Healing and Herbalism in Philippine Witchcraft

Witchcraft has long been a significant part of Philippine culture and history. From ancient times to the present day, Filipinos have had a strong belief in the power of magic and the existence of witches. This belief is evident in the various rituals, spells, and practices found in the **Witchcraft Compendium from the Philippines**. The **Witchcraft Compendium** is a collection of traditional Filipino witchcraft practices, beliefs, and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. It is a comprehensive guide that encompasses a wide range of topics related to witchcraft. These topics include the types of witches, their abilities, and how to identify them.

Magnaye's Samhain ritual 2 years ago, wherein she wrote letters to some of her ancestors and burned them. She used a crystal ashtray with flaxseed meal because she didn't have a cauldron with sand. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

Basically, we recharge on Halloween or Samhain since traditionally, that s the time of the year when nature s energies are at their very peak, he told VICE. Filipinos, even if they deny it, are actually practicing a lot of rituals which have roots in what one would consider traditional witchcraft praying to saints, offering food on All Souls Day, etc, Rebuyas said.

These topics include the types of witches, their abilities, and how to identify them. It also offers detailed descriptions of the spells, charms, and rituals used by witches, as well as instructions on how to perform them. One of the main ideas highlighted in the **Witchcraft Compendium** is the concept of "kulam" or the Filipino term for witchcraft.

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Halloween, for most of us, is all about trick or treating, ghost stories, and costumes. But for witches, or those who practice witchcraft, it is much more meaningful.

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While they do get to enjoy the holiday’s more secular festivities, to many of them, it is “Samhain,” or a day to strengthen their faith in the craft by mourning and communicating with the dead, while also celebrating life. It’s a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year.

Magnaye's Gemini ritual. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

It’s a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, so their connection to the spirit world is much stronger, giving witches a chance to connect with spirits and ancestors.

Samhain used to be a strictly Gaelic or Irish pagan ritual, which was adopted by contemporary Wicca in the 40’s, but today, a lot of neo-pagans and other witches who don’t identify as Wiccan celebrate it too.

There are now hundreds of thousands of people in the world who practice witchcraft, including many in unexpected places like the Philippines. VICE talked to two of these Filipino witches to find out what it's like to live in a deeply Catholic country, and if their spook night celebrations are anything like the broom-flying coven meetings we see in pop culture.

According to Magnaye, her cats are really attracted to magic and crawl towards her whenever she brings her materials out. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

Writer and photographer Michael Rebuyas, 27 years old, has been practicing rituals for 3 years.

“Basically, we ‘recharge’ on Halloween or Samhain since traditionally, that's the time of the year when nature's energies are at their very peak,” he told VICE.

To do this, they usually give food and offerings to the spirits.

“I burn food, which is symbolic of this year's harvest or blessings. The act of burning basically sends the blessings I received, back to the greater Source — the universe,” Rebuyas said.

Magnaye loves nature and doing readings outside. Seen here are her smudge stick and flower offerings. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

Inka Magnaye, a 30-year-old voice talent and events host who has been practicing witchcraft since she was a child, has her own rituals.

“I would light some incense and bring out my cards to talk to my spirit guides, to touch base and write down the things I want to let go of and things I want to attract in my life. I burn that piece of paper and burn it in my sand-filled cauldron. Then, I let the candles burn down,” she said.

These rituals, usually calm and relaxed, are nothing like what most people probably imagine witch practices are like. No eating of children to make meat pies or sacrificing animals involved. Really, they’re totally “regular” activities done by people who are not green-skinned or warty.

Magnaye's Samhain ritual 2 years ago, wherein she wrote letters to some of her ancestors and burned them. She used a crystal ashtray with flaxseed meal because she didn't have a cauldron with sand. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

Like most Filipinos, Magnaye was raised Catholic but said she never felt any connection with it.

“I liked the rituals, but the powers I was praying to didn’t really connect to me. I connected more to nature. I thought that that [Catholicism] was it, but then I learned that witchcraft wasn’t this evil thing,” she said.

She was “called” to the craft in 1999, when she was 10 years old, but struggled to learn more about it due to the lack of resources available. Catholicism prohibits these practices, so most schools in the Philippines don’t carry books on witchcraft in their libraries. There were also hardly any websites discussing the topic on the internet. She even recalls a time when a classmate warned her to close her notebook where she drew symbols, out of fear that she would get expelled.

But witches don’t always denounce other faiths. Rebuyas, for example, is still a practicing Catholic.

“I still pray to Jesus and I still invoke some of the saints, but what I would say is that it augmented my faith. I would consider myself a polytheist,” he said.

Magnaye's outdoor altar where she leaves offerings of food, drinks, and flowers. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

For both these witches, practicing is simply an exchange of energies — a give or take.

“For witches, it comes back to you three times over, whether you wish good or bad intentions on a person. We believe in karma,” Magnaye said.

Rebuyas adheres to the following rules in his practice:

“1. Harm none. We believe that the Divine is present in everything and everyone in nature so as much as possible, we avoid intentionally harming others.

2. Karma. While most Witches don't adhere to the concept of sin, we believe that whatever we put out to the universe will come back to us.

3. Responsibility. Everyone is responsible for the results of their own actions, whether magical or mundane.”

A smudge stick made out of a bundle of sage with a bay leaf and some rosemary — two herbs that are believed to banish negative energy. Photo courtesy of Inka Magnaye.

And, despite the taboo placed on witches in the Philippines, witchcraft is actually part of Filipino culture. Small towns often have their own albularyo or shamans who use witchcraft to heal and exorcise demons for money.

“Filipinos, even if they deny it, are actually practicing a lot of rituals which have roots in what one would consider traditional witchcraft: praying to saints, offering food on All Souls Day, etc,” Rebuyas said.

Both he and Magnaye encourage people to learn about witchcraft because there are so many misconceptions about it. They said the only accurate portrayal of their practice is from the 90’s classic The Craft, which consulted a high priestess during production.

“Educate before you judge, you don’t have to practice it to learn more about it,” Magnaye said.

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Like most Filipinos, Magnaye was raised Catholic but said she never felt any connection with it.

It provides information on how kulam is practiced and the various methods used to cast spells on others. The compendium discusses the significance of rituals and offerings in the practice of kulam, emphasizing that these are essential for the spell to work. Another important aspect highlighted in the **Witchcraft Compendium** is the use of herbs and plants in witchcraft. Filipinos believe that certain herbs possess magical properties and can be used in spells and rituals. The compendium lists a wide variety of these plants and provides instructions on their preparation and usage. The **Witchcraft Compendium** also sheds light on the role of witches in Philippine society. It explains the different types of witches, such as mangkukulam (malevolent witches) and albularyo (healer-witches), and their respective powers. It also delves into the impact of witchcraft on local communities, including cases of witch hunting and persecution. Overall, the **Witchcraft Compendium from the Philippines** serves as a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the rich tradition of witchcraft in the country. It provides insights into the beliefs, practices, and histories of Filipino witches, offering a glimpse into a world that continues to fascinate and intrigue..

Reviews for "Powerful Curses and Hexes in Filipino Witchcraft"

1. Samantha - 2 stars - While I was initially intrigued by the idea of learning about witchcraft from the Philippines, I found "Witchcraft Compendium from the Philippines" to be quite disappointing. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any substantial information about the actual practice of witchcraft in the country. Instead, it was filled with vague and uninteresting anecdotes that did little to educate or engage the reader. Overall, I was left feeling like I had wasted my time and money on a book that promised so much but delivered so little.

2. Michael - 3 stars - As someone who has always been fascinated by different cultural practices of witchcraft, I was excited to dive into "Witchcraft Compendium from the Philippines". However, I found the book to be lacking in both depth and authenticity. The author seemed to rely heavily on stereotypes and generalized information, rather than providing unique insights into the specific traditions and beliefs of Filipino witchcraft. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to fully engage with the content. Overall, while there were some interesting tidbits, it fell short of my expectations.

3. Jennifer - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to learning more about the witchcraft practices in the Philippines, but "Witchcraft Compendium from the Philippines" left me feeling disappointed. The book seemed more like a collection of random folklore and myths rather than a comprehensive guide to witchcraft in the country. The lack of organization and coherent structure made it difficult to follow along and understand the information being presented. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of the subject matter, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.

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