More Latinos Are Embracing Brujería and Folk Magic

Ancient brujería — or Latin American and Caribbean witchcraft — has seen a resurgence in recent years as some U.S. Latinos reclaim the once-taboo traditions to connect with their roots, exercise self-care and build community.

The big picture: The resurgence comes as younger generations of Latinos increasingly embrace other parts of their heritage, speaking Spanish, using accent marks, or, in some cases, praying to folk saints.

Background: Brujería encompasses many types of practices and beliefs, ranging from rituals like limpias (a spiritual cleansing ceremony) to folk religions like santería.

• The practices arose from a mix of African and American Indigenous rites, later fused with some Catholic traditions. {snip}
• Over the last few years, brujería gained traction in the U.S. Major publishers have released numerous books about it and an increasing number of social media accounts devoted to its practices have emerged.

What they’re saying: Brujería “just opens up a lot of doorways to get back to our roots, feel more connected to them,” says Eric J. Labrado, who owns a witch shop in Austin, Texas, and has co-written two books on Mexican and Mexican American brujería.

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Younger practitioners have helped popularize brujería, says Lorraine Monteagut, who does tarot workshops in Florida and wrote “Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color,” released last year.

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What to watch: Monteagut says brujería can also help people feel more grounded in a way that can benefit future generations.

• “By rooting us, maybe we can teach our descendants to feel a little more safe in their bodies, with a little more belonging than what we felt as immigrants or kids of immigrants.”