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 66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 46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
馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina and 5 moreGauchito Gil
A folk saint from Argentina who protects the poor and outcastsBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing 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
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 2 moreMapinguari
A hairy Amazonian monster with a belly mouth and backwards feetBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiGedeGu茅d茅
A family of spirits in Haitian Vodou who guard the dead and grant fertility.Being 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Protection Living
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiErzulie脠zili
A family of spirits in Haitian Vodou representing love, beauty, and protective fury.Being 路 Protection 路 Love and attraction Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilPomba Gira
An Afro-Brazilian spirit of love and desire worshipped in Umbanda and QuimbandaBeing 路 Love and attraction 路 Power and authority 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
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileTrauco
A small forest spirit from Chilo茅 mythology known for seducing women and causing pregnancyBeing 路 Love and attraction 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti and 1 moreEzili Dantor脠zili Dant貌
A fierce mother spirit in Haitian Vodou who protects the marginalized and demands loyalty.Being 路 Protection 路 Love and attraction Living
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 1 moreChullachaqui
A one-footed forest spirit of the Amazon that lures or challenges humansBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚙馃嚡 Benin and 2 morePapa Legba
A loa who stands at the crossroads and opens the gate between people and spiritsBeing 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Power and authority Living
馃嚨馃嚪 Puerto Rico and 5 moreChupacabrachupacabras
A legendary creature said to drain livestock of blood, emerging from Puerto Rico in the mid-1990sBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil and 2 moreCurupira
A backwards-footed forest guardian from Brazilian indigenous myth who punishes loggers and misleads travelers.Being 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoChaneque
Mexican folklore sprites that guard nature and homesBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
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
馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti and 2 moreLwa
Spirits in Haitian Vodou that mediate between people and the creator god.Being 路 Protection 路 Healing Living
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreSihuanaba
A shapeshifting spirit that lures men with beauty before revealing a monstrous faceBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreSoucouyant
A shape-shifting vampire spirit of Caribbean folklore that sheds its skin to fly as a fireballBeing 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoCamazotz
A bat spirit of the Maya underworld linked to night, death, and sacrificeBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoAhuizotl膩huitzotl
A legendary Aztec water creature said to lure people to their deathsBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚚馃嚧 ColombiaPatasola
A Colombian jungle monster that lures men with beauty before revealing a one-legged formBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilMinhoc茫o
A giant aquatic worm or fish from Brazilian folklore blamed for earthquakes and animal disappearancesBeing Legendary
馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica and 3 moreDuppy
A Caribbean term for a ghost or malevolent spirit, rooted in West African folklore.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilBoi煤na
A powerful river serpent from Amazonian mythology that shifts shape to guard its watersBeing Legendary
馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican Republic and 1 moreCiguapa
A back-footed forest spirit of the Dominican Republic known for seduction and jealousyBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Love and attraction Legendary
馃嚨馃嚲 ParaguayAo Ao
A Guarani mythic beast that hunts humans and frightens children in ParaguayBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚥馃嚱 MexicoWerejaguar
A supernatural figure from Olmec art, blending human and jaguar traits.Being 路 Power and authority 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Legendary
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 1 moreCuerotr眉lke wekuf眉
An aquatic creature from Mapuche and Chilote myth that drags victims into the depths.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti and 1 morePetwo
A family of hot and volatile spirits in Haitian VodouBeing 路 Power and authority 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilBestial beastBesta-fera
A centaur-like creature in Brazilian folklore thought to be the Devil.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileCamahueto
A one-horned river bull from Chilote folklore that drags people to the seaBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilCapelobo
A Brazilian monster with a long snout that feeds on blood and brainsBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚘馃嚪 ArgentinaLegendary creatures of the Argentine Northwest region
Myths and spirits from the Andean highlands of ArgentinaBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Historical
馃嚦馃嚠 Nicaragua and 3 moreHeadless priestel cura sin cabeza / paring pugot
A headless Catholic spirit that haunts Central America and the Philippines as a warning against sacrilege.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Cleansing and purification Living
馃嚛馃嚥 DominicaBelie Belcan
A loa of justice and protection in Dominican Vud煤, linked to Saint Michael.Being 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Living
馃嚟馃嚬 Haiti and 3 moreNago lwa
A Haitian Vodou nation of masculine spirits rooted in Yoruba traditionsBeing 路 Power and authority 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
馃嚬馃嚬 Trinidad and Tobago and 1 moreDouen
A faceless creature with backwards feet from Trinidad and Tobago folkloreBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚟馃嚬 HaitiBoum'ba Maza
A family of water spirits in Haitian Vodou ritesBeing 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Healing Living
馃嚨馃嚘 PanamaPanama Creature
A decomposing sloth carcass mistaken for a monster in PanamaBeing Historical
馃嚚馃嚤 ChileWarlock of Chilo茅brujo chilote
A legendary network of sorcerers from the Chilean archipelago and their mythical powers.Belief 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚚馃嚤 ChilePincoya
A Chilotan sea spirit whose dance predicts the catch of fish and seafood.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilLobisomem
A South American shape-shifter born from family fate or sin, often linked to the full moon.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚚馃嚤 Chile and 1 moreKalku
A Mapuche sorcerer who works with negative powers and malevolent spiritsBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚞馃嚲 Guyana and 1 moreBaccoo
A half-wood spirit from Guyanese and Surinamese folklore that serves as a mercenary or a haunting presence.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Legendary
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Maya mythology: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Pincoya: Paul Lowry, CC BY 2.0, source
- Louisiana Voodoo: I cropped, original authors are Ridpath, John Clark, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Trauco: Seo2 (Cristian), CC BY 2.0, source
- Ezili Dantor: Oficinalis, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chullachaqui: LLs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chupacabra: Dick Langer, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Curupira: Sturm, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chaneque: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Alux: Gary Todd, CC0, source
- Pachamama: Penarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lwa: Hector Hyppolite, Public domain, source
- Maxim贸n: Sapfan (Jan Pesula), Public domain, source
- Folk saint: Sergio Serrano, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Viracocha: Pattych ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Boitat谩: The ponta cabe莽a, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sihuanaba: Orlando Callejas, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Folk Catholicism: Calvin Hennick, for WBUR Boston, CC BY 3.0, source
- Ahuizotl: Infrogmation, New Orleans, Public domain, source
- Ao Ao: Cowboymax, CC0, source
- Werejaguar: Ruben Charles, ( http://www.rubencharles.com ), CC BY 2.0, source
- Camahueto: Rjcastillo, CC BY 4.0, source
- Capelobo: Di (they-them), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Belie Belcan: Domfranciscorodrigues, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Panama Creature: Christian Mehlf眉hrer, User:Chmehl, CC BY 2.5, source
- Ekeko: Ciudades, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Erzulie: anonymous, Public domain, source
- Mapinguari: Lauro Iyambae (@Aptix_4p0clix), CC0, source