Mexican folk magic

[Hari_Krishna]

Hey-- does anyone know anything about mexican/spanish/south american folk magic? I know that Spain is tradionally Catholic, but i thought for sure that Mexico had some sort of folk magic-y thing happening. Well, i ask because i would love to incorperate mexican/spanish culture into my practices. I'm majoring in Spanish in college and it's like my favorite thing ever. lol.

paz y amor,

Krishna

[maldito]

I'm from México, but I have to admit that I don't know to much about modern magic practices. I can say it's more in a shamanic-fashion. In some towns, like San Juan Chamula, christianity and paganism had mixed in an incredibly way. There are also so many practices, one of the most popular are the "limpias" -cleanings-, good for any hex you could have. You can read the "Teachings of Don Juan" to learn more.
If I have time, I'm going to investigate more.

[Ben Gruagach]

Look for local Botanicas. They tend to be sources of Santeria products and info, but they also have other Afro-Caribbean stuff and I suspect other related magickal traditions too that might be exactly what you're looking for.

There's an article about Botanicas at this webpage (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week748/feature.html) that talks about them.

There's some other information about Mexican folk magick at this site (http://www.luckymojo.com/esoteric/occultism/magic/folk/latinamerican/ebh200207_mexican_herbal.html) that might be helpful to you.

Let us know what else you find!

[ancestral_lee]

Mexican Day of the Dead - superb.

i guess mexiacan pagan stuff will be very santeria, voudon related.

[Gyda]

When I lived down there with my parents, we we're with the Canadian Embassy I picked up 'A Guide to Mexican Witchcraft" by William and Claudia Madsen the book is produced by Minutiae Mexicana I think I picked up in the National Museum. It;s not a bad little book, you just have to ignore the tone the authors use sometimes.

Gyda

[Lyntwyn]

http://www.brownielocks.com/yaquieaster.html (http://www.brownielocks.com/yaquieaster.html)
http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/journalofth...vidingLine2.htm (http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/journalofth...vidingLine2.htm)
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~anth4206/206/module_06pr.htm (http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~anth4206/206/module_06pr.htm)

The Supernatural world of Indigenous poeple
http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/supernatural_world.htm (http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/supernatural_world.htm)

http://www.astroconsulting.com/FAQs/mesoam...n_astrology.htm (http://www.astroconsulting.com/FAQs/mesoam...n_astrology.htm)
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/humanorigins/religion.html (http://www.angelfire.com/ca/humanorigins/religion.html)
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2004/200408...alendar-a.shtml (http://www.strangehorizons.com/2004/200408...alendar-a.shtml)
http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article?tocId=9371936 (http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article?tocId=9371936)
http://www.unm.edu/~abqteach/ArcheoCUs/99-01-08.htm (http://www.unm.edu/~abqteach/ArcheoCUs/99-01-08.htm)
http://pages.prodigy.com/GBonline/mesowelc.html (http://pages.prodigy.com/GBonline/mesowelc.html)
http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/tzolkin.html (http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/tzolkin.html)
http://www.wwpn.org/Pages/mesoamerican.htm (http://www.wwpn.org/Pages/mesoamerican.htm)
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgran...maya_intro.html (http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgran...maya_intro.html)

Shamanism links
http://www.invisionplus.net/forums/index.php?mforum=purplehaze&showtopic=137 (http://www.invisionplus.net/forums/index.php?mforum=purplehaze&showtopic=137)

[Ben Gruagach]

When I lived down there with my parents, we we're with the Canadian Embassy I picked up 'A Guide to Mexican Witchcraft" by William and Claudia Madsen the book is produced by Minutiae Mexicana I think I picked up in the National Museum. It;s not a bad little book, you just have to ignore the tone the authors use sometimes.

Gyda

I second that book recommendation. It's more like a long pamphlet the way it's published, but it does have a lot of info in it.

(I can't remember where I got my copy -- I think someone who travelled there brought it back for me as a souvenir.)

[Mercedes]

In Peru, there are shamans who will give tours around Machu Picchu and even perform a ritual or something. I've only seen this on TV...I haven't been to Peru since I was five years old...but anyway, it looked really interesting. I'd love to be a part of that. :) So...more shamanism, yes.

Aside from that, the native people who live in the mountains and whatnot mainly deal with herbs. I don't know much else besides that...I suggest looking for books because I've never been able to find much information on this subject (specifically Peruvian) online.

[Athene]

Hi there,

I'm South American and my practices are mainly of the bruja.

Like most traditions/practices of different countries, it really isn't anything different to other witches per se. The main difference lies in culture. So using Spanish/Latino practices works best for the Spanish, strege practices for the Italian and Celtic for those from the British Isles.

If you are not a witch, then this probably won't concern you. But traditional witchery demands a connection to the land.

I travelled throughout Central and S. America and met several witches. The practices differ quite a bit from the northern most areas (Mexico) to the southern most (Argentina etc). As well as very different in Brazil. Brazil has quite a bit of Santeria as well as actual Santeria. The Caribbean is where you'll find vudu, besides a sprinkling in other Latin American countries.

There is a divide in S. America between a very, very heavily Christian style witchery and a what could be described as Pagan. The indigenous people of Bolivia for example have no Christian elements (that I witnessed). Healing plays a very large role in the Christian-orientated countries (curanderos).
The people there wouldn't understand the concept of separating Christianity from their witch practices - which is what those in the Pagan community really don't understand when they denounce Christinaity or Christian witches etc.

There is also a divide between those who take the term witch and those who are in all ways witches but call themselves something else and regard witches as evil. This is evident in my own family!

This is all just my opinion from personal experiences there.

If you're serious about understanding the customs you're free to contact me, but I can't guarantee what I will share.

Hope that has added to your info.

:)

[Catteya]

I've just started reading
The Magic and Mysteries of Mexico
The Arcane secrets and Occult Lore of the Ancient Mexicans and Maya.
by Lewis Spence

Can't tell you yet though if its any good.

But it's obviously not contempory.

[La Bruja Ina]

Athene - Seeing that you know of the practices of Brujeria, i was wondering if you could send me any good sites regarding the teachings, and practicing of Bruja? I know that the ones i was using have since ceased to exist. thanks!

[KaliGiri5]

http://www.ojinaga.com/santisima/index1.html (http://www.ojinaga.com/santisima/index1.html)


_wiz_

[Athene]

Athene - Seeing that you know of the practices of Brujeria, i was wondering if you could send me any good sites regarding the teachings, and practicing of Bruja? I know that the ones i was using have since ceased to exist. thanks!

If YOU know of any, send them along. ;)

I haven't come across any that resonate with anything I have ever known or been taught. There are sites you can google on things about Mexican deities, ancient practices etc, but many have nothing to do with witchery, but rather general paganism.

In your research, be careful with the term 'brujeria', as there is a specific tradition practiced in the southern states of America that use the term. Example: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/msg0009.htm (here) This group's concepts and practices have no link to brujeria the wider definition.

I've also come across sites in Spanish which know no more about the practices than non-Spanish speaking pagans. But then, that's like 98% of all information you will find if it is traditional witchery you're interested in. But again, they are in Spanish. Google translates most of them.

At the moment, I only mentor Christian witches and traditional witches, and Spanish witches in brujeria. It is against the traditional witch way to learn/teach outside of the land.

:)