Inside ‘Mexican Magic: Brujeria, Spells, and Rituals for All Occasions’ by Laura Davila

“As a bruja, you grow to realize that occult forces are always preparing us and positioning us for divine appointments.” –Mexican Magic by Laura Davila

In her newest book, Laura Davila makes Mexican folk spirituality accessible to a wider audience. Mexican Magic places the power to initiate personal transformation in the hands of the reader. I had the privilege of being gifted with a copy by the publisher Red Wheel/Weiser. The fact that this book has come into my possession is an act of magic to me. Over the past few years, I’ve been strengthening my spiritual connections and have begun researching the spiritual customs of my Mexican ancestors. Davila’s latest work resonated with me on many levels, and I believe others who are on a mystical journey can benefit from it as well.

First, allow me to introduce you to the author. Laura Davila hails from Mexico and is a fifth-generation Mexican witch. She practices various forms of magic, including ensalmeria, hechicería, brujeria and folk Catholicism. She is a bruja de rancho (ranch witch), which means she has extensive knowledge of and experience with botanicals and elements of nature. Her first book, Mexican Sorcery, delved into brujeria de rancho and how this type of magic is practiced in the rural areas of Mexico.

In her second publication Mexican Magic, Davila shares how individuals can incorporate Mexican magical practices into their everyday lives. I appreciate the author’s inclusive approach. She makes it clear that you don’t have to be Mexican or have Mexican ancestry to utilize the spells and rituals she offers. What’s important is that the person carries out these practices with respect to their cultural origins.

Although I’m Mexican American, I didn’t grow up familiar with brujeria. I knew of it but didn’t have first-hand experience with it. However, I was raised Catholic and, little did I know, the way my family practiced Catholicism contained hints of Mexican folk magic. My grandmother had an altar set up in her bedroom that contained statues of the saints and the Virgin Mary. She often had candles lit up. In my household, we had multiple crucifixes hanging, velas (candles) with images of angels and la Virgen de Guadalupe, and vials of blessed holy water that my mom would get from church.

I didn’t make anything of these things at the time. I just figured as Catholics, that’s what we did. When I began learning about magic in Mexico years ago, I started realizing that what I initially perceived as mundane religious habits actually had magical significance. Mexican Magic confirms and exemplifies this epiphany. The text reveals the beauty of blending Catholic traditions with brujeria.

Davila is honest, straightforward, and unpretentious in how she presents her wisdom. She clarifies that you don’t need a degree in magic or validation from someone else to embrace the bruja/o way of life. All you need is agency: “Agency is power; you can take control of your practice. Yes, you must take full and absolute responsibility for your own agency.” As the author demonstrates in the book, agency is what helps strengthen one’s purpose and faith when performing the spells and rituals she gives.

I must admit that I didn’t think I could ever practice Mexican witchcraft the way it was meant to be practiced. I thought if I wasn’t taught by an elder bruja in the depths of Mexico, then brujeria would always remain a mystery to me and out of reach. However, Davila’s work proves otherwise; it shows Mexican magic is already within me if I choose to tap into and nurture it.

“The most accurate way to describe magic is that magic is power: the power to handle, control and exploit energy and faith in order to change, remove, or transmute something for a specific purpose according to our needs.” –Mexican Magic by Laura Davila

The chapters on religious icons, saints, and angels reacquainted me with aspects of my Catholic background that I’ve lost touch with for over 20 years. I haven’t considered myself Catholic for a long time because I came to a point in my life where I couldn’t relate to that religion. I wanted to explore other forms of spirituality. It’s ironic that my mystical explorations into the occult, esotericism, and witchcraft have brought me full circle, in a sense, to a path that incorporates magic and Catholicism. I never thought I’d be learning spell work that calls for me to make the sign of the cross and proclaim, “Amen.” It didn’t dawn on me that Catholic elements and brujeria could coexist and occupy the same spiritual space harmoniously.

The author highlights a special facet of Mexican magic; one that juxtaposes Mexico’s Indigenous and colonized history. Native people preserved their ancient customs under the guise of Catholic traditions, and this has shaped Mexican witchcraft over time.

Within the pages, there are spells and rituals for all sorts of intentions. Whether you want to eliminate negative energy, attract love, exercise dominance, or call for protection, the text provides various forms of magic you can perform to attain your desired outcome. An added bonus is the majority of the supplies you need are easily obtainable. Many items you may already have in your kitchen pantry or can find at your local botanica or market. There are no elaborate or complicated ceremonies you have to do. As I was reading the chapters, I was pleased to discover how easy it was to follow the directions outlined.

Mexican Magic by Laura Davila is a wonderful read no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. If, like me, you’re seeking to connect with your Mexican or Latin American ancestry on a deeper level, the text is a portal to make this happen. I also suggest this book if you have an interest in the spirituality of Latin America and are curious to learn more about magic in Mexico. I’m grateful that this work found its way into my hands and can guide me as I continue to cultivate my magical practices.

Where to Stalk

Mexican Magic on Red Wheel/Weiser

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