Mexican Magic

Algunos nacen con estrella y otros estrellados. This dicho (saying) roughly translates to "Some are born with a star, while others are born starry." It refers to the Mexican belief that good luck is a matter of fate, something you are born with or not. Mexicans attribute their good or bad luck to a greater force, to God's will, even to the stars in the sky. Being born with a star is a blessing. While some gain their luck through fate, Laura Davila believes even more in faith, virtue, and purpose.

Discover the centuries-old practices that have shaped Mexican magic, also known as Brujería, where the influence of indigenous Mesoamerican beliefs blends with the mysticism of Catholicism. Dive deep into the rich history of Mexican folk magic, where rituals, spells, and sacred objects serve as conduits for healing, protection, and spiritual transformation.

American Brujeria is about the fascinating blend of American and Mexican folk magic currently used by those living in the US but whose roots are steeped in Mexican culture. This type of Mexican American folk magic, which the author calls “American brujeria”, features its own unique saints and spirits as well as familiar ones, such as the infamous Santa Muerte.

A modern Mexican bruja is a powerful person, one who reads the tarot and performs spellwork and rituals of devotion to their spirit guides and deities. Brujeria, which translates as witchcraft in Spanish, is a unique form of spirituality that blends core elements of Afro-Indigenous beliefs. Having originated in Mexico, brujeria is now practiced in Latinx communities across the world.

Discover all the different practices and beliefs of brujeria that make it so popular. Brujeria has been a worldwide phenomenon that has managed to change over the years. Mexican culture has always been greatly influenced by Latin American culture and traditions. It forms an integral part of what we know as Latin America. Brujeria's origins and its long-lasting impact has shaped Mexican society in more ways than one. From being a beacon of hope for women in society to carving out a niche for Latinos, brujeria has always been much more than just witchcraft.

In the hottest hour of the hottest day of the year, a fateful wind blows into Oaxaca City. It whistles down cobbled streets and rustles the jacaranda trees before slipping into the window of an 11-year-old girl named Clara. Unbeknownst to her, Clara has been marked for la Lotería. Life and Death deal the Lotería cards but once a year, and the stakes could not be higher. Every card reveals a new twist in Clara’s fate - a scorpion, an arrow, a blood-red rose. If Life wins, Clara will live to a ripe old age. If Death prevails, she’ll flicker out like a candle.