Witchcraft and the young men who are charmed by me Witchcraft has long been a topic of fascination and intrigue, capturing the imaginations of people across generations. The idea of powerful witches casting spells and enchanting their victims has been a staple of folklore and literature. While witchcraft is often associated with women, there are also stories of young men being charmed and ensnared by witches. In these tales, the young men are portrayed as unsuspecting victims who fall under the spell of a beautiful and bewitching witch. They are drawn to her mysterious presence and find themselves unable to resist her charms. These men become entangled in her web, becoming completely enamored and willing to do whatever she desires.
“I’m worse off now than I was before,” she said disconsolately.
Discover the vibrant culture of brujeria and embrace your own inner witch with this essential guide to spellcasting, spirit worship, tarot, crystals, and all the other elements of this increasingly popular lifestyle. The term witch is generic in Mexico, covering a wide range of people who serve as doctor-counselor-confessor, treating illnesses and personal problems with a mix of religion, herbal medicine and folk psychiatry.
These men become entangled in her web, becoming completely enamored and willing to do whatever she desires. The allure of the witch is often depicted as irresistible, with her powers of seduction and manipulation being too strong for the young men to resist. They become completely under her control, willing to sacrifice everything for her.
In Mexico, Witches Brew Comfort : Culture: From the peasant to the president, magical powers and potions are part of the daily lifestyle.
Local legend has it that this thirsty pocket of arid northeast Mexico, 125 miles from the U.S. border, once was home to the most vile Indian witches.
Following the arrival of the Spaniards, the witches’ spirits were locked in a petaca , or trunk, and buried during an exorcism, giving the town of 2,000 people its name.
Crosses were put up at La Petaca’s four corners to ward off evil. They remain. So does the area’s reputation as a caldron where witches can cook up their magic.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” says a young woman named Sonia after waiting six hours with dozens of others for a “consultation” with Maria Cepeda, a famous witch.
AdvertisementSonia says she needed help because her husband left her with a year-old son and a baby on the way. “Sometimes you get so desperate you’ll try anything,” she says.
The term witch is generic in Mexico, covering a wide range of people who serve as doctor-counselor-confessor, treating illnesses and personal problems with a mix of religion, herbal medicine and folk psychiatry.
Witches are sought to help solve problems ranging from colds and migraine headaches to getting a raise or finding a husband. Many witches claim darker powers that can harm enemies.
Almost every neighborhood market has its share of herbarios , stands that sell tools of the witchcraft trade, from crowns of garlic, plastic skulls and black candles to magic powders used to restore lost love, rein in philandering spouses or wreak havoc on a romantic rival.
The central and southern states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Morelos and Michoacan also are famous for witches.
Although they may claim to be skeptical, many Mexicans, from presidents to peons, have had some contact with witches and their practices.
Advertisement“Folk healers can be found in just about any Mexican community,” says William Murray, who teaches medical anthropology at the University of Monterrey. “It has a great deal of psychosocial value.”
Witches are referred to as such by everyone but themselves. They usually prefer terms such as curanderos (healers), hechiceros (sorcerers), mentalistas (mind readers), medios (mediums) and videntes (clairvoyants).
Patients tend to come from the lower and middle classes, but witches have their richer followers as well.
“ Curanderismo has enjoyed an upswing in recent years because of Mexico’s troubled economic situation,” Murray says.
Even President Carlos Salinas de Gortari submitted to a ritual limpia , or cleansing, during a recent visit to Morelos. This practice involves passing black chickens, herbs, rocks or eggs over a person’s body to draw out illness and evil and bring good luck.
Many Mexicans consider illness not so much a physical problem as an emotional or spiritual one, Murray says. A sluggish or nervous person may blame his condition on mal de ojo (evil eye) or susto (scare).
These maladies are treated with herbs that have medicinal properties known since pre-Columbian time and rituals such as limpias that at least help a patient believe he will get better.
Murray says the university teaches its medical students to respect these practices so they can treat the community more efficiently.
“Patients use these terms to explain the way they are feeling,” he says. “It is part of the cultural vocabulary of illness, and students must be taught how to recognize it.”
Witchcraft in Mexico dates to the Aztecs. With the arrival of the Spaniards, witches began mixing it with European traditions, such as Catholicism, to the dismay of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Most curanderos are charlatans,” says Father Raul Rodriguez of Monterrey’s Church of the Divine Providence, who has studied different sects and folk Catholicism.
“A desperate person will try anything. It’s pure superstition, but a lot of people follow it.”
Still, witchcraft in its various forms is a part of daily life in Mexico.
On a busy downtown Monterrey street, vendors hawk herbs by the pound, along with rows of colored oils guaranteed to bring luck and love, soaps to grow hair and pills to cure infertility.
At the nearby Colonia Market, a young girl sits behind the counter of a shop filled with books on magic, framed pictures of saints, candles, perfumes and charms.
A customer complaining of insomnia is given two bags of herbs to mix as a tea before bedtime. Another whose boss is bothering her is told to light a candle and repeat a prayer for nine nights to “get rid of him.”
“Will it really work?” the client asks.
“Only if you have faith,” replies the salesgirl.
Avelina Reyes de Guerrero agrees. The 71-year-old woman has been providing trabajos , or works, for 30 years from a room behind her small convenience store in Linares, near La Petaca.
“First you need faith in God, whatever God that may be. Religion doesn’t matter,” she says. “You also need confidence in the person attending you.”
She sees about 15 people a day from all over Mexico and some from the United States.
Witches rarely advertise, preferring word of mouth. Prices tend to vary. Reyes, for example, takes whatever a patient can give.
“This is not a business,” she says. “If someone is asking for economic help, I can’t very well charge them, can I?”
Most witches, including Reyes, willingly send patients to medical doctors if they believe the problem is beyond their capabilities.
She considers herself a good Catholic and dismisses the church’s concerns.
“Some of the biggest cures are exorcisms, and only priests do those,” she says.
Reyes says her family stopped talking to her when she began training with a clairvoyant. “Now, I’m the first person they come to,” she says. Now she even has a niece as an apprentice.
Cepeda, in her 70s, gives consultations every Friday beginning at 5 a.m. from her ranch in La Petaca.
Although the legend lives on, she is only one of two witches left there.
Sitting behind an old desk, she receives clients in a room filled with statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Jesus Christ, pictures of Pope John Paul II and lighted candles.
When Sonia finally got in to see her, Cepeda asked for her husband’s birth date, did some rapid calculation, and announced that there was nothing she could do.
A true witch, practitioners say, would never pretend to help unless he or she actually could.
But that was little comfort to Sonia.
“I’m worse off now than I was before,” she said disconsolately.
These maladies are treated with herbs that have medicinal properties known since pre-Columbian time and rituals such as limpias that at least help a patient believe he will get better.
In some stories, the witch uses their infatuation to further her own agenda, taking advantage of their love-struck state to achieve her own ends. These tales serve as a cautionary reminder of the dangers of falling under the spell of someone who may not have our best interests at heart. They highlight the power that can be wielded through manipulation and enchantment and warn of the potential consequences of blindly following our desires. Ultimately, the stories of young men being charmed by witches serve as a reminder of the importance of being cautious and discerning in matters of the heart. They encourage us to question the motives of those who may seek to ensnare us and remind us of the power that lies within ourselves to resist and break free from any spell that may be cast upon us..
Reviews for "The hidden world of witchcraft: why young men are drawn to it"
1. John - 1/5 stars - "I was really disappointed by 'Witchcraft and the young men who are charmed by me'. The book had a promising premise - a mix of witchcraft and romance - but the execution fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional, the plot was predictable, and the writing style was subpar at best. The author failed to grab my attention and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, this book was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read."
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Witchcraft and the young men who are charmed by me', but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story lacked depth and the characters felt cliché. The romance felt forced and unrealistic, and the magical elements were underdeveloped. The pacing was off, with slow parts dragging on and exciting moments rushed through. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. This book may be enjoyable for readers seeking a light, mindless read, but for those looking for an engaging and well-crafted story, I would recommend looking elsewhere."
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I found 'Witchcraft and the young men who are charmed by me' to be a rather average read. It didn't bring anything new or unique to the genre. The characters lacked depth and their motivations felt weak. The romantic relationships were predictable and lacked chemistry. The writing style was plain and didn't evoke any emotion or excitement. Overall, this book had potential but failed to deliver on its promises. I finished reading it feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating and immersive story."