Magic in Latin America and the Caribbean
Vodou, Santeria, Candombl茅 and Obeah, curanderismo and brujeria, Andean offerings to the earth, and Amazonian plant healing. 145 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
Bois Ca茂man 2Chilo茅 archipelago 2La Paz 2Port-au-Prince 2Quicav铆 2Recife 2Rio de Janeiro 2Alto de Pinheiros 1Antigua Guatemala 1Ara莽oiaba da Serra 1Araucan铆a 1Aux Cayes 1Bel茅m 1Belmont 1Boa Sorte 1Calama 1Cerro Azul 1Chilo茅 1Colonia Merced Balbuena 1Company Villages 1Corrientes 1Cuero 1Cueva de Quicav铆 1El Cibao 1Greater Buenos Aires 1Guanarito Municipality 1Guant谩namo 1Guatemala City 1Huautla de Jim茅nez 1Jacmel 1
Rites of the region
Limpia with an eggDay of the Dead ofrendaSanteria initiation (kariocha)Candombl茅 ebo offeringHaitian Vodou serviceAndean despacho and pago a la PachamamaA curanderismo healing sessionAyahuasca ceremonyObeah in Jamaica
Countries
馃嚘馃嚞 Antigua and Barbuda 2馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina 25馃嚙馃嚫 Bahamas 5馃嚙馃嚙 Barbados 7馃嚙馃嚳 Belize 4馃嚙馃嚧 Bolivia 16馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil 67馃嚚馃嚤 Chile 27馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia 13馃嚚馃嚪 Costa Rica 3馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba 23馃嚛馃嚥 Dominica 11馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican Republic 9馃嚜馃嚚 Ecuador 8馃嚫馃嚮 El Salvador 4馃嚞馃嚛 Grenada 1馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala 18馃嚞馃嚲 Guyana 10馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti 47馃嚟馃嚦 Honduras 4馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica 17馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico 63馃嚦馃嚠 Nicaragua 2馃嚨馃嚘 Panama 3馃嚨馃嚲 Paraguay 10馃嚨馃嚜 Peru 27馃嚨馃嚪 Puerto Rico 5馃嚢馃嚦 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1馃嚤馃嚚 Saint Lucia 3馃嚮馃嚚 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1馃嚫馃嚪 Suriname 8馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago 14馃嚭馃嚲 Uruguay 7馃嚮馃嚜 Venezuela 11
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba and 4 moreSanter铆aRegla de Ocha
An Afro-Cuban religion blending Yoruba spirits with Catholic saintsTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileChilean mythology
The myths and legends of Chile, blending indigenous roots with colonial influences.Tradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala and 1 moreMaya mythology
The reconstructed tales of the Maya people about gods, heroes, and the creation of the world.Tradition 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 1 moreQuyllurit'iQoyllur Rit'i
A syncretic Andean pilgrimage celebrating the Pleiades and the Lord of Star SnowTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 1 moreMapuche religion
The traditional spiritual practice of the Mapuche people of Chile and ArgentinaTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala and 1 moreMaya calendar
A system of timekeeping used by ancient and modern Maya communities to track days, years, and historical cycles.Tradition 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 2 moreInca religion
The polytheistic beliefs and rites of the Inca Empire across the AndesTradition 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Historical
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreCaribbean folklore
The blended tales and spirits of the Caribbean islandsTradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚙馃嚧 Bolivia and 1 moreEkekoIqiqu
An Andean deity of abundance and prosperity, central to the Alasitas festival.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Power and authority Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 5 morePalo Santo
Aromatic wood used in South American ritual cleansing and folk medicineSubstance 路 Cleansing and purification 路 Healing Living
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 5 moreFlorida Water
A citrus perfume used in spiritual cleansing and folk healing across the Americas.Substance 路 Protection 路 Cleansing and purification Living
馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala and 3 moreMaya religion
The living spiritual practices of the Maya peoples, shaped by centuries of contact with Catholicism.Tradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreObsidian
Volcanic glass used for sharp tools, mirrors, and ritual divinationSubstance 路 Cursing and harm 路 Seeing and foretelling Historical
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 5 moreSanto Daime
A Brazilian syncretic religion using ayahuasca for spiritual work and healingTradition 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 2 moreChild sacrifice
The ritual killing of children to appease deities or restore cosmic order in ancient culturesRite 路 Cursing and harm 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreWitchcraft in Latin AmericaBrujer铆a
A syncretic blend of Indigenous, African, and European magical practices across Latin AmericaTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚙馃嚧 BoliviaThe Witches' MarketMercado de las Brujas
A La Paz market where Aymara women and yatiri sell ritual items for Pachamama offeringsTradition 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Protection Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreSpiritual Baptist
An Afro-Caribbean Christian faith blending African traditions with Baptist worshipTradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Protection Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 1 moreSupay
An Andean spirit of the underworld who balances life and death forcesBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Protection Historical
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiBois Ca茂man
The sacred site where enslaved Africans planned the Haitian Revolution through a Vodou ceremony.Rite 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreCopal
A tree resin used as incense in Mesoamerica and varnish in EuropeSubstance 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Cleansing and purification Living
馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti and 2 moreHaitian VodouVodou
An Afro-Haitian religion blending West African traditions with Catholicism and FreemasonryTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreLa Llorona
A vengeful ghost in Hispanic American folklore who mourns drowned children near water.Figure 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚫馃嚪 SurinameWinti
An Afro-Surinamese tradition of spirit veneration and ancestral worshipTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 2 moreAluxaluxo'ob
A small Maya spirit believed to guard fields and cause mischief if offended.Being 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 5 morePachamama
The Andean mother goddess of space-time and the earthBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 5 moreObeah
A Caribbean tradition of ritual healing and spell-casting with African rootsTradition 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 1 moreMyal
An Afro-Jamaican healing tradition rooted in Arawak and Akan spiritualityTradition 路 Healing 路 Protection Living
馃嚞馃嚬 GuatemalaMaxim贸nRi Laj Mam
A Maya folk saint and trickster deity venerated in the Guatemalan HighlandsBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 3 moreFolk saint
Unofficially recognized holy figures venerated by local communities for intercession and miraclesBelief 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚞馃嚬 Guatemala and 1 moreTzolk始inAj Ilabal Q始ij
A 260-day cycle used by the Maya for divination and ritual timingTradition 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 1 moreMachi
Mapuche spiritual authorities and healers who bridge herbal knowledge and spirit realmsTradition 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileCaleuche
A luminous ghost ship of Chilote mythology that sails the canals and seas of southern Chile.Figure 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 1 moreViracochaWiraqucha
The supreme creator deity of the Andes, associated with the sea and civilization.Being 路 Power and authority 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreDay of the DeadD铆a de los Muertos
A Mexican holiday honoring the dead with altars, food, and humor during Allhallowtide.Tradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilBoitat谩
A fiery serpent of Brazilian folklore that guards forests or frightens childrenBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoNagualn膩hualli
A Mesoamerican belief in humans who shapeshift into animal counterparts.Belief 路 Power and authority 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚚馃嚧 ColombiaColombian folklore
Beliefs and legends passed down through generations in ColombiaTradition 路 Wonder and entertainment Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 morePersonifications of death
Figures from many cultures that embody the end of life and guide soulsFigure 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 4 moreTrinidad Orisha
A syncretic Afro-Caribbean faith blending Yoruba spirit work with Christian and other traditions in Trinidad.Tradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Healing Living
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 1 moreKromanti dance
A sacred Jamaican Maroon ceremony rooted in Asante traditions and ancestral possessionRite 路 Healing 路 Protection Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoEntheogenics and the Maya
Hallucinogenic substances used by the Maya for spiritual rituals and healingTradition 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Healing Historical
馃嚨馃嚜 PeruChakapa
A leaf rattle used by Amazonian healers in ayahuasca ceremonies and spirit cleansing rituals.Rite 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican RepublicAnaisa Pye
A Dominican loa of love and wealth, linked to Saint Anne.Being 路 Love and attraction 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoMazatec shamanism
A Mazatec healing tradition centered on visionary plant ceremonies called veladasTradition 路 Healing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚙馃嚳 BelizeTata DuendeNukuch Tat
A thumbless forest spirit of Belizean folklore that protects animals and warns children.Being 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican Republic and 5 moreZemi
A Ta铆no deity or ancestral spirit housed in a carved object used for worship and protectionBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Historical
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 3 moreGualichu
An evil spirit feared in Mapuche and Tehuelche traditions, and a word for bad luckBeing 路 Cursing and harm Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Chakapa: Mario Mart铆n /Archivo Centro Takiwasi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Maya mythology: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Copal: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Haitian Vodou: Sam Fentress, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- La Llorona: Melvin Callejas, Public domain, source
- European witchcraft: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
- Egungun: 脤峁ａ汗虁峁Assembly, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Winti: G. Glaser (Fotograaf/photographer)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Alux: Gary Todd, CC0, source
- Pachamama: Penarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Obeah: Various, published by David Nutt, Public domain, source
- Maxim贸n: Sapfan (Jan Pesula), Public domain, source
- Folk saint: Sergio Serrano, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tzolk始in: Lacambalam, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Machi: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Viracocha: Pattych ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Day of the Dead: RubeHM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Boitat谩: The ponta cabe莽a, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nagual: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Colombian folklore: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Quyllurit'i: AgainErick, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mapuche religion: Gary Todd, CC0, source
- Maya calendar: MBisanz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Inca religion: Chronicler Mart铆n of Mur煤a (Cronista Mart铆n de Mur煤a), Public domain, source
- Personifications of death: No machine-readable author provided. Kirtap assumed (based on copyrigh, CC BY 2.5, source
- Caribbean folklore: Biblioteca Juvenil Mayaguez ( talk 路 contribs ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ekeko: Ciudades, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Palo Santo: Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Zemi: Unknown author, CC0, source
- Florida Water: Unknown artist(s), Public domain, source
- Obsidian: Krassotkin, CC0, source
- Santo Daime: Tonelada, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Child sacrifice: Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Public domain, source
- The Witches' Market: Dan Lundberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Spiritual Baptist: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Santer铆a: Jorge Royan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source