mother whose baby was stolen from her, which made her go mad in grief and she eventually committed suicide. In stories where Mary is supposed to have been wrongly accused of killing her children, the querent might say “I believe in Mary Worth.” This is similar to another game involving the sum­moning of the Bell Witch in a mirror at midnight.

The game is often a test of courage, as it is said that if Bloody Mary is summoned, she would proceed to kill the summoner in an extremely violent way, such as ripping his or her face off, scratching his or her eyes out, driving the person insane or bringing the person into the mirror with her.Some versions say that if you chant her name thirteen times at midnight into a mirror she will appear and you can talk to a deceased person until 12:01, when Bloody Mary and the dead person you asked to speak to will vanish. Other variations say that the querent must not look directly at her, but at her image in the mirror; she will then reveal the querent’s future, particularly concerning mar­riage and children.

Typically described as a child-murderer who lived in the local city where the legend has taken root years ago. There is often a specific local graveyard or tombstone that be­ comes attached to the legend. On the other hand, various people have surmised that the lore about taunting Bloody Mary about her baby may relate her tenuously to folklore about Queen Mary I, also known as “Bloody Mary”, whose life was marked by a number of miscarriages or false pregnancies.

Speculation exists that the miscarriages were deliberately induced. As a result, some retellings of the tale make Bloody Mary the queen driven to madness by the loss of her children. It is likely, however, that Queen Mary only provided her nick­ name to the Bloody Mary of folklore. She is also confused in some telling’s of the story with Mary, Queen of Scots. The mirror ritual by which Bloody Mary is summoned may also relate to a form of divination involving mirrors and darkness that was once performed on Halloween.

While as with any sort of folklore the details may vary, this particular tale encouraged young women to walk up a flight of stairs backwards, holding a candle and a hand mirror, in a darkened house. As they gazed into the mirror, they were supposed to be able to catch a view of their future husband’s face. There was, however, a chance that they would see the skull-face of the Grim Reaper instead; this meant, of course, that they were des­tined to die before they married.

One who trolls the internet inject­ing themselves into blogs to incite disharmony and disunity for the purpose of creating drama and to draw attention for themselves to gain notoriety in the paranormal world.

A grim spectral figure that delights in menacing mortals with rather gruesome pranks and abductions. Although the lore of this charac­ter has degenerated into a familiar device used to threaten rambunctious children, the ‘Bogey’ was formerly soundly dreaded in Celtic regions, and was said to prowl the stretches of fields, marshes, and moors, looking for hikers and travelers who had strayed from their paths.

Practitioner of black magic in voodoo.

A book of funeral rites.

Apocryphal book said to have been written by the prophet Enoch. It details the story of grigori and the nephillium.

(a) A communication in which the sitter is asked to look at a specific book and page in order to receive a significant message. (b) An effect in which the psychic or mentalist divines the world written on a particular page of a book.

The moment during an exorcism when the demonic force is closest to expulsion. As a possessed individual begins to regain control of his or her will, the demon exhausts itself trying to retain its hold. Eventually, it has no choice but to release the person and vacate.

An element that has all the properties to burn away negative vibrations and evil spirits.

Considered by some to prove once and for all that ghosts exist beyond reasonable doubt. The “Brown lady” photographs are one of the most famous ghost photographs ever taken. Seen in the photograph as floating effortlessly up a flight of stairs, the “Brown Lady” as it is referred to, has been sighted by dozens of people in Raynim Hall, Norfolk as long ago as 1835. The ghost is allegedly that of a woman who used to live in Raynim Hall before she died.

In the dialects of the Nigerian state of Borno, this term literally means “I become a hyena.” In actual use, however, the term generally refers to any person who shape shifts into a hyena.

An old Christian cus­tom; “to bury the dead with their feet towards the east and their heads towards the west.”