You may occasionally hear the word bruja or brujo used in discussions about magic and witchcraft. The origin of these words is in Spanish. Bruja in English is used to refer to witchcraft practitioners in many Spanish cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Although Bruja has an origin from Spain, Bruja in English means a sorceress, witch, or witch doctor; a woman who practices magic. Bruja ending in “a” is a female variant, while brujo is male.
Nowadays, more and more Latin women absorb the title of bruja, they hope to use the mystery of their heritage, often through social media or to integrate bruja culture into their creative pursuits.
What is the difference between Bruja and Witch?
Generally, the words “bruja” or “brujo” are used to denote people who practice low or even magic in a cultural context.
In other words, contemporary witchcraft or other Protestant religious cultivators may not be regarded as “bruja”, but a wise woman with magic and charm on the edge of the town may be one of them. Generally, it is considered a negative term, not a complimentary term.
Brujeria’s practice is a form of folk magic, usually involving charm, love spells, curses, hex, and divination. Many practices are rooted in the fusion of folklore, traditional herbal medicine, and Catholicism.
What are the powers carried by the Brujas?
Brujas is known for practicing the magic of darkness and light. So, for example, if a child or animal is missing, it is usually suspected that there is something rude that invigorates them.
As a result, parents in some areas closed their windows at night to avoid rustiness. However, at the same time, if you can’t find a mainstream drug to treat the disease, you can consult Bruja.
Besides, some traditions believe that brujas can change their shape, curse through the “evil eye“, or otherwise use their power to do good and evil.
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What is Bruja Feminism?
In the 21st century, young people of Latin American and African descent have begun to reclaim their heritage through Brujeria. In most cases, it is women who attract and interact with modern Bruja, largely because it is (and is likely to be) a unique source of power for women living in a male-dominated society. (Bruja in English)
In addition to referring to Brujaria through art, many young people are still exploring the history, rituals, and magic of Brujeria. Some people are practicing profanity and it is relatively easy to find courses or hire profanity, especially in Latino communities.
It has also been mentioned that in the fields of music, nightlife, visual arts, etc., we find that custom brujas have increased.
Young Latins who seek to restore cultural taboos and turn them into empowerment instruments, proudly represent their traditions of being patriarchal or the part cut off by the narrative of the European Center.
Is there any similarity between Santeria and Brujas?
Yes, we can find some similarities between Santeria and Brujas. Santeria practitioners have a lot in common with brujas and brujos. Santeria is a Caribbean religion developed by people of West African descent.
Santeria means “worship of saints” and is closely related to Catholicism and Yoruba traditions. Santeria practitioners may also develop some of the same skills and powers as brujas and brujos; specifically, some Santeria practitioners are also healers, who combine herbs, spells, and communicate with the spiritual world.
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Is there any similarity between Santeria and Brujas?
Testimonies from Wiccan Priestess Maríliade Abreu, headquartered in São Paulo, witchcraft means following a coherent path, linking our inner nature with the hidden power of nature, while adapting to the world’s circulation and spiritual language. (Bruja in English)
She founded Wicca Cia das Bruxas in 1998 and has been practicing craftsmanship in Brazil. Witchcraft came to São Paulo through its indigenous peoples, European immigrants, enslaved Africans, and through Saint Tria of Cuba.
The difference is that it is triggered by unconsciously and used consciously. The witch’s path is the pursuit of how to use wisdom consciously, but the magic lies in everything. “I believe that magic is a part of life,” testifies by another bruja.
It is said that bruja in English is also used as a form of resistance and self-identity. “The colonists discovered indigenous magic here and later discovered slavery, African magic. The locals knew that the local herbs did not have medicine for the colonizers. (Bruja in English)
For the black people who came as slaves, their magic was also resistance. This form is also a way to maintain the foundation of its ancestral culture.” Abru said. “Pai de Santo (father of saints) (male priest in Afro-Brazilian religion) is indeed the father of many slaves and represents the connection with entities of his descent.”
Another jurist Carmen Regina Casella practiced and taught Stregheria (a kind of spiritual self-defense), he said that the nature of witchcraft exceeds the geographical boundaries. “As a witch, our motherland is spiritual. She said: “Magic has no “color”, but it has a guiding role at other levels. It does not adhere to the duality of humanity.
Conclusion
In short, the meaning of Bruja in English is not a fantasy or fairytale exercise, but a conscious, intention-based exercise. It may be shrouded in mystery, but it is mainly about digging deeper into the cosmic language. (Bruja in English)
Consistent with the earth and her gifts is something that each of us can do. Connecting to the inner bruja (or witch) is not as difficult as it seems, especially when you have little change in your daily life.
Whether you have an abuelita that teaches you magic, you can still learn how to clean the space and connect to a higher power source.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What is Bruja magic?
Bruja Magic is influenced by indigenous religion, Catholicism, and European witchcraft, the purpose may range from benevolent white magic to evil black magic. A male practitioner is called a brujo, a female practitioner is a bruja.
What is the difference between a Bruja and a Curandera?
There is a difference between Curandera and a Bruja as Bruja is seen as using spells or magic to harm others, while a Curandera uses her powers and knowledge to heal people.
How does magic work?
The magician snaps his fingers and a ball disappears right in front of your eyes. While some magicians would like you to believe that they possess real magical powers, the true secret behind magic lies in clever psychological techniques that exploit limitations in the way our brains work.