Is Brujeria Evil?

Brujería is often misconstrued as “evil,” largely stemming from a long history of colonialism, racism, religious persecution, and gendered fear of spiritual power. The “evil” label has little to do with the actual practice of brujería but much to do with hundreds of years of oppression against Indigenous, African, and women-centered spiritual systems that existed outside of European Christian paradigms.

Colonial and Religious Demonization

When Spanish colonists invaded Latin America, they imposed their state religion, Catholicism, and condemned Indigenous and African spiritual practices as demonic or satanic. Brujería, often done by Indigenous curanderos/as or enslaved Africans, was labeled as heresy and met with Inquisition-style violence, forced conversion, and/or execution.

Syncretism Mistaken as Deception

Since many practitioners included layers of Catholic elements (saints, prayers, etc.) with the traditional rituals that included protection, love, and healing, outsiders interpreted mistakes or outright deception associated with the Church. For practitioners, the connections of the sacred and magical were and are misinterpreted by first-world mainstream religion as occult manipulation instead of devotion.

Fear of Female and Marginalized Power

Female and gender nonconforming people holding knowledge of healing and/or spiritual work have historically been perceived as a threat to patriarchal or colonial domination. The term “bruja” was turned into a slur for any woman who resisted male power or performed “magic” that was not white or Christian.

Racism and Anti-Blackness

A lot of brujería, especially those practices that derived from Yoruba or Kongo origins, comes from Afro-diasporic religious traditions. Colonial purveyors associated African religions with savagery or devil worship. Many of the anti-Black associations still exist today as many representations of Afro-Caribbean traditions (Santería, Palo, brujería, etc.) continue to depict violence, chaos, and fear of “dark magic” in media.

Depictions Of Media 

Many films, TV shows, or books depict brujería (and all healing) as sinister, relying on animal sacrifices, skulls, and symbols out of context. In this way, the sacred and complex tradition is flattened into horror aesthetics, generating fear of the "beyond" rather than respect.

Brujería Is Not Something Evil

Brujería is not something evil; it is a sacred way of fighting back and surviving. It allows for spiritual control and was created over centuries due to the loss of cultural identity. To help people understand it better, we need to change the story around it.  Instead of seeing Brujería as something to fear, we should look at it with respect.  It's important to share the real history and appreciate the cultural value it holds.  By listening to brujas and respecting their wisdom, we can begin to reclaim the beauty of Brujería and resist the stories brought by colonizers.