Essay On Witchcraft

Witch, a word that most people associate with images of hags riding on brooms, cackling into the night, long noses and pointy hats— some people even associate witches with devil worship. Some think Witches are only fairy tales, characters in scary stories you tell to children to make them behave. When I hear the word “witch” I think of my Abuelita, I think of the special Teas she taught my Meemaw and mother to make, I think of all the stories my Meemaw told me about her— how people used to always go to her to solve their problems. I think of my culture, and how “Witches” were seen as doctors and spiritual guides, experts in nature, and community leaders—nothing as malicious as Western fairy tales make them out to be. My family migrated from …show more content…
In Peru, and throughout South and Central America, people who practice folk magic are called Bruja/os and witchcraft is called brujeria. Although Brujas may have negative connotations, like being malevolent or tricksters, that it is only because of the influence European missionaries. When they came to convert the indigenous people to Christianity, they saw Brujeria as black magic and devil worship. In order to assimilate indigenous people to European culture, they created the Curandero, which is basically a Roman Catholic Bruja that incorporates catholic elements such as holy water, religious candles, pictures of saints, crosses, etc. Brujas and Curanderos both are native healers or “witch doctors” and are very similar to Shamans in that have influence over the spiritual world and also use that influence to heal and nurture. In Peru, those who practice brujeria are often respected members of the community, and are sought after for many things; fortune telling, healing, advice, even contacting spirits. This folk magic isn’t just found in Peru, but it’s found throughout Andean culture, in various parts of South