bruja/brujo The feminine and masculine names, respectively, for the witches of Mexico, Mesoamerica and Hispanic communities in the United States. Of the two, the bruja, the woman, is more prevalent and considered the more powerful. The bruja holds a visible, important function: she is sought for remedies for physical illness, and spells and charms to remedy emotional, romantic and social problems. Brujas work in many open-air markets in Mexico, selling herbs, charms and other objects from which customized amulets and charms may be made. Many of their remedies for physical ailments are based on folk cures handed down through the centuries. See also curandero/curandera; devil fish; garlic.
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The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – Copyright © 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc.
