Brujeria is a form of Mexican magik. It has similarities and differences to curanderismo. Men and women practice it. The practitioners of Brujeria deal with various spirts and they have special abilities.
Brujeria comes from a mixture of Mexican magik and European sorcery. In acient Mexico there were shamans and false-doctors. Shamans healed people and false doctors made people sick. If someone had a disease they would seek out a shaman. If a person was wronged by someone else they would seek out a false doctor to get revenge. Shamans and false doctors knew a lot about nature. They worked with spirits that were supportive of their endeavors. Morality as we know it today didn't exist in Mexico. Mordern day morality comes from Abrahamic religions.
Spanish priests brought Christianity to Mexico and tried to demonize the Mexican spirits. It didn't work. What ended up happenning was Mexicans mixing their old religion with their new religion. The missioners made Quetzacoatl look like Christ and Tezcatlipoca look like the devil. Mexicans weren't scared of the devil because he was their god in disguise.
Grimores were brought to Mexico by the Spainish. These books of spells were incorporated into what became Brujeria. The Spainish taught sum Mexican magik pracitioners Black Mass. Sometimes The Lord's prayer is said backward to curses enimies.
Brujeria vs Curanderismo
Similarities: Both have the ability to heal. They both work with saints. They are both a mixture of Mexican and Spainish traditions. They have a common origin.
Differences: Curanderismo is a Mexican form of shamanism. Brujeria is a type of Mexican magik pure and simple. It is used to bless and curse. The word brujeria is a Spanish word 4 witchcraft.
European Christians called various religions and forms of magik that wasn't Christian witchcraft. A lot times the word witchcraft is used to mean magik in general.
Brujero: Male practioners of Brujeria.
Brujera: Female practioners of Brujeria.
I think brujeras are stronger than brujeros, because women are more magikal. I heard women are most powerful during their period.
Spirits of Brujeria
Various Spirits are utlized by brujeras and brujeros. Santa Muerte is a popular spirit among pracitioners, becasuse she can do anything. She is Our Lady of Holy Death. She has many forms and is uber powerful!!!!
El Coyote is a spirit sum pracitioners work with. Some of them work with saints. There is a saint called San Simon. He is based on a Mayan god named Maximon. Catholic priests tried to make Maxion look evil, but it backfired. Mayans love Maximon (San Simon). Maximon is a underworld deity. He has nothing to do with evil. The underworld isn't evil in Mayan mythology. There are many other spirits, but this will suffice.
People into Brujeria are great @ divination. The bible is used to divine. It is called bibliomancy. Islamic people that divine use the Quran instead. Some brujeras and brujeros divine with a cigar.
They are able to communicate with spirits of the deceased, as well as saints and deities. They are able to {manifest certain outcomes and/or change the odds of something happening}(magik).
Brujeria is a great form of magik!!!!! It comes from Mexican and European magical systems. It is like Curanderismo, but quite different. Men and women practice it. It has many spirits that help and hinder.
References
http://www.brujonegrobrujeria.com/page/page/716732.htm
http://www.lunalunamagazine.com/dark/mexican-white-magic
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-bruja-or-brujo-2561875
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Magic-and-Sorcery/The-Practice-of-Brujeria.html
Brujeria and Curanderismo
http://eapolanco.com/brujeria-and-self-identity-how-my-past-influenced-my-research/
https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvwe3x/the-young-brujas-reclaiming-the-power-of-their-ancestors
