aznewage           

New Age Dictionary  B

Baal: (Babylonian--the house of God, i.e. the godhead)

Chief God of Babylon. Because more than one god bore the title Ba‘al and more than one goddess bore the title Ba‘alat or Ba‘alah, it is often difficult to be sure which Ba‘al 'Lord' or Ba‘alat 'Lady' a particular inscription or text is speaking of.Baal-Adon (Adonai) was a phallic god. 

Ba'alat or Ba'alah: (Babylonian- the house of the Goddess)

Chief goddess of Babylon.

Bab:(Persian - the gate)

May 23, 1844, the Bab, a young merchant in Persia, announced that he was the bearer of a long-promised Divine Revelation destined to transform the spiritual life of the human race: the  coming of Bahá'u'lláh.  To those of the Bahai, faith this advent is viewed as the gateway through which the process of thousands of years of Divine revelation has attained its fruition for refining human nature.

Baba, Sai: 

A Hindu Guru known world wide.

Babaji, Mahamuni:

The deathless avatar who has been teaching in India for over 2000 years.  More at Babaji

Babel, Tower of:    

The tower built by Babylonian King Nimrod in defiance against God  It was a ziggurat which is a pyramid of sun-dried bricks with a temple at the top which is reached by a series of steps. It was probably constructed before 4000 BC.  It has come to be symbolic of confusion, especially confusion of language.

Bacchus:

Another name for the Greek god Dionysus. The god of grapes and wine, song, licentiousness and joy. Altered states of consciousness. God consciousness.  As the grape must die to produce the wine which alters your consciousness to lift you to God, so the man must surrender (die) that the divine wine of God may imbue him. He is the Osiris of Egypt, and his life and significance belong to the same group as the other solar deities, all "sin-bearing," killed and resurrected: Dionysos or Atys of Phrygia (Adonis, or the Syrian Tammuz), Baldur.  All these were put to death, mourned for, and restored to life. The rejoicings for Atys took place at the Hilaria on the "pagan" Easter, March 15. One form of Bacchus was slain "at the vernal equinox, March 21st, and rose in three days", as was Tammuz, the double of Adonis and Atys. Bacchus is murdered and his mother collected the fragments of his lacerated body as Isis did those of Osiris, and so on. Dionysos Iacchus, torn to shreds by the Titans, Osiris, Krishna, all descended into Hades and returned again..

Bach Flower Remedies

Bacon, Francis:(1561-1626)

The ghost-writer for William Shakespear, and the English Poet=Lauriate who finished the King James Verision of the Bible.

Bacon, Roger:

Baddhahasta sirsasanai:(Sanskrit)

The bound hands yoga headstand posture

Baha'i Faith:

A Islamic sect, originating in Persia, which has evolved into a major independent religion with approximately five million believers worldwide. Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Bahá‘u’lláh and others are viewed as a succession of divine messengers. Bahá’í advocates a new global order of sexual equality, a one-world economic system to eliminate poverty, and a one-world religion. It has gradually brought into its fold several million people from diverse backgrounds. 

Bahá‘u’lláh: 

Born in Persia on November 12, 1817, at age 27 Baha'u'llah claimed to be the Messenger of God - the Bearer of a Divine Revelation that fulfils the promises made in earlier religions and which will generate the spiritual forces for the unification of the world. unusual undertaking  For Baha'u'llah 

Bailey, Alice A.   

Author who channeled the 24 volumes of metaphysical teachings  published by the Lucis Trust. More at Alice A. Bailey  

Balefire: (Bale- Anglo-Saxon: gift)

1) A traditional fire lit outdoors and used during the Wiccan and Pagan holidays: Midsummer, Lughasadh,  Mabon. and especially Beltane,  2) The traditional communal bonfire of the Sabbats.  The modern word “Bonfire” is synonymous with balefire, through it often has no religious significance.

Bandha padmasana: (Sanskrit)

 The bound lotus yoga posture

Banish:

To magickally and/or ritually exorcise unwanted entities

Banshee  (Irish, bean, a woman, and sidhe, a fairie)

An attendant fairy that follows the old families, and none but them, and wails before a death.  Many have seen her as she goes wailing and clapping her hands. The keen (caoine), the funeral cry of the peasantry, is said to be an imitation of her cry. When more than one banshee is present, and they wail and sing in chorus, it is for the death of some holy or great one. An omen that sometimes accompanies the banshee is the "coach-a-bower" (coiste-bodhar), an immense black coach, mounted by a coffin, and drawn by headless horses..  It will go rumbling to your door, and if you open it a basin of blood will be thrown in your face. 

Baphomet:

The Sabbatic Goat, also know as the Great God Pan, Abraxas, Thanateros, or the Horned God.  The most popular rendering was drawn in the 19th century by Eliapha Levi.  Often used as a symbol of Satan, especially in Satanism, and depicted as a Goat’s Head symbol, an upside down five-pointed star (cf. pentagram), or a man with horns and goat-legs.

Baptism:

A practice of spiritual cleansing, known by other names in Asia for thousands of years.  The belief that supports this practice among Christians is regeneration (i.e., the new birth), and therefore salvation or eternal life, is conditioned upon being ritually immersed in water.  Most groups teaching this doctrine also add that proper mode (immersion or sprinkling) and/or proper minister (one authorized by the organization) is necessary. . The teaching that baptism is a prerequisite for salvation, is not accepted by all Christians   The  New Agers perform baptism in the same sense as do Hindus. 

Baptism for the Dead:

A practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in which living members are baptized by proxy for people who have died without accepting the Gospel and being baptized. The church teaches that if these dead persons then accept the LDS gospel while in Spirit Prison, they can potentially attain full salvation. This ceremony is performed only in an LDS Temple. 

Baptismal Regeneration:

The Christian belief that baptism is essential to salvation, that it is the means where forgiveness of sins is made real to the believer. An extreme version of baptismal regeneration denies salvation to those baptized outside some particular church group.

Bardo: (Tibetan) 

The astral world as a resting place for the soul between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhist theology.

Bards: (Celtic, bardoi)

A class of Druids who were the poets and singers who kept alive oral traditions through song. These songs (called cetel in Ireland and lay in Brittany) were sometimes believed to have the power to curse or bless. 

Base of the Spine:

Basilides:

A celebrated Alexandrian Gnostic of about 120 AD, probably born in Syria, a scholar who knew the Hebrew and Christian scriptures as well as being knowledgeable in Egyptian and Greek thought. But he also experienced his own gnosis. He claimed his teachings were based on knowledge obtained from an from an original Gospel of Matthew and from Glaucus, a disciple of Peter. Basilides wrote psalms, odes, and commentaries on the Gospels.  He also wrote a gospel for his own sect, the Basilidian Gnostics, but very little of his writings have been preserved. They included concepts that would today be called reincarnation, karma, and asceticism, and included a system of emanations and hierarchies of powers, 

Bast: (Egytptian, Bastet)

Ancient Egyptian cat goddess.

Baubiologie:

The study of the impact of building environment upon health and the application of this knowledge to the construction of healthy homes and workplaces; the science of holistic interactions between life and living environment.

BCE:

(Before the Common Era) The non-Christan equivalent to BC.

Beamship:

A specific type of UFO, tubular rather than saucer-like.

Bear Tribe Medicine Society:

A Native American spiritual religion, originating in Spokane, WA. They practice of teaching mixture of various Indian tribes with a touch of New Age.

Beltane

A Wiccan sabbat and Celtic holiday held between spring and the onset of summer, between April 30th and May 1st. Also called Walpurgisnacht, 

Bermuda Triangle:

Geographically, the Triangle, situated SW of the US, is formed by connecting with Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and a point west of Florida. Many people involved in esoteric and UFO studies believe the Triangle is a supernaturally dangerous area, with many ships and airplanes disappearing in the Triangle in the 20th century.

Besant, Annie: (1847-1933)

The daughter of William Wood and Emily Morris. Her father, a doctor, died when she was only five years old. Without any savings, Annie's mother found work looking after boarders at Harrow School. Mrs. Wood was unable to care for Annie and she persuaded a friend, Ellen Marryat, to take responsibility for her upbringing.  In 1866 Annie met Rev. Frank Besant. By the time she was twenty-three Annie had two children. Deeply unhappy because her independent spirit clashed with the traditional views of her husband she began to question her religious beliefs. When Annie refused to attend communion, Frank Besant ordered her to leave the family home. A legal separation was arranged. After leaving her husband Annie Besant completely rejected Christianity and in 1874 joined the Secular Society. Annie soon acquired a job working for the National Reformer and during the next few years wrote many articles on issues such as marriage and women's rights. In 1877 Annie Besant and Charles Bradlaugh decided to publish The Fruits of Philosophy, Charles Knowlton's book advocating birth control. Besant and Bradlaugh were charged with publishing material that was "likely to deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open to immoral influences".They were both found guilty of publishing an "obscene libel" and sentenced to six months in prison. At the Court of Appeal the sentence was quashed.. Besant also join the socialist group, the Fabian Society, and in 1889 contributed to the influencial book, Fabian Essays.  Edited by George Bernard Shaw, the book sold 27,000 copies in two years.  In the 1890s Annie Besant became a supporter of Theosophy, a religious movement founded by Madame Blavatsky in 1875.  While in India, Annie joined the struggle for Indian Home Rule, and during the First World War was interned by the British authorities. She died in India in 1933. 

Besom:(Old English)

A ritual broom. A witch's broomstick. European folklore has witches riding their brooms through the sky, which may be an uninformed explanation of astral travel. As a tool, ethe broom is used to sweep a sacred cross, ground a circle, or to brush away negative influences. Besoms were often mounted and “ridden” over crops in fertility rites.  used to cleanse and purify sacred space. .

Beta Body:

The astral body (This appears to be erroneous as the astral body operates on alpha waves.)

Beta Waves:

Brain waves indicating normal waking state with consciousness directed to the external environment. 

Bhadrasana: (Sanskrit)

The auspicious yoga posture

Bhagavad Gita (Sanskrit - Song of God)

Hindu sacred scripture in which Krishna explains about reincarnation, karma, duty and other spiritual things.. Written about 1000 BC it is an addendum to the Mahabharata and deals with events that took place thousands of years previously.

Bhagavan:(Sanskrit)

Holy

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh:(1931-1990)

Born in India with the name Chandra Mohan, he studied philosophy.  Changing his name ot Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, he  rose to world notice through his teachings.  He came to be known as "the guru of sex" for his advocacy of sexual practices as a path to enlightenment.  In 1981 Rajneesh's group purchased a dilapidated ranch in Oregon, U.S., which they developed into Rajneeshpuram, a city of thousands of orange-robed disciples. Rajneesh was widely criticized by outsiders for his private security force and his ostentatious display of wealth. By 1985 the group was under investigation for multiple felonies including arson, attempted murder, drug smuggling, and vote fraud in the nearby town of Antelope. This was later proven to be the work of a small group with Rajneeshes followers.  In 1985 Rajneesh pleaded guilty to immigration fraud and was deported from the US. He was refused entry by 21 countries before returning to Puna, where his ashram soon grew to 15,000 members.  In later years he took the Buddhist title Osho and altered his teaching on unrestricted sexual activity because of his growing concern over AIDS.  Though he is deceased, many followers still practice his unique form of Hindu philosophy and sexual yoga system to gain enlightenment.

Bhairava:(Sanskrit)

Terrible, One of the forms of Shiva

Bhakti:(Sanskrit)

Devotion, worship

Bhakti Yoga:

Type of yoga or spiritual exercise involving devotion to a god or a guru.

Bherundasana:(Sanskrit)

 The formidable yoga posture

Bhiksu (Sanskrit) or  Bhikkhu (Pāli): 

A fully ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called Bhiksuni. Bhiksus and Bhiksunis live a monastic discipline, the basic rules of which are called thepatimosha. Their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple and meditative life, and attain Nirvana.

Bhujangasana: (Sanskrit) 

The cobra posture 

Bhujasana: (Sanskrit) 

The arm posture

Bhumi:(Sanskrit) - 

The object of meditation

Bible: 

Any authoritative or religious text./ Specifically The Bible, considered  by Christianity, to be the literal Word of God.. Consists of Jewish writings (Old Testament) and Christian writings (New Testament). (see Bible)

Bible Code: 

Based on a best-selling 1997 book of the same name by Michael Drosnin, a belief that prophecies are hidden in a complex network of letters and words within the Old Testament.  Drosnin claims that he attempted to warn Israeli leader Yitzak Rabin of his impending assassination based on a prediction in the biblical code. The Bible Code is actually a system of divination in which the Hebrew text is moved around in many ways until a message is found.

Bibliomancy:

Bibliomancy is a form of divination that creates an oracle by randomly selecting a passage from a book, frequently The Bible. The most common procedure involves placing the book on its spine, and with eyes closed, allowing the book to fall open to a random page. Then, with the eyes still closed, place a finger on the open page and read the passage indicated. Islamic cultures use the Qur'an. In the middle ages the use of Virgil's Aeneid was common. 

Bigfoot:

Large (usually 8' to 10' tall), hairy homonid being sighted in North America over the last 300 years, especially the Northwest. Called Bigfoot because the footprints left behind are larger than a human's and exceptionally wide.  See Yeti.

Billet:

A written note with questions or requests directed to medium or spirit entity. It is delivered to a medium for purpose of receiving communication initiated by radiations off the writing and the object written upon. The writing of names of spirit entities enhances probability of their entry and touching the medium with a message to the writer

Bi-location:

1.) Astral projection to travel in everyday reality by retaining the capability to be aware of your present surroundings. Also Etheric Travel. 2.) to be in two or more places at once through the use of higher consciousness techniques. 

Bind:

Using magick to restrain someone or something, or to 'bind' them to you.

Binding and Loosing:

1)The power claimed by the Catholic Church to determine who will be saved and who will not.   2) Various rituals in which someone or something is "bound" to one so that it will never stray or be lost., Handfasting.

Biocommunication:

Modern Soviet for telepathy. The conscious or unconscious exchange of energy between two living organisms.

Biocomputer:

The brain or unconscious mind or the unconscious or subconscious mind operating like a computer to process, program and categorize information from the environment.

Bioenergetics

A body-mind therapy created by Dr. Alexander Lowen which uses the body to heal the mind. The simultaneous duality and unity of the human personality is its underlying principle. The technique includes direct body work to release unresolved emotional blocks stored in muscle groups.

Biofeedback: 

A scientific technique to tune into and consciously control bodily functions through the use of EEG (electroencephalographic) feedback instruments to monitor brain waves and skin resistance with the goal of modification of brain waves. and feeds that information back to the user.  Participants can learn to control heart rates or generate brain wave activity (alpha, beta, and delta) at will to induce altered states of consciousness. Enhances the capacity for relaxation and/or inducing meditative states and physiological control similar to that in yoga and Zen.

Biological Plasma Body:

Soviet term for the astral body.

Bio-Magnetics:

 The use of magnets of other electronic devices to alter or realign the magnetic fields of the body, thus modifying the way the body operates.

Bio-Metrics:

 

Biophysical Effect Method (BPE)

Soviet term for dowsing.

Biorhythm

The system that deals with the three biological cycles of humans, the body's physical, emotional and intellectual energy based on date of birth.  Used to determine the immutable patterns of a person's critical days and periods of high and low energy.

Biotelephathy:

Supportive relation between two or more living organisms of a distance. e.g. resonance of twins. 

Bird Goddess:

Neolithic Goddess appearing with wings, a beak or a bird’s body.

Birth Chart:

The horoscope.

Birth Control:

Birth Path Number:

In numerology, the number derived from adding together the month, date and year of birth. 

Birth Stone:

Particular stones are associated with particular birthdates and  are believed to bring these people 

particularly good luck, health and prosperity,

Every system does not attribute the same birthstones to each sign. We have combined all systems 

below (the first stone is the one most accepted:

ARIES - RUBY, Bloodstone, Red Jasper, Diamond

TAURUS -- EMERALD, Golden Topaz, Coral, Sapphire

GEMINI -- CRYSTAL, Carbuncle, Aquamarine

CANCER -- MOONSTONE, Emerald, Agate, Pearl

LEO -- AMBER, Ruby, Sardonyx, Carnelian

VIRGO -- SARDONYX, Pink Jasper, Turquoise, Zircon

LIBRA -- OPAL, Diamond, Sapphire, Chrysolite

SCORPIO -- GARNET, Agate,  Topaz. Opal

SAGITTARIUS  -- TOPAZ, Amethyst

CAPRICORN -- BLACK ONYX, Beryl, Jet, Malachite, Turquoise

AQUARIUS -- BLUE SAPPHIRE, Garnet, Amethyst

PISCES -- AMETHYST, Pearl, Diamond, Jade.

Black Art:

To use psychic energy for evil intent. A term erroneously used to describe magick.

Black Elk: (Sapa Hehaka) (c. December 1863 – August 17-19, 1950)

A famous Wichasha Wakan (Medicine Man or Holy Man) of the Oglala Lakota Sioux. He participated at about the age of twelve in the Battle of Little Big Horn of 1876, and was wounded in the massacre that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890. Towards the end of his life he revealed the story of his life, and a number of sacred Sioux rituals to John Neihardt and Joseph Epes Brown for publication, and his accounts have won wide interest and acclaim.

Black magic:

Black Mass

A parody of the Catholic Mass, said to have been originally used by Satanists during the Middle Ages. Black candles are used and Catholic prayers recited backwards. The communion is occasionally performed using human blood and flesh. or upon the body of a naked woman.

Black Muslim:

Generic term referring to Nation of Islam and related groups of Black American Muslims.

Blasphemy:

Speaking evil of God or something sacred. Held to be a sin by many Christians.Also, the misuse of sacred words or images.

Blavatsky, Madame Helena Petrovna:(1831-1891)

 Born in the Ukraine, Mdme.Blavatsky developed a great interest in the occult and traveled around the world.  She founded the Thesophical Society. More at H. P. Blavatsky

Blessed Be

A term derived from the ritual of the Five-fold Kiss, it is a simple blessing commonly used by Wiccans and Pagans as a greeting or a goodbye.  It also has the same usage as does Amen among the Christians.

Blind Spring:

The place where ley lines cross. 

Block:

Blood Atonement:

The Mormon doctrine, frist taught by Brigham Young, that for certain sins the sinner’s own blood must be shed to receive forgiveness.  No longer taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  To this day, Utah allows condemned murders to face execution by firing squad rather than methods that do not shed the criminal’s blood, such as lethal injection or the electric chair.

Blood of Christ:

A Christian term describing the mystical power that "saved" mankind from sin at the crucifixion of Jesus.  This "blood" supposedly washes the individual from the spiritual consequences of sin if he "believes" in Jesus.

Blood of the Moon:

The menstrual cycle occurring at a Full or New Moon. More powerful during that time of the month, as long as acknowledged this strength within herself. If feeling spacy, try grounding. 

Blue Moon:

Blue Rose Ministry:

An organization in California and Arizona, founded by Robert Short.  Teachings of the group focus on UFOs, channeling and messages from the “space brothers.” . Publishes the Solar Space-Letter.

Bo: (Japanese=gathering point) 

The point on the front of the body where energy that has flowed through the organs comes out and gathers to go toward the arm and leg meridians.

Boaz:

The left pillar on the porch of King Solomon's temple. pairing with the right pillar, Jachin.  The two pillars have long had mystical meaning and appear repeatedly in Masonic, cabalistic and tarot symbolism.

Bodhi: (Sanskrit)

The supreme knowledge, Absolute spiritual enlightenment

Bodhisattava

A being who has supposedly earned the right to enter into Nirvana or into illumination, but instead voluntarily turns back from that state in order to aid humanity in attaining the same goal. Jesus is said to be a Bodhisattva.

Body Cleansing:

A program of fasting and elimination of toxins to maintain body health. 

Body-Mind Rhythmic Movement: 

A system created by Susan Kramer. Elementary academic instruction using rhythmic movement patterning as a way to develop and reinforce the body-mind connection.

Bogomils

The followers of Bogomilu, a Bulgarian priest (927-968 AD), who held that the Creator had two sons.  The older being Satanel and the younger, Michael.   After a war in heaven Satanel was cast out and became master of all flesh and matter and owner of the Earth.  Michael, as the Holy Ghost, entered into Jesus who then became the Christ and took away the power of Satanel, leaving him only as Satan, the originator of orthodox religion with all its clergy, rites and vestments.  Deriving from the teachings of the Manachæists, this sect (which  survived for 400 years)denied the doctrine of the trinity and infant baptism.  Baptism, they taught, is for adults only and does not take place externally in water, but internally and spiritual

Boji:

A stone used to take away pain by closing holes in the energy field of the human body.

Boleen, Boline, Bolline

A small, curved, white handled knife used in rituals for cutting herbs, carving and cutting magickal symbols into ritual objects

Book of Abraham, The :

In 1835, Joseph Smith acquired a collection of papyrus fragments from a traveling Egyptian show. He claimed to be able to translate these fragments, and the Book of Abraham is the result. Following the Prophet's death, the papyri were thought lost, until they turned up again in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967. A retranslation of the papyri reveals that they are not connected to Abraham but are  funerary documents that were taken from the Osiris mysteries and the Egyptian Book of the Dead. .Technically speaking Joseph Smith did not translate the document, but rather used it as a sort of "seer-stone" from which he derived the material found in the Book of Abraham.. While  Joseph Smith "translated" the Book of Mormon from "reformed Egyptian" in just a few months, it took him  years to produce the seven pages of the Book of Abraham. In doing it, he also produced his Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar which, while not being an Egyptian grammar, does contain much knowledge and give one an insight as to how Joseph Smith went about translating a document that virtually no one at the time could read.

Book of Changes: 

See I Ching.

 burning man festival, burning times, bushidoBook of Dyzan:

An Eastern occult text used by Madame Helena P. Blavatsky as the basis for the commentaries which form the first book of the Secret Doctrine (1888). The text gives, by means of esoteric symbolism, the history of cosmic evolution.

book of life

Book of Mormon:  

One of the scriptures or “Standard Works” of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other churches originating from Joseph Smith, including the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and various Mormon Fundamentalist groups.

Book of Shadows: (also called the Book of Light and Shadow)

A term coined by Aleister Crowley for a book of rituals, recipes, journal entries, laws/rules, and other documents important to a witch or magician.   Each Book of Shadows is different as the individual decides what is necessary for their book.  This practice existed long before Crowley coined the term.

Book of the Dead:

Also Egyptian Book of the Dead (known to the ancient Egyptians as The Book of Coming Forth by Day.  A collection of ancient Egyptian religious and magical texts, hymns and formulas concerned with the ensuring the safe passage of the soul (Ka) through Amenti (the Egyptian afterworld). The Egyptians believed that knowledge of these formulas, hymns, and prayers enabled the soul to ward off demons attempting to impede its progress, and to pass the tests set by the 42 judges in the hall of Osiris, god of the underworld. The soul passing these tests was allowed to mingle with the gods. If it failed the tests, it was devoured by a monster that was part hippopotamus, part crocodile, and part lion. The texts of the Book of the Dead also indicated that happiness in the afterlife was dependent on the deceased's having led a virtuous life on earth.  Part of the Book of the Dead is believed to have originated in the predynastic period of Egyptian history. In the 5th and 6th dynasties the Book of the Dead was inscribed on the sarcophagi in the pyramids of the kings and therefore became known as the Pyramid Texts. By the 18th Dynasty it was inscribed on papyri, which were frequently from 50 to 100 feet long and illustrated in color. These papyri were placed in or near the coffins of the dead and were sometimes called Coffin Texts.

book of the law

book of thoth

Born again:

Christian term used to describe regeneration, derived from John 3:5.  Some New Agers  teach that the term was Jesus’ reference to reincarnation or rebirthing. 

born with a veil

Boschetto: (Italian=grove)

 A coven of witches

Brahma:

1)The first plane, dimension or demigod created at the beginning of manifestation (manvantara) , and the last one to dissapear at the time of cosmic dissolution (pralaya). The first person of the Hindu Trinity (2), the Creator and first member of the trinity in Hinduism, including Shiva and Vishnu, equivalent to the "Father" of the Christians.  The name Brahma is a corruption of Abraham.3)The source of Cosmic Will.

Brahma, Day of:

In Hindu esoteric teachings, one day of Brahma consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas, or ages: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. The cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts 1,728,000 years. In the Treta-yuga vice is introduced, and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years. In the Dvapara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and this yuga lasts 864,000 years. And finally in Kali-yuga (the yuga we have been experiencing over the past 5000 years) there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically nonexistent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years. In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga the Supreme Lord himself appears as the Kalki Avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves his devotees, and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again. These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahma, and the same number comprise one night. Brahma lives one hundred of such years and then dies. These hundred years by earth calculations total to 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years. By these calculations the life of Brahma seems fantastic and interminable, but from the viewpoint of eternity it is as brief as a lightning flash."

Brahma Jnana - 

Supreme Knowledge, Absolute snd Transcendental Knowledge 

Brahmacharya:(Sanskrit)

The control of sexual impulses

Brahmacharyasana: (Sanskrit) - 

The posterior stretch yoga posture

Brahmadvara:(Sanskrit) - 

The door where the kundalini enters the spine 

Brahman - 

1) The highest caste in India. Those claiming, that they, by their birth, are worthy of the highest respect.

2) Buddhists have borrowed the term "brahman" to apply to arahants to show that respect is earned not by birth, race, or caste, but by spiritual attainment through following the right path of practice. Most of the verses in the Dhammapada use the word brahman in this special sense; those using the word in its ordinary sense are indicated in the notes.

Brahmanda-prana: (Sanskrit) 

Cosmic breath

Brahmins:

The highest, priestly caste in India.

Bran: (Celtic=raven)

1) Mythical British King. 2. Celtic god of the underworld. 

Branch Davidian:

Splinter group of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. founded by David Koresh (A.K.A. Vernon Howell) was leader from 1984 to 1993.  He and most of his followers were killed when their headquarters near Waco, TX, was destroyed by fire in 1993 during a government raid.   He taught that knowledge of the Seven Seals of the Book of Revelation brought salvation. Many followers still believe Koresh’s messianic claims and await his resurrection.

Brigid:

Celtic goddess of rivers and water. 

British Israelism: (Anglo-Israelism)

The doctrine that the true identity of modern Israel (or the “ten lost tribes”) is Britian and (sometimes) the British colonies (America). The "stone of scone" makes the throne of England  the throne of David. In more extreme forms, Israel is identified with a particular race—usually white Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, and Scandinavian people. Opposing versions of doctrine teach that Blacks are God’s Chosen People, Israel. 

Broomstick: 

A phallic symbol used in rituals and cleansing. (see besom)

Buddha: (Sanskrit - Enlightened One)

There are many who have attained Buddhahood,or supreme enlightenment..  The best-known is Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (586-511 BC). He was born a in northeastern India and received spiritual enlightenment through meditation.  During his lifetime, his spiritual insights and teachings became a major alternative to Hinduism throughout India. Diverse versions of his teachings can be found worldwide today

More at Buddha. 

Buddhi:

In Theosophy,  the Second Cosmic Principle or Aspect. Humanity calls this principle Love, while the Hierarchy calls it "Pure Reason". Normally, people confuse true Love (the Christian agape) with emotions that have their source in the Astral Plane, which (due to their origin) are subject to fluctuations, and are not truly universal . True Love emanates from the Buddhic Plane, and begins to "flow through" after certain developments of the mind are present.  At the same time, the state of being immersed in Buddhi (Love, or Pure Reason) will somehow reflect in the emotional ,or astral, vehicle of the spiritual aspirant (the source of all emotions), expressing itself as tranquility, peace, intimate joy and an equal disposition to every fellow humans and other forms of life.  Humanity is currently beginning to tune in and express this principle. The principle of Manas was developed in a previous solar system, while in this one Manas will perfected and the Buddhic principle will be developed to a high degree. This is the goal of the Solar Logos, and when the majority of all human (or similar) forms in this system has achieved an evolutionary stage analogous to that of the Fifth Initiation, the task of the Logos will be completed, and systemic pralaya will begin.

Buddhism: 

World religion based on the spiritual teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. There are a number of versions or sects of Buddhism generally teaching paths to Nirvana (enlightenment or bliss) though the four noble truths (recognizing existence and source of suffering) and the eightfold path (correct understanding, behavior and meditation). Some variations of Buddhism include traditional Theravada schools of India, Mahayana Buddhism, which became very popular in China and Japan, and Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) in Tibet. Two more recent forms that have had great influence in America are Zen and Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism.

Buffalo:

The great being who stands at the western gate of the universe and holds back the waters that periodically inundate the earth in the Lakota system of ages; every year the buffalo loses a hair on one of its legs; every age it loses a leg; when all legs are lost; the world is flooded and renewed. 

Burning Man Festival: 

Held in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, this is an annual neo-pagan festival recreating an ancient Pagan festival  At the culmination of the festival a giant wooden man with outstretched arms is burned by the crowd.

Burning Times

This is a term used to describe the  period from the Middle Ages onwards in which witches  were persecuted and burned at the stake, although, most executions were in fact by hanging, not burning.. The last known capital sentence for witchcraft in the West took place in Scotland in the early 1800’s. Figures vary on how many were killed during the hysteria, estimates range anywhere from 50,000 to as many as nine million. Most were women and children, only a small fraction were actually witches. Most were heretics or Christians accused of witchcraft by those who disliked them

Burmese Position:

Yoga position in which the feet are not placed over the thighs, but are both resting on the sitting surface.