Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions

by Laura Davila

Mexican Magic shares spells and recipes deeply rooted in Mexican folk beliefs and magic.

“Some are born with a star, while others are born starry.”
 
This dicho (saying) refers to the Mexican belief that good luck is a matter of fate—something you are born with or not. Mexicans traditionally 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. Some people are born with a natural gift for magic, but many others are compelled toward magic by life experience. The best brujos and magical people are not those who necessarily started off in perfect circumstances but those who looked at magic as a skill to be mastered.
 
Mexican Magic offers an overview of magic and spells from across Mexico for daily use. Although the book’s spells may be practiced by anyone, they are deeply rooted in Mexican folk beliefs and magic. Featuring magical recipes, spells, tips, and advice for a wide variety of intentions, including love, lust, sex, good luck, money, protection, commerce, gambling, justice, pregnancy, travel, education, and more, Mexican Magic also offers direction on how to be a magical person and live a magical life.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Witches, Magic, Latinx, Spirituality, Spanish Literature

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2024

Reviews

[abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i hope i’m mexican in every lifetime

[Lydia]

It is so interesting what a regions spiritual practices can tell you about the hardships they faced. Even within occult and esoteric practices- the claws of Catholicism are present. And how DID Catholicism reach Mexico? Oppression from the white man continues- we are tired.

“this magic comes from resistance; it was born from necessity and suffering.” Pg 64

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really took my time to read this book as it’s not in narrative form. I enjoyed picking it up here and there. The author explains the background and meanings behind the rituals described in a way that is accessible for most people. This is a niche topic so probably not something most people would want to pick up, but if this is in your interest, worth perusing.

[Amanda Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best book on Mexican magic I’ve read. What immediately sets Mexican Magic apart is that Laura Davila isn’t trying to squeeze Mexican folk practices into the familiar framework of modern American witchcraft. The worldview is allowed to be distinctly Mexican: Catholicism and folk belief coexist, fate and divine providence sit comfortably beside spellwork, and magic emerges from culture, family, necessity, and lived experience rather than being presented as a collection of aesthetic correspondences.

And there is so much actual magic in here. Love, money, luck, sex, protection, gambling, justice, business, pregnancy, travel, education. It has that wonderful quality of folk magic where practically anything life can throw at you has inspired someone, somewhere, to figure out a magical response to it. I especially loved Davila’s emphasis on magic as a skill that can be developed rather than some special gift bestowed upon a chosen few. There’s something incredibly empowering about the idea that sometimes people become magical simply because life gives them a reason to learn.

What I appreciated most, though, is the sense of cultural context surrounding the practices. The spells don’t feel extracted from the world that produced them and repackaged as generic “witchcraft.” You’re learning something about the beliefs, values, history, and people alongside the magic itself. If someone asked me for one book to begin seriously exploring Mexican folk magic, this is the one I’d hand them.

[Jessica Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mexican Magic is exactly what I want from a book on culturally specific folk magic: practical, grounded, culturally rich, and filled with material that actually feels rooted in a living magical worldview rather than generic witchcraft given a regional aesthetic. Laura Davila brings together spells, recipes, folk beliefs, dichos, spiritual ideas, and approaches to luck, love, money, protection, justice, commerce, and everyday life in a way that gives the reader a real sense of the character of Mexican magic. I especially appreciated that the book doesn't try to force these practices into the framework of modern witchcraft but allows the influence of Catholicism, folk spirituality, family traditions, and distinctly Mexican understandings of magic to coexist naturally. There is an enormous amount of practical material here, but what stayed with me most was the underlying philosophy that magical ability is something that can be cultivated through practice rather than simply a gift bestowed upon a lucky few. Davila writes with the confidence of someone sharing a tradition she actually knows and lives, and I came away with new techniques, new perspectives, and a much greater appreciation for the richness and diversity of Mexican folk magic.

[Alejandra Hagmaier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that the author takes into consideration the evolution of Mexican brujeria in context with colonization and how it has made it what it is today. With that said, my family is not part of the Catholic majority and the brujeria that I am familiar with is actually very far removed from Catholicism in comparison to the lessons within this book. For that reason, this book was less practical for me personally and I didn’t resonate with it as much as I would have wanted. I very much appreciate the insight, however, and feel like I learned a lot!

[Mary Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author and publisher; it’s much appreciated. This book is powerful without being overwhelming. I’ve always been interested in Magical Realism set in Mexico so I was happy while reading this information about Magic, expressed in a lovely way. I’m not going to be performing spells anytime soon, but I’m glad I have the option. There’s Magic in everyone.

[Dizo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good compilation of Mexican traditions around superstition, it includes a lot of Catholicism, I think Mexican witchcraft is not only Catholicism it has shamanic roots, it’s deeper, I would have liked that to be included in the book.

It’s a good book if you want to start to learn about the topic.

[Viviana Olvera · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly such a beatiful book i’m so glad i picked it up!

[Tiffany Swaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fue muy interesante saber más sobre magia mexicana.
Hay tantas cosas que hacemos de manera cotidiana que de alguna manera se convierten en un ritual, me encantó.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davila is a fifth-generation Mexican witch, describing herself as a bruja de rancho-- a "ranch witch," which she describes as having a knowledge of botanicals and the natural world, which she incorporates into her book Mexican Magic. Unlike other books on the topic, Mexican Magic is not so much a how-to-guide, but instead a list of spells and rituals for different occasions. Chapter One briefly introduces Mexican magic, discussing the guiding principles, virtues, and cultural significance. I thoroughly enjoy reading about other cultures and practices. Reading widely promotes empathy and understanding, and puts a lot of Mexican culture into perspective, making me a better teacher, friend, and community member.

The introductory chapter is followed by chapters full of spells and rituals for everything from kitchen magic to curing baby hiccups. These spells incorporate saints, angels, and icons infused with botanicals and other natural ingredients. I loved reading about the different animas, their history and folklore, and how to invoke them for different purposes. My favorite chapter, however, was on magical Mexican ingredients, which includes how to use tortillas to enact revenge or warm a cooling relationship. In the kitchen magic chapter, there are spells for using aguas frescas for financial prosperity or to encourage someone to fall in love with you. There are recipes and spells for connecting to your ancestors with coffee or using chewing gum to stop gossip. I learned so much from this book and walked away inspired to work with new ingredients in my own practice, with respect of course.

I do not have any Mexican heritage, so incorporating Mexican magic into my practice is not something I feel comfortable doing (it's right in line with cultural appropriation), but the techniques are universal. For example, while I won't incorporate the chewing gum spell as it's written in Davila's work, I can figure out a way to use chewing gum in the future to stop gossip, seal someone's lips, or otherwise stop them from talking about me. This is another reason I love reading about the practices of other cultures. They often approach the world from an entirely different view than I do, allowing me to better see and understand how I can work with other elements in my life, ones I may have never thought to use. It opens the doors of my creativity and often inspires me in times when I lack inspiration or the desire to create. For what is witchcraft if not creativity?

My only complaint about Mexican Magic is that it was too short! I wanted so much more history and folklore than what Davila was able to offer in this short book. Despite this, I highly recommend picking up Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions by Laura Davila, whether you are Mexican or not. It is a great way to begin this tumultuous year by increasing your empathy toward those different from you, inspiring your own practice, and expanding your understanding of the world around you. I hope it sparks your creativity like it sparked mine.