Spell work, spiritual cleansing, herbal magic, how to protect against the Evil Eye, and cast, break, and avert hexes and curses.

Mexican witchcraft, or brujeria, has long been an integral part of traditional Mexican culture that permeates all strata of social hierarchy, ethnicity, or level of education.

“Brujeria de Rancho” refers to brujeria as it is practiced in the rural areas of Mexico. There, the brujos de Ranch offer their healing and divinatory powers, acting as advisors, and even meting out justice through the use of cursing and hexing for people who are often not able to pay lawyers’ fees.

Davila, a practicing bruja de Rancho and for whom this is a multi-generational family tradition brings this tradition to light in this comprehensive guide to Brujeria and Hechiceria (sorcery), presenting the beliefs and practices to today’s readers. The tradition includes a component of folk Catholicism that will be accessible to Pagans, non-Catholics, and practitioners of Hoodoo and Conjure. Topics included in the book are spell work, cleansings (limpias), herbs, talismans, how to protect against the Evil Eye, and also how to cast, break, and avert hexes and curses.

“Mexican Sorcery touches on topics of Mexican folk magic that many people, including myself, have questions about but don’t know where to look. For anyone interested in Mexican folk magic, this book will become a staple.”

—Robyn Valentine, creator of Tired Witch, author of Magickal Tarot

"Thank you, Daphne la Hechicera, for providing an excellent book that offers accessible magical rites and showcases the beauty and eclectic nature of Brujeria de Rancho. Along with diverse magical recipes, Daphne la Hechicera brilliantly interweaves tales, stories, and Mexican folklore. I loved this book!”
—Erika Buenaflor, M.A., J.D., author of Cleansing Rites of Curanderismo

"Laura Davila's work perfectly reflects the Brujería de Rancho in Mexico, one that transcends borders despite being born on this side of the river. Her book is powerful like cacti, full of magic like the night in the desert, and spicy like the chili that burns in the candles on Good Friday. Laura is a ranch witch by birth, heritage, and will, and an excellent exponent of real witchcraft in northern Mexico."
—Paola Klug, author of Relatos de las Brujas Morenas and Grimorio de las Brujas Morenas

“Davila gives you everything, no holds barred, from recipes for the capirotada dessert served at Eastertide to powerful polvos designed for use in the intense love domination spells known as amarres. This is a book and an author that holds nothing back, and anyone attempting to learn about Mexican folk magic should be eager to learn from Davila’s work.”
—Cory Thomas Hutcheson, author of New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic

“Laura Davila has written an outstanding book on my favorite subject: the tried-and-true sorcery born of necessity. Magic that, like love, transcends all time and space. The souls of the oppressed live in her every word. Their presence gives a bittersweet weight to her words without weighing them down. This book is about magic, but, most of all, it is about resilience and family and the ties that bind us in eternity. There are only a handful of books I have read that permanently reside in my heart. Mexican Sorcery: A Practical Guide to Brujeria de Rancho by Laura Davila is now one of them.”
—Mary-Grace Fahrun, author of Italian Folk Magic: Rue’s Kitchen Witchery

Laura Davila is a fifth-generation Mexican witch, a long-time practitioner of Mexican ensalmeria, hechicería, brujeria, and folk Catholicism. Born and raised in Mexico, Laura has lived in the US since 2010. Laura identifies as a “bruja de rancho”—a “ranch witch”—a term with great resonance in Mexico indicating knowledge of botanicals and the natural world. She learned her practice at her grandmothers’ knees. Laura is also a Tarot card reader and a flower essence practitioner. Follow her on Instagram @daphne_la_hechicera.

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